love triangles are weird

[demeter918]

I think I'm getting old, but I'm always a little mystified by love triangles in fiction. It seems to be most prevalent in young adult fiction, but there's definitely plenty of it everywhere else.

I mean. Come on. It's difficult enough these days to find one person who's just for you; how does one even deal with two? Wouldn't it be incredibly hard to find yourself in love with two people? Yeah, you could say it's 'romantic' or that there's just a part of you that will always be with the other person you didn't choose, but... I don't think that's a good thing.

Love's pretty crap, man. It's like this horrible thing that punches you in the eye and then uppercuts you like a pixelated scene from Street Fighter II when you're staggering back in excruciating pain.

Or this could be the crankyoldmaid in me talking. WHO KNOWS?

Comments

[scaryrei.livejournal.com]

ahahahaha...

Like they say -- when it rains, it pours.

XD

As soon as you start a relationship - BAM! All these interesting people pop out of nowhere it seems. Yup, love's pretty crap like that.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree. I just don't buy the idea that it's THAT hard to know who you want to be with. And you're certainly right about it being hard enough to find ONE person you feel strongly about, much less two.

[rosencrantz.livejournal.com]

I blame Twilight, like I do for many things.

That being said, love triangles make for high drama which is why ppl love to write them. It may not be realistic - reality is usually 1 relationship, 1 breakup, 1 new relationship, and 1 stalky ex who can't let go. But what's "sexy" about reading what is basically the evening news crime report? Better to think the protagonist you can identify with is a fluffy star / unresistable stud who can get whomever s/he wants. There's a reason so many ppl are game or internet addicted, it's to escape reality. Books can be the same, even in a bad way.

I highly recommend Philip k. Dick for cures to the teeny triangle fiction. Kathy Acker if you've REALLY had it with sappy romance, LOL!

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

I think love triangles are so prevalent precisely *because* it's hard enough to find even one person, as you point out. On some level, all love stories are about wish fulfillment, and I'm sure there are lots of people for whom the idea of being so irresistible that two people are throwing themselves at/fighting over you is very appealing. Same goes for the idea that you're the one breaking hearts by choosing from multiple options instead of having your heart broken by loving someone who doesn't care for you back (which is far more likely what happens in RL)...