We were talking about choice and free will in my Philosphy of God class and how we have unlimited choices and that is what gives us human nature; free will. Someone opposed this argument saying what about 'love' "we can't help we who fall in love with." "when you fall in love, fall in love fall in love etc etc."
He was so adorably niave,
the phrase 'fall in love' is incredibly melodramatic.
I think he has a misunderstanding of such concepts as freedom, choice and circumstances.
We are men of circumstances, these circumstances can be defined as things that are out of our control, they were given. Our parents, place and time were we're born, weather, how hungry we get, "falling in love" etc.
Now these circumstances may limit our choices, but in no way does it impact our freedom. Freedom is just another word for
possibility, a truly free man is one who is aware of what is possible thus having more choices. He not only sees option A and B, but he creates C and D. By choosing he is free, but by choosing not to choose, he is a slave to circumstances. We are accountable for the decisions and freedom we choose to exert, it is called responsibility. Freedom, choice and responsibility are interwoven.
Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
On the topic of "falling in love", is a concept I have mixed feelings. I don't want to be an object of chance, I want to make it. To nurture, to work on it, cultivate it, it is a creation of I and the subject. Not a circumstance that I await to fall on me. I am responsible for the love I'm making or not making.
I submit two pages, it talks further about falling in love and relationships.
Erich Fromm - To have or to be?
As someone who has slept with straight/curious friends, I would advise you to just not go there. Even if you did get to be with them, it could jeopardise your friendship, and a great friendship is not something to squander.
Every action or inaction carries risks. Having feelings for even a gay friend who corresponds, could lead to jeopardize a great friendship.
I've been in that position many times, for me, one thing that caused me great distress was the possibility, the possibility that it could happen or not. I had to know, I wanted closure. To be certain, so I could move on.
So I took the chance, to be in a vulnerable position, to bare it all. I asked him if he had feelings for me and if something could happen. I asked before we moved further in our respective relationships (He had a girlfriend, I had a boyfriend). We both realized thanks to this talk, that out respective relationships were comfortable, but not what we were looking for. We broke them off.
It's been a year and a half since that conversation, and we are still together. I love him and he loves me, I'm so grateful for this and for taking a chance. Even if this would have been impossible, I would still take the same decision. I had trust in my boyfriend, that he would know how to deal with my words and actions, with maturity and love.