I was reading another article about loosing libido, and loosing libido was described there as loosing part of person identity. I was little surprised, how an essential desire, which is designed to produce offspring, can be part of identity?

It is same like calling feel of hunger part of identity. Or need to pee, part of identity. All these desires and needs are essential for all mammals in order to keep them alive as a living being and a species.

If I tgink more about that I have often seen such people who think that their physiological urges are part of their will and identity.

For me it sounds strange, as I never felt like sexuality defines my identity. The language I speak, the place I live, the surrounding people and culture I have grown up in, define my identity, not my sexuality. Being gay is not an identity. It is a preference of sexual partners you choose. You can say that gays go to parades and do certain stuff and there is a gay culture, well there is a different food cultures too. Do identify myself through food?

I can't remember any wars because of food consumption style identities.

Well, I might be wrong, because I feel things different. And as I have never felt that sexuality is part of my identity.

What about you?

erikboy (imported) wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:21 am I can't remember any wars because of food consumption style identities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Re ... ield_rifle

This is more of religion than food, but technically still fits.

I think hypersexual men must often associate their sexuality and sexual drive and abilities as a big part of who they are. They would lose alot if they were neutered to non sexual men. Like playing sports is a big part of many men s self concept and their identity. Lots of hobbies can be part of a man s self idenity. Our activities do impact our self concepts and identities.

Very interesting point you bring up, erikboy, but I have to disagree a bit. While long in the tooth, my profession as I look back is one that is different enough (outdoors, travel, intellectual and cultural challenges) that it defines us, especially up to middle age. When I got downsized back in 90s from my secure corporate retirement job, I was devastated. It wasn't just a job, I defined myself by my position and taking it away meant I was nothing. There were no more secure retirement jobs for me in life, but I have more or less filled the years with gig work and now joke that I can look 98% of the population in the eye and say that I have been fired in more countries than they have visited. In other words, it took a bit, but for years now my identity has been me, not my job position, and if you don't like it you can piss off.

Now I am old enough that the desires have waned a lot and I do feel like back getting downsized. Part of what defined me is gone and I need to adjust. Crap. Now my identify is a geezer.

You say that you never felt that sexuality defines your identity. All I can say is that it and many other things have defined my identity including the things which I am not.

That is not to say being gay or straight of fat or thin or handsome or ugly is inherently good or bad. They just are.

"What do you do?"

It's a simple question that gets asked of people all the time. It is an acknowledgment that the thing we do to keep the electrics company, our landlord and stomachs happy is most of what makes us who we are?

I think if you were asked that at a party and answered, "nothing, I'm a eunuch", it might shut down the conversation.

My sexuality was a big part of me. So big that it was detrimental almost my whole life. Finally I had the wherewithal to do something about it. I should have done it decades ago.

I agree with Gordon 100 percent

Well, I have few questions.

If you are sent to mars, or lonely island, or to jail, will it change your personality, as you are not able to chase women and have sex?

If one of your limb is removed, will it change your personality, as you might not able to do stuff you were used to?

Can blindness be a part of persons identity?

There might be different opinions, but I have felt that I am still me since I remeber myself. Only I have had different possibilities, rights, environment, abilities at different ages that limit or enable me to do various things.

Sex drive for me is one of these enable/disable factors.

Or when you learn something, for example to fly planes. Is that a part of your identity, or is that your ability?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity

That brings gender identity into my mind.

Lots of people will describe themselves as golfers, sailers, football players, painters, runners, travelers, music lovers, cooks, and countless other activities as a big part of their identities. If they lost their abilities to do those things, they would stop describing themselves in those terms. That is a change in identity.

Males who stop impregnating or never impregnate any females still are males. Men who get voluntary sterilization are still males, even though they are then unable to impregnate. Impotent men are still males.

Testosterone production is exceptionally male and masculinizes the body and mind. So the loss of testosterone and not replacing it with artificial testosterone is the most vital function of our balls in whether or not we are males and to what degree. Having a penis is unquestionably male. Having no balls is less clear cut.