Up Front by Emma Hart

Read Post

Up Front: Isn't It Romantic?

164 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 7 Newer→ Last

  • Jolisa,

    What do you mean, Colin Firth or Hugh Grant?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    I have always believed that Valentines Day is for the single people, not the ones in relationships. When I was single I used to use the day to give out anonymous cards and gifts to women I was attracted to. Did I get to sleep with any of them? I can't remember the tactic ever working, but it always made the day a little more exciting and fun-filled. And let's face it, who doesn't want an anonymous card that professes undying love (or at least the fact that someone finds you attractive).

    This year as a special treat I will be taking my beloved to the Tommy Love Spectacular down on the Wellington waterfront. We might have to share the experince with hundreds if not thousands of other Wellingtonians but at least we'll get a good laugh and some excellent music.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    <quote>This was so touching I slept with two of them.)</quoyte>

    You touched them back. Nice!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    The basic premise is that romantic fiction creates a sense of false expectations that damages women's ability to form good relationships

    Couple this with the premise that porn does the same for men... and we're doomed I tell you, DOOMED!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Couple this with the premise that porn does the same for men... and we're doomed I tell you, DOOMED!

    Oh, give the man the subtext-spotting pony! And yes, my entire argument still applies.

    What do you mean, Colin Firth or Hugh Grant?

    That's what we like to see: outside the box thinking. Me, I struggle with 'Mal or Inara'.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Self-service library issuing was spontaneously mentioned more than once.

    This may reassure some of the romance readers out there: librarians, particularly in big branches, never, ever look at the books they're issuing to you. They don't care in the slightest what you're reading, and moreover are (mostly) trained not to comment without you saying something first. Basically, they're just hoping you aren't going to say 'I pay your wages with my rates, you know!' when you mention some overdue fines.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    When I was single I used to use the day to give out anonymous cards and gifts to women I was attracted to.

    I once sent an anonymous valentine to a friend working as a geologist in the field somewhere remote in the West Coast. "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'd sever my leg, for an evening with you".

    Did me no good, but apparently the helicopter pilot who gashed his leg the very day before my card turned up had a surprisingly enjoyable last few weeks onsite.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    With only one exception, respondents said they started reading romance novels at twelve or thirteen. This seems to be an age when girls are having first crushes, first boyfriends, and are quite emotionally impressionable. Georgette Heyer was very popular...

    The funny thing is, at least to my eye, Heyer takes a rather dim (and astringent) view of the male of the species. Though she's not much kinder to fluff-headed women and the fools who indulge them either.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'd sever my leg, for an evening with you".

    Maybe if I'd written messages like that my plans would have had more success.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    I'm reminded of the Onion headline "Romantic Comedy Behavior gets Real-Life Man Arrested".

    Once, when we were at varsity, a mate and I spent the night of Feb 13th walking across most of central Wellington distributing anonymous Valentines presents to a dozen or so of our friends. Chocolates, jars of jalopenos, etc. Drove several people mad for ages trying to figure out who their "secret admirers" were. Ah, youth.

    By the way, is the "samrt" typo deliberate?

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Maybe if I'd written messages like that my plans would have had more success.

    Didn't enhance my sex/love life all that much :)

    I was once sent strawberries & champagne anonymously, with a very promising note...

    ...by the time I found out who it came from (very attractive woman of my acquaintance!) she'd gone off me. :(

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    I got anonymous biscuits last year. I then found out that these women had given biscuits to most of the men they knew which dampened the mood somewhat. But it did make me feel very special for a time there.

    So why don't we all resolve to give an anonymous gift to someone this year, just to make their day that little bit more magical?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    (The second most romantic thing was a trio of men waking me on Valentine's morning by singing 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' outside my bedroom window. This was so touching I slept with two of them.)

    What, was the third one out of tune?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Me, I struggle with 'Mal or Inara'.

    I bet you do (boom boom). But seriously, the answer's Kaylee right?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    And let's face it, who doesn't want an anonymous card that professes undying love (or at least the fact that someone finds you attractive).

    I'd prefer the latter over the former, which sounds rather stalkerish and quite a lot of work.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Rebecca Williams,

    colin firth. hugh grant is sleazy, i'm afraid.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 120 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I bet you do (boom boom). But seriously, the answer's Kaylee right?

    Kaylee's sweet. So no. She's just too nice for me.

    What, was the third one out of tune?

    Nah, he was just too nice for me. The whole thing was his idea.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    The second most romantic thing was a trio of men waking me on Valentine's morning by singing 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' outside my bedroom window. This was so touching I slept with two of them.

    Now why did I read that as "trio of naked men..."?

    And I just don't get the discussion about Mal, Inara or Kaylee. My friends argue the point constantly and I guess I just like the characters too much to er "like" them.

    hugh grant is sleazy, i'm afraid.

    I think that's the point

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Public Servant on a tea-break.,

    <Me, I struggle with 'Mal or Inara'.>

    Saffron

    So long as she didn’t have me killed immediately afterwards that is…

    Best television series never made!

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    I bet you do (boom boom). But seriously, the answer's Kaylee right?

    Kaylee's sweet. So no. She's just too nice for me.

    Until you remember the scene where Mal meets her, or the "twixt" line from the movie.

    As for secret admirer lines: a friend at our uni hostel, during "secret admirer week", wrote drunkenly on the door of his admiree: fuck I love you. He thought it was funny and sweet, she was scared.

    Meantime in the same week my lovely Amy was sending her admiree headless bride and groom cake decorations and sliding psychotic notes under his door.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Louise Hall,

    Mal AND Inara. Def not Hugh or Colin. What about Daniel Craig and that Welsh Eoin Whathisname from all those BBC sailing dramas?

    Also re romances, I have only started reading them in the last few years and I prefer the vampire/shapeshifter/exotic fantasy ones. Def slightly embarassed to be reading them. And me a librarian too!

    Dunedin • Since Mar 2007 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Until you remember the scene where Mal meets her, or the "twixt" line from the movie.

    Being a bit slutty does not at all stop her from being nice.

    during "secret admirer week"

    This just sounds like 'stalking is okay' week.

    A guy once discreetly slipped me his phone number on a serviette in a bar once. I was just totally confused - why was he giving me a serviette?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So why don't we all resolve to give an anonymous gift to someone this year, just to make their day that little bit more magical?

    OK, but my girlfriend is going to be pissed if she finds out.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    What about Daniel Craig and that Welsh Eoin Whathisname from all those BBC sailing dramas?

    Ioan Gruffudd - what odds that he was born Ian Griffith?

    meh, that's probably mean of me to say that.

    But hey, are he & Craig a couple?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    So why don't we all resolve to give an anonymous gift to someone this year, just to make their day that little bit more magical?

    Put me down for Elle MacPherson, if you're going to send me anything anonymously, it may as well be something I'd like.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 7 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.