James Onen, the RX Radio presenter, says he prefers the statement I like you over I love you because of how controlling the latter sounds.
"I'd rather a girl says she likes me because I find it more genuine. I fear the word 'love' because it sounds like possession. It’s like someone saying they are relying on you for their emotional support," James said.
He explained that love holds a lot of responsibility and it pressures someone to account for the well-being of the other.
"When a woman says she likes me, it means there's something positive they derive and adore about me but when they say they love me, their behavior will want to change me and own me. They somehow impose a burden on me that I am supposed to live up to their expectations. That's why I prefer being told I like you to I love you,” he said.
James's opinion follows a discussion on the differences between the phrases I like you, I love you, and I'm in love with you and their meanings.
He explained that the phrase 'I love you' is fleeting because it usually translates to an infatuation since the feelings of being in love live for a short while.
However, Olive seemed to disagree. She argued that usually, people begin by liking, loving, and finally being in love.
She said Fatboy prefers being told he is liked because liking is fleeting and doesn’t require a lot of emotional investment.
"Liking is not permanent because after someone gets whatever they wanted with you, they can move on and you don't have to change who you are because there was no emotional attachment," Olive reasoned.
"But love means investment. That is why you feel it's a lot because it needs investing in that person, giving them your time. When you love, you give, which means giving part of yourself," she told Fatboy.
A caller on the show, Mariana, explained that when a person likes something, they cannot possess it but when they love, they want to possess it. To her falling in or being in love, means the desire to maintain a relationship with another person.
According to her being in love with someone or something takes commitment and responsibility.
"Staying in love is another step of life. Saying I love you today and I hope to love you tomorrow and working on loving you forever is the exact extreme meaning of being in love," she explained.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive, and Sarah every weekday from 6 am to 10 am on RX Radio.
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