A short conversational transcript between Connor Beaton and Adam Lane Smith exploring the nature of love versus relationships. Connor emphasizes that people should be considered lovable regardless of status or appearance; Adam distinguishes unconditional love (a moral/divine commandment) from relationships, arguing relationships are built on explicit or tacit value propositions rather than love alone.
I should be lovable no matter what. And you should be lovable no matter what. No matter how much money you make or how attractive or unattractive you are. And I do think that has filtered into a lot of the relational dynamics. And I do think that that's become a belief that many people carry.
People are lovable no matter what. Love is not a positive feeling. It's not an emotion. Love is sacrifice for the good of the other. If no one can earn love, technically no one can do anything to not earn it. Is that love as a div commandment is unconditional. Relationships are not. And relationships are not founded on love. That is not to say that love cannot exist inside of relationships. But people do not enter into relationships and stay with people simply because of love. They are created and maintained through the underlying value proposition that is often tacit and unacknowledged. Most people are not in relationship with the people who love them the most. And many people are not in relationships with the ones that they love the most.
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