Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is, as the title implies, a topic for discussing anything about the deeper side of life, be it love, politics, religion, outlook on life, personal philosophies, morality, or ethics.

There will be a topic selected, and people really should express their views. This is, after all, the debate forum. Any and all opinions will be accepted and debated on. Criticisms on anyone's viewpoint are accepted and even encouraged, even of my opinions. I'm not the type to fly into an unholy rage or blatantly flip off criticism, no matter how hard-edged. I wish only for people here to develop, improve, and learn.

To start, the topic should be... Relationships and 'love', perceived and real.

What is love? How do you recognize true love from pretense and lies? Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not? Post in as much detail as possible, and THINK. Contemplate things. Take time out for once and ponder things deeper than usual. It helps you develop, in mind and spirit.

((Do I have to smack people the hell around to get them to think deeply? This world needs a collective intelligence boost. This is as good a place as any to start.))

*UPDATE* The subject matter here is now unrestricted, I may choose topics of a different sort every once in a while.

I agree wholeheartedly, for the most part. It isn't always lust; sometimes, it can just be infatuation. Depends on the person really. Also, it doesn't necessarily require hardship - just time and understanding, and the ability to endure and forgive.

But I am quite sure that what is felt at first sight is never truly love. After all, who can profess to know a person's innermost secrets and accept them by taking a quick glance? That is but a fantasy - even the finest precognitive on the planet could not achieve this, if such a power did exist. No matter how 'perfect' people might be for each other, I have still seen these relationships torn apart from disagreements and petty quarrels.

If you truly feel that a person is right for you on sight, remember to take care and do not act with haste. Allow events to unfold and take your time; that is how the best of relationships form. They are not hurried along by the impatient... and consequentially remain undamaged while running their course. Avoid rushing into commitment, whether physical or spiritual.

((Only one reply, and that's one I was already expecting. People, post, for Glod's sake. And do remember to think with a cool and logical mindset.))

I believe that love is love, there can't be any words to describe love but love. There are a lot of synonyms for it but they can't really come close to what it really is. Love is something indescribable, it's something felt between 2 people who care about each other whether it's romantic or not.

As for the belief for 'love at first sight', I'm 50/50 there. I believe that there really is that one person you are meant to be with, but I think that because of the media and hype it's exaggerated already, like you fall in love with someone with literally just a blink of an eye. I mean do you really want to believe you fell in love with someone who just blinkedat you?

I believe in 'love at first sight' in terms of attraction, like there was a spark when you met but not I-love-you-in-a-head-over-heels-way.

Hmmm I am married so this could be fun! I do not believe in love at first sight however in my case, I was completely infatuated with my husband the moment I saw him and it had nothing to do with looks. Simply that there is really no way to accept the feelings I had before I knew him but I kept caution. I would go up and talk to him (Very rare for me to do) and I would ask random questions. Some people would ask me, 'what if you scare him away by doing that'? Well ask yourself, if you scare someone away by being yourself, no matter how odd, do you really believe that it would even be worth falling in love with that person?

In any case, he loved it, soon we were asking each other hundreds of questions and falling more and more in love. Some people say you have to sacrifice to truly be in love but that is not true. Although I would sacrifice for my husband (and he would do the same) I really don't and neither does he. Sacrifice comes with compromise. Compromise comes from people who see faults in each other. We don't even have to accept each others differences because we find each other perfect.

This is rare however for two people to find each other perfect and you should not be discouraged if you always have to compromise with each other. Love is completely mysterious and strange. Another thing to consider is that people do change and people do not change. This is why it is best to build an amazing relationship with your other over a great period of time before marriage. Especially if your dating people who are young. Most people around 25 find a personality and keep it but that is not always the case. I'm between 20-25.....

My husband and I both don't want kids. It is awesome. We want to dedicate all our love to each other.

There is no rule, no advise, no true remedy to love, because like beauty, love is in the beholder. Some people are meant to be alone. Take time to get to know one and other, and don't worry about getting hurt in the process, pain is a great way to learn. Suffering is one of our greatest teachers. Most people with great wisdom suffered a lot to gain the knowledge they have.

And my advice to middle-schoolers and high-schoolers, don't try to justify yourself with a relationship. All these kids today are so worried about getting a boyfriend or girlfriend or 'getting laid'. There are so many movies about people in high school trying so hard to be with someone and get laid. It's truly pathetic and weak minded. From my personal experience, you shouldn't have to fight for love. I did once but I realized that nobody should have to fight for it because if love exists between two people you shouldn't have to make them see it.

Then again everyone is unique..........there is no single answer.

Wow you are young but your mind is amazing! That's what matters too! I also hate people who have kids to justify their relationship. First of all children should be reflected by your personality, not your selfish wants. Children are not things to simply 'want'. Let me explain, I used to want children but to be sure I would baby sit my sister 24/7.

I discovered that I am a very distant person. I cannot correctly tend to a child because I like being alone. I do not like to hold anybody(except my husband, and that is soooo rare for me to even hug someone). When it comes to children, do not be sad if you are simply not cut out for the job(I was for awhile). Your doing the world a favor by not producing more population problems.

One thing to consider with having a child with your lover is, are you willing to give up the bond between you and your lover? This isn't always the case but you should consider that most of the time a child changes people. Look how much some couples suffer raising children. I know that I would. I'm selfish. Not in a greedy way(I share my things), but in a way to where sharing my time is a problem. Children really can change a person. They bring out all your worst sides and your best. They make you change and learn new things both good and bad.

This is where cheating comes in. Because couples are spending so much time on the child they lose the romance with each other. I don't think it's the same for everyone, and I simply adore and admire the couples with so many children who pull through!

Back to cheating. I believe if you or your lover cheats on you, regardless of how bad they feel, it is not true love at all. Cheaters should be stoned, not to death necessarily, but to a pulp. I understand if you fall 'in love' with somebody and do not feel for your other but, why cheat? It is way better to break up with your current other and not hurt them even more.
Also it is a disgrace to the person your seeing outside of the relationship. Thus stone the damn cheater.

I really hate how sex and looks have taken over the world. Fashion! Beauty! Sex! Keeping your skin young! This is truly pathetic. I told my husband before he married me to expect me to get as old as I can. I want wrinkles! Let 'um flap in the wind! He said that I'm so perfect. I wear make-up every now and then but I still go without even in public. Make-up to me is a form of art. I darken the area around my eyes to make my eyes stand out and show my emotions even more vividly.

When did the world go to hell?

v.v; you chilluns....make me so sad and disappointed. (and I don't mean people under 18 I mean peoples mental capacity).

That is too true. Not to mention the pounds of make-up some women slop on their face everyday thinking that some boy will like them. Also the Ax body spray commercials are ridiculous.

Here is another fun topic. Drugs and alcohol.

I have never done either. I don't really plan to because I don't see any point in doing either...

I think it's another issue that persists (mostly drugs) to destroy the world...Addiction to such things is pathetic and I absolutely despise the people who 'try' twenty times to quit, and whine about how difficult it is!

It's no wonder I'm an angry person....
That's what I'm told I am anyways.....

Buta lets debate about Gaia.