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"took ... my girlfriend" This implies that your girlfriend was something less than a rational, value-seeking adult human being; that you own her, in some respe

"took ... my girlfriend" This implies that your girlfriend was something less than a rational, value-seeking adult human being; that you own her, in some respect, as property. This is so completely wrong that I don't think you really meant it, but that's what those words mean. In all realms, including romance, your girlfriend is a free agent, and so are you. And if your former girlfriend just wants whoever has the most money/status, without being valuable in her own right, why do you want her anyway? Contrary to popular conception, love is something you can reason about.

cynicalkane 17y ago
All it means is that women are usually passive when it comes to relationship-seeking behavior. This is a fine strategy and it doesn't make their choices any less valid, rational, value-seeking, or adult.
- maxharris 17y ago
  I disagree completely. Drifting along and dealing with life in a passive way is sure to get you something that doesn't make you happy, or something that won't suit you, and won't be good for your long-term rational self-interest. The world is a big place, and wrong possibilities are endless. Adults are able, by and large, make correct choices - not all of them do it, mind you, but they are capable nonetheless.
  - cynicalkane 17y ago
    All I meant is that one is usually asking the other out on dates, not the other way around. I have no idea why this precludes living an active life. Incidentally, the pick-up artist method is all about enticing girls to go out and get you instead. And we know what all winners those guys are.
commieneko 17y ago
The headline, and the story itself, is what we call a narrative hook. Their purpose is not really to inform the moral of the story, although they should not be totally unrelated, but to grab your attention and give you some kind of emotional attachment to the "lesson" and cause you to pay attention; and keep reading. Whether the story is true or not, and whether the details actually warrant the conclusions are largely irrelevant to their actual purpose within the piece. The actual message of the piece can be boiled down to "Pick your business partners like you pick your wife/husband/significant whatever." The anecdote _does_ have a resonance with the message, so works quite well in that regard. Also note the "resolution" paragraph at the end that wraps up the narrative and gives you that warm, all's right with the world, happy ending buzz. And it did cause you to read a bunch more verbiage that you might have otherwise. A little hint of sex and betrayal can really spice up an otherwise trite and shallow piece (sometimes you need to file some copy even when the muse isn't stopping by today...)
ErrantX 17y ago
"lured away the girl who was in a relationship with me" is just wordy. "took" and "my girlfriend" are accepted contractions of that. There doesn't appear to be any insinuation of possession :)

cynicalkane 17y ago

All it means is that women are usually passive when it comes to relationship-seeking behavior. This is a fine strategy and it doesn't make their choices any less valid, rational, value-seeking, or adult.

maxharris 17y ago
I disagree completely. Drifting along and dealing with life in a passive way is sure to get you something that doesn't make you happy, or something that won't suit you, and won't be good for your long-term rational self-interest. The world is a big place, and wrong possibilities are endless. Adults are able, by and large, make correct choices - not all of them do it, mind you, but they are capable nonetheless.
- cynicalkane 17y ago
  All I meant is that one is usually asking the other out on dates, not the other way around. I have no idea why this precludes living an active life. Incidentally, the pick-up artist method is all about enticing girls to go out and get you instead. And we know what all winners those guys are.

commieneko 17y ago

The headline, and the story itself, is what we call a narrative hook. Their purpose is not really to inform the moral of the story, although they should not be totally unrelated, but to grab your attention and give you some kind of emotional attachment to the "lesson" and cause you to pay attention; and keep reading. Whether the story is true or not, and whether the details actually warrant the conclusions are largely irrelevant to their actual purpose within the piece. The actual message of the piece can be boiled down to "Pick your business partners like you pick your wife/husband/significant whatever." The anecdote _does_ have a resonance with the message, so works quite well in that regard. Also note the "resolution" paragraph at the end that wraps up the narrative and gives you that warm, all's right with the world, happy ending buzz. And it did cause you to read a bunch more verbiage that you might have otherwise. A little hint of sex and betrayal can really spice up an otherwise trite and shallow piece (sometimes you need to file some copy even when the muse isn't stopping by today...)

ErrantX 17y ago

"lured away the girl who was in a relationship with me" is just wordy. "took" and "my girlfriend" are accepted contractions of that. There doesn't appear to be any insinuation of possession :)