#like... 'wow ngl if i were doing a project with him i'd be losing my damn mind. is he always like this?'

[aro-culture-is]

Aro culture is having not a single fucking clue what to say when your coworkers start talking about relationships. Like how am I supposed to contribute to this conversation. I can’t tell you about my nonexistent partner. I can’t whine about how I haven’t found anybody I don’t want. I can only say “oh that’s cool” and “damn sorry about that” so many times. And now I look awkward and standoffish.

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#Anonymous #aro culture is #aro #aromantic #actually aro #actually aromantic #ask #mod kee #honestly i think the best way to add to that #is like... ask about plans and things they like to do together #talk about details #like... say ur coworkers are talking about a date night #you can ask where they went for food and respond with stuff about like. oh have you been to such-and-such place - they've got the best #[similar food style] #or like. just... find a point of connection to the topics that aren't just the relationships #though i'd generally advise leading with a question that includes the relationship so it feels less like an intentional topic change #and for the 'damn i'm sorry about that' types of convos #consider if you've ever had a similar situation in some way. #like... 'wow ngl if i were doing a project with him i'd be losing my damn mind. is he always like this?' #also sometimes it helps to create a topic #like... bring in homemade food and talk about how you found the recipe and thought they'd like it #or like... if u have some sort of hobby you can talk about how you've been working on a project or w/e with that recently #you can also redirect to that stuff! like ur coworker is talking about having a date night -> oh that's neat! personally i'm really excited #to work on my embroidery project - have i shown you any pictures? #or say they're talking about a fight in their relationship - 'that's so stressful! you should do something for yourself - do you read? #i've been reading xyz book - maybe you'd like it?' #overall like. acknowledge their topic and validate their emotions -> handshake it to a similar but more relatable topic