I don't get it

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]They don't find anyone attractive but have a sex drive.

There is a debate on whether they are asexual or a type of sexual.

I just wanted the opinion of people not associated with the debate.[/font]

that is meaning strictly the physical appearance?

Sex workers do it. Some sex addicts do it. Etc.

I think that is a very very small group of folks.

This is new to me

If yes, then I can see a person feeling that way.

If no, then I can't.

wanting to have sex and finding certain people acceptable for the act, as opposed to actually being attracted to them.

But, I can't see a person finding nobody unacceptable for the act.

So, maybe I'm a no, I don't think it's possible, because there must be SOME form of attraction for some people to be acceptable and others not.

I think that will help people understand the debate.

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]Sadly, what sexual attraction means is the crux of this debate.

1) Some people take sexual attraction to mean that a person never desires to have sex with other people.

2) Others take sexual attraction to mean physically/erotically attracted to others.

3) Other try to define sexual attraction as being physically attracted to others you desire to have sex with. (combining both)



I am afraid this is another definitions debates like you and I fight in religion all the time on the definition of "atheist." Please use the definition you personally think best.[/font]

And this person is not asexual.

Since there *is* a part of the brain which regulates perceptions of beauty or attraction, and part of that regulation involves overlooking negative qualities in order to form "positive illusions". Since a variety of factors can disrupt this regulation area, I would consider that to be the root of the problem of "never" finding others attractive.

I have read the other comments and I am still not sure what is being asked. So, I am going to answer the best I know how. You know me well enough to steer me back if I am wondering in the wrong pasture.

What I seeing is a confusion of terms. Hetero-, homo-, and bi- are forms of sexuality. They are determined by the person's desire for the other, same, or both sexes. The key word is "desire". Is it possible someone who is asexual has sexual cravings? Sure. Sexual cravings aren't necessarily the same as "desire", it is more of a "biological need" than an "emotional want". I don't see "asexuality" as a true sexual orientation anymore than I see "atheism" as a religion. But, I understand why both are grouped with their various segments. Does that make sense? Therefore, based on my muddled understanding, if someone has sexual attractions, it will determine an orientation. If they have none, then the person is "asexual." Sexual orientation is made up of more than attraction and physical desire, which is why more people are now realizing they may have bisexual proclivities. The physical act may be nothing more than a biological need, an itch that needs scratching; nothing more.

I guess I would say the person is likely an anomaly and the situation is rare. There are certainly people who are defined as hetero-, homo-, bi-, sexual who aren't very interested in sex, but if they identify themselves with a sexual orientation, then they likely do have some type of range of being attracted to peoples, they may not act on it though.

Was I even close? Where should I post my vote.

(PS...sorry I never responded to your remarks in the other thread on bisexuality. I got distracted...no! not that way. )

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]I am struggling to find the correct words to explain this coherently.

There is some debate in the ace community over what exactly "sexual attraction" means. Does it mean desire for other people? Or is it based on feeling of being attracted to others? Or a combination of both? Something else entirely? Is a person asexual if they find people attractive but don't desire sex with others? Or are they asexual if they desire sex with others but don't find people attractive? Or is this an either or situation? Or something else entirely?

While involved in one of these type of discussion one person told me that I shouldn't call a person like I am trying to describe asexual because there are many sexual people who claim to never experience any attraction to other people. Then they said if we considered them asexual then almost half of the worlds population would technically be asexual.

I asked if they had any numbers on that and they didn't, nor could I find any numbers googling. So, being as stubborn and anal as I am on these things, I made this poll (here on DU where people probably never encountered this debate) as kind of an unscientific attempt to test if this claim was true or not.

Are there a lot of sexual people who have never experienced physical attraction to others? Or is that rare. Or would people who identify as sexual call that asexuality. I passed on the vote to avoid influencing the results too much.

In the end, it is another stupid definition debate, and I am sorry for bring it here, but...I just wanted to have some tangible evidence one way or another. From sexual people who don't have any pre-determined opinions on the issue.

No worries about the bisexuality thread. I just like chiming on things like that occasionally.[/font]

PS: I agree with your assessments that asexuality is to sexual orientation as atheism is to religion. Very good analogy.

here whose sexuality has been warped by earlier sexual experiences. I've known many different kinds of people, but I've never known anyone who was never attracted to any person yet they still desired sex. Sounds like it could possibly be an S/M thing, or maybe another kink I'm not familiar with. I certainly don't think it's common.

I agree with Harry in this clip. When you want sex....YOU WANT SEX!