a platonic dialogue between Hello Kitty and Chococat

Hello, Kitty--
A strange new thing is happening to me: every five seconds, my girls ask me if I am in love with the guy I like. While I do know it's not just infatuation, I find it difficult to answer their question in an accurate and meaningful way. For instance, you can have a lasting affection for someone without loving them, and plus, you can love someone without being in love. How do I know if it's true love for sure?
Chococat

Chococat,
Wow, this sure is a tough question--and I predict that this man will be ancient history long before you come up with an applicable definition of what it means to be in love for you. Fortunately, your girls' question does not require you to look into your heart and determine if you are in love for real.

In a sociolinguistic sense, Chococat, your girls' question is called an illocutionary speech act. An illocutionary speech act means that your girls' question has a pragmatic function vis a vis your relationship with them, not him.

To put it another way: when your friends ask you "Chococat, are you in love?", you can translate the question as "Chococat, you are being dumb. As your friends, would you like us to a)be beacons of reason or b) smile indulgently. By saying "I am in love", you assert your social right to enjoy this man without being continuously reminded of how dumb you look while doing it.

Remember, your girl friends have an implied contract to be honest and direct with you. So when you answer their question, consider this: do you trust this man enough to forfeit your right to hear other peoples' informed reservations? do you really want to ask the girls to be as blind and dumb as you are? Again, your answer reflects your expectations for their behavior, not the introspective state of your heart.

Whether it's like, love or infatuation, Kitty's ability to reason and plan is probably going to go to sleep for awhile. Rest assured that the girls will be there when you wake up, regardless of how you chose to define your experience.

Goodbye
Kitty.