What is OS?

NOTE: There is little known about OS other than data our community has gathered from our personal relationships with objects and from a small number of professionals interested in this topic.  So we are not claiming to have solid clinical basis, only the practical knowledge gained from each other and recent studies.  We welcome and currently seek professional input and study in regards to OS.  We are not looking for a cure but more comprehension into our make-up as an emerging part of society.

Objectùm-Sexuality is an orientation to love objects. 

Sexual orientation is defined as the nature of sexual preference while the prolific definition stands as:  the direction of someone's sexual desire toward people of the opposite gender, people of the same gender, or people of both.  This does not include objects.

However, orientation itself is defined as:  a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways.  This does include objects as we see it.

We love objects on a very significant level and many of us in an intimate way.  This feeling is innate.  Objectùm-sexual love comes for most in a similar awakening as other sexualities at the start of puberty.  This is often followed by an acute awareness that we do not relate to peers due to the source of projected feelings.  Often objectùm-sexual people feel outcast or pressured by mainstream sexuality with a helpless feeling that we cannot change what comes so naturally to us.

What is the natural feeling of OS? 

Just as mainstream are attracted to certain types of people, physical/intellectual, objectùm-sexuals develop strong feelings towards objects possessing, in particular, certain geometry/function.  Often this attraction is regarded as an obsession to a degree that provokes criticism.

What makes OS different from an obsession? 

Truly there is not much difference. Love is a feeling that preoccupies one's thoughts. This in its own right describes a degree of obsession where all focus is on the one desired. Because it is so unorthodox, our attraction and devotion to the object of our affection is what devotes our interest to a level that appears merely obsessive to others. 

How can one love an inanimate object? 

Indeed, the meaning of love comes into question.  However, there is no single definition because this feeling has many levels and crosses every part of the spectrum.  Virtually every "one" and every "thing" can be loved.  Love does not have any rules that requisite to "whom" or to "what" we express this multifaceted emotion, as long as it causes no violation or harm to the subjected. 

The spectrum of love is so vast; one may relate it to a bell curve.  In the middle appears the majority of those whose relationships can be characterized by the similarities to whom and how they love.  Objectum-sexuality finds its place at one end as a minority which facilitates the criticism of our way of love and life.  But none-the-less, we still fall under the curve of the enigmatic emotion known as love.

OK, so the question isn't answered for those who strongly believe that love must be reciprocated to be in and have a relevant relationship.  Naturally, if one sees objects as inanimate, then objectum-sexual love and our relationships would undeniably be scrutinized.  Indeed, there are cases of love being one-sided as with any orientation, but in general we do feel love in return.

How can one love a public object?

We do not all love public objects but certainly the ones who do, they may face complications similar to people in long distance relationships.  Unless there is regular contact, such as working for or around the object, distance can pose a difficult problem for the development of a connection. To overcome the challenge, many objectum-sexuals build or acquire scale models.  While models cannot replace the original, they provide a link as an extension of the object.  Similar to people carrying photographs or articles such as jewelry to remind of their distant lover.  Naturally, whenever possible, we prefer to be with the object we love.

How does one communicate with an object? 

One must learn a structure of language to speak fluently with others.  This comes naturally as a form of adaptation when we are younger or later in life due to impairment of core communication skills.  It is via our intense feelings (naturally noted as obsession by most) that our interests are driven in everything related to the object.  The more knowledge we learn and internalize, the more we develop a clearer ability to sense the object.  Many OS people are Animists.

Communication comes in many forms besides verbal.  Many commune with the object via sensations.  However, this does not imply that we can converse with all objects.  People communicate better with some people, and less or none with others, just as we do with objects.  Even so, that does not stop some objectum-sexuals from talking aloud to objects as a basic means to communicate for a person. 

Intimacy, Sex, and OS. 

As a matter of course, this is the topic that rouses the most curiosity.  The issue of sex with objects stirs a certain inquisitiveness in people that often leads to censure.  And to ask whether we do "it" is like asking whether all couples in love are intimate.  Most often the answer is yes but in some cases, as with any loving relationship, sex is not always present for whatever personal reason.

It should be noted that the term sexuality in OS does NOT imply the physical act of sex with an object just as it doesn't for other orientations.  The term sexuality coupled with hetero, homo, or objectum implies the inclination towards such.

Also the definition of sex comes into question which is why we often steer away from this term.  We use sensuality or intimacy to describe physically related expressions of love as this offers a broader definition considering our partners are not human and cannot be generalized.  However, intimacy is very broad and what may be sensual for some may not be so for others.

What is the difference between OS intimacy and masturbation? 

Clearly one of the most irritating questions we entertain when a person gets a mental image of us in “the act” with an object.  Naturally, it would seem there is no difference because the question is being posed by one who does not love the object.  OS intimacy is not instrumental manipulation to self pleasure.  In the case of a person utilizing some object in this manner, the object is none other than a means to an end.  To an OS person, our intimate focus is on the object we love.

Is OS a fetish?  

No, objectum-sexuality is not a fetish.  While a fetishist must have their desired object present as a catalyst to achieve sexual gratification, the love for our object is not based on a habitual psychosexual response.  It is the object that captivates us on many more levels besides sexual arousal.  Fetishists do not see the object as animate as we do and therefore do not commence to develop a loving relationship with the object.

Marsh Spectrum of Human/Object Intimacy

Are there factors that cause one to be OS?

Of course, we have all asked the question WHY to ourselves time and again but currently no definitive answer can be found to explain our tendency to form relationships with objects.  However, we do have some potential explanations:

Asperger's Syndrome and OS

As we grow as a community, we have internally discovered a growing percentage of OS people are diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a spectrum of autism. 

Any existing relationship is still being studied but it is possible that objectum-sexuals with Aspergers syndrome relate to certain objects of interest better than with people due to impaired social functioning from early childhood when mainstream social bonds are influenced and conditioned. 

Sexual Trauma and OS

Recent data indicates so few cases exist amongst OS people and within those cases the OS tendencies predate the trauma.  More study is needed but it seems clear that any link would indicate more prevalence of OS as many people have this form of trauma.

Gender Dysphoria and OS

There is also a denominator of gender dysphoria amongst a small percentage of objectum-sexuals.  We can only hypothesize that when one loves an object which obviously has no physical gender, it can call into question ones own gender as there is no polarity.  More study is also needed here as well.

Synesthesia and OS

One of the recent denominators that has been discovered through the generous work and study of Dr Amy Marsh is that many OS people have cross sensory perception where additional senses respond to one sensation such as seeing color in words or tasting when hearing certain sounds.

Animism and OS

While animism is not a condition, it is the most common reason objectum-sexual people with no notable psychological condition have for loving and connecting to objects on a significant level.  The innate belief that objects are not inanimate but possess a spirit, soul, or energy to which one can connect with.

Love's Outer Limits: People Who Love Objects Part I 

Are there fears regarding OS people?

Sadly, the media has a blatant history of sensationalizing the sexual aspect and portraying a false sense that we are openly sexual, thus raising fears of objectum-sexual people behaving inappropriately in public.  When in reality, most OS people are very keen on preserving the integrity of the object and clearly respect that intimacy is private.  This is even more so for those who love landmark objects. 

Why do OS people love landmark objects?

Understand that only a very small percentage of objectum-sexuals love well-known landmarks due to the complexities involved.  It is often least desired to love an object shared with so many. 

However, the presence of a landmark draws more attention and may offer the OS person a deeper sense of connection due to the pronounced availability of information about the object.  There stems a likelihood that interest could develop.  Beyond that, it is between the person and the object if a relationship ensues. 

Do OS people love more than one object?

Indeed, polyamorous relationships exist amongst objectum-sexual individuals and may involve objects that are related via structure, location, and/or function.

Are all OS people female?

No.  Early numbers suggested most objectum-sexual people were women.  Perhaps that women are more prone to visual emotion.  However; more recent numbers reveal a growing number of men are stepping forward and relating to being objectum-sexual.

FAQ about OS from Erika Eiffel