When approaching women for the first time (usually between the age of 26 to 30) the geek should first check his general appearance. Pants should be securely below the white sport sock clad ankles and the belt line well below the lowest rib. Also, pants should be of the style and fitting which do not cleave the buttocks or create a scrunched up pouch-like structure in the groin reigon. All belt accessories such as PDAs, combination tools and mobile phones should be removed and stored for safe keeping. Dirty trainers should also be either cleaned or replaced by respectable-looking shoes. The geek should be checked by a sympathetic parent for body odour and general hygene.

Once thoughts of appearance and hygene have been dealt with, the geek should move on to finding his very own definition of love. Quite surprisingly, wikipedia's entry on love is an extremely good starting point. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopaedia which allows anyone to add and alter it's information. "What a terrible idea" I hear ye say, "twill be full of stuff and nonsense!". Actually no, the information in wikipedia can evolve quite healthily in many respects and can produce real gems. It seems the collective hearts of the world's geeks have defined (and are constantly redefining) this most undefinable of words more soberly and satisfactorily than any reference source I've ever read on the matter. Rejoice, it is the People's definition of love! As is generally the case with wikipedia, the word is shown in a form which has been stripped of soppy over-sentimentality and personal opinion. However, it would be cute to see some "wikifitti" proclaiming that love has something to do with Alison fancying Tom or that love is dead because of something Alison Porter did last Tuesday. God knows there's a girl I want to scrawl in there!

Most satisfying is the recognition that 'the Word' has been and is defined in a multitude of different ways in cultures both in antiquity and the modern world. Hyperlinks can speed you to the Chinese "Ai" and "Lian", the Hindu "Kama" and "Prema", the ancient Greek "Agape" and "Eros". Modern "loves" such as "puppy love" and "crush" are also present (though they should be skipping class to go kiss Jane Weasly behind the bus shelter quite frankly!). Psychology undergraduates have obviously added their 'rational explanation' of the concept and associated behaviours as well.

It certainly seems like wikipedia is a particularly appropriate place for the "definition of love" to live. Just like "a love" (ie. a love between 2 people) the "definition of love" is dynamic. Its various elements are changing. To remain healthy it is constantly redefining itself. Hell, it probably even has "moods". Maybe, its various parts (ie. hyperlinks and subdefinitions) will split up if they just can't work it out together anymore.

Scrolling to the bottom of the wikipedia entry I see the page was "last modified 03:22, 8 Apr 2005". Cmon' collective geeks of the world, it's been 2 days already! Love's definition is getting stale! It will die I tell you, DIE!!!

the definition of love

Very interesting article about Wikipedia