[Aronnax]

	Originally Posted by md21017md To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Wow, never thought of this? So you mean if your loved one tries to "cheer you up" or make you happy you see that as manipulation?

Of course they're trying to manipulate me but I don't care about manipulation as much as intent. There's a huge difference between trying to cheer me up because they care about me and trying to cheer me up because they want something.

I usually only refer to the second case as manipulation to simplify my explanation to others. Manipulation has a lot of negative connotations and explaining how trying to make me feel good, even with good intentions, is manipulation but I'm ok with that is way too much work (accidentally hurting their feelings, then trying to explain, then ending up in a fight...).

[Thucydides]

I've been told by girls that I'm hard to read. Talk to him about it, explaining why it matters to you, and you'll probably get what you need from him.