I've fallen in love...with an NPC

[Anne-]

No, it's not okay. Nobody touches my boi.

[xxvaynxx]

Its ok. I love yugiri.

[CookiesNCreams]

im telling square Enix that you have crack in your home, we all know it

[Gwenorai]

I am actually incapable of telling if this thread is an sh*t post or not - it certainly reads like one. Are you actually serious, like true love serious? If so go hang out with your husband or something, that ain't healthy. Just like those relationships where people fall in love with objects - not healthy.

[Alleo]

I am actually incapable of telling if this thread is an sh*t post or not - it certainly reads like one. Are you actually serious, like true love serious? If so go hang out with your husband or something, that ain't healthy. Just like those relationships where people fall in love with objects - not healthy.

What so bad about it? Because its not what is done normally? There was a time where certain sexual orientations also counted as sickness. Let people be in love with whatever they want as long as it does not hurt another human being.

Also nothing wrong imo with feeling things for NPCs. Isnt it the purpose of such stories to immerse yourself in it? Would you say its strange or unhealthy too to cry in stories, to feel something for those people?

[Gwenorai]

What so bad about it? Because its not what is done normally? There was a time where certain sexual orientations also counted as sickness. Let people be in love with whatever they want as long as it does not hurt another human being.

Also nothing wrong imo with feeling things for NPCs. Isnt it the purpose of such stories to immerse yourself in it? Would you say its strange or unhealthy too to cry in stories, to feel something for those people?

What do you mean? If they're truly and indeed serious about being full-blown in love - which hopefully they're not seeing as they're married - it's unhealthy, as in psychologically unhealthy. Example, in the past this leads to depression and suicidal tendencies as you are not able to fully be with the person you love because they do not exist. This can also lead to common issues regarding obsession traits where the person becomes addicted to the game and must contain constant contact with the character, or some form of them. As one can imagine such behaviour results in estranged relationships. I'm hoping it's a crush or something, not a full-blown emotional love affair - I can never tell with people these days.


' Would you say its strange or unhealthy too to cry in stories, to feel something for those people?'
No, I'm not saying that. Don't put words in my mouth or assume what I mean. The only thing I touched on was 'true love'* not other emotions such as sadness, anger - etc. Most stories do not have you falling head over in love with a fictional character that a) doesn't exist b) can't be interacted with outside of a video game or the media they're portrayed in c) can't actually return the feelings with how the story is currently portrayed. Having emotional attachment is one thing, having a 'husbando' or 'wifu' in the game is the same, but there's a distinct line. Hence why I'm honestly confused if this is a 'sh*tpost' because the way OP has written it makes it sound like the emotional attachment is on par or close to their actual partner in real.

There was a time where certain sexual orientations also counted as sickness.
Also, dude - do not equate the suffering of LBGT into the same level as 'I may be in love with a fictional character' being LGBT is not equal to 'I love my body pillow' or 'I'm in true love with a figment of someone's imagination.'

Anyway; if you're just crushing OP as everyone does these days when it comes to a fictional character and not actually in the true love, in a romantic sense - which should be something you should talk to your SO about by the way - that's all good. I think Emet is lovely and has a great personality and an amazing back story. Cute as well.

*True love, meaning an attachment that goes beyond a crush and is romantic, it's what you would have with your SO or in a more platonic sense, family and very close friends. Thought I've give an explanation since the word 'Love' is often overused these days to the point it has lost its meaning and impact. To the point that it will invoke huge emotional distress if something happened to that person, mourning, depression, etc.

[brasteir]

What do you mean? If they're truly and indeed serious about being full-blown in love - which hopefully they're not seeing as they're married - it's unhealthy, as in psychologically unhealthy. Example, in the past this leads to depression and suicidal tendencies as you are not able to fully be with the person you love because they do not exist. This can also lead to common issues regarding obsession traits where the person becomes addicted to the game and must contain constant contact with the character, or some form of them. As one can imagine such behaviour results in estranged relationships. I'm hoping it's a crush or something, not a full-blown emotional love affair - I can never tell with people these days.


' Would you say its strange or unhealthy too to cry in stories, to feel something for those people?'
No, I'm not saying that. Don't put words in my mouth or assume what I mean. The only thing I touched on was 'true love'* not other emotions such as sadness, anger - etc. Most stories do not have you falling head over in love with a fictional character that a) doesn't exist b) can't be interacted with outside of a video game or the media they're portrayed in c) can't actually return the feelings with how the story is currently portrayed. Having emotional attachment is one thing, having a 'husbando' or 'wifu' in the game is the same, but there's a distinct line. Hence why I'm honestly confused if this is a 'sh*tpost' because the way OP has written it makes it sound like the emotional attachment is on par or close to their actual partner in real.

There was a time where certain sexual orientations also counted as sickness.
Also, dude - do not equate the suffering of LBGT into the same level as 'I may be in love with a fictional character' being LGBT is not equal to 'I love my body pillow' or 'I'm in true love with a figment of someone's imagination.'

Anyway; if you're just crushing OP as everyone does these days when it comes to a fictional character and not actually in the true love, in a romantic sense - which should be something you should talk to your SO about by the way - that's all good. I think Emet is lovely and has a great personality and an amazing back story. Cute as well.

*True love, meaning an attachment that goes beyond a crush and is romantic, it's what you would have with your SO or in a more platonic sense, family and very close friends. Thought I've give an explanation since the word 'Love' is often overused these days to the point it has lost its meaning and impact. To the point that it will invoke huge emotional distress if something happened to that person, mourning, depression, etc.

I can't believe concern trolling like this gets liked, be honest. It weirds you out. And being weirded out is the underlying sentiment behind a lot of bigotry. You don't care about this person's mental wellbeing so stop acting like you do.
I went back and re-read the OP and yeah they're a little out there. But this crap gets brought up everytime someone wants romantic sub plots and we'll never get something similar to what's in bioware games because people have these weird hang ups over fictional romance.

[Gwenorai]

snip

I never said I found it weird, I said it was unhealthy - and it has been proven to be unhealthy with the points I've put forward. Though, now that we're here. Yes, I find it weird and illogical to love something that doesn't truly exist, that can't give you affection back outside of the original programming without intervention, and finally not be able to respond or give you what you seek that is the key to a healthy relationship. If you think I'm trolling because I find a relationship that has zero positives other than a sense of one-sided satisfaction that can't be pursued without causing mental diress then that's on you. Stay in the clouds, bud and stop projecting.

P.S I also never said anything that would imply that I actually cared. I wrote that post as I do with all my posts, scientific and lacking most emotion. Only the last part has even a hint of it and that certainly doesn't go out of the way to show my 'concern.' I'm more interested in if this is a troll or not. Unless you're referring to the LBGT stuff, then yes, I do care. Because I'm a part of it.

--

Also, fictional romance. Hi, I romanced Morrigan DA:O, in DAII I romanced Merill. In Mass Effect I romanced Liara. In Fire Emblem, I'm planning to go after Claud. In Cyberpunk I'm planning to romance everyone I can. I also have a crush on Emet, and Hwoarang & Steve from Tekken. When I was a teenage girl I fangirled over Cloud Strife. So, guess that sinks your straw man argument. You can romance fictional characters in games, 'wifu' and 'husbandos' it's another thing to actually develop a relationship that's so intense that you are, as in yourself and not the character you created, in true love with them. So, again. Don't assume you know my motives.

--

I thought so as well, the wording was something that was rather intense and thus had me thinking that it was a troll. Everyone has these sorts of crushes, it what happens when a lot of our entertainment is from fictional characters. However, there's a line where a simple crush and the likes become unhealthy and an obsession. Again, if this isn't romantic love - then go ahead. If it is, then I'd ask why on earth this would be on par with the relationship they have with their SO.

Anyway, I'm still of a mind to think it's a joke post or something. Some good quality bait.

tldr: I don't mind people romancing chars in games with their characters or crushing. I do find it unhealthy and weird when someone gets obsessed and develops romantic and 'true love' for a fictional character.

[Jaywalker]

-----

For what it's worth, I kind of ???'d at first too because there is a level where it gets to be unhealthy. But then I kind of stepped back and thought about the context, what OP's actually doing in practice, and what language is being used.

Maybe I'm off-base, but this kind of reads to me like someone who might not be as experienced with fictional crushes getting hit with it for the first time at a later age than most folks.

I mean, when I was a teenager I got stupid dramatic about fictional crush stuff. That experience gave some context though and things kind of mellowed afterward. Some was hormones sure, but honestly it still probably would have caught me off-guard if it happened for the first time when I was older.

To some degree, part of the joke about husbandos/waifus is that they get taken way too seriously lol. It's why people act mortified if someone says "your waifu is shit". So taking it in that light plus the impression this is a normie (so to speak) who's experiencing this for the first time, it becomes not as worrying I think. A regular person who otherwise didn't know this is a thing might assume it's in line with object-marriages or whatever because the concept is novel. In practice though it's more like people swooning over Mr. Darcy or something.

It's important to compartmentalize and to remember that a fictional character, as much as you might adore them, will never have the same depth as a real human being. When you know and are confident in this, it becomes a different kind of love and pretty innocuous.