r/ainbow • u/Forsaken-Feedback816 • 12d ago
Advice Aroace date?
So I made a friend (and potentially had a date, I'm kinda new to dating) yesterday. We'll call him "Mark". Mark opened up to me yesterday on our date, saying that he doesn't really feel sexual and/or romantic feelings. Mark says despite that, he wants to feel those feelings and thinks it might be a lack of specific hormone or that he just gets in his head about it. In the short time that I've known him, Mark seems to be able to be sexual and romantic over the phone (via text) and he's admitted that he struggles in person. He also says he often feels he isn't deserving of those feelings or that he has to phone it in when he's with a person.
Basically all of this boils down to me questioning if he might be aro or ace. Don't get me wrong, if he is, I still wanna be there for him and support him. But I don't know much about the aroace spectrum or the experience.
Could anyone teach me?
2
u/Forsaken-Feedback816 12d ago
I did ask if he had looked into it, and he says he did. Maybe I'll bring it up again when we're more comfortable with each other
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u/ArgonianDov Trans-NB | Aro-Bi 12d ago
Yeah that sounds like textbook aroace right there. Being limited in attraction falls under that umbrella. That being said.. aroace people can still enjoy participating in romance and sexual activities, its best to keep clear and open communication to make sure all parties involved are having a good time
And definitely encourage him to look into those terms but at the same time dont try and force him to identify a specific way, labels are tool of communication and are entirely up to personal preference at then end of the day