Jealousy. The definition

[Daye.04]

Allright, now. I know this doesn't really belong in a gaming forum. But let's be honest. This forum is the best, and most civilized forum I've ever been to. Just look at this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.82674?page=1].

And with this I'll start.

What the discussion is going to be about is jealousy. Or rather the definition of the word. How do you define it. What do you mean is the right context for it to be a good feeling. If there is such a context.

An example, you say? Here it goes

A female friend of mine (I shall not go into details as it is not of importance. Or interest of anyone) gets jealous everytime I as much as speaks with another female human being.
The other day she came up and told me following.
"It is good to be jealous. Jealousy is a good human feeling. It only shows that you care much about another person, and doesn't mean anything wrong. It just means that you care about the person in question."

Now this is the way I see it. Honestly I don't see jealousy as a good feeling at all. I see it as more of a feeling that you own a certain person. That all the rights (wich by that I mean the rights to talk, flirt, have sexual intercourse, look at, know the existance of) to this person. All the rights. And that no other human being are to defy those rights.

I mean if you're getting jealous at someone just because they're being talked to by someone else it can't simply mean that you just "care" about the person. If that would be the case you would only be jealous when there was someone you knew was a bad person talking.

I might be wrong, I know. That's why I'm interested to hear you guys' opinions

Go debate!

 

[Gooble]

You seem to be implying that people 'choose' to be jealous. My best friend recently started hanging out with a girl I liked a lot, and I found myself being incredibly jealous of him, which I hated. The trick is either not to act upon your feelings of jealousy, or tell the person/people involved how you feel, and if they care enough for your feelings then they shall try to spare them.

And btw, seems quite probable that this female friend of yours likes you, if you haven't figured that out already.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Yea, I usually think you don't choose to be jealous. It should however go along reasonable lines, not just irrational overprotection of a friend.

If the 'female friend' isn't your girlfriend or atleast your ex, I'd have a serious talk with her. Or hook up, depending on your guys relationship.

Jealousy for me is a negative emotion, I don't buy the stuff she said at all.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Well there are, of course, various degrees of jealousy. It's only when someone begins to become possessive that it becomes a problem. And of course jealousy makes total sense in a survivalist point of view, it's not like you would want your mate to be mating with another person. It all goes back to primal intincts, and jealousy is one of those harder emotions to overcome.

 

[Skalman]

Jealousy is when you want something someone else have, which you haven't.

Simple really.

 

[Lord George]

Jealously is what motives a large part of humanity, people have always wanted something someone else has. All you have to do is go and take it then you can get over your jealously because it will have motivated you to gain the object/person you desire. What a wonderful mechanism

 

[wewontdie11]

Jealousy is coveting something which somebody else has, which is completely different from caring.

 

[Daye.04]

You seem to be implying that people 'choose' to be jealous. My best friend recently started hanging out with a girl I liked a lot, and I found myself being incredibly jealous of him, which I hated. The trick is either not to act upon your feelings of jealousy, or tell the person/people involved how you feel, and if they care enough for your feelings then they shall try to spare them.

And btw, seems quite probable that this female friend of yours likes you, if you haven't figured that out already.

If it seems like I was implying that you chose to be jealous, I'm sorry. Not my intention at all. I know it's a feeling that you can't control. But then again, you should define it correctly. As I can see others have agreed with me on - I don't think of jealousy as simply caring. I see it more as owners rights, or as some has said. Wanting something you don't have.

Also about the whole thing that she likes me. This was just an example to give me an oppertunity to tell you how I felt about it, in contrast to the opposite. I said I wasn't going into detail, as there is no need for that regarding the current discussion =P