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The one who cares more, who loves more, loses--or so they say. In love and life, there are many unspoken rules and preconceived notions. Many of them lead us to think that we would be at the losing end of a relationship should we let slip and show that we truly care. It is better to pretend to have a devil-may-care attitude than to be known as the one who loves more. The one who loves more would be in an extremely vulnerable position just waiting to get taken advantage of. He or she would be someone who gets walked all over, the one with no semblance of self-respect or dignity--or so they make it out to be. Often times though, the one who cares more, who loves more, are the real brave souls. They are the ones willing to put themselves out there, in the face of hurt and rejection, simply to express their truest emotions from the bottom of their hearts. They are unafraid to show that they love you, that they genuinely care for you, and this goes far beyond any pride or uncertainty that comes with being the one who loves more. Be the one who loves more, so there will be no games, no room for overthinking. You will begin to see the beauty of a relationship sans the games and hidden connotations. If you love someone, just show it. Wear your heart on your sleeve and flaunt it proudly. Why bother masking this beautiful phenomenon reminiscent of a life well-lived? When you are finally able to look past the stigma that accompanies being the one who loves more, you will see for yourself that it is a truly liberating revelation. You can accord your loved ones the attention they deserve, the care and concern you think they should have and nothing else would matter. Nothing else should matter. When pride takes a backseat, love takes the front seat. Put aside societal expectations, go ahead and be the one who laughs louder, cries harder and yells longer. Go ahead and be the one who says "good morning" first, the one who says "good night" last. Go ahead and be the one who eats the lesser share of the pie, the one who gives up the jacket under cold conditions. There is no shame in that. In fact, being the one who loves more speaks volumes about one's self-esteem. Embrace rejection. It is okay to experience rejection, to feel the pain of heartache if it comes along. They are part and parcel of life. These are what make you strong. They are the precise events that shape you into who you are and who you will eventually be. Take a step back, feel the full force of your emotions and show it bravely to the world. Be the one who loves more, that's okay too.
Over the past 50 years or so, the landscape of love has changed. The way we love,  the places we look for it, and even the meaning of love has changed quite a bit. Now, love has truly become a game, and its rules are ever changing. Don't reply too quickly, it will look desperate! If you're not going to see him again, just make him pay for the meal. Ignore his texts, he'll get the idea. Dating in this day and age involves so many dos and do nots that sometimes, we can't help but wish things were simpler, like in the past. Here are 6 ways love is different now than it was in the past:    

1. Love Interest VS Love Tinderest

The nature of the chase back then was very different. Boy had to physically meet girl before a spark could be ignited. This happened in discos, coffee shops or through mutual connections. To get to know someone, you had to sit down and have a conversation. There was no shortcut. There weren't many things to do or places to go in the past but that was okay--the company of each other was enough. The modern love story, however, is quite different. We live in a Tinderella world where guy swipes right on girl, guy says "dtf?", girl says "sure", guy and girl tango and then never see each other ever again. Okay, maybe not all 21st century love stories go this way, but it's a growing number. Now, with all the dating apps we have on our phones, before we even meet someone in real life, we already know the who's who of their family, what they're interested in and what they had to eat 48 weeks ago. Stalking Research is the new normal when it comes to getting to know someone.

2. Attached VS It's (Very) Complicated

In the past, a guy had his eyes on one girl and he pursued her to the end. Stories of wooing, like, persistent, "she's the only one for me"-type wooing were extremely common  in our grandparents' generation. Men committed and love was a promise to be honored. Nowadays, people are a lot more fickle. The dating pool these days is not so much a pool as it is an ocean thanks to apps like Tinder, and there are just so many fishes in that sea. We're not just single or attached; we could also be in an open relationship, exclusive sex buddies, non-exclusive bed pals... and a whole variety of other things.

3. Private VS Public Displays Of Affection... Online

Before our generation of over-sharing couples who feel the need to share their couple selfies, relationship milestones and everything in between (including their dirty laundry) online, love was a private matter. It wasn't a secret, but it wasn't something you needed to announce to the world through a Facebook status change or bi-monthly couple selfies. The photos you took together were slotted into albums for the enjoyment of you and your closest friends and family. Back then, no one had to know the details. In our current era, if you're in love, it must be public. If it isn't, that's cause for concern because "why are you hiding our relationship?"

4. Let's Make Love VS Let's Netflix and Chill

In the past, sex before marriage was a big no-no--and that applied to both men and women. Men had to wait till the wedding night to de-flower his maiden. People were a lot more conservative about sex back then. Now, both boys and girls talk about sex over brunch like it's nothing. One-night stands are nothing to raise eyebrows about and girls are becoming more sexually empowered--they'll tell you exactly what they want in bed.

5. Breaking Up VS Ghosting

Before, there was a certain code of conduct that was honored when it came to breaking up. If someone wanted to break things off, they turned up and they said "this isn't working." They didn't just disappear. Now, ghosting is a thing. People exit our lives as quickly and as easily as they enter it, with no explanation whatsoever. Also, your break up never ends quietly. When your couple selfies stop showing up, tongues start wagging, and good luck trying to get over your ex. With multiple albums of pictures of both of you online and Facebook's unwelcome reminders of "What happened 3 years ago today", your ex is kept well in sight and, unfortunately, well in mind.  

6. Love = Faithfulness VS Love = Passion

In the past, love was about faithfulness, the conviction to fix things and the resolve to stick together in spite of the odds. Love was about the other person--taking care of them, always considering them and being strong for them. Now, love has become more about passion; passion that can come with pain; passion that sometimes comes at the expense of security and our sanity. We chase highs and we become restless when things start to become familiar. In today's world, we're afraid of becoming bored, and sometimes, that's how true love slips right through our fingers.
Dating in this day and age is a tricky thing to navigate. There are new relationship labels, new relationship dynamics, new dating habits, and let's just say not all of these changes are for the better. These are some things Singaporeans Hate--with a capital'H'--about the dating scene today.

1. You're probably not the only one

"Too many avenues of distraction, especially during the early dating phase i.e. high possibility of concurrent dating." "Trust issues. That one guy/girl you're dating may be dating 10 other people. HEARTS ARE AT STAKE HERE PEOPLE!"

2. A generation of commitment-phobes

"How casual everything is." "People are not as willing to put in effort and are always looking for the easy way out."

3. Life gets in the way

"Too many commitments."

4. It's all about sex

"Hookup culture." "Assuming everything is somehow physical-related."

5. A difference in expectations

"When guys just want casual sex."

6. Having to play the damn game

"The GAME. Of waiting and coy flirting." "The fact that you can't be entirely honest with the person you're chasing/dating. One has to pretend to be interested yet not overly interested. You have to play it cool and not reply/text early. Somehow, dating has evolved into a mind game. I personally prefer how things were done in the past where it was a little more direct."

7. What happened to good ol' face to face? Or phone calls?

"Everything seems to be done over the online medium. I think the tradition of calling someone on the phone and asking them out is so sweet! And you can actually genuinely feel the interest level of the other party from their voice over the phone." "Texting, because you can't communicate ~real~ feelings."

8. Blurred lines

"Not knowing when to close the deal."

9. "It's complicated."

"Too many labels: dating/seeing so-and-so/friends with benefits. What happened to good, old fashioned romance?"

10. Oversensitive people

"If one is too frank, one is likely to be perceived as out of line."

11. Um... It's awesome?

"Nothing." What do you hate most about dating these days? Submit your story to [email protected].

Read Next: 17 Singaporeans Share How They Knew They Were Finally Over Their Ex-es

We all have that one friend who's an introvert. The one who doesn't reveal much and shies away from attention. The one who prefers not to say a word and would rather stay by the side, observing everyone else. The mysterious one who exudes an aura of silence so loud it's deafening. Perhaps calling them introverted might be an understatement altogether. Yet, when introverts show affection, they do it with all of their hearts, sometimes even more so than the extroverts. Want to know if you've won the affections of an introvert? Here are some sure-fire ways to tell.

1. They initiate conversations with you

It takes a lot from them, but they do it anyway. If they see you as someone who's worthy of their time, you'll know because introverts initiate very few conversations with very few people. Introverts hate small talk, but if they're willing to engage in them with you from time to time, you know what it means.

2. They care about your feelings

In fact, they not only care, they care a lot. Compared to their extroverted counterparts, they look out for you in their own quiet, subtle way--no fanfare involved. When you're sick, they'll buy you herbal tea and quietly place it somewhere you'll definitely see it. They notice all the things that make you you, and they remember the little things you say. Because introverts don't expend energy going to many different social gatherings, they devote their attention towards you. They sacrifice their precious alone time for you and they do so with nary a complaint. Introverts are some of the most sensitive people around, and if they focus their attention on you, chances are, the whole world is going to know too.

3. They go out of their comfort zones for you

They don't rely on mere words or sweet talk to show you their affections--they use actions to do so. They leave their comfort zones for you, and they do so voluntarily. They may hate crowds and abhor noisy places, but if you so much as hint to them that you're interested, they'd brave all that for you and more. They might even assume the role of an entertainer if the situation calls for it. This willingness to deviate away from their usual selves only goes to show how important you are to them.

4. They let you into their lives

They let you into territory no one else has gone before. They tell you about their dogs, their saddest childhood memories, their deepest regrets, their dreams and aspirations. Most notably, they tell you about their insecurities. They want you by their side and they're not afraid to show it. These are an introvert’s ways of showing trust in a person, and if you actually know all this information about their lives, it's no easy feat and it's also the clearest indication that they genuinely care for and like you.

5. They see you as their other half

They're not going to do anything without first thinking about you. Whether it's an event that's caught their eye, a movie that's just been released, a song they heard or even a quote they saw, you'll be the first thing to pop into their minds. If an introvert likes you, you are indeed one lucky soul.

Seriously, the accuracy of these...

1. Maybelline: "Maybe You're Born With It, Maybe It's Photoshop."

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2. NYX: "It's Not Cheap Once You Buy All 500,000 Of Our Products!"

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3. Sephora Collection: "We Know You Millennials Are Too Poor For The Shit We Have In Here But Buy Our Shit Anyways"

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4. Nars: "Our Packaging Is As Dirty As Our Product Names"

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5. Colourpop: "New Releases Everyday, Twice a Day, Every Hour!"

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6. Becca: "We're Riding This Highlighter Trend To The Bitter End"

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7. Kat Von D: "We Have To Emphasize How Hardcore We Are With Every Single Piece Of Marketing Or We Will Literally DIE"

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8. Kylie Cosmetics: "We're like, so totally not just repackaged Colourpop. I mean, like, it's made by the same lab and the packaging is really similar and the shades are really close and our ingredients basically match, but really, we're a completely different product. I mean, we even gave you this really shitty brush to prove it. The lips kits are so totally worth it, assuming you can click fast enough amirite!"

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9. Anastasia Beverly Hills: "We Do More Than Just Brows, Guys!"

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10. Dior: "Sephora Security Team Is Watching You, B-tch"

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11. Clinique: "You Will Always Come Back When Your Skin Turns To Shit"

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12. Morphe: "Shut Up and Plug Our Product"

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13. Tom Ford: "Because Paying For Louboutin Lipstick Is Where You Draw The Line"

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To read the full Reddit thread, click here.

1. They're Open To Criticism

"When you can comfortably start a conversation knowing that the other person won't be petty or defensive. Just honest opinions shared." - JELLOSTAIN

2. Talking About It Means Talking About It

"When we disagree on something, we talk about it instead of yelling at the top of our voices at each other." - ishouldbeworking00

3. They Fight Clean

"When mad, she didn't just say sh*t to hurt me. She would just focus on the issue. It makes so much difference." - Reluctanttwink

4. You're Always Excited To See Them

"You never dread seeing them. If you want to hang out and do things with your SO, that's for sure a 'green flag'." - sexualfannypack

5. You Make Each Other Better People

"Commitment to helping you be a better person, while also being open to any assistance in becoming a better person themselves." - mstarrbrannigan

6. You Are NOT Their Everything

"As weird as it sounds, being completely independent of you. There is a stable life outside of you, but still choosing you as a priority. If they don't have other friends or hobbies and want to spend every minute with you, it is kind of concerning." - dirtywiggles

7. They Lift You Up

"If they make you feel good about yourself." - DoobaDoobaDooba

8. No Stupid Games

"Instead of playing games, they follow through. Call when they say they are going to call. Show up to things they said they'd go to, and on time. They make you a priority." - 1robotsnowman

9. No Egos In Bed

"We can have honest discussions on what we like and don't like in bed and whatever kinks we have." - badassmthrfkr

10. They Respect You

"Takes your side in public and tells you when you're wrong in private." - motelcheeseburger

11. They're Not Too Good To Say 'Sorry'

"Ability to apologize and admit that they were wrong, acted irrationally, etc." - AM0XY

12. What's Yours Isn't Necessarily Mine

"Not entitled to my money. My girlfriends seem to think I'm required to spend money on them, even though they are financially independent. Don't get me wrong, I offer to pay for dinner, spend lots on Christmas and birthdays, and I do buy them things, but every time I don't, they get like 'you don't love me' or some sh*t. My current girlfriend doesn't do this, and I'm so f*cking happy." - Vermillion9861

13. The Love They Give Your Pets

"Loving your pet as much as you do." - shadoue

How did you know your partner was/is a keeper? Add to the list! Submit your story to [email protected].