Do you believe in love? Why/why not?

Question

Massageman · Accepted Answer

Yes.

This isn't the first time I've posted this, but I'll offer it up again for consideration.

“I love you.” “I like all of you a lot- I really do- but I really LOVE him.” “Aw, it’s just puppy love.” “You don’t know what real love IS!!!”

You have probably heard and made these comments, or very something very similar. Can someone “be in love” at 16? How about staying in love at 61? Can you love more than one person? What kind of love is that? The basis of even beginning to understand your feeling about the concept of “love” requires a basic understanding of the various types OF love, and there are five kinds of love, four kinds of which most people have never even heard!

The Greek language distinguishes several different senses or meanings for the word "love" with a different root word for each. The Greek words xenia, philia, storge, agape, and eros all refer to different kinds of “love”. Let’s take a quick look at each.

Xenia: Xenic hospitality was an extremely important practice in Ancient Greece. It was an almost ritualized friendship between a host and his guest, people who could previously have been total strangers. Xenic love was shown by the host by respecting his guest, and by the guest who would not be a burden to the host. The host fed and provided quarters for the guest, who was expected to repay only with gratitude, except in the case of traveling bards, wherein entertainment and news from other towns was the usual “thank you”. The importance of this can be seen throughout Greek mythology, in particular, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Philia: This love involves comradeship and friendship for another individual, but it expects a response. It is a love of relationship, comradeship, sharing, communication and friendship. Philic love makes a bond that is all trusting, and not sexual in nature. They share each other’s thoughts, feelings, attitudes, plans and dreams. They confide in each other secrets, fears and needs that they would not share with others. This is where your true BFF would fit in. Note the use of this Greek root in the words philanthropy (generousity) and hydrophilia (water-loving).

Storge: (store' geh) This is the love often described as a “comfortable old shoe relationship” comprised of natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other. Storgic love represents a safe haven for people as it is a place of acceptance, mutual respect and shelter. One example is familial love, hopefully that of parents and offspring to each other. Many people dwell in storgic love for years and misunderstand it as being mundane or boring. But in effect it is a very safe place, but can simply lack excitement we might seek. It can also serve as a moat around a relationship, protecting it from outside forces. Storgic love can co-exist with other types of love and can be likened to a foundation made up of trust and safety.

Agape: (a gop' a) Refers to a "pure," ideal type of love, not sexual attraction suggested by eros. Agapic love is complete love, but with the expectation of nothing in return. Agape love is different from erotic love in that it is not sexual nor romantic in nature. Its nature is that of self sacrifice. Agape love was shown by Jesus, as He gave Himself totally to save man from sin. Agape love is also different from the other kinds of love in that you can choose it. It is a giving of yourself for the betterment of the relationship. Agape love can help you to “protect” yourself emotionally during difficult times as you love someone but expect nothing in return. You can love someone completely and still have boundaries and maintain your self respect.

Eros: This is often the first thing that many people think of when the topic of “love” pops up. This type of love is associated with sex and romance. It is that erotic feeling we get when a sexual relationship moves forward and you get all “hot and bothered”. Your world and mind circles about your loved one and they are always on your mind. You strive for time together romantically. Eros love is totally emotional, sexual and cannot typically be summoned at will. While most of us have experienced erotic love in our lives, it is not sustainable. But while erotic love is not sustainable, it can cycle in and out of a relationship over its course.

Here are a few examples. When you open you home to visitors, you offer your guests gracious hospitality (xenic love). You show this love with clean, relaxing surroundings, perhaps a tasty meal, and by showing respect for their basic comfort needs. You can show them the benefit of your ideas- sort of like what GAG does- with your conversation, and even with your donations to their special causes (philic love). You can extend your hospitality and caring to the point that it becomes storgic in nature, that is, your friends may find your home a place of safety and comfort on which they know they can always depend. You can even approach the point of becoming agapic in your offering of love to others, simply offering total love with no expectation of anything in return other than simply accepting your love. I’ll let you fill in your own blanks on erotic love.

So there you have it. Hopefully, myTake on the subject will help you understand your own feelings toward others that you “love”, and just which type of love you might be experiencing with them at a given time since it will change over time.

Nik1hil · Accepted Answer

Yes love is Real!.. It's a REAL MENTAL ILLNESS..

Love is a state of brain, it resembles a mental illness..

Like when we eat chocolate brain releases Doamine..

When we workout, brain Releases Endorphins..

When we hug a pet brain releases Oxytocin..

However, when someone is in LOVE, even if person is not, with anyone.. If the person is alone not doing any activity, you can simply be laying on the bed hugging an inanimate object like your Pillow..

"BRAIN RELEASING NEUROTRANSMITTERS (DOPAMINE) WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL STIMULANT IN THE ENVIRONMENT or CHEMICAL STIMULANT IN THE BODY, is MENTAL ILLNESS".

In LOVE, Brain releases Neurotransmitters without any stimulant. Brain uses memory, and Imagination to flood the Central Nervous system with DOPAMINE and other happy hormones..

The Part of Brain of a person in Love, Lights up on BRAIN Scan Just the way part of a Brain of a Person on Cocaine.

So, when a person loses LOVE, they fall apart like a Junkie, getting off cocaine.

Syphilis is another STD that is known to do brain Damage the Same way over time, and person feel like on "Constant State of Love" without dating or having a partner..

Signs you are in Love without dating or having a partner.. LOOK UP

1) will resemble signs of a Cocain Junkie!.

2) Perception of a Syphilis Patient..

Youryeodongsaeng · Accepted Answer

Yes, but not love at first sight.

Even though I highly doubt that there's somebody out there for me, I believe in love.

If there's love, you'll have your head held high and not worry about things that are said to you. If there isn't love, there will be an endless void of low self-esteem.

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Accepted Answer

I believe in every living being’s aspiration to live eternally and I believe love is the way to do that.

I’ve loved once and If I know I am going to die today, I’ll at least, be happy, that I was lucky enough to love that deeply.

ohsheeT · Answer

I do believe in love
I also believe that you will not find true love until you find yourself until you love yourself you become one with yourself so you can become one with others and this universe once you do this you have no drama in your life you have no judgment you let everything slide off your back because it's not that big of a deal anymore because you don't put yourself in those situations anymore you keep those people away from you and everything just flows and once all this happens you will find unconditional love and when you love somebody it has to be unconditionally no matter what

There's 500 1000 different types of love

And you are only going to love somebody as deep as you have experienced it right now in life because that's all you know when you find unconditional love within yourself you find true love

Sonorous · Answer

I believe the love humans experience most is lust. But once you've formed a connection with someone, I belive it could turn into other forms of love. There are many more.

Summeroflove · Answer

I do. But many don’t find it when all they want is sex and when they don’t get sex they dump her/him.

Avicenna · Answer

Sure, because I have been in love many times

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Do I believe in love? Yes, I know it exists because I have felt it, seen it, and lived it.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

My parents taught me a lot about love. They're both bipolar narssicists and very smart. Especially my dad.

They did a lot of things which suffice to say were uncool, many of which were hard for them to do but they thought being very harsh was good for their son. A lot of kids who grew up similar to me hated their parents but I loved mine because even though they were assholes who tried to control every aspect of my life, they made their lives suck so mine could be better and NEVER threw that in my face.

They threw almost everything else in my face lol but what I learned about love was how selfless real love is, and how irrational it can make someone even if they're very smart.

So yea, I believe in it. I think it's a good thing. In terms of a romantic relationship, I've always had trouble balancing how I compromise and enforce my expectations. I don't want to be an ass ALL the time, but I also have seen what happens when you don't fulfill your role as a man to lead. First hand.

It's almost like I'm repeating the same mistakes that my parents made. So I figure maybe I still have a lot to learn.

scarletyes · Answer

Do I believe in true romantic love between a man and a woman? No. Do I believe in romantic love between a man and a woman that is temporary? Sure. Do I believe in true love between platonic relationships? YES!
I do not believe in true romantic love between a man and a woman because simply, men are not able to be attracted to only one woman throughout the rest of his life. Men are mostly attracted to youth and beauty, making those two qualities the most important ones in a woman. Sure, a man can feel as if he is in "true love" with his wife or girlfriend when she is young and beautiful, Her body is tight and firm, and her face is youthful and pretty. But once the years pass and then suddenly, the woman is old. Her body has lost it's tightness and form. Now her breast are saggy, her stomach stretched and saggy, her waist wide, her neck hanging, her back humped, her legs saggy. Her hair is grey and thin, her face is full of wrinkles. No, a man will not only have eyes for her, now he will have lost attraction, and lust after young women. So therefore, I do not believe in true love between a man and a woman.

However, when it comes to platonic relationships such as relationships between siblings, friends, parent and child etc then I believe in true love! Platonic friendships can last till death, but not romantic, pure love.

Constatine · Answer

Yes, I believe

I lost my first love... { which was my true love } after years I was finally ready to move on. I found a second love... which ended in divorce. I found number 3

So why do I still believe in love?

Love is needed in this world so that it does not turn into an emotionless cold rock.

And I also believe... if this relationship ends, I will find love again. 🤗

Craftsman · Answer

"Love is a many splendored thing" says the song.

Yes, I believe in love.

According to the Greeks:

Eros is what brings boys and girls, men and women, together to create families.
Storge is what friendship often leads to, and hopefully keeps the people together for the long haul.
Ludus is a short-term often manipulative kind of love so common in the hook-up and appearance driven relationships.
Pragma is often the business relationship kind of love, based on social and/or financial needs.
Mania is obsessive, so often seen in the puppy love or Tsundere/Yandere kinds of love.
Agape is a giving and caring, centered on the partner kind of love.

In all, a blend of all these in well considered proportions make for good all-around love in which I believe.

DJB72 · Answer

Yes, but not in the way I understood it at 17.

Love isn't a feeling. Not exclusively anyway. It's a choice. The choice in a marriage to sacrifice for your wife/husband. With your children to put their joy before your own.

Love is as terrible as an erupting volcano and as gentle as snowflakes simultaneously.

Then there's the ultimate Sacrificial Love. God's Love for me and all mankind.

Yes. I believe in love.

As a husband. A father. A brother. A son.

Most of all, as a Sinner. I'm as far from perfect as you get, but I've experienced that Love.

boombastik · Answer

Yes, because I've experienced true love with my soulmate and i can tell you that my first love, the love i had for my ex wife, it was nothing. If anything it was just a tool preparing me for when i found true love. You will know when you find it because it is love at first sight. It's a feeling of coming home to this person. Something you've never come close to feeling before. Sometimes it comes at the wrong time, through a chance meeting when you are both involved with someone and there are some tough decisions involved but you walk away, knowing it has to be this way for now no matter how painful, but you walk away happy you've had a chance to know a love like this as this rare chance isn't lucky enough to find everyone. This was my experience.

DummyThiccFeraligatr · Answer

The Greeks had 4 words for "love". Major differences between them and to whom those feelings would extend.

I absolutely love my parents and grandmother. I love my best friends. And I would love my children.

Loving a romantic partner? I'd like / appreciate her a lot and enjoy her company / impact in my life, but I doubt that I'd truly love her. Love is a fool's game.

PBandJ_Nerd · Answer

Yeah. I've believed in love since I was a little girl. There's different types of love and they all affect our lives in many ways. Love is also very valuable. Without it, we'd all be psychopaths (this is not an exaggeration by the way).

WhereIsMyMind · Answer

I'm not completely sure what 'love' means, but I believe that you can care and be devoted to a person for sure, perhaps that's what love is. When you find someone who is equally as giving and as loyal as you are, I think this is a rare thing and if you find this, don't give up on it.

Serenade_10 · Answer

I used to. Before, I used to be the romantic one who wanted to date n well believed in soulmates and everything but eventually realized it's not something I believe in.

There were a lot of reasons. Mainly my choice of guys. They.. you can say we're either manipualtive or emotional blackmailer. I dated 5 n all of them were, cheater, liar, manipulator, ghosted/ ghosted me basically and emotional blackmailer. So now, I have trust issues and do not believe in love but that's doesn't mean I do not think it does not exist. Infact, I think love is something to believe in. It's like a hope cuz it doesn't have to be dating wise (though here it probably means dating kind of love) so maybe I just dated the wrong guy at a wrong time.

BadApple69 · Answer

Yes I believe in love. But I don’t believe it is as special as people make it out to be. And there is no such thing as “love at first sight”. There is LUST at first sight! Love is something that takes time to build. You need to fall in love with the persons personality, the way she cares, the good things you see in her from life interactions. It’s not looking at that sexy girl going… “wow I’m in love!” That’s not it.

molonski2 · Answer

In essence its possible , but there are a number of elements that relate directly which are not so sexy , its compromise , its financial , its responsibility , its commitment , its unconditional trust..

Its never as simplistic as " True Love " or no true love.

Fabiloso · Answer

I believe in love but not in the Disney fashion. I believe there were many chances that I had that were truly lost. It's not going to be that the one who makes it was always meant to be with me. It just so happened we mixed well at the right time. It's a bit whimsical and the feeling of magic is there but its not magical. Not a fate thing. Plenty of people dying alone these days.

Anonymous · Answer

Nah never seen any. It was always cold harsh reality for me starting from childhood abuse to 28. I have seen all the bad someone can ever see. Taken advantage by other people , women , friends , professors who stole my work and published in their name, everything but never love. For guys to see love you have to be tall , attractive and make very good money from an early age. Being a mere grad student , I fit into none of the description. Don't know , probably will see some in the future but I don't believe it anymore.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Of course, I have been living it every day for over 8 years. Those that say otherwise are probably incapable of loving.

Do you believe in love? Why/why not?

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