Many believe that finding true love is one of life’s greatest quests. Once we reach adulthood a significant portion of our time is spent searching endlessly for “the one.” We read books, watch Tyra Banks, search on the Web and even see therapists to figure out how to find our perfect match. It seems as if we are constantly trying to formulate our fantasies about love instead of letting it naturally unfold in our lives. Aren’t we taking these fabrications too seriously?

If you have read or seen “He’s Just Not That into You,” you have a good idea of how these ridiculous ideas about love begin. Girls are socialized to believe in feelings like hope and love. As gifts, they receive Princess Barbie Dolls complete with a castle and a Prince Charming. Women are taught to strive for the perfect relationship and we start planning our weddings before we start spelling. On the other hand, boys are taught to be strong and basically destroy everything in their path. This does not coincide with the socialization of girls. I hypothesize that more marriages will last if boys and girls are brought up to play with Princess Barbies and dance around in fluffy dresses and tiaras. If both sexes were drowning in the fantasy world we would have no choice but to live that way.

I agree that being in a relationship is a good thing. It is a wonderful feeling to love and feel it in return. On the other side of the issue, it is easy to allow our minds to run away from us. We have to remember it is easy to fall in love with love and forget about the reality that is in front of us. All over campus I see young couples holding hands and smooching in the Brickyard. I see people sharing drinks and slipping their hands in each other’s back pockets. I do my best not to cringe, but I am cynical at heart. I can’t help but wonder how many of these people are actually “in love” and how many are just entertaining their dreams of love.

Web sites such as eHarmony, Match.com and the other replicas are taking advantage of other people’s loneliness. They know that people use the Internet as a personal shield from rejection as well as a safe way to reach out to others. I am not saying that these Web sites do not work at all, but the chances can’t be that great. These companies make it seem like their matchmaking methods will work for everyone by putting the success stories on national television and other media outlets. If the old saying “opposites attract” is true, then the Web sites are working against this method. They are matching those of similar personalities instead of different.

Overall, I blame Disney and every romance movie for this “love drunk” type of thinking. They have created a falsified view of what love is and many of us have not been able to find it because of this. When all is said and done, true love is the love that sticks around when the going gets tough. They don’t have to agree with everything you say, they may leave the toilet seat up most of the time and talk with food in their mouth, but they are always there for you. Look for what you want and deserve from others, but not for some plastic Hollywood version of love everlasting.