Aplatonic

Aplatonic, abbreviated Apl (pronounced as "apple") is an identity on the aplatonic spectrum that is used most commonly by a-spec individuals who do not experience platonic attraction, or by those who do not relate to the concept of platonic love.

The term has also been used by neurodivergent aromantics (particularly those with a schizophrenia spectrum disorders) and traumatized aro people, who might not desire friendship or other platonic relationships.

Aplatonic does not refer to someone who simply "doesn't have friends" or "doesn't want friends", although either of these may also be true for an aplatonic person. Rather, it describes someone who does not experience "platonic crushes" or "squishes" like some A-spec people do. Some Aplatonic people may still have strong platonic bonds (though not all desire strong platonic relationships) or have a general desire for friendships, however they never experience a strong desire to be friends with someone in particular, or feel as though the term "love" can be applied to the relationship.

History
The term aplatonic was first introduced by a Homoromantic Asexual on the AVEN forums on April 6, 2012. In his words, "I have friends and care about them; but love is a powerful word, and one I cannot apply to them."

Aplatonic seems to have been independently coined by aroarolibrary on December 30, 2014.

Flag
The earliest remaining record of the purple, blue, and green Aplatonic flag is a submission to the now-deactivated Pride-Flags-For-Us tumblr blog sometime before October 6, 2014.

The colors are the inverse of yellow, pink, and brown, colors that are typically used to represent friendship. White represents how an aplatonic people can still be Allo in some way, a reference to the white stripe on the Asexual and Aromantic flags. Cream was used instead of pure white to make the flag more visually appealing.

The yellow Aplatonic flag was created by Mod Hermy of Pride-Flags Deviantart on Sep 4, 2015. The black, grey, and white stripes match that of the asexual and aromantic flags. Yellow is used to symbolize the platonic/aplatonic spectrum.

The five striped Aplatonic flag was created by tumblr user Xenictrender on April 14th, 2021. This flag was made to be more visually appealing. The additional brown stripe was made to even it out.

Coining
Alright, I'm going to have to explain this really carefully. ''I am in love with my best friend, a story you've heard if you've seen any of my posts. I've come to realize that this is not the first time. However, I have also been really evaluating my other friendships lately. If you saw my post in the Tea and Sympathy on not loving my friends, good, but in short I've come to understand that most people in my life could be considered an acquantance at best. Now, I have a few friends who are nice, but I don't feel a psrticular bond with them. If the aromantics are to be believed, platonic love is a type of /love/, and a love that is not to be under-estimated. It runs deeps and means a lot.'' I have never had that. ''Sure, the people I've 'friended' are nice, and I'd want nothing but for them to be happy, but I don't really have a bond with them. The only people in my life that I've bonded with are those I feel romantic attraction to.'' So, don't get me wrong, I have friends and care about them; but love is a powerful word, and one I cannot apply to them. ''I've theorized its because my parents were abusive, so I never learned how to love those I don't feel romantically for; bur how would one even change that? I'm an adult now, and I don't know if I can learn to have feeöings for friends.'' That's where the title comes in. Aplatonic. ''I was just wondering if anyone has shared my experience? Do you think aplatonic can exist? Its not that I don't want to bond, but I just feel so indifferent. I'm not neccesarily looking for a label, but I'm more looking for others who share this experience. I feel empty to feel as I do.'' ''Thoughts? Opinions? Cake?'' - Mr. Shuttershy, April 7, 2012