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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I'm not denying some people can have romantic platonic relationships. Asexuals, perhaps, but is it really exploring the depth of what a romantic relationship/bond truly is? After all, the purpose of romance is to build a bond between a partner to raise children which would logically include a sexual component.
While sex without romance is possible, can true romance without sex exist?
Yes there are old couples who do not have sex anymore...but that bond was built largely through a physical relationship over decades.
I used to separate sex and love, but now I don't think they're completely separable, it's not 'one or the other.' If I may say so the moment of orgasm, for instance, is kind of like the chemical culmination of attraction both physical and emotional. Like a drug, it's kind of both. It totally possess your being - physically and emotionally.
I'm not suggesting the answer to a loveless marriage is always sex - quality counts more than quantity - but rather the innate nature of romantic love, and if sex is an integral and major part of it.
I know a lot of relationships today are based mostly on the physical component, but the way I see it, both are required to work together. One cannot emphasize one over the other.
This is different from LOVE, mind you. I'm speaking of particular ROMANTIC LOVE, not other types of love like 'agape' love. Love for your children or family might be deeper than that of your spouse (it seems it often is, despite what many say) but since it's ultimate purpose is not to create new life and raise it, but to strengthen existing bonds, it's of a different quality.
What is a "romantic platonic relationship".....I can understand a "platonic relationship", but not a romantic one.....I always thought that a romantic love included sex.....though sex does not necessarily include romance.eg: sex with a prostitute.
as a rule sex destroyed romance. wanting is much more a strong lasting emotion than getting. the
mind will go for years clinging to the imaginary. it explains my relationship with sara palin and my great patience.
if i squint i can almost see russia.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,060,466 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by purehuman
What is a "romantic platonic relationship".....I can understand a "platonic relationship", but not a romantic one.....I always thought that a romantic love included sex.....though sex does not necessarily include romance.eg: sex with a prostitute.
I believe it can exist, but my question is whether it encompasses the totality of the potential of the romantic bond?
Some people who claim to be asexual fall in love too. They may have all the emotional feelings of 'falling in love', be infatuated with the person, have romantic dinners - they just aren't interested in sex. I do believe they might have romantic sexual orientations - i.e. be romantically attracted to a certain gender while physically being interested in neither.
I've experienced it myself to a degree. Having a virtually romantic interest in a girl I didn't find physically attractive. Of course those usually ended up as friends, though.
I suppose romance may be able to exist without sex. I mean, people can meet, date, and fall in love without having sex first, or even during these phases.
That said, I think intimacy will (or at least can) enhance the true romance. However, it depends on how the intimacy is. Sex for the sake of going through the mechanical activity for self gratification is not romance. Intimacy, however, for the satisfaction, closeness, and emotional connection between the couple can very much enhance the romantic experience.
"While sex without romance is possible, can true romance without sex exist?"
Like said above, it can probably exists in Asexuals?
I believe the amount of chemicals that are released when you have "high quality sex" lead to a certain amount of Imprinting. You can have a caring romantic loving relationship with someone with out sex and that is good and special. But, when you add close Passionate, Intiment contact between a man and a woman Making Love you just moved it to a whole other level
While sex without romance is possible, can true romance without sex exist?
Yes. Have been there quite frequently myself...for me personally, the feeling of "falling in love" happens almost 99.99% of the time for me, before feelings of physical desire occur.
Quote:
This is different from LOVE, mind you. I'm speaking of particular ROMANTIC LOVE, not other types of love like 'agape' love. Love for your children or family might be deeper than that of your spouse (it seems it often is, despite what many say) but since it's ultimate purpose is not to create new life and raise it, but to strengthen existing bonds, it's of a different quality.
(Referring to bolded portion above.) I respectfully disagree, since I believe that romantic can be and has the potential to be, agape love and/or unconditional love. Also, to me, at least IMO, a potential beloved spouse *is* my very closest family to me, as far as I am concerned.
Men can easily separate sex from love. Men can have sex with anyone and not have any love feelings for that person. It is a need like eating. You eat and you are no longer hungry. And men can get quite emotionally attached to others (male or female) without ever having sex with them. Animals too.
Women on the other hand (in my opinion again) are different. It seems to me sex is intertwined with love. They are not easily separated. Evidence of this is when a woman finds a man "cheating". Her reaction is that the man "loves" the other person he is having sex with. Not so in many cases!
Anyway people are different. I'm sure there are men who are different than what I described above and as well as women. But in general those are my observations.
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