Proposing in public...

[stan1980]

After watching this rather funny video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0PsB8HuRLiA

Is it ethical to propose in public? If you're proposed to, should you just say yes and then say no in private later? Would anyone here like to propose or be proposed to in public?

 

[Maren]

I don't see anything ethically wrong with it. Some people really enjoy that type of spotlight, others hate it (I'm one that doesn't like the attention). I would hope the person proposing (why should we automatically assume the proposal is from a man) understands the person being proposed to well enough to know what they would like. And if the person proposing doesn't understand the person being proposed to, I think a "no" answer is appropriate. If you are willing to make your proposal public, you should be prepared for the wrong answer being made in public.

 

[quatona]

I fail to see any point in doing this.

 

[stan1980]

If you are willing to make your proposal public, you should be prepared for the wrong answer being made in public.

Oooh, you're a harsh lady

 

[LittleNipper]

After watching this rather funny video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0PsB8HuRLiA

Is it ethical to propose in public? If you're proposed to, should you just say yes and then say no in private later? Would anyone here like to propose or be proposed to in public?

Personally, I would not propose in public --- not for fear of a public rejection (hey, if the lady doesn't love me I want her to say so) but I am a romantic and not looking for a show. But hey that's me.

 

[quatona]

If anything about it has a negative ethcial aspect, it´s the fact that a large amount of people are pestered with the private business of two persons without being asked.

 

[stan1980]

If anything about it has a negative ethcial aspect, it´s the fact that a large amount of people are pestered with the private business of two persons without being asked.

He wont be doing it again in a hurry

 

[Maren]

Oooh, you're a harsh lady

 

[quatona]

He wont be doing it again in a hurry

And those who are considering this idea will think twice after having watched the video.

 

[quatona]

Hey Maren, will you marry me?

 

[B'alaam]

I don't see anything unethical about it.
But as Maren already pointed out, the one doing the proposing should be prepared for the possibility of a very ackward moment

 

[Rebekka]

If anything about it has a negative ethcial aspect, it´s the fact that a large amount of people are pestered with the private business of two persons without being asked.

Yes, I think it's tacky to propose in public. I would not want to witness it.

As Maren said, if the person proposing knows the other well enough to risk it, then I don't see it as unethical per se - if they can take a public no for an answer. But the proposed person should not feel obliged to say yes and I'm afraid that is often the case with public proposals, so it does have somewhat unethical aspects IMO.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Ethically there is nothing wrong with it, although I wouldn't make it "too" public, to where everyone is waiting for the answer. It puts the person on the spot to accept in a way.

 

[.Sabre.]

Well, personally, I think it's so gauche!

On a more serious note, I think that the person doing the proposing should be prepared for public rejection and humiliation. However, there is a problem with it putting people on the spot, and that's my main objection.

I don't think I'd ask someone in front of a crowd. Nor would I want that to happen to me.

 

[Verv]

I think it is potentially a romantic event bu in all reality I am sort of a private person and I would rather do it in a semi-private fashion. I feel no need to draw attention to myself.

I know a girl who this happened to and she said 'yes' but the second they were away from each other she said "No, you idiot, I can't believe you did that."

I think the guy perhaps learned a lesson in an odd way with the public rejection...

I just got an idea: go to some bars and do fake proposals with joyous "Yes!" responses and see how much free alcohol you can get.

 

[mpok1519]

I say just dont ever propose; that lessens the possibility of rejection. XD

 

[Wren]

I think that it's not unethical, but a really bad idea unless you know that that she will say yes (obviously) and that she likes that kind of attention. If a guy proposed to me in public, that alone would stop me from saying yes right away. Because anyone who really knows me, knows that I would hate being publicly proposed to.

 

[Rebekka]

<staff edit>

I don't know where you live, but who said this thread is only about heterosexuals proposing in public? As if homosexuals can't propose in public as well?

 

[quatona]

I don't know where you live, but who said this thread is only about heterosexuals proposing in public? As if homosexuals can't propose in public as well?

Don´t give them ideas!

 

[LouTheWicked]

I'd hate to have my boyfriend propose to me in public. All those people staring at us expectantly, making me feel pressured into saying "yes" when I may not even feel ready.

Ugh. It would be horrible.