Since the dialogue pertains to attraction to me it seems like asexual? After looking up both definitions she could be both if she also is not interested in relationships at all. Just from looking at the definitions though.
Ace definitely. Aro, maybe. She doesn’t “go gaga” but still might find herself romantically interested in the right person eventually. But without the kickstart of sexual attraction, she may find herself late to the party romantically even if she isn’t aro.
Yeah, she could be like me. Ace until 21 then it was as if something in my head threw a switch. Been going ga-ga in the right circumstances ever since but still don’t really have the drive to do anything about it.
Not really how it works. There’s so many different parts to the asexaul spectrum, like demi or gray. Aromatic and asexaul often go hand in hand, but being asexaul doesn’t mean you’re going to be aromatic.
That’s how it worked with me. Wasn’t attracted to either sex until 21, then *bam*. Got a girlfriend a few years later and we’ve been living together for 17 years, with plenty of romance. Just no sex.
Eh, like Hi-ho said, it’s a spectrum. I’m ace, and aro. 37, have really only been on a handful of dates (literally, a handful. Like.. five). Just… isn’t for me. I’m not opposed to finding someone to be close to… I can enjoy romantic comedies or notions. I just.. eh. I guess I’d rather just have friends to hang out with.
You are welcome to your own interpretation of the comic, but just understand that what your interpretation is has been something ace/aro people have been told for their whole lives, often with the intent of erasing or marginalizing their identity. Are there late bloomers who don’t come into their sexuality/romantic orientation until later in their teens or twenties? Sure, those people exist. But the clear reading of this comic now is that Devyn is at least ace, if not also aro, and that can make comments like yours sting especially hard for those of us that are in the same boat.
While I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant having people refute your take on the comic and say that it is erasure, it is important to listen to those people and perhaps not tell them to “un-bunch” as you so eloquently put it. We are all real people with real experiences and the least we can do is listen to each other with respect and recognize when something we said was either hurtful or had the potential to be hurtful.
Dear BlackCatGoddess; Yours was the first I had confirming what ‘ace’ was/is.
Reading more of the comments began to offer at least a little bit of a clue, but I reserve the right to be just as huffy-and-puffy as the next person when I think I’m being misunderstood. ( Taz mumbles to himself at this point…’welcome to the Internet’.)
I apologize to anyone who I might have caused harm, but it seems, now, in retrospect- one quick knee-jerk was met with another.
Sometimes I’m Stupid, some times I’m Uninformed. I’m working on the former, I always encourage help with the later.
I was kinda hoping that was the way it was leaning… This page sums out a lot about how I feel most of the time. Though time has mostly got me looking at all the gaga with a sort of bemused detachment at this point..
Fairly sure am Ace and Aro as well: there is only one person interested in being with, but that is not likely to happen (haven’t even communicated with her in nearly ten years), and the physical stuff doesn’t interest me at all (at least, not with a partner, wouldn’t know where to begin and it feels too late to start, but still not really interested anyway)
This is my fourth reread of the entire comic. The first time I read this strip is when I starting learning what asexuality is. Got me thinking. I’m pretty sure I’m asexual. But I’m less than a month away from being 31 and I’m still figuring out what that means for me. I used to think I was pansexual, because I was equally attracted to everyone. Asexual fits better because I’m equally unattracted to everyone.
So is she aromantic or asexual? Or am I not understanding the second panel at all?
Since the dialogue pertains to attraction to me it seems like asexual? After looking up both definitions she could be both if she also is not interested in relationships at all. Just from looking at the definitions though.
Cool lol
Don’t really have enough information to go on. I’m both aromantic and asexual. I would guess, from what is described above, I’m guessing asexual..
Ace definitely. Aro, maybe. She doesn’t “go gaga” but still might find herself romantically interested in the right person eventually. But without the kickstart of sexual attraction, she may find herself late to the party romantically even if she isn’t aro.
“late bloomer” is also a possibility.
No need to pigeonhole a teenager down to being just one thing when they’re constantly changing who they are anyway.
I’ll bet it’s going to be a Late Bloomer type situation…
Thanks for the ace erasure, bub.
Oh, I’m pretty sure Erasure is gay. ;P
Yeah, she could be like me. Ace until 21 then it was as if something in my head threw a switch. Been going ga-ga in the right circumstances ever since but still don’t really have the drive to do anything about it.
Not really how it works. There’s so many different parts to the asexaul spectrum, like demi or gray. Aromatic and asexaul often go hand in hand, but being asexaul doesn’t mean you’re going to be aromatic.
That’s how it worked with me. Wasn’t attracted to either sex until 21, then *bam*. Got a girlfriend a few years later and we’ve been living together for 17 years, with plenty of romance. Just no sex.
Eh, like Hi-ho said, it’s a spectrum. I’m ace, and aro. 37, have really only been on a handful of dates (literally, a handful. Like.. five). Just… isn’t for me. I’m not opposed to finding someone to be close to… I can enjoy romantic comedies or notions. I just.. eh. I guess I’d rather just have friends to hang out with.
I was tempted to post an expletive- Starting with the letter ‘F’, very similar to Battlestar Galactica’s ‘frack’, but I will refrain.
Still, I am tiered of being hit with a stick every time it’s seems I might be running roughshod over someone else’s niche or personal experiences.
I’m not erasing _anybody_. What I think is that she will come into those feelings later. Thats what I think. Thats all I meant. Plz un-bunch…
You are welcome to your own interpretation of the comic, but just understand that what your interpretation is has been something ace/aro people have been told for their whole lives, often with the intent of erasing or marginalizing their identity. Are there late bloomers who don’t come into their sexuality/romantic orientation until later in their teens or twenties? Sure, those people exist. But the clear reading of this comic now is that Devyn is at least ace, if not also aro, and that can make comments like yours sting especially hard for those of us that are in the same boat.
While I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant having people refute your take on the comic and say that it is erasure, it is important to listen to those people and perhaps not tell them to “un-bunch” as you so eloquently put it. We are all real people with real experiences and the least we can do is listen to each other with respect and recognize when something we said was either hurtful or had the potential to be hurtful.
Dear BlackCatGoddess; Yours was the first I had confirming what ‘ace’ was/is.
Reading more of the comments began to offer at least a little bit of a clue, but I reserve the right to be just as huffy-and-puffy as the next person when I think I’m being misunderstood. ( Taz mumbles to himself at this point…’welcome to the Internet’.)
I apologize to anyone who I might have caused harm, but it seems, now, in retrospect- one quick knee-jerk was met with another.
Sometimes I’m Stupid, some times I’m Uninformed. I’m working on the former, I always encourage help with the later.
She is ace, isn’t she? Who called it? It was me, wasn’t it?
I was kinda hoping that was the way it was leaning… This page sums out a lot about how I feel most of the time. Though time has mostly got me looking at all the gaga with a sort of bemused detachment at this point..
That said, I know how you feel, Devyn, being on the outside. But, as Abby said, so do we all.
It’s interesting how Abbie is always facing Devyn, but Devyn never quite faces Abbie. Abbie’s “concerned friend” expression in panel 2 is perfect.
Well, the end of the strip is usually where you get the “oh, don’t worry! You’ll find someone!” blurb from people.
Huzzah! Ace here and i love seeing representation <3
Ditto
Well crap, I’m all caught up. That was an interesting week’s read…
Fairly sure am Ace and Aro as well: there is only one person interested in being with, but that is not likely to happen (haven’t even communicated with her in nearly ten years), and the physical stuff doesn’t interest me at all (at least, not with a partner, wouldn’t know where to begin and it feels too late to start, but still not really interested anyway)
This is my fourth reread of the entire comic. The first time I read this strip is when I starting learning what asexuality is. Got me thinking. I’m pretty sure I’m asexual. But I’m less than a month away from being 31 and I’m still figuring out what that means for me. I used to think I was pansexual, because I was equally attracted to everyone. Asexual fits better because I’m equally unattracted to everyone.
Everyone needs space to figure it out.