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I've wondered sometimes about whether true love is possible - love where both the man and the woman value each other, respect each other, don't intentionally hurt each other, don't lie to each other, enjoy each other's company, don't cheat on each other, hold property in common and raise children working through their differences in values so that nobody gets trampled.  Of course there will always be something we say that comes across wrong, or we might for a moment see someone and experience a distracting temptation - but do those things add up?  Or are some or all relationships "doomed" from the start because rather than having mutual respect and compassion, they are based on one or both persons taking advantage of the other one?

I was just reminded of these thoughts when I read one comment about how it's clever to try to trick a person we are flirting with to see how they will respond. It seemed to me that it seems to potentially introduce dishonesty.  Why not just take things slow enough to be able to observe someone over time?  Not that I ever had that much discipline.

But I'd like to think that relationships aren't necessarily doomed to being adverserial.  Or does that just mean I'm whipped?

Your thoughts?