You couldn't make it up dept. no.57: believe it or not, an intelligent person wrote the following:

[fpb]

Nobody with a modicum of self-control HAS to fall in love

(The author of the Roscesvalles blog, to be precise.)

Which goes to show that intelligent people can write the most fantastically idiotic things when they go outside their own areas of experience. IN other words, if you have never been in love, shut up about it.

Comments

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

o_O

[jamesenge.livejournal.com]

"Nobody with a modicum of self-control HAS to fall in love"

A Stoic, like Seneca, would agree. God knows I don't. Someone should get this person an infusion of Dante's La vita nuova, stat!

[guarani]

So, if you have a certain level of self-control, you don't have to fall in love, but may if you want to? If you fall in love, you lack that level or is simply that you did it on purpose? Not falling in love proves that you have complete control over yourself? I could ask even weirder questions... :P

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose you COULD kill yourself at the first blush of what seems like love-- which technically is the ultimate in self-control-- but other than that, you're out of luck. For that matter, I fell in love with my fiance before I realized it.

Now, if the author meant "fall in love" like Romeo and Juliet-- IE, throw their brains out the window and act like prats-- then I'll agree. (I'm not very big on self control, but I was resigned to helping my good-friend-who-I-suddenly-realized-I- loved get a girlfriend if that would make him happy.)

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Rmember that Shakespeare made Romeo and Juliet about fifteen. They were also the heirs of two very great houses, and as good as hereditary princes in their city.

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know they were in characters-- they were still prats.

[dirigibletrance.livejournal.com]

There's definitely an element of will and conscious choice in falling in Love, your emotions don't simply hold you hostage, unless you're a profoundly immature person.

So, while we might not be able to help being attracted to, and caring for, someone, I think we do have some partial say in who we fall in love with. There's always a moment when can decide not to give into those feelings, after all.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but you must belong to a different human race from mine. I can assure that if I could have done anything about falling in love with a butch lesbian, I would have.

[dirigibletrance.livejournal.com]

No, I belong to the same human race. People have different experiences and different minds than you do, don't forget that.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

But don't call it love, then. For the same reason why I do not call diet coke "Whiskey".

[dirigibletrance.livejournal.com]

I will call it love, because that is what it is to me.

Whiskey is an unhealthy and destructive drink that I stay the hell away from. If you're equating what you're feeling with that, then I want no part of it.

[jennilee.livejournal.com]

There's always a moment when we can decide not to give into those feelings, after all.

And moment after that? And the next? And still, the next?

I can't help but think you're confusing actions and feelings. :/

[johncwright.livejournal.com]

Benedict from Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING has a similar philosophy... until he falls in love.

The heartless gods scorn such mortal folly. The boy who said that will be head over heals in love, moping and crying his eyes out, before the next new moon. Cupid will mug him. Just wait and see.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Alas, that is not the case. People of thirty, of forty, of fifty, have never fallen in love. The otherwise excellent Editrix of the Roncesvalles blog, whom I have quoted here - and whom you would probably like - is quite obviously one, and I know at least one other who happens to be a genius. Some people never will live to experience the catastrophe that is love.