@Fred For your consideration?: Can another living being, more importantly, another human be an "object of possession"? Are we qualified or entitled to "own" another human being? Because "owning, ownership, possession" are fundamental prerequisites to express possessiveness.

A real monster. Removes your selfesteem, fills you with fear, ruins you financially, takes everything you are proud of, destroys your social life, smashes your dreams and once it sucks you dry..it kills you.

Not singling you out, just talking in general...
I believe the kind of behavior this refers to is more of a lack of integrity or honesty.
Possessiveness, whether for or against the relationship, is but one part of the relationship.
Honest open communication is vital in a relationship.
Certain types of possession can stop the honest open communication for a number of reasons. It breaks the trust/honesty bond the relationship needs for it to thrive equally.
When honesty and integrity are the driving force, possession doesn't need to be exercised in an attempt to control the fidelity of your partner.

When someone has been single for a long time they get accustomed to certain freedoms. When they finally enter into a relationship possessiveness on the part of their new partner can look excessive. It breaks the sense of individual freedom they were accustomed to having.
Some people welcome it, it makes them feel important or special.
Some people despise it, feeling like their partner is always telling them what to do or how to think or act.
Many refer to it as being 'set in their ways' but if the possessive element is missing or only slight, the relationship develops a bit more equally.

Some people were in previous long-term relationships which ended badly due to excessive possessiveness.
They have no desire to be in another relationship with a jealous, demanding partner.
They got free of that and when it rears its possessive head in the new relationship a certain trust is violated.
That new relationship works for a while then falls apart.
Sometimes the dating never even reaches relationship stage.

You hear them say...

"She's too set in her ways."
"He's too stubborn."
"She tried to tell me what to do."
"He won't listen to me."
"She won't let me be myself."
"He makes me do..."

When the possession factor is nullified, each participant in the relationship has the freedom to choose to be with their partner.
Individual honesty and integrity is what keeps them with their partner.
Honest open communication can happen easily without fear of rejection.
Agreements can be made which allow a person to show their integrity and alignment to the person they choose to be with.

Who wants to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't want to be in a relationship with you?
Possessiveness forces the intent of the relationship and can remove choice as an option for certain (sometimes important) things.

When you love being with someone being themselves and they love being with you being yourself, that's the reason for being in the relationship with that person (most of the time).
If you try to control them thru possessive mandates you are changing them from them being themselves into them being what you decide they should be and vice-versa.
It tends to break the initial reason you entered into that relationship with them in the first place.

I guess people have different ideas and needs, based on where they are in life.
I do get the sentiment, and even though it may seem romantic, I'm more in agreement with what Abraham Hicks says: "If someone says 'you complete me' run for the hills!!"
Years ago -when I was in more need of the perceived safety of a relationship- I would've felt the exact same way. I'm not sure if I'd appreciate it anymore now.

New Zealand and Australia have opened a long awaited travel bubble between our two countries :-) no quarantines currently required . Of course it is subject to change at any moment and those who choose to travel do so on the understanding that if there is need for a sudden quarantine and they are stuck on the other side they will need to have plans in place to cope ..

How is everyone doing today?️

The outbreak of the coronavirus has changed travel situation in the world dramatically. To contain the virus, global travel restrictions are in effect which caused many borders to fully close. With this, what’s one thing you DON’T miss about traveling?

I would say flight changes, delays, or cancellations.

Yes, that's the kind of thing I mean. With such a partner you can simply trust him. I couldn't be happy and relaxed in a relationship if I'd somehow sense he would engage when he saw a nice woman or a woman tried to get close to him.

Hi Fred I am sure many people share that concern and it is one reason for reluctance to be vaccinated . This article explains what experts have to say on the matter ....

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-it-was-possible-to-develop-covid-19-vaccines-so-quickly

The phase three clinical trial (on humans ) ran for approx two months before data was released and emergency approval was sought . That is not the end of the trial . Safety Data and efficacy will likely continue to be collected and analysed over the next two years .. which is standard practice for any vaccine

A trial is about to commence where candidates vaccinated for covid will be infected with the live virus . I am very interested to see the outcome of this trial . As yet there is still uncertainty over the level of immunity covid vaccines provide and how long protection lasts , whether any of the vaccines are effective against the latest variants which are thought to have antibody escape mutations and how those previously exposed to covid will react . Obviously long term data will only be available over time .

Do you know what the vaccine uptake has been in France and which vaccines are being used ??

In New Zealand only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use by medsafe (at this stsge)... Vaccination of border workers and frontline health workers is currently underway .

I actually feel it's my man's 'task' to deal with this, not mine. It's kind of my policy to not enter into a fight with another woman over my/a man.
Nevertheless, I've been there once, and he did nothing. At some point I got so annoyed I dealt with it and she was gone in a flash. But I didn't really do that so much out of possessiveness but more sheer annoyance. And in such cases I'm also seriously PO that the man didn't deal with it btw.
Something like that could be the cause of me ending things.
Same considering the woman btw. I recall now that a very good friend began flirting with my partner when she visited. That was the last time we ever saw each other. Friendship ended there and then. Again more betrayal of my friend, not so much feeling possessive of my man.

I'm not sure if I'd consider fighting for your man/relationship in such cases as possessiveness. Is it not more feeling rejected as it's a sign the man isn't really committed to you?

@crystal ... hypothetical question . If another woman tries to take away the man you love .... would you allow that to happen or would you fight for your relationship ??? Is that considered a form of possessiveness ? Just curious .

Well, I mean, miracles can happen.

You finally said something that makes sense..."The military isn't a normal environment, war isn't regular day-to-day stuff".
Just WHY are there drafts????? Drafts are conducted during wars. And it's true the military isn't a normal environment....it's an environment where people NEED to be ready to go to war whether they are in the military though enlistment or a draft.
Thank you for making my original point valid.

I stand behind what I said...."SOME women can do what men do physically but most can't." The operative word is SOME, and women WHO physically CAN do the same job as man, in the military or private sector, they should be given EQUAL consideration.

I also stand by saying "It WOULD be discriminatory towards men to draft women and reserve non-combat duties for women or less physical duties for women."
Ya see I believe in ACTUAL equality unlike people who CLAIM to believe in equality really promote preferential for what they call a "protected class" of people.

SOME women can do what men do physically but most can't. If ANY standard is LOWERED in the physicality of ANY military DUTY required to carry out ANY mission to make it MORE likely a woman can be included in a mission then peoples lives can be put in danger.

It's not discriminatory to have the SAME standard for EVERYONE.
Tell a person, man or woman, who is wounded that it's discriminatory if a 6'3" male doesn't step aside so a 5'4" woman can carry them to safety.

It WOULD be discriminatory towards men to draft women and reserve non-combat duties for women or less physical duties for women.

I have no problem with "equality" but I do have a problem with preferential treatment for any sex, or race, to achieve "equity" especially when it means lowering standards that puts people lives at risk.

Being as this forum is world populated its also likely the fear of saying I love you has to do with social or family pressures and/or social, cultural or family traditions.
Then there's the fear of stereotyping, descrimination and workplace rules.
Also, saying I love you could hurt the other person due to the implications.
Example: you refrain from saying I love you to a happily married woman because you do not wish to hurt her marraige.

Many people, if they're paying attention, can sense when someone loves them by how they act toward them. Actions do speak louder than words. Plus, its not always demonstrated by kindness. People often keep their feelings secret but they will display certain tells.

This is why when someone finally admits their love for someone it comes as no surprise. Everybody knows before that person builds up the courage to say it or even admit it to themselves.

"We know you love her"
"No, I don't"
"Yes, you do...Just tell her!"
"I Love You!"
"I Know!"

I can see that point.
Fear is a great motivator and a great control mechanism.

Love is how you feel.
Demonstrating love is how you share the love you feel with someone else.
If you are afraid to express yourself it can take a lot of courage to say I love you.
However, once your expression of love is accepted the fear of rejection is gone and it takes no courage at all.

I live in Wainwright Alberta and it won't let me change it