You're looking at Less Wrong's discussion board. This includes all posts, including those that haven't been promoted to the front page yet. For more information, see About Less Wrong.

Gunnar_Zarncke comments on Thoughts on hacking aromanticism? - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: hg00 02 June 2016 11:52AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (37)

You are viewing a single comment's thread.

Comment author: Gunnar_Zarncke 02 June 2016 09:13:32PM 1 point [-]

Some thoughts by someone single but with children, low baseline romanticism and relatively high productivity.

I like the ideas put forward a lot. Or rather the approach behind the ideas: Systematic and informed optimizing of one-self. Like other commenters I'm somewhat dubious whether this can work in such an elementary reproductive area but as I have some kind of experience in that area I think it merits some thought.

From some discussions I get that the frequency by which people are drawn to other people romantically (or otherwise attracted) varies a lot (see poll in other comment). I hear that some people have to deal with strong attraction multiple times a month. I personally got infatuated only once (and that led to a long-term relationship) and noticed first stages one single second time. So I seem to be at the other end of the spectrum. But I can relate still. I sometimes feel a longing for intimate company - but I want it right and this isn't triggered by potential partners. Also there are phases of some sexual tension. These are interestingly largely absent if children are in the house - which they are often. Evopsych answer: Natural regulation of reproduction. I wonder if that work if these were not my own children.

So if I'm almost aromantic by nature and environment how come I think that I can contribute? Maybe my natural environment is one that lends itself to being aromantic and not the other way around. Or I can tell about how it actually feels to be aromantic - should your approach actually work.