Suppose you fall in love. You've been there before, right? Many of us have. Admitting your feelings can be one of the hardest things you do. Being vulnerable is not easy.
And you can only hope that the object of your affection responds to your words in kind. Suppose they don't? That's when things get awkward, even painful.
People shared their thoughts with us after Redditor Scrotonimus asked the online community,
"What is the worst way to respond to "I love you"?"
"If only..."
""If I could only get your sister to say that."
[deleted]
"I love you."
"I love you...r sister."
Can you imagine?
"Just not saying..."
"Just not saying anything and laughing, like a real good hearty laugh would be pretty bad."
__lony__
Oh, that would really hurt. A lot.
"You're just not..."
"You're just not terribly important to me."
Imherewhatnow
Best response: "I have to return some videotapes."
"Then you'll really love..."
"Then you'll really love this once in a lifetime business opportunity!"
[deleted]
Please don't. Just because we're in love doesn't mean I want to join you on a timeshare.
"And..."
"And I love you, random citizen!"
llama_brigade
This is the best response. I laughed way too hard at this.
"You don't know..."
"You don't know what love is, Forrest."
Action_Hank__
I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.
See what I did there?
"I love..."
"I love me too."
mmmkay01
Admit it – many of you have said this one.
"I.... tolerate you."
kateykmck
Ouch. Let's hope none of you ever hear this.
"By releasing large amounts of ink in order to create a dark, diffuse cloud (much like a smoke screen) which can obscure the intruder's view, allowing you to make a rapid retreat by jetting away."
Goiterbuster
Honestly, I think I'd respect the hustle if this actually happened.
"There's no mistaking..."
""Thank you" is the most heartbreaking and the most effective. There's no mistaking that the other person heard it, acknowledged it, and very deliberately did not return it in kind."
StickleyMan
I have said this to someone before...but I feel like it's better to be honest than say something so powerful that you don't mean.
Awkward, huh? You can't help who you fall in love with – but hopefully they will also reciprocate your emotions.
Have some suggestions of your own? Tell us more in the comments below!
Guy's Sister Was Voted "Ugliest Girl" By The Boys In Her Class, And Her Brother Seeks Advice On How To Help
Beat them all!! Sorry not Sorry!
My (15M) sister (17F) was voted ugliest girl of her year and it's crushing her. I need help on how to comfort her. First of all u/GladBus0 is the kind of sibling we all deserve and should be... and he has an issue he needs some guidance on. Listen close....
Kids are just cruel. Parents... that's a fail. What are your thoughts people?
Boyfriend Catches GF Worsening Her Injuries For Sympathy, And Seeks Advice
Millions of people struggle with self-harm every single day. Their reasons are as varied and unique as they are. it's a dangerous tendency that people absolutely can overcome, but it requires a lot of work and support. Having said that, the self-harming person has to be willing to accept that help.
What do you do when you catch a loved one hurting themselves but they refuse to acknowledge it?
That's the position one Reddit found himself in when he posted asking for advice:
My girlfriend Lacy and I have been dating 2 years. She's a lovely person and we make a great couple.
Two weeks ago Lacy and I went downhill skiing. I'm an experienced skier and she had only been once before. I admit I pushed her abilities and lo and behold, she wiped out pretty hard. She wasn't seriously hurt or anything and got right back up with a smile on her face.
Her legs got pretty bruised up from the fall (she was wearing only thin workout leggings since it was quite warm out). It looks like someone splashed green paint on her, if that makes sense. And she has a particularly nasty big purple one on her thigh.
Lacy has always been the type to show off injuries. For as long as I've known her she has always showed me even the tiniest of bruises either for sympathy or attention (like she would say it was shaped as Texas or something). She has some body image issues and I know that she really likes the attention so I will usually give it to her no problem.
Yesterday though I came home from work early (power went out at my building). I walked in pretty quietly as I usually do and went straight to our bedroom. I could hear music coming from it and wanted to greet her.
I basically opened the door and saw her with a hammer in her hands mid hit. The hammer hit her bruised leg the moment I walked in. It was absolutely surreal and I admit - I freaked out a bit. I went to her and took the hammer and started asking her what she was doing?
She freaked out right back and told me that she was rubbing the blood vessels or something to make the bruises go away faster. I knew this was bullshit right away since you don't "rub" by smacking yourself with a fricken hammer.
She left after I told her I didn't believe her and texted me shortly after to say she was going home for a few days.
I sat down on the bed with that hammer in my hands for like an hour completely floored. I know it sounds crazy but she hit herself hard. I've seen those bruises every day and now that I've seen her do this I am thinking that it was weird that they haven't gotten even the slightest bit lighter despite it being two weeks now.
I know she has some issues but I would never have thought she would hurt herself.
Reddit, I'm freaked out. She will be back tomorrow. How do I talk to her about this?
Users were surprisingly open with their responses. People gave advice and even shared stories of their own self-harming experiences. If that sort of thing is difficult or triggering for you to read, you may want to move on to another article. For the rest of you, here are some of the top responses. Some have been edited for content or clarity.
H/T: Reddit
Love is a beautiful thing. it is a core gift of life. To be able to find that one in a million person to spend this life and eternity with is something we all dream about. One of the worst feelings in the world involving love is not having the love you feel reciprocated. And hey... we've all been there. Thank God for vodka and good friends.... and Adele.
One Reddit asked everyone to be brave and share... People who are in love with someone you can't possibly be with, how do you cope?
The things we believe we see when looking through the prism of innocence. We watch our favorite characters, whether they be fiction or flesh and bone, on the daily in childhood and they make us feel safe or euphoric.
They are some of the people who get us through the journey of life, in good times and bad. Sadly though, when we mature we're forced to see our favorite partners through an adult's spectrum and once nostalgia wears off the effects can be catastrophic. Or enlightening. Or it all stays the same and we briefly relive our happiest times.
Redditor missluluh wanted people to share... What character did you view totally different as a child vs. as an adult?