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I am an asexual, and for those who don't know what that is, here ya go:

Wikipedia on Asexuality
Asexuality Visibility and Education Network

Now then, I made a thread in the General Discussion, Life Issues Sub Forum. In this thread, I asked for advice on how to break the news to my parents that I was asexual. Many people simply told me it was a phase that I'd grow out of. Here is that thread. Now then, my gaian friend A p o c o l y p s e and I decided to see what people's response would be if I was to only slightly alter the text of my post and post it under a different account that I was a closet homosexual who wanted to come out to my parents. Here is a link to that thread. After having a good laugh at the results, we figured this one out: Although homosexuality is embraced by an almost random sampling of Gaians, asexuality is not even recognized as legitimate by another sampling of Gaians, who were of aproximately the same views as those of the homosexual thread.

Now then, my case is that although homosexuality is now recognized and even accepted by a growing number of people, the concept of asexuality is now being thought of in the same light as homosexuality was years ago.

Now then, discuss:
-Should asexuality be considered a period of sexual development or an actual sexual orientation?
-What are your thoughts on asexuality?

NOTICE: This is NOT a gay-bashing thread. I respect homosexuals as much as I would any other human being, but homosexuality is the easiest yardstick to compare asexuality to in the form of prejudice.

You know that since this is the sociology subforum, nobody is going to talk about it. I might link this in my sig...

I think Asexuality is an orientation, I just think some people are too close minded and hormone filled to even understand it.

Strange, but not suprising. At least most people are accepting of asexuality.
I'm asexual too, by the way.

Asexuality states a lack of interest in sex itself, based on the word. It is however more recognised as a lack of interest to a gender. Biologicly speaking, asexual doesn't need a mate. So, taking from that a person who loves themself and can plase themself and feels they can only rely on themselves, would be asexual. But wikipedia states they have a lack of interest in sex. If that's true, then they could have a working relationship, minus the sexual activities. So, an asexual person could end up in a relationship with another asexual person, regardless of gender, and be happy because there is not sex involved.

Does that mean there are two classes of asexuality?

Lack of interest in sex, but interest in a relationship sounds reasonable to me. However, being content on self love and shunning close companionship does not. Humans are socially oriented and we crave affection. Are all people like this? No. But it's completely undocumented for a person to not seek affectionate companionship without prior mental stress. Even if that stress happened as an infant and the person has no memories of that mental stress. Tests are done all the time to evaluate the status of babies when they are deprived or overwhelmed with physical touch and affection. Also, faulty parenting can lead to such a mental state. So psychologicly speaking, an asexual person who does not seek a companion would be considered a mental dysfunction by most.

Can asexuality in general be a stage? Of course it can! Can it be perminant? Of course it can! Can it be fixed? Of course it can! Can a person live a happy life with this orientation? Of course they can! Can they be miserable? Of course they can!

Then again, I'm warry of slaping labels on anyone because everyone doesn't fit into every detail of a category. So why state to anyone, "I'm asexual." Why not state how you feel about the situation in your life. The details that apply to you. If they really wanna know.

Romantic and aromantic 3nodding I think there must be aromantic sexuals out there too.

How bizarre.