Learn about relationships from an expert tonight

[jtbell]

Heads up... according to my TV's program guide, "The Big Bang Theory" is repeating "The Friendship Algorithm" tonight. That's the one where Sheldon comes up with a flowchart to guide him through cultivating a prospective colleague, and gets stuck in... oh well, see it for yourself if you haven't already!

 

[Moonbear]

Oh, drat! I thought were were going to have a special "Ask Cyrus" chat session.

 

[BobG]

I thought he was suggesting something illegal.

 

[BobG]

A person can learn everything they need to know about relationships from Disney movies: Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, ... they tell you all you need to know.

To bad real life can't end like fairy tales: http://www.fallenprincesses.com/

 

[BobG]

Oh, drat! I thought were were going to have a special "Ask Cyrus" chat session.

I would give better advice than Cyrus!

First example:

Sometimes, when I've been on a few dates with a man and then I go over to his place and it looks dirty I get turned off. I don't think I'm overly clean but I don't like a bathroom that looks like a truck stop. Most of the men I date have questionable bathrooms. Is it being too picky to stop seeing someone because of their bathroom?

My response:

If this is the first time you are going to their place and it is not clean I think that is an issue. If I know a woman is coming to my house, I make sure to have it clean at least the first time she comes over. However, if she is just coming over for sex I don't worry about how clean the entire house is and only clean my bedroom.

 

[Pengwuino]

Oh, drat! I thought were were going to have a special "Ask Cyrus" chat session.

I was looking forward to that

 

[MotoH]

To bad real life can't end like fairy tales: http://www.fallenprincesses.com/

What is the name of the mansion in the opening sequence of that website? (if you/anyone knows)

Thanks!

 

[jtbell]

"The Big Bang Theory" is repeating "The Friendship Algorithm" tonight.

Ha ha, I should have thought of YouTube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k0xgjUhEG3U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k0xgjUhEG3U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

 

[Math Is Hard]

Could we still have an Ask Cyrus thread on Valentine's Day? (Pretty please, Cyrus?)

 

[Evo]

Oooh yes, but perhaps it should start before Valentines Day so that people can get romance saving tips before the "Big Day".

 

[mcknia07]

Oh, oh, I think you gals are right. Let's get Cyrus in here!

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

BobG

... However, if she is just coming over for sex I don't worry about how clean the entire house is and only clean my bedroom.

Nice. I remember when I lived at home my mom would always ask "why there wasn't anywhere to sit in your room except on the bed?


Thanks
Matt

 

[BobG]

I should include a disclaimer. All of my dating advice has been carefully researched by trolling divorce support forums on the internet. Not all of my suggestions are guaranteed to provide long term results.


Seeing as how it's nearly Valentine's Day, I think a Valentine's Day gift suggestion is in order. A used vacuum cleaner makes a good gift. Three nearly new tires also make a nice gift - especially if you're dating three women at the same time!

If interested, you can obtain the above for no more than shipping costs.

 

[Astronuc]

On a more serious note, this program might be of interest to those trying to understand relationships.

This Emotional Life

What activities in our brain lay the foundation for our everyday interactions?
Can they help us to understand why some relationships flourish and others fail?

Episode 1: Family, Friends & Lovers
http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/video/family-friends-lovers

The first episode, Family, Friends & Lovers, looks at the importance of relationships and why they are central to our emotional well-being.

We meet a young boy adopted from a Russian orphanage, whose story illustrates how a lack of attachment in infancy fundamentally shapes his ability to build relationships for years to come. We meet the young parents of newborn twins, a couple in therapy for a troubled marriage, a teenager who was bullied with tragic consequences, two women grappling with the stress of workplace conflicts and other characters. Through their stories we achieve a better understanding of the importance of social connections and relationships.

Episode 2: Facing Our Fears
http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/series/episodes/2
Why do we have negative emotions and how can we best manage them?

In the second episode, Facing Our Fears, we look at emotions that are commonly regarded as obstacles to happiness — such as anger, fear, anxiety, and despair.

Our brains are designed for survival, and the negative emotions they create are vital to that mission. But those negative emotions can spiral out of control with debilitating effects. We meet a woman whose inability to control her temper is jeopardizing her relationships, a college student whose fear of flying is limiting her life and a teenager who is struggling to overcome clinical depression on the eve of attending college. We also meet veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and follow their journeys to find effective treatment.

Across the episode, science reminds us that we are of two minds — a rational brain that’s relatively new and an emotional brain that’s older than time. Sometimes emotion overwhelms reason, sometimes reason outwits emotion, and it is the endless struggle that makes our lives so painful, so joyous and so interesting.

Episode 3: Rethinking Happiness
http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/series/episodes/3
What is happiness, why is it important and how can we attain more of it?

The last episode, Rethinking Happiness, explores happiness. It is so critical to our well-being, and, yet, it remains such an elusive goal for many of us.

We meet individuals facing major turning points in their lives — a job loss, a cancer diagnosis, the death of a child, an accident — as well as those facing more common struggles. We learn from the latest research that we often incorrectly predict what will bring us greater happiness, leading us to look for it in the wrong places.

As the study of behavior turns more toward positive emotions, we explore the latest research on the activities and qualities that foster them, such as meditation, compassion, forgiveness and altruism. We also share the remarkable stories of resilient individuals that scientists are studying to learn more about us all, including a man who overcame an abusive childhood to become a renowned surgeon and a Vietnam veteran who survived torture, solitary confinement and seven years as a POW, yet emerged emotionally unscathed. Understanding why some people have the ability to bounce back after disaster strikes, while others do not, sheds light on how all of us can lead happier, more fulfilling lives.

The film ends by coming full circle to the understanding that it is the quality of our relationships — with friends, family and the larger community — that ultimately defines our happiness.