It's pretty gross, if you think about it.
Ok, let me explain the basics. The main romantic basis is that us and the off-worlders are high intelligence beings, similar and different at the same time, and there's just a link between the two romantically linked characters. Different DNA, which makes them unknown and peculiar.
You know what else has different DNA from humans? Sheep. Yeah. They're basically clever sheep. They look similar, but the basic instinct is the same as a human/sheep relationship. And that's just weird.
Then there's just the basic fact of styles of reproduction. What if he wants to reproduce with a human female, courts her, brings her to his room, then stands around waiting for you to lay eggs which he would then fertilise? Yeah. He's not actually a mammal, but a reptile that looks similar to humans. Ruins it a bit, huh?
And even if the reproductive systems were similar, why would he wanna do a sheep? He's not that weird.
How can you actually link a species who is rare in both mating for pleasure and having the largest mammaries in comparison to their body to ANY other species? Even if we did meet a race of similar skin texture, height, girth, mass, mating methods and intelligence, how can you be sure they're interested? Oh, and what if what we consider males are considered their females?
Additionally, black widow spiders. I don't even need to explain the complications there.
You can romanticise the cosmic differences, but you can't romance the cosmic difference, which rather defeats the purpose. Any story which states there's a couple between humans and another species either doesn't understand sex drive, or is based on weirdos.
Females produce eggs. Males do not. Regardless of their species, gender is the same, unless they are asexual, and can do it all.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I'm certainly not gonna be the first to volunteer for intergalatic intercourse. Too squick!