So, recently, I've gotten a couple dating apps. I decided that, since my ABDL side isn't going away, I would try and find some of the folks in my region who are into it that way!

So, the profile has an extremely SFW photo of me colouring in a onesie (w/out my face), and the first line of my bio has something like "ABDL. Not the most important thing about me, but don't swipe unless you're OK with it!"

Some people don't know what it is, so that's fine. I have nice convos that go sour when I explain, but I don't care. I'm still trying to meet folks in other ways, but I wanted to try and specifically meet people who are OK with ABDL and get that convo out of the way ASAP.

And it's been good! Sure, I've some nice convos go sour. But, I've managed to connect with local people who are also into it!

Today, though. Today, I was having a nice convo with someone and I said. "Really quick, just to get this out of the way, are you familiar with ABDL and/or are you comfortable with it?"

"I know what that is, I'm not comfortable with it at all."

I said "No problem! Good luck in your search and I hope you find what you're looking for."

They said "P****" (I'm sure you know what word I mean) and disconnected.

Well, it didn't do so good to my old brain. It happened literally two minutes before I was about to take an important exam for work. I think I still did OK, but I was thrown off. Spent the whole day afterward just trying to put myself back together.

I knew, obviously, that this was going to come up. But I really hadn't emotionally prepared myself for it. I have friends who've made similar sentiments known before (without knowing it was my thing,) so I thought I was going to be OK with it happening with a stranger. But, I wasn't.

This is really just a rant. But I'd love to know, have you experienced this? What has your response been? What kind of self-care steps did you take to feel better?

I'm sure there are bad apples in our bunch, there are in every community. But this stigma is harsh on us all, and extremely unfair. You are not that thing. You are someone with a strange and silly way of being that is O K. I love you, and I hope you learn to love yourself. <3