whats Love for u..huh?

[echoplex]

To me, love is just something you do. It's a mode of existence, it's a way of approaching things, people, etc. What determines who/what we focus that love on, now that's tricky. I find love as a principle to be admirable and something worth pursuing, but specific love relationships seem so arbitrary to me that they seem to miss the point of love entirely. Though, I guess you could say that if everyone was loved by just one person, then everyone would be loved, even though it seems odd to limit your love to one person. The fact that I love my parents but not my neighbors, or even strangers, bothers me a bit. I mean, shouldn't I either love or hate everyone?

Or:

 

[Magnus]

I am not currently worried with any explanations for why love, or, more generally, emotion, takes place. I am merely trying to define it in a rational way. I believe it can be done, in as specific way as possible, even if that ends up being incredibly vague. For example, what is a "pen"? It is a instrument which uses ink to write. I believe any word can be described in a similar way, using as concise a definition as possible. A word such as "love" simply requires more thought to the definition since it is intangible. What do you say love is?

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear. 1 Corinthians - Chapter 13: 4-8

And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. John - Chapter 15: 13

I suppose this about sums up my ideas on this matter...there is more, but If I try and copy and paste it, we might end up with a bible lol.

 

[Deleted member 1424]

You forgot 'love is vengeful and will murder you for your disobedience' Magnus.



Anyway love is:

• free
• not half so difficult as trust
• experimental
• too many terms and ideas squished into one word
• something we devote too many bad songs, novels, poems, and movies to.
• part meme
• part evolutionary mechanism
• a form of self medication
• nonsingular
• another opiate of the masses
• addictive
• painful
• Something people either over complicate or under value
• can be awesome

 

[Magnus]

You forgot 'love is vengeful and will murder you for your disobedience' Magnus.



Anyway love is:

• free
• not half so difficult as trust
• experimental
• too many terms and ideas squished into one word
• something we devote too many bad songs, novels, poems, and movies to.
• part meme
• part evolutionary mechanism
• a form of self medication
• nonsingular
• another opiate of the masses
• addictive
• painful
• Something people either over complicate or under value
• can be awesome

Yes there are too many bad songs,novels,poems,and movies about "love". I realize my term disagres with what many people consider love, but I don't recall saying love is vengeful and will murder you for your disobediance, also if that is the truth i should be dead already. out of curiosity (and ADD) do you play D&D? I have played D&D. I have also been told that I will go to hell for playing D&D. Christians are a diverse group, and while I can understand why people might misunderstand/dislike us. We are not all the same. I for instance have listened to far too much of this guy YouTube - Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)
to believe/support that idea.

P.S. I was going to use generic christian band number X but decided on Matisyahu instead. I have been told that several Atheist/Deist/Christian/whatever like him.

 

[Magnus]

...Then again I can see where you might get that idea.... YouTube - Demon Hunter - "The World Is A Thorn" ...dang it I like them even when I am looking at their flaws...seriously the point isn't that we hate nonbelievers... ahh then again their are some militant christians in the world, which I suppose brings me back to my original point. Their are very different people who read and interpret the same book. I does not = them... Most of the time anyway, I'm not perfect.

 

[BigApplePi]

Love definition:

Love is a relationship. Love of A for B = that relationship which draws A to B whereby A is motivated to see B in a constructive manner where A partakes in that constructiveness.

Any flaws in that?

Edit: For this definition to work, it must cover all forms of love. It doesn't negate the possibility of love and hate at the same time. The key word is, "constructive." There is always an element of constructiveness. Even if one loves something or someone to the point of devouring them, the idea is merging is constructive to one's appetite or imagination.

 

[Magnus]

Ok last post on this thread because there are easier ways of showing people music, and Im getting off topic. a lot. YouTube - Demon Hunter - "Shallow Water"
Love to me is what christ did for me on the cross, it's reading john 3:16 and hoping against hope that somehow, we can be saved. So that even on the days that I wail about how stupid people are, (myself included) I hope that the rain will redeem our eyes.

 

[PapyrusAirplanes]

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it does not seek its own way, it is not easily provoked, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in evil, but in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

... Love is thinking of others as better than yourself, and putting the emphasis on others instead of yourself. The less we think of self, the more we're able to care for (and about) others.

 

[nexion]

Damn. I still don't know what love is.

 

[Dimensional Transition]

Damn. I still don't know what love is.

Me neither man. Seems like everybody has different views of love, which is alright though.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Damn. I still don't know what love is.

Maybe that's because it's something you have to experience.

 

[BigApplePi]

Damn. I still don't know what love is.

nil and or Dimensional Transition.

Can you name something specific which you think may or may not be love? Then maybe someone can speak to it.

 

[Zero]

Baby, don't hurt me.

Hah, I think that's about right.

I don't know. It's what all those songs and crap are about.

 

[Moocow]

"Love" is a word used for guilting, deceiving, and frightening people.

Just like God, Enlightenment, and progress.

 

[gruesomebrat]

Love is all gooey, kinda like what you get when you forget about the gummy bears and chocolate in your pocket and they merge together in the heat. It's a mess, and it will probably make you sick if you ingest it, but at least it comes with one hell of a sugar buzz.

Oddly, this actually made sense to me.

Like some of the people who've posted, i'm not too sure that love really exists, but if it does, the definition would differ from person to person, wouldn't it? If love is an emotion, then it should be experienced, and therefore defined, differently by each person. Sadly, from what I've seen so far, 'love' seems to be just a word that means 'it's okay to abuse me, I don't mind.'

 

[nexion]

Maybe that's because it's something you have to experience.

I believe so. Whether or not it is something I will ever experience is something different.

nil and or Dimensional Transition.

Can you name something specific which you think may or may not be love? Then maybe someone can speak to it.

Nope. I have no idea. Not even as to my own subjective definition of love.

 

[BigApplePi]

Nope. I have no idea. Not even as to my own subjective definition of love.

Then for the moment forget about love. Is there anything you LIKE or any person you gravitate toward or any wish you might have?

 

[Dimensional Transition]

nil and or Dimensional Transition.

Can you name something specific which you think may or may not be love? Then maybe someone can speak to it.

3 types of love:
Love love: Understanding each other, having the urge to be close to the other as often as possible, appreciating each other's behavior and looks, being helpful and supportive towards each other.
Family love: Feeling a certain bond to your family members, supporting them, understanding them.
Friendship love: Support and understanding, same view of the world.

 

[nexion]

Then for the moment forget about love. Is there anything you LIKE or any person you gravitate toward or any wish you might have?

Like? Sure. Dr. pepper, food, drumming, knowledge.
Gravitate toward? I'm not sure. I usually, but not always, find myself trying to avoid people.
Wishes? to go to college, right now. After that, to do a lot of (maybe random) stuff and then die.

 

[BigApplePi]

I gave a try at a technical definition here, but the heck with that. It's better to be specific to search for what love could be.

3 types of love:
Love love: Understanding each other, having the urge to be close to the other as often as possible, appreciating each other's behavior and looks, being helpful and supportive towards each other.
Family love: Feeling a certain bond to your family members, supporting them, understanding them.
Friendship love: Support and understanding, same view of the world.

Those are all good. Romantic love, family, friendship. I want to include inanimates and maybe animals also just to get everything.

Like? Sure. Dr. pepper, food, drumming, knowledge.
Gravitate toward? I'm not sure. I usually, but not always, find myself trying to avoid people.
Wishes? to go to college, right now. After that, to do a lot of (maybe random) stuff and then die.

So liking? I think liking is a milder form of loving. One doesn't have to go all the way to get a start. Liking those things means liking oneself because one feels better or gains power (knowledge). If avoiding people helps one along the way and prevents damage, that's good.

Let me do a thought experiment and see if it works. Say you have a toy robot. It has five buttons on it. Press the buttons and it does various things like bow, dance, march, sit, lie down, etc. If you press buttons in a different order and hit "enter", it will do other things, many unpredictable, like jump on the bed, make faces or tidy up the room. Now do you "love" your robot? I don't know. If is bores you and you ignore it, maybe you don't. But what if you loan it to your brother or sister? What if your sibling loses or breaks it? You are angry but you miss it. It entertained you and did practical things. It helped you out. You loved it.

Now what if your sibling returns it and tells you by hitting certain buttons, the robot will help you with your homework? Not only is this a plus for you, but your sibling is a helper. Maybe you are grateful, but maybe if your sibling is always like this you "love" your sibling. You want to return the favor because you've realized it keeps good things going.

So here, if I've done it right, and you expand on this idea, is love of an object, love of self, love of family, friendship.

 

[alphaxys]

ideal-- a meeting of minds, an internal swoon that keeps the two (or three or four if we're talking polyamory) parties intwined-- emotionally and physically (i'm not sure if mental similarity is necessary in this case), easy laughter, unspoken camaraderie.

reality, at present-- petty emotional games (including but not limited to: codependent guilt trips, sexual nagging, projection based on internal issues), societal gender expectations made into a microcosm between two parties, occasional camaraderie which serves as an excuse for continued interrelation...


It's a goddamn joy to be in love. The ideal still hovers though, I strongly believe it will land at some point in time. With a new party.

 

[Dimensional Transition]

I think I am in love now actually. I agree with you alphaxys, it's a joy. It's like some sort of high, the only thing I don't like is the panic(actually had a full-blown panic attack when going somewhere with this girl I like) and the feeling in your belly that comes with it.

Oh and BigApplePi, that's a nice one. There's a special love for animals and inanimates indeed, but maybe that's just the parenting-instinct. Their cuteness activates a feeling of love similar to the love parents would give to their newly born baby...

 

[alphaxys]

I think I am in love now actually. I agree with you alphaxys, it's a joy. It's like some sort of high, the only thing I don't like is the panic(actually had a full-blown panic attack when going somewhere with this girl I like) and the feeling in your belly that comes with it.

Oh and BigApplePi, that's a nice one. There's a special love for animals and inanimates indeed, but maybe that's just the parenting-instinct. Their cuteness activates a feeling of love similar to the love parents would give to their newly born baby...

i've never really associated panic with being in love. when i think about it though, in every instance that i've felt that i may be in love, some sort of low-level anxiety seemed to accompany me a good amount of the time. hmm. unfinished thought.

 

[Admirable Complexities]

when you can take a shower with someone in a less than 3 foot by 3 foot space, and not feel awkward about it.

Sexy, maybe.. but I wouldn't say that's love lol

 

[Zero]

In other words, Love is an umbrella term for: acceptance, attachment, (fuzzy) feelings, romance, sex(ual interest), trust, admiration, adoration, something that you find cool or agreeable, mutual happiness and support?

You can love a person, a dog, a movie or a book...and pretty much anything...

It's a word of little meaning without context.

 

[BigApplePi]

In other words, Love is an umbrella term for: acceptance, attachment, (fuzzy) feelings, romance, sex(ual interest), trust, admiration, adoration, something that you find cool or agreeable, mutual happiness and support?

You can love a person, a dog, a movie or a book...and pretty much anything...

It's a word of little meaning without context.

Agreed. That's why I called love a "relationship." One may feel or act or intuit something inside of them, but it is directed out toward something. It's a special "attitude" that is different from other attitudes though as you have said.

Is infatuation love? Don't recall if that was addressed.

 

[Zero]

If you love cheese, you have a relationship with cheese?

Of course, infatuation is under the umbrella. That's what Twilight was about.

 

[nexion]

Those are all good. Romantic love, family, friendship. I want to include inanimates and maybe animals also just to get everything.

So liking? I think liking is a milder form of loving. One doesn't have to go all the way to get a start. Liking those things means liking oneself because one feels better or gains power (knowledge). If avoiding people helps one along the way and prevents damage, that's good.

Let me do a thought experiment and see if it works. Say you have a toy robot. It has five buttons on it. Press the buttons and it does various things like bow, dance, march, sit, lie down, etc. If you press buttons in a different order and hit "enter", it will do other things, many unpredictable, like jump on the bed, make faces or tidy up the room. Now do you "love" your robot? I don't know. If is bores you and you ignore it, maybe you don't. But what if you loan it to your brother or sister? What if your sibling loses or breaks it? You are angry but you miss it. It entertained you and did practical things. It helped you out. You loved it.

Now what if your sibling returns it and tells you by hitting certain buttons, the robot will help you with your homework? Not only is this a plus for you, but your sibling is a helper. Maybe you are grateful, but maybe if your sibling is always like this you "love" your sibling. You want to return the favor because you've realized it keeps good things going.

So here, if I've done it right, and you expand on this idea, is love of an object, love of self, love of family, friendship.

I don't think there should be more than one definition of love. For anything other than what "real" love is which is still considered love, it should be a different word. This... is why I hate English...

Perhaps the only "true" or "real" love is agape type love.

I believe that this can be defined, in abstract and universal terms, but prevailing thought patterns and the limitations of the language prevent it from happening.

I don't know... maybe there is some correlation between "like" and "love," but for the most part, I think they are distinctly different, and that "love" is not just a heightened form of "like." I had a feeling that's what you were going to do.

I may think on it.

 

[PINT]

Love is what you feel for your dog, cat or parrot.

It only gets hard to understand (or maybe even believe) when a human becomes the target.

 

[BigApplePi]

I don't think there should be more than one definition of love. For anything other than what "real" love is which is still considered love, it should be a different word. This... is why I hate English...

Perhaps the only "true" or "real" love is agape type love.

I believe that this can be defined, in abstract and universal terms, but prevailing thought patterns and the limitations of the language prevent it from happening.

I don't know... maybe there is some correlation between "like" and "love," but for the most part, I think they are distinctly different, and that "love" is not just a heightened form of "like." I had a feeling that's what you were going to do.

I may think on it.

Words? I sort of agree with you but this deserves a separate thread. I think our choice of words is "political." That is, it is up to us to use words any ol' way we wish and then be criticized. Common usage? Dictionary? Technical?

To me it is the concept that is important. Love has something positive about it yet when mixed up with other things can have negative qualities. What comes first? The word or the concept?