What is love in the broadest sense?

[davewhite04]

Mary? You naughty boy... I agree with all you said, but love. What is it in your opinion?

Years ago I believed in love, until the object of my love turned into a super bitch. Too much hate.

Is it better to have a) lost love or is it better b) not loving in the first place. I go with b.

 

[exchemist]

Mary? You naughty boy... I agree with all you said, but love. What is it in your opinion?

Years ago I believed in love, until the object of my love turned into a super bitch. Too much hate.

Is it better to have a) lost love or is it better b) not loving in the first place. I go with b.

I think I indicated that, more or less. Selfless caring for another, inspired by human devotion, empathy and respect, I suppose. I think there are different degrees of it. I don't buy the idea that love is necessarily a rare and special, rarefied and intense thing. That's a c.19th Romantic view which I think is far too exclusivist. I think there is lots of love around, in different degrees. It just needs to be brought out by something. A romantic relationship is the obvious classic example. But it could be a relationship between relatives or friends, or someone in need. Something that triggers altruism. Perhaps it's just what happens when the normal defensive, self-preservation barriers between people are brought down in some way.

 

[davewhite04]

I think I indicated that, more or less. Selfless caring for another, inspired by human devotion, empathy and respect, I suppose.

I think if altruism exists then we'll have people who will not need to respect a person for example, before helping them.

That could be love I suppose.

 

[Olga]

Mary? You naughty boy... I agree with all you said, but love. What is it in your opinion?

Years ago I believed in love, until the object of my love turned into a super bitch. Too much hate.

Is it better to have a) lost love or is it better b) not loving in the first place. I go with b.

Такое часто бывает в юности. Как у нас говорят: "просто пришло твоё время любить, и тут подвернулся он/она". Что же теперь, из-за одной дурочки себя радостей любви лишать? Зря вы так.

 

[Wizard of Whatever]

Good Feeling, Caring, Appreciation, Good Gratitude, Sharing.

 

[TheVat]

Mary? You naughty boy... I agree with all you said, but love. What is it in your opinion?

Years ago I believed in love, until the object of my love turned into a super bitch. Too much hate.

Is it better to have a) lost love or is it better b) not loving in the first place. I go with b.

A, imo. Even if love sours or implodes, a person still has added to their experience of empathic, caring and compassionate feelings towards another.

Much as one might want to erase a life experience and have some sunshine of the spotless mind, whatever happened still deepened you. (Obviously I'm not including all extreme trauma in this picture - someone who was chained in a cellar and beaten and raped daily would sensibly elect to not have had that horrific experience - and no one would gainsay them)

 

[davewhite04]

A, imo. Even if love sours or implodes, a person still has added to their experience of empathic, caring and compassionate feelings towards another.

I think the link between love and hate is interesting. For seven days I felt love. The greatest feeling, nothing can stand in your way, no obstacle to high, just a permanent smile.

I hate her, and love her, maybe that is when compassion is handy if you've got a giving soul.

Love is king.

Much as one might want to erase a life experience and have some sunshine of the spotless mind, whatever happened still deepened you. (Obviously I'm not including all extreme trauma in this picture - someone who was chained in a cellar and beaten and raped daily would sensibly elect to not have had that horrific experience - and no one would gainsay them)

What has happened to me because of falling for the wrong person, put me off women partners for the rest of my life. I'm happy.

 

[Lumen]

Why do people sacrifice themselves for her? Why is love stronger than the instinct of self-preservation?

Love is a biological necessity for all mammals that give birth to dependant young.

Love that extends to a mate and a community is an additional survival necessity.

Animals that don't have dependant young or live communally don't have mates or observable expressions of 'love'.

Self sacrifice is instinct again ... a requirement of species survival.

Not everyone has it ... others have it in abundance.

 

[Olga]

Love is a biological necessity for all mammals that give birth to dependant young.

Love that extends to a mate and a community is an additional survival necessity.

Animals that don't have dependant young or live communally don't have mates or observable expressions of 'love'.

Self sacrifice is instinct again ... a requirement of species survival.

Not everyone has it ... others have it in abundance.

Волки создают пару на всю жизнь. Если один партнёр гибнет, другой на всю жизнь остаётся одиноким. И ещё волки заботятся о своих стариках, приносят им еду, и ухаживают за ними. Шакалы этого не делают, хотя они тоже стайные животные.

Я однажды прочитала одну историю, человек рассказал случай из своей жизни. Друзья пригласили его на охоту, и он поехал с ними из интереса, хотя охотником не был. Они отстреляли волчью стаю, почти всю, и вдруг прямо на него выскочил старый матёрый волк. Они стояли и смотрели друг другу в глаза. И тут человеку стало жалко волка, он опустил ружьё, и сказал: "беги, старый"! Волк ушёл. Прошло много лет, и этот человек уже состарился сам. Однажды он поздно возвращался домой, и в тёмном переулке к нему подошли вооружённые бандиты. Они уже собирались ограбить и убить его, как вдруг откуда то появился их главарь. Он посмотрел человеку прямо в глаза, жестом остановил своих подельников, и произнёс фразу:"беги, старый!" Вот так нам иногда возвращается добро.

 

[Olga]

Love is a biological necessity for all mammals that give birth to dependant young.

Love that extends to a mate and a community is an additional survival necessity.

Animals that don't have dependant young or live communally don't have mates or observable expressions of 'love'.

Self sacrifice is instinct again ... a requirement of species survival.

Not everyone has it ... others have it in abundance.