Aplatonic
Aplatonic (commonly shortened to apl, and pronounced as apple), is an orientation defined by experiencing little to no platonic attraction, not relating to the concept of platonic love, or struggling to form platonic relationships due to one's own neurodivergency or trauma.[1] The prefix a- means not or lack of in Greek.[2][3] The aplatonic spectrum (often shorted to apl-spec or aplspec) is an umbrella term for all aplatonic identities, or a term used by individuals who do not wish to identify themselves with any particular aplatonic microlabel.[4]
Platonic dispositions among aplatonic individuals can vary. Some aplatonic individuals may still have or seek platonic relationship(s) (unexclusively referred to as friendships), despite not feeling platonic attraction to anyone (cupioplatonic). This could be for many reasons, such as for their own pleasure, social benefits, community aid, or feeling that one's attraction is not an important aspect to partaking in their platonic relationship(s). Other aplatonic individuals may be repulsed by the concept of platonicity. Terms such as platonic-repulsed, platonic-indifferent, platonic-favorable, or platonic-ambivalent are commonly used to describe these attitudes.
History
The term aplatonic was first introduced by Mr. Shuttershy on the AVEN forums on April 6th, 2012. They described their aplatonic experiences as: "I have friends and care about them; but love is a powerful word, and one I cannot apply to them".[3]
The term was later reintroduced by Tumblr user aroarolibrary on December 20th, 2014.[5]
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alloplatonic | Opposite | An individual that experiences platonic attraction. | Aplatonic individuals rarely or never experience platonic attraction. |
| Aqueerplatonic | Counterpart | An individual that experiences little to no queerplatonic attraction. | Aqueerplatonic is the queerplatonic orientation counterpart to aplatonic. |
| Aromantic | Counterpart | An individual that experiences little to no romantic attraction. | Aromantic is the romantic orientation counterpart to aplatonic. |
| Asexual | Counterpart | An individual that experiences little to no sexual attraction. | Asexual is the sexual orientation counterpart to aplatonic. |
| Asocial | Counterpart | An individual that experiences little to no social attraction. | Asocial is the social orientation counterpart to aplatonic. |
Prefixes and Suffixes
| Label | Prefix / Suffix | Flag | Description | Creator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aplflux | -flux |  [6]
|
Fluctuating between feeling platonic attraction and lacking platonic attraction.[6] | Unknown |
| Apljump | -jump |  [7]
|
Normally alloplatonic, but occasionally experiencing sudden and intense periods of aplatonicity.[7] | Anonymous |
| Aplspike | -spike |  [8]
|
Normally aplatonic but occasionally alloplatonic.[8] | Anonymous |
| Aplvague | -vague |  [9]
|
Aplatoncity partially influenced by one's neurodivergence.[9] | Cosmic Lemon151 |
Flags and Symbols
The purple, blue, green, and cream aplatonic flag was created by deactivated Tumblr user pride-flags-for-us on or before 15th of August, 2015.[10] The colors purple, green, and blue were chosen as they are the inverse of yellow, pink, and brown - colors that traditionally represent friendship. The cream stripe signifies the possibility of attractions other than platonic being present.[11]
The black, grey, white, and yellow aplatonic flag was created by an unknown individual, and published by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt on the 5th of September, 2015.[12]
Two alternate aplspike flags were created by pride-color-schemes on the 26th of June, 2016.[8]
An alternate aplflux was created by Tumblr user pride-color-schemes on the 26th of June, 2016. Another alternate aplflux was published on the same post, and created by an anonymous individual.[6] Two alternate aplflux flags were created by Reign of the breadsticcs on the 5th of May, 2021.[13]
Apples are sometimes used to symbolize aplatonicism, due to the phonetic similarity between apl and apple. The colors of iridescence can also be used as a symbol for aplatonicism, due to the colors resembling the aplatonic flag.[14]
One of the first aplatonic spectrum flags was created by Tumblr user Ap, on the 8th of November, 2018. It was based on the acespec and arospec flags created by neo-identity.[4] An alternate aplatonic spectrum flag was created by Tumblr user neopronouns, on the 3rd of July, 2020. It was based on the arospec and acespec flags created by lgbtrainbowdolls.[15]
Aplatonic (Pride-Flags)
Aplspike Alternate (pride-color-schemes)
Aplspike Alternate (pride-color-schemes)
Apl-flux Alternate (pride-color-schemes)
Apl-flux Alternate (pride-color-schemes)
Apl-flux Alternate (Reign of the breadsticcs)
Apl-flux Alternate (Reign of the breadsticcs)
Aplatonic Spectrum (Ap)
Aplatonic Spectrum (neopronouns)
Resources
- ↑ aromagni. "Aplatonic Masterpost". Tumblr, 13 Sep, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20230524203314/https://www.tumblr.com/aromagni/629112378923122688/aplatonic-masterpost. Archived on 24 May, 2023.
- ↑ "a-". Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a-#Catalan. Accessed on 21 Jan, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mr. Shuttershy. "Aplatonic". The AVEN, 6 Apr, 2012, https://web.archive.org/web/20221105224123/https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/73079-aplatonic/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ap. "Aplspec Pride Flag". Tumblr, 8 Nov, 2018, https://beyond-mogai-pride-flags.tumblr.com/post/179907904215/aplspec-pride-flag.
- ↑ aroarolibrary. "I’m going to make aplatonic a thing.". Tumblr, 30 Dec, https://web.archive.org/web/20220219173332/https://aroarolibrary.tumblr.com/post/106663269439/im-going-to-make-aplatonic-a-thing. Archived on 19 Feb, 2022.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 pride-color-schemes. "Platoniflux, Platonicflux, Aplflux, Aplatoniflux,". Tumblr, 26 Jun, 2016, https://pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/146490525489/platoniflux-platonicflux-aplflux-aplatoniflux.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Unknown. "I made something! Apl-jump (definition in comments)". Reddit, 24 May, 2023, https://www.reddit.com/r/aplatonic/comments/13prs5v/i_made_something_apljump_definition_in_comments/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 pride-color-schemes. "Aplspike, Aplatonispike". Tumblr, 26 Jun, 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20230517213832/https://pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/146492803406/aplspike-aplatonispike.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cosmic Lemon151. "Aplvague". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 15 Jun, 2021, https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Aplvague.
- ↑ pride-flags-for-us. "Aplatonic/Gray Aplatonic/Demiplatonic Pride Flags". Tumblr, https://web.archive.org/web/20160617065740/http://pride-flags-for-us.tumblr.com/post/129300220836/aplatonicgray-aplatonicdemiplatonic-pride-flags. Archived on 22 Jun, 2023.
- ↑ pride-flags-for-us. Tumblr, https://web.archive.org/web/20220124014319/https://aroarolibrary.tumblr.com/post/106685973494/pride-flags-for-us-aplatonic-describes-someone. Archived on 24 Jan, 2022.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. "Aplatonic (2)". DeviantArt, 5 Sep, 2015, https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Aplatonic-2-558308946.
- ↑ Reign of the breadsticcs. "Aplflux". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 5 May, 2021, https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Aplflux.
- ↑ apl-aro-narc. "Aplatonic Symbols Post!!". Tumblr, https://www.tumblr.com/apl-aro-narc/711387669620523008/aplatonic-symbols-post?source=share. Accessed on 8 May, 2023.
- ↑ neopronouns. "aplspec:". Tumblr, 3 Jul, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20230123222653/https://neopronouns.tumblr.com/post/622636163302326273/aplspec-aplspec-or-aplatonic-spectrum-is-an.
