The debate of whether love at first sight is real or fake has continued to transcend generations as people continue to pitch tent with either side of the coin. While some believe that it’s an illusion, others are of the school of thought that one can actually fall in love with someone at fight sight.
Our Nigeria Correspondent, Stanley Ugagbe, sampled opinions of some Nigerians about the debate. Below are some of the reactions:
Joyce Onotseogbana Okiti – Esq
In my opinion, love at first sight could mean extreme likeness for a subject of admiration. I see love more as a decision than mere feelings of attraction.
This is why I strongly believe that it is only when love has passed the test of time that one can say “yeah, what we had from beginning is real love (I prefer to use true love).
Therefore, if at first sight, the persons involved made the decision to keep choosing each other every day and they stick to it with the passage of time, that’s love at first sight that’s real.
But when they failed to make a decision, we call it fake love. But I’ll prefer to say that the absence of a decision to love make that attraction only and never love. Hence, there’s either love or no love.
Though, love that’s meant to be real can fade out when the persons involved failed to put effort into grooming it.
Sunday Ovedhe – IT security analyst
Love, at first sight, could be real or fake it all depends on both persons involved as this electrifying feeling which could be as a result of physical beauty attraction, the way the person speaks or smiles, etc. All these mentioned above could trigger a connection between both people.
But it is worth noting that the aftermaths of this so-called love, at first sight, is taking time to know each other and see if truly It real or lust for the other person.
Osimerha Victor E. – Teacher
Love at first sight to me has always been a myth and very illogical cos even though the agape kind of love can and should be at first sight, but the eros kind of love is the type that doesn’t just sprout up but is meant to be built and developed. Attraction can come at first sight, lust can come at first sight, infatuation can come at first sight, crushes can happen at first sight but a bold testament of falling in love at first sight should only happen in fairy tales and not in real life. Love is the single most powerful force in the entire world and universe at large and it’s way too intense to just be developed at first sight. So, I’d always be among the school of thought that’d bold say with my full chest that “Love at first sight” is purely fake and a fallacy at best.
Anizor Ngozi Florence – Entrepreneur
Interest at first sight is what I think people call “love” at first sight! The only actual love that happens on first glance is the one that happens between a mother and child and that happens because she has had time to nurture the child and prepare her mind, we say love at first sight because we do not understand the concept of “love” and how deep it is! It truly isn’t about physical attributes, the first sight you have just draws your attention to “spec”……we mostly like people and what they seemingly exude at first sight, it grows to love later and sometimes doesn’t even thrive because it was mere interest/vibes/likeness at the first sight. love is nurtured.
Atu Chiamaka Rachael – Microbiologist
I believe love at first sight is fake because one cannot sincerely love someone he/she is just meeting for the first time. For someone to love anybody, something must attract you to the person first. People misplace love for like. Most men use it as a means to lure themselves into the heart of most women. I believe it’s a fallacy. Nobody can love anybody at first sight. You can only like someone at the first meeting.
Adesokan Tofunmi – Student
I do believe in love at first but as much as I believe in love at first sight, it will still take time to be cultivated, it needs to be developed and worked one. This is because one can be deceived by a woman’s beauty.
Sunny Shalom – Student
Love at first sight means that you feel an instant connection to another person, according to Dubrow. We often feel “love at first sight” with a person because of a particular reason maybe their smile, walking steps, posture, eating habits, confidence, etc. But that certainly cannot be love it is attraction. Often times we mistake love for attraction. For instance, “Oh, the sex is great, you like how the person feels and smells, you enjoy their body, you like how they make you feel, how they get just the perfect gift for you, you like how they find you so perfect. But it is an exquisite feeling which certainly is not love. That is not the kind of love that marriage requires over the time.” This is the kind of love that includes also being attracted to and loving someone’s mind, character, values, personality, and skills, which you cannot instantly get enough of upon seeing someone.
It is possible that love at first sight could lead to a lasting and healthy marriage but the percentage are, unfortunately, very low, according to a carefully conducted research. That’s because a lasting and healthy marriage will go through a multitude of changes in its physical, sexual relationship etc as change is constant. This is due to a countless number of reasons, which includes having children, a growing family, health issues, careers changes that cause ups and downs, stretches of little or no sex, disagreement when partners are just not on the same page about a particular issue.
However, if couples take time to get to know each other after that initial spark (love at first sight) before getting married, it is guaranteed that the spark or flame can develop into a long-lasting marriage.
