forms of intimacy and societal assumptions made: there is no highest form of intimacy

[belenen]

icon: "interconnectedness (two bald purple-skinned people in the ocean: from Joan Slonczewski's "Door Into Ocean")"
from delicatexflower: what do you consider the highest form of intimacy? does it vary on the person?

I think the most intense form of intimacy does vary both from person to person and interaction to interaction. I recognize many different kinds:

Comments

[belenen]

thank you!

*happyglow over resonance*

[belenen]

yep, I see abuse as the inverse of healthy intimacy. Part of the reason it is so hard to leave an abusive relationship is that that might be the most intimate you have ever been, and humans crave intimacy. "Good" gets really blurry there.

[belenen]

I hadn't either until writing this! it was pretty cool to reflect on the kinds of intimacy I have with people.

[raidingparty]

Eeeeenteresting - definitely hadn't thought about categorizing the different shapes of intimacy before now, although I had been aware of non-sexual intimacy.

[belenen]

:D

[toll_booth]

Back in the 1800s, it was considered socially acceptable for straight white men to express their friendship for each other in rather flowery terms. It is a shame that that is no longer the case.

[belenen]

Yeah, the more masculinity is enforced the more intimacy is reduced. It's one of the reasons why even though defaults don't have to deal with a lot of shit that others do, they are still quite damaged by patriarchy. It's horrible.