What is *love*?

inb4 "Baby, don't hurt me."

But for real...what do people mean when they say "I love you," or "Do you love them?" I'm really confused by this because love seems to have such a varying definition. People say love for all sorts of things, and it seems like everyone else understands which definition they're using in the moment. Here are some examples in which each one has a different meaning:

  • I love pancakes.
  • I love my mother.
  • I love my romantic partner.
  • I love my best friend.
  • I love my career.
  • I love going to the beach.
  • My dog loves me.
  • That couple is in love.
  • Where is the love?

Background: I recently saw an episode of a show (spoiler below) where there was an adolescent heterosexual couple. The girl had a female best friend that she kissed, and is now confused about what she wants. She told her boyfriend about it. The boyfriend then asked her, "Do you love her?" What is he asking? If love means attachment and care, then clearly she does because that's her best friend. However, since that is so clear, he's not asking that. What is he asking??

Another specification is when people ask "Do you love them, or are you in love with them?"

I am confused by this term and the whole concept in general. I think I could really use some clarification, examples, or how to know which definition someone is going with when they use it.

Name of show

The show is Atypical on Netflix.

NeoNachtwaechter ,

You explained it all. What is your question.

Kolanaki ,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

I love lamp 🤷🏻‍♂️

themadcodger ,
@themadcodger@kbin.earth avatar

Baby, don't hurt me? 🤷🏼‍♂️

Chee_Koala ,

I love carpet!

Lost_My_Mind ,

Found the one who doesn't shave or trim......down there.....

hakunawazo ,

So no nginx for you

SORROW ,

I don't know. I don't think I've ever felt it.

dohpaz42 ,
@dohpaz42@lemmy.world avatar

I too don’t feel love; as in I there is not a physiological sensation that I can point to that is distinct for “love”. I know what sadness and anger feel like. I know what it feels like to disassociate from trauma. But I do not have a physical reaction to love.

I do, however, notice my attitude and behavior toward the things and people I love. I am kinder, more gentle, excited to be with, and would do just about anything for them. I prefer their company over being alone. And even if I’m mad at them, I still “love” them because I still want to be around them.

Maybe I’m weird and broken or something. I don’t know. But I used to worry that I didn’t have the capacity for love like society suggested I should. But then I realized that I do genuinely love things, even if I can’t feel it.

RBWells ,

I have heard it said (this might help you) that love is a verb; it is an action, can be something you do more than something you feel. You can show love, without worrying about what you are 'supposed' to feel. Also if it helps - I am, as far as I know, pretty normal, and the feeling is not a bash you over the head certainty. It is more like a decision, in a way.

henfredemars ,

Many people use the word without reflecting on how they mean to use it. I’ve seen many a relationship fight indirectly over the ambiguity.

Varyk ,

To love ___ means to care for ___ a lot.

Everything else is semantics or the common linguistic inaccuracy of multiple definitions for a single word.

Ledivin ,

English is kind of weak in this arena because we only have one word for love, but we can modify it to be more useful: romantic love and fraternal love. Any other use stems from these two, and will basically boil down to "I like ___a lot."

Another specification is when people ask "Do you love them, or are you in love with them?"

"In love" means romantic love, I think. You want to spend your life with this person, probably every day, will overlook their faults and are enamored with the things they do, the way their brain works, etc.

satanmat ,

Thank you. Agreed this is more an English language issue.

Between people it should be (in love ) — “I’m (in love ) with you”. Rather than “I love (like being around) you”

treefrog ,

Buddhism defines metta as loving kindness, which also requires understanding because if we don't understand another person's needs it's difficult to be loving and kind towards them.

In the show, what the person was trying to say is, I am feeling insecure that you may be more attached to her than you are to me. I.e., I'm scared you're going to leave me for her.

Which is what we generally mean by love in our culture. At least what we mean by romantic love. A sense of attachment to the other person.

This isn't always a bad thing. I can be a little shy so when I am in public I tend to show a lot of attachment to my girlfriend, at least until I get comfortable in the space. But it can be a bad thing, if someone is so attached that they let it get in the way of treating their partner with kindness. Act manipulative or aggressive when the person pulls away, for example.

ConstipatedWatson ,

Message from the whole Lemmy community: we hate you for having inb4-ed our collective standard joke answer.

Signed: everyone but you 😜

shinigamiookamiryuu ,

I was going to say 42.

Lost_My_Mind ,

Don't worry. We can still do the club dance where we bash their body back and forth between us using our chests to throw them around, making them spill their overpriced club drink!

WeLoveCastingSpellz ,

fr lol

RBWells ,

I think of romantic love as what follows infatuation, if you get there. The continued slow burn of lust, affection and respect for each other.

Friendly love is care, when you would let yourself be hurt to save a specific other person from being hurt, and are willing to be inconvenienced to do things for them, and trust enough to inconvenience them if you need something.

Agape - love, love for the world, is both easier and harder to feel. It's easier to not be annoyed by things and people you don't personally know, but hard to care so much about them. That universal love feeling , the joy of existence and care for the natural world is also love.

So yeah English in this regard just doesn't have (or doesn't use) different words for different types of love but they are different.

Chee_Koala ,

I think "The continued slowburn of lust,affection and respect" is highly accurate while 'keepin' it real®'

Etterra ,

Ancient Greeks had a whole pile of words for love of different kinds.

moistclump ,

Philo, eros, agape, and I can’t remember the fourth one.

shinigamiookamiryuu ,

Love means feeling like the characteristics of someone or something inspire ease.

z00s ,

I think this is a pretty good definition. Heard it on an episode of This American Life. Note that it's not just about romantic love, but other kinds as well.

The visionary feminist writer Bell Hooks says love is made up of seven parts. Wherever someone is practicing care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, trust, and open, honest communication, there is love.

muntedcrocodile ,

Ask your mother about my cock?

bear ,

You answered your own question. It means different things to different people at different times. To know what people mean you must use your basic language comprehension skills or ask them for clarification.

AVincentInSpace ,

or ask them for clarification.

How do this without it being the most awkward thing ever

SORROW ,

Also I've never being loved outside my own family.

SuiXi3D ,
@SuiXi3D@fedia.io avatar

Love is action.

You don’t feel love, you show it and recognize when it’s been shown to you. Saying you love someone is just words, but showing you love someone by listening when they need someone to listen or helping them in some other way is proof of love.

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