Pyreflies of MJ
Imitation Krab
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2014
- Messages
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So, I got to thinking. In my previous musings, it would seem I stereotyped SpongeBob. I made the assumption that, because he is so touchy-feely, mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey, stuck-up-your-butt- affectionate, I thought he was probably a romantic asexual. But now that I really think about it again, it actually seems to make more sense for him to be aromantic.
I am aromantic, and I'd say that a negative stereotype that floats about is that we are dispassionate robots, but I 'aint and SpongeBob, well. 'Nuff said.
So I'm actually kinda' appalled that I didn't see this before – it seems there is no reason why SpongeBob couldn't be aromantic. In fact, it doesn't seem like he's ever shown a genuine interest in romance. Relationships are extremely important to him, but romantic ones are off the radar. I know he asked the “Magic Conch” if he'd ever get married, but does that even count!? lol
The point? Well, aromantic asexuals can have these things called “squishes” which is akin to a crush, but...not. It's hard to explain what a squish is, but it's an attraction that's not romantic in nature, yet distinctly different from platonic feelings for friends. I find this relevant because, a lot of people have said they view SpongeBob's interest in Squid as brotherly or hero-worship idolatry, but to me that doesn't quite read right. I think it' accurate to say SpongeBob and Patrick are like bros, and that SpongeBob maybe worships Mermaid Man, rainbow coated spatulas and jellyfish genomes. But Squiddy feels different.
I think that SpongeBob is likely not romantically interested in Squidward, but that he has feelings for him that aren't familial either. It's more like an intense squish, which can excel to “love” in the aromantic sense. It's quite possible to be in love, to fall in love with someone without the romantic nature of love – it's VERY hard to explain this but it's a real thing. It's different from sibling love, paternal love, or love between best friends. I have experienced it myself. And when people who have squishes form committed bonds with the person they are attracted to, it's known as a queer-platonic relationship.
So I think that maybe, canonically, that makes the most sense. Not that Squid would commit to a “bond” with SpongeBob, but that SpongeBob is experiencing a queer-platonic squishy love type thing....for Squidward.
*coughs and scuttles away*
I am aromantic, and I'd say that a negative stereotype that floats about is that we are dispassionate robots, but I 'aint and SpongeBob, well. 'Nuff said.
So I'm actually kinda' appalled that I didn't see this before – it seems there is no reason why SpongeBob couldn't be aromantic. In fact, it doesn't seem like he's ever shown a genuine interest in romance. Relationships are extremely important to him, but romantic ones are off the radar. I know he asked the “Magic Conch” if he'd ever get married, but does that even count!? lol
The point? Well, aromantic asexuals can have these things called “squishes” which is akin to a crush, but...not. It's hard to explain what a squish is, but it's an attraction that's not romantic in nature, yet distinctly different from platonic feelings for friends. I find this relevant because, a lot of people have said they view SpongeBob's interest in Squid as brotherly or hero-worship idolatry, but to me that doesn't quite read right. I think it' accurate to say SpongeBob and Patrick are like bros, and that SpongeBob maybe worships Mermaid Man, rainbow coated spatulas and jellyfish genomes. But Squiddy feels different.
I think that SpongeBob is likely not romantically interested in Squidward, but that he has feelings for him that aren't familial either. It's more like an intense squish, which can excel to “love” in the aromantic sense. It's quite possible to be in love, to fall in love with someone without the romantic nature of love – it's VERY hard to explain this but it's a real thing. It's different from sibling love, paternal love, or love between best friends. I have experienced it myself. And when people who have squishes form committed bonds with the person they are attracted to, it's known as a queer-platonic relationship.
So I think that maybe, canonically, that makes the most sense. Not that Squid would commit to a “bond” with SpongeBob, but that SpongeBob is experiencing a queer-platonic squishy love type thing....for Squidward.
*coughs and scuttles away*
