So, a while ago, I had an idea about how maybe "threads of attraction" (i.e. platonic, romantic, sexual, etc.) are actually made up of separate strands of more basic emotional responses. I thought that maybe alterous attraction was caused by having strands from both the platonic and romantic threads wound together into a single thread. Well, after deciding that I was pretty firmly in the demi-romantic/grey-romantic spectrum, I've been doing a bit more research on the topic of attractions. All of it coalesced into a new revelation, one of those moments that makes me feel like Neo when he finally can "see" the code behind the Matrix. There are no threads! Only the strands are real! What we think of as platonic, romantic, or sexual attraction are just the most common collections of individual strands of emotional responses that humans experience. They are not the only configurations that may exist. Indeed for what may be a small minority, but still a statistically significant amount of humanity, we experience very different configurations of emotional attachment. The concepts of alterous attraction, and queerplatonic relationships fit into this theory beautifully.
Anyway, a few references to the other articles I talk about these subjects, since FB pages kind of suck (I'm thinking of moving a bunch of this content to a blog where I can have normal "links" between articles.)
The original "threads" and "strands" theory: https://www.facebook.com/theoryofrelationships/posts/793156807853693 My revelation of being demi-romantic, as well as general commentary on common attraction configurations: https://www.facebook.com/theoryofrelationships/posts/802498270252880 My initial commentary on alterous attraction and how it works within the context of relationship anarchy, as well as a third party article on the subject: https://www.facebook.com/theoryofrelationships/posts/801206317048742 I know I said I wouldn't make these big long posts, but it's just how my brain works, sorry! Hope some of this is at least somewhat interesting. Cheers!