This week marks a controversial holiday. Whether or not you think love is in the air, it’s certainly on most of our minds. We tend to generally take stock of our relationships — or situationships — during this time of year.
On that note, here at the Opinions Desk, we conducted a poll on the red and green flags for the season of love. A yay or nay for Valentine’s Day, per se. Hopefully, our results will help you decide if you should stay or go with any potential beau. (Although nobody listed rhyming ability as a green flag, there’s always next year).
We only received 16 responses, so it’s clear that you all have plans this week. Anyway, here’s what our responders love to love and love to hate in a partner.
Let’s start out with some icks. On the whole, we received varied results. Here at the Opinions Desk, we listen and we don’t judge. Not everybody has standards, and that’s OK.
We received two car-related preferences, which seems a little odd.
Nicholas Tanck, a student at the University of Minnesota, said a dealbreaker for him would be someone with “no driver’s license.” Love comes in many different forms, though. One person’s love language may entail acts of service, and another may require servicing their vehicle.
We also received input on the least attractive car for a potential partner.
On potential red flags, Locke Rowland, a fourth-year student at the University, said “drives a Prius.”
Darcie Baxter, a third-year research student, said she looks for someone who exhibits “kindness” and is “open-minded.”
This was a popular consensus. We received two additional responses indicating that kindness is important in a potential partner and another affirming open-mindedness as a positive trait they look for.
We’re not sure why all of you find it so important that your partner has an open mind, but it’s always good to try new things. Plus, if someone is kind, they won’t call you weird. Two birds, one stone.
Being polite to customer service workers is not only a bare minimum social expectation, but it apparently also makes you a walking green flag. At least according to third-year student Annie Jirovec.
Katelyn Sanders, a Ph.D. student, said a green flag would be “kindness to customer service workers — waiters, retail workers, custodial staff.”
A generally positive attitude also seems to be of importance to our respondents. Apparently, nobody likes a hater. Sigh.
Aaden Spencer, a third-year student, said a positive trait in a potential partner would be someone who “always speaks positively of others,” or tends to “focus more on positive traits than negative ones.”
There seems to be a general consensus on what is and isn’t acceptable in a potential mate. It’s clear that whether you’re looking for basic human decency, politeness, positivity or heaven forbid a Prius driver, there’s someone out there for everyone.
Perchance there are plenty of fish in the sea.
