<p>Maybe he recognizes it’s abnormal and doesn’t care? Making the argument that just because something is abnormal means it shouldn’t be done is a slippery slope in itself. Why? is the question that comes to mind, if no one is being harmed.</p>
<p>Personally, stories like that always annoy me. I feel people that don’t “fit in” get a lot more negative publicity than people that do much worse things that are not considered ‘abnormal’. Honestly, I have no problem with the guy, especially as compared to the men shouting uncomfortable things to women on the streets. Those men seem to be defended by a lot more people than this guy.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone means any kind of forceful, denial of human rights, sort of thing. lol</p>
<p>I think what some might mean is that a loving family member (one who is red-blooded and human) might want to sit down with him to find out why he is settling for an inanimate object over a real person, perhaps encourage him to speak with a mental-health professional. I know that this “obsession” has now gone on for about a decade, but you’d think that at some point the one-way “relationship” would be realized to be an empty one. </p>
<p>If this guy were our brother, would none of us lovingly talk to him? </p>
<p>Thank you mom2collegekids. That’s what I was trying to say. If it was someone that you cared about, would you try to talk to him about it?
Acollegestudent, negative publicity is bound to fall upon an individual who willingly participates in a wedding ceremony with an inanimate object on the Jerry Springer Show. Stands to reason.</p>
<p>I know what you mean, mom2ck! Thinking about a broad range of people I have known over the years, few are without an adult family member, who, in some way or other, doesn’t cope or make sense, is volatile, doesn’t realize what others deem to be their potential, behaves unusually, etc. Many have relatives or friends with some form of addiction, psychiatric illness, self-destructive behavior, compulsions, etc. In my observation, failure of said loved one to seek help or change does not necessarily indicate that they have not been approached in a constructive way or even at times participated in treatment. There are very specific criteria that must be met before treatment can be coerced, and even then, it is not always for an amount of time that allows for confidence going forward. Sadly. some problems are also treatment resistant. I feel for all involved with these circumstances. I think it is a big “club”.</p>
<p>Oh my. Went to look for the photos of him (and others) with their mannequins who they have dated/married, and stumbled into a <em>fascinating</em> forum called “the doll forum”. This is apparently NOT all that unique. I won’t link it, but do check it out.</p>
<p>They were sharing their outings and adventures. Really- take a peek. Its not that scary.
** I take that back- I went to the main page this time, and … ^#(^ </p>
<p>“I think we have to stop referring to this as a relationship. It isn’t. A relationship requires two living entities.” I think my pet rock would take offense. </p>
<p>^^
lol…now that would be an interesting Dr. Phil episode. At least we’d probably get to learn a little about this guy’s relationship and birth-family history.</p>
<p>I’m still very creeped out about that Springer video where he took off its “face”. To me, that seemed very odd. If you wanted to have a fantasy that you’re really having a relationship with a faux-partner, it would seem that peeling off the face for whatever reason would be a reminder that it’s really a nothing.</p>
<p>I’m starting to like the mannequin idea. I’m getting very tired of telling our divorced friend to not marry his money grubbing girlfriend. At least the mannequin wouldn’t take him to the cleaners like the girlfriend will end up doing if he feeds her wedding cake.</p>