what's the point of dating / marrying?

[Matty]

(07-04-2012 02:09 PM)jimmy Wrote:  

(07-04-2012 10:13 AM)Matty Wrote:  my understanding is that "love" means that you selflessly wish good to another person. But that emotion doesn't compute too well with me, because one I don't believe in selflessness and two, why would I want another person to do well just for the sake of their doing well? No, I don't want them to fail at life, I just can't think of a reason why I would want them to do well, unless there's something in it for me. so either "true love" doesn't exist, since the only emotion that resembles it is based on self-interest, or I am incapable of feeling "love".

Quote:It's called empathy, and like love, it's another one of those basic human emotions. The only people who can't feel it are sociopaths and narcissists.

Empathy just means that you understand someone else's emotions. If I see someone who is obviously experiencing pain, my understanding of their emotions is likely to motivate me to try and stop whatever is causing them pain, but that's as far as I would go. I would feel no motivation to help them experience pleasure.

Jesus Christ kid. Go see a therapist and stop clogging up the forum.