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sixes's avatar

🌈 But they told me, a man should be faithful

And walk when not able

And fight till the end but I'm only human

Will You Be There - Michael Jackson 🎹

Clint Collide's avatar

Thanks, Steve…hope you’re moonwalking the weekend away! :-)

Dr Ray Lightbown's avatar

Agree with your new friend and you. It is built into humans (and the other primates, probably most mammals) to find other people of the same species attractive. It may be kinship, romantic interest or erotic, or whatever. We have only recently had any concept of distinguishing same-sex and opposite sex attraction.

I stopped seeing a dimension, like Kinsey's, several decades ago. I find labels of limited use.

Clint Collide's avatar

I’m slowly and surely realizing labels are useful for surface-level communication, but by the nature of their brevity can’t capture the true essence of our humanity, not to mention our various levels of sexuality. Cheers, my dears…hope you’re feeling better! 🌈😘

Dr Ray Lightbown's avatar

Much better, thank you. Indeed, as I hope that you are feeling better, too.

The dissatisfaction with labels (not just sexual ones) has made it clearer to me why I don't "identify" as anything other than "me".

Clint Collide's avatar

Glad you’re on the mend, boo! As for labels, the only one that matters to me (in regards to you) is the affectionate “Uncle Ray” I enjoy thinking of you as. Cheers, my dears!

Dr Ray Lightbown's avatar

In fact, I treat names as labels and often forget people's names.

I am happy to regard you as my nephew, my dear. It labels aspects of our relationship.

Michael Horvich's avatar

Clint, Excellent view on who we are. We need labels and often they also cause unnecessary pain. I am human! I love that. Or maybe just, "I am!" Fondly, Michael

Clint Collide's avatar

Thank you, Michael. Like most things, labels can be a double-edge sword. Cheers to “I am!” 🌈✌️

R. Michael's avatar

I came out at 28 and it felt like finally being allowed to exist.

Twenty-five years later, I got an ADHD diagnosis and the exact same thing happened.

Two different labels. Both felt like rescue at first. Both eventually started to feel like a box.

Bridge and fence is exactly right.

Clarke Fountain's avatar

Sometimes it's good to step away from all the labels and just say "I'm human." No matter how weird you feel about yourself, it's possible to just relax for a moment. The burden of special identities is just that; maybe it's necessary, but you can set it down for a moment. Lovely post, Clint.

Clint Collide's avatar

Thank you, dear Clarke. I appreciate you. :-*