Gilbakka is practical and likes to simplify things.
Reminder: The topic of this thread is first love.
Gilbakka will not dissect and scrutinize a relationship to determine whether it's true love, puppy love, infatuation or whatever.
When two young persons say they love each other, at that material point in their lives they really do. During that period they really believe they're made for each other and no one else matters. They go to lengths to please each other and will resist outsiders' meddling.
Adults who look at two such young persons and dismiss their relationship as infatuation or not proper are not reading the tea leaves correctly. Adults who try to discourage such relationships are commiting errors of judgement. No wonder some young people reach for gramaxone, sleeping pills or a rope when forced to part with a lover.
Gilbakka wishes that parents and adult relatives, neighbours, etc would show some understanding and tolerance to young lovers and leave them alone. Let them work through their relationship by themselves and determine whether they are made for each other or whether their love was a passing flash in the pan. Some first loves last to old age, some fizzle out over time. But first love is first love, no matter what.
Correct.