Love? What is it? Are there different types? ....

From my knowledge on relationships, perhaps the most important thing that I've learned is that different people have different notions of love. Love, quite simply, has different meanings. Some people toss the word "love" around as casually as the word "cool," or some other word that conveniently seems to fit into nearly every other sentence. Some hold it in reserve, treating the word itself with a certain degree of respect, only to be spoken in the most serious and personally involved context imaginable. Still, others shun the word almost entirely, treating it as if it's something that's meant exclusively for the foolhardy or young and rambunctious. But I'm curious, what do you think? To which of the previously described categories do you belong?

I suppose I ask partly out of curiosity, out of boredom, and possibly a bit of concern, but I seriously don't have any idea where the majority lies. I suspect that time has changed and evolved the majority notion of love, and that, more specifically, people of the younger generations are mostly more casual with the word, not fully comprehending it's truest meaning or its absolute potential. This suspicion (it is merely that), is based on my observation of relationships between friends of mine over the years, and of television (perhaps there's warrant of some shame there - but one must admit that people are influenced by television, especially the young.).

Maybe it is just the people that I have observed, mostly single people which are the type that go out to clubs, parties, and sports centers to meet women/men. Sometimes they'll have casual sex with the women/men they meet and that'll be it. Sometimes they'll date for a while and when the sex gets boring or they find something "better," they break up and repeat the process. This seems to be the typical process for finding a companion today. What do you do? What do you think other people do? How does sex fit into your notion of love?

I have a theory. My theory is that everyone has their own unique perspective on love. But each perspective can be categorized, and in order for any relationship to work out ("work out" as in, result in eventual marriage and last until death or beyond), both participants must be in the same category when it comes to their perspective on love. Now, obviously there are other factors that might cause a relationship to fail, but this is one of the few factors that I believe applies to everyone. Do you agree or disagree?

I'd like to get a discussion going on this subject. If you believe there might be a way to categorize people with notions of love, try to describe a category for us. Let's get a collection together. It might be fun or even educational.

I learned that there are four different themes of love. Sensual love, affected love, conventional love and true love.

Sensual love: is basically the sexual basis of true love.

Affected love: Infatuation.

Conventional love: False love.

True love: Genuine. Basically like Romeo and Juliet.

Those four always played an important role in my life. I'd always find someone and just make it seem that it's false love or infatuation. I'm pretty much a coward when it comes to love, because I don't want to deal with everything it has to offer.

So.. to answer what I believe was your question, I hide from love.

Now, people may hide from love, like myself.. they can fall to hard for a person, and believe it is love. They can say they love someone.. and have it be a lie. Theres many ways to catergorize people into these things.. but what will it prove to us, Jooe?

We all know who we are and how we operate. Does it really matter that much if we hide, seek, or find love? Not to me.

There are tons of categories I put love into, some are more genuine than others. But I'm just going off of my own observations.

No love: pretty obvious there

"Fun" love: "Lets just have fun."

Highschool love: I love you.. I hate you. Next!

First love: innocently and spectacularly awed

New love: a brisk walk in the park, a new page

there love: again, obvious. Sometimes taken advantage of. Perhaps you don't know its there.

away love: for the long-distance-ers waiting, or the on-duty-soldier-lovers out there.

commited love: "Will you marry me? Lets start a life together. I want to have children with you."

old love: one that goes away sometimes, but never dies.

rejuvinated love: happens alot. Can you say "counseling?"

ended love: still living in the past..

endless love: The kind that follows you around when you go grocery shopping.

selfish love: if anyone immature is involved, its selfish.

selfless love: I'll give everything I possibly can in the world to you, and if I can't, I'll work hard trying to.

wise love: picture an elderly couple sipping lemonade on the front-porch swing and talking about their grandbabies.

There's probably more, I bet..

I personally believe that love is something created between two people. I would hold that word in reserve and only for special use, I guess if I was to caterogrize myself. I believe that it takes time to love someone. People use that word to casually. I also believe (and this is my belief, so don't attack me for it, cause it ain't gonna change) that sex is something for marriage, and the one you truly love, it's not to be just passed out like candy.

I agree whole heartdly (is that even a word?!) that everybody's view of love is different, considering everyone is different, so therefore, we are going to form different opinions on things.

Now, I may only be 15, but I have some pretty.... weird (for lack of a better word) notions about what a relationship is all about. I think that a relationship isn't about sex and physical pleasures, but it's about, the more emotional side of it. It's about being able to enjoy the persons company and just love them.. for them... not for their body.. for their mind (Call me crazy!!! I know) I guess you could say I'm NOT your typical teenager...

I could go on for AWHILE, but I'm sure nobody wants to hear me rant about my beliefs. I will say one more thing however. It almost makes me physically sick when people are in frivolus relationships. I am looking for something more.. idk.. maybe I am asking to much... I am only a teenager after all... hehe.. but anyway..

A category... hmmm well I would describe one category as well... more reserved, like you aren't just looking for anyone, but someone. If that makes any sense.

I hope this helped, even just a little. It's my personal views on the subject, so I hope this gives some insight to how, well at least me at any rate, think. Great thought by the way, it really got me thinking. I hope this starts a good discussion, it's got me interested.
Much Love,
~*Perfect Chaos*~

all peoples different way of looking at love-i'm sure all of you know-

love = wanting that "whatever it is"

So many kinds of love.....love of a parent, sibling, love for friends, love of a child, love of your soul mate. I'm sure what you are speaking of is the true love we all seek and write of on this site.

That true lasting love everyone seeks seems to be rare today. Many are content to move from partner to partner through serial monogamy or just downright foolong around. Many married people give up when the first problems appear. It's basically too easy to quit. Those who don't give up and weather it out over the bumps I believe are the ones that end up with a real true love...that contains all the emotion, passion, friendship, and history that makes for the beautiful bonding we all seek.....a soul mate.