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.

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.

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.

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.

Resol ,
@Resol@lemmy.world avatar

Downvote me for asking the Google Assistant (I know Lemminos despise Google), but this is what it had to say:

"Love seems like one of the most important things people can share."

Mr_Dr_Oink ,

🎵 Love is only a feeling 🎵

Today ,

My son always says i love you to his family and friends when leaving or ending a phone call. Then he started dating one of his friends and he felt like he had to stop saying it so she didn't think he meant he loved her. They had a conversation, agreed that the dating was just casual, and went back to saying i love you.

UrPartnerInCrime ,
@UrPartnerInCrime@sh.itjust.works avatar

Love is when you'll still do something even if it's 100% not what you want to do because it'll make them happy

GeoGio7 ,

Loving someone means caring about them deeply. Being in love with someone means you also care deeply about them but you also can't and don't want to imagine your life without them. It also means they're the only person you want to be intimate with and you'd rather not be intimate at all with anyone, if it's not them.

At least that's what it means to me.

It's more a feeling than anything else, it's very visceral, once you've felt it you just know what it means. It's like those butterflies in your stomach, your heart beating fast, your breath catching in your chest.

It's not like that for everyone and it sounds cheesy but it's true.

shinigamiookamiryuu ,

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

SORROW ,

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

muntedcrocodile ,

Ask your mother about my cock?

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.

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