UPDATE: That AVEN site is hilarious. So you don't want to have sex, so what? You are going to make a f*cking newsletter about it, and start an awareness campaign? Awareness of what? We are now aware of the non-existence of your sex drive. Now that we know about it...so what? Is there anything in life more boring that knowing that something doesn't exist?
What is the point? Are rednecks lynching "asexuals" in Florida? Are you unable to get a job as a grade school teacher because the administrators think you are a pervert? Does the state say you can't get married? Did the church kick you out? Is there a "don't ask don't tell" policy in the military? Who gives a flying f*ck!?
It reminds me of that Bill Hicks joke about how he hates people and wanted to start a new political party around this idea, the People Who Hate People Party.
"People who hate people, come together!"...and then of course nobody does.
It's pretty sad you feel that way, oh well. Why the need to inform people? If you bothered to read further, without a biased view, you would have your answer. Directly from AVEN:
Why would asexuals want or need to 'come out' anyway?
For some asexuals it really is the case that their asexuality is a complete non-issue, they never have any reason to mention sex and feel perfectly comfortable interacting with others.
Other asexuals find themselves in situations where they are expected to be sexual. They might feel pressured to fake sexual attractions in order to fit in and have an easy life. Many people find that those around them constantly bring up sexual attraction in conversations, be it sex talk in the office or "look at the legs on her". It might be easier to play along and pretend you have sexual thoughts and feelings, but in doing so you are effectively 'in the closet', whether to avoid shame or simply to make life easier for yourself.
Some asexuals have found it refreshing to come out as having no sexual attraction. They no longer have to fade into the background when sex comes into the conversation or fake sexual interest in order to fit in. They can be completely honest about who they are and what they feel.
Another reason to consider coming out is to increase visibility and acceptance of asexuals in our society. While you may feel perfectly comfortable with who you are, other asexuals feel broken or less than human. As more and more asexuals are visible in our society, the idea of asexuality as a valid part of human experience will become more widespread. Just one more openly asexual person increases the likelihood that other asexuals won't have to grow up feeling broken and ashamed.
Coming out is, of course, your own personal choice and no one will think less of you if you decide that it's not for you.
I don't know your problem is, but there are many different reasons. I would hardly call it a movement and I don't see how it would bother you so. My motivation is educating others about it, and aside from that I am curious about the subject in general. Also, you wouldn't believe how uncomfortable it makes you feel to be surrounded by those who constantly make you feel like you
need to have a desire for sex when you have absolutely no desire for it. Either by talking about it, acting on it, whatever. Society as a whole seems to think you
must have sex, because it's "only natural to do so". Homosexuals are persecuted, because their preference is "not natural" and people fear what they do not understand. In fact many Asexuals are labeled as "closet homosexuals". So yes often misinformation, and ignorance, can lead to persecution and conflict.
So...if I smoke a lot of weed and totally lose my sex drive do I render myself asexual? I'm almost 36 and don't get as excited as I used to. Does this mean I'm slowly becoming asexual?
Only you can really say.
But in general I don't believe many people who have an active sex drive would have one if it weren't for the hormones. Wanting sex is not a neutral state. Its something most people are chemically motivated towards. Therefore to not have an active sex drive means you lack the chemical motivation, or that its being suppressed by a crappy diet, or drugs, clinical depression, or a husband who doesn't know how to screw. My point is there are, of course, people who don't get horny, but this isn't a sexual orientation.
Oh really?:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Asexual_ants_discovered There exist species of ants who are asexual or rather, have changed over time and become (ie evolved) asexual. Granted this is the other definition of asexual, but it shows that it is not limited to single celled organisms and that it can have nothing to do with hormones. I cannot think of a more hormonal driven species than insects. In fact many asexuals have been tested for hormone levels, some have low levels, and some are completely normal. There is no correlation between hormones and being asexual. Logically it may sound like the cause, but scientifically it has yet to be proven, what makes one lack sexual desires.
Asexuality is only recently starting to be recognized, and in the past there hasn't been much research into it. Probably because no one was looking for it in any experiments/studies. This is slowly changing. The earliest study making mention of asexuality being in 1948:
http://thomaskraemer.blogspot.com/2006/09/kinsey-scale-and-asexuality-1948.htmlIt is not biologically normal to have zero sex drive. Obviously there are some people like this, just as there are blind people, people with no legs, etc. As I said up there there are medical reasons for this as well as psychological.
Again how would you know? You make assumptions on what you know and understand to be true. Do I have low hormone levels? Who knows? Does it really matter? Would it change the fact that I still have 0 desire for sex? No, and furthermore it doesn't change the fact that I am perfectly happy and healthy without sex. Mentally, AND physically. What is normal for the majority, is not normal for an everyone. Furthermore the majority is not always "right", many times the majority is very wrong, proven by science later down the road.
Furthermore I can easily see people grasping on to this fad definition in hopes of justifying their lack of wanting to interact with anyone, sexually or otherwise, or get a job, or finish school, or anything else.
Fad? I don't see how, most asexuals don't feel the need to even speak up about it, and are perfectly fine just going along with life. It can't really be a fad, if it is something that rings true in ones life. Certainly you may see it as a fad or "movement", but in reality most are earnestly in the pursuit of knowledge and dispelling ignorance. Whether or not asexuals are persecuted, is not the issue. Most just want others to understand, and some want to not have that feeling of being an outcast, or a freak. Just because you see no reason for this educational endeavor, does not mean there are not legit and valid reasons to do so.
Besides many asexuals are still 100% capable of sex, their reproductive organs are intact and functional, many go into non sexual relationships, and are very happy. Even the aromantic asexual still yearns for, and needs companionship and support from others, be it family, friends, whatever. I plan on fully finishing school, getting a job, and interacting with people on a daily basis. I am in fact, a very social person.
Kinda funny how in all of your assumptions about asexuals, none are true in me personally and many others. If you think I am deluding myself or lying, it won't surprise me one bit It's clear as day that you have bolted your mind shut on this topic.
So I guess I feel the same way about self-identified asexual humans as I feel about furrys. Keep your Eyes on the Prize and maybe you'll change my ignorant mind.
I don't plan to change your mind as it is completely closed on the subject. I'd be wasting my time. Others who have an open mind however, are the ones I am after.
the term you're looking for is 'celibate', not 'asexual'. it's certainly possible to have a libido so low that you hardly ever feel the need (when was the last time you wanked? feel free to tell me it's none of my beeswax) but 'asexual' is a zoological term for creatures that don't have anything resembling sex.
Do you also believe homosexuality is a choice and not biological? Celibate is a choice, asexuality is hardwired into you from birth. I can't enjoy or have a desire for sex, even if I wanted to, it's just not there. Believe me I have TRIED, and I can safely say, it's not happening. Celibates still desire sex, they just don't let themselves do it. Again the low hormones is still just a theory, and has yet to be scientifically proven to be a cause, part or whole, to asexuality.