Is it possible to have a meaningful, long-term relationship without being physical?

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

to gdl203: I disagree that all relationships become asexual. I know couples who've been married for over 50 years who still engage in regular love-making. Even my own, now failed, marriage was intimate to some extent until quite near the end.

Note that I wrote "most" not "all"

 

[LabelKing]

It's called a Platonic relationship.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

It's called a Platonic relationship.

I imagine you have many of these with your latently homosexual mentors?

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Connemara

I imagine you have many of these with your latently homosexual mentors?

I understand that you are the Alcibiades to your roomate's Socrates?

 

[Saucemaster]

A "relationship" without any physical component is friendship. A romantic relationship is necessarily physical. Even if you don't do anything physical--e.g. The Sun Also Rises--the entire character of the relationship just becomes one of longing. Now, if you're asking whether you can sustain a relationship based on nothing but chaste longing for any length of time (basically the chivalric ideal, right?), I'd say it's possible, but you'd have to be one of the following:

1. Monumentally masochistic
2. A monumental tool*
3. A woman, or more properly, a girl

*Who will jump on the bait first? Iammatt? M@t? Edmorel? Globe?

 

[Augusto86]

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

A "relationship" without any physical component is friendship. A romantic relationship is necessarily physical. Even if you don't do anything physical--e.g. The Sun Also Rises--the entire character of the relationship just becomes one of longing. Now, if you're asking whether you can sustain a relationship based on nothing but chaste longing for any length of time (basically the chivalric ideal, right?), I'd say it's possible, but you'd have to be one of the following:

1. Monumentally masochistic
   
   
   • A monumental tool*
2. 
   
3. A woman, or more properly, a girl

*Who will jump on the bait first? Iammatt? M@t? Edmorel? Globe?

My tool is so monumental that, unfortunately, I have yet to find a mortal woman who could handle its awesome majesty...

I am therefore, necessarily, celibate. The burden is mine to bear...

 

[Arethusa]

Onanism is a monastic virtue.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

A "relationship" without any physical component is friendship. A romantic relationship is necessarily physical. Even if you don't do anything physical--e.g. The Sun Also Rises--the entire character of the relationship just becomes one of longing. Now, if you're asking whether you can sustain a relationship based on nothing but chaste longing for any length of time (basically the chivalric ideal, right?), I'd say it's possible, but you'd have to be one of the following:

1. Monumentally masochistic
   
2. A monumental tool*
   
3. A woman, or more properly, a girl

*Who will jump on the bait first? Iammatt? M@t? Edmorel? Globe?

Suppressed sexuality can also be an outlet for that form of "the chivalric ideal". That is, sexuality channeled into a religious complex, such as found in the Medieval Virgin Cults--directly connected to the Chivalric Ideal. Also your point about Masochism is well taken considering those displays of (painful) ecstasy shown by St.Theresa and St.Agatha.

 

[texas_jack]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Onanism is a monastic virtue.

Then I must be Jesus.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Onanism is a monastic virtue.

I thought Onanism was associated more with the Sin of Onan.

 

[VMan]

I know a few people who are in several-year relationships and will not go further than hugging or light kissing. Making out would be going too far for them. No joke.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

A "relationship" without any physical component is friendship. A romantic relationship is necessarily physical. Even if you don't do anything physical--e.g. The Sun Also Rises--the entire character of the relationship just becomes one of longing. Now, if you're asking whether you can sustain a relationship based on nothing but chaste longing for any length of time (basically the chivalric ideal, right?), I'd say it's possible, but you'd have to be one of the following:

1. Monumentally masochistic
   
2. A monumental tool*
   
3. A woman, or more properly, a girl

*Who will jump on the bait first? Iammatt? M@t? Edmorel? Globe?

And we have a winner. +1

~ Huntsman

 

[sonick]

Thanks guys! Great responses, as always!

As for augusto:

My tool is so monumental that, unfortunately, I have yet to find a mortal woman who could handle its awesome majesty...

I am therefore, necessarily, celibate. The burden is mine to bear...

 

[acidboy]

Never. The chubby always gets in the way.

 

[Reuters]

It is not possible for me. It is the physical aspect of love.