Why do people use love locks as a symbol for their relationship?
They symbolize lack of freedom. Prisoners and kidnapped children are rotting behind doors closed with locks like these. You use them for your basement to store stuff that you never need anymore, but which you don’t want anyone else to take either. These locks are used to close the barn door to keep the cattle in, so that the cows and the sheep won’t escape slaughter.
Throwing away the key is even worse. It’s the nonverbal way of saying: “That’s it. You are no longer in control of your own life. You are going to die here, no matter what.”
You would never use a lock for somebody whom you truly cherish and respect, in whose liberty you believe and whom you trust.
Think!
The Happy Hermit 
Funny how they try to lock each other down here – yet it’s got the highest rate of divorce in the EU. I guess someone keeps an eye on where the key lands ;)
Or there are plenty of good locksmiths.
:)
If I had to be locked in a prison with anyone. It would be my baby :) She had a choice to put the lock on and to throw the keys. So I guess we will rot happily together. Though she is a licensed scuba diver…….
But one can view a lock like a symbol of everlasting love. Take marriage. Compare divorce, annullment and separation with lock picks, metal dissolving chemical agents and hammers. Perspective :)
I’ve never heard of love locks. Must not be a thing here in the US, at least not where I’m from. Very strange custom.
Probably if somebody tried to attach a padlock to a bridge, some SWAT team would whiz by and arrest them on counter-terrorism charges. :-)
Well living under a super paranoid government can be a good time on rare occasions.
My thoughts, when I came to one of those Paris bridges with love locks, were along the lines of: “I wonder how many of these couples are still together.” But that’s probably just the Inner Bitter Me talking. :) Let’s just say I salute the sentiment but have no faith in it.
Symbolism can be a very powerful way to remind of us somethings importance. If you think the lock refers to being trapped what would you suggest as a replacement symbol to represent mutual commitment?
A cactus.
We already use rings. I think it’s supposed to represent a chain, but it’s not as depressing as a lock.
Did you ever fell in love? because if you did, you know that love makes you (desperately) want to lock yourself up and throw away the key…
The feeling you get when you’re in love is so powerful you wouldn”t let it go away.. that’s not even conscious.. it’s like a drug you’re addicted!
That sounds dangerous. Maybe it should be banned.
having another partner for an entire life is a social construct aimed to control people’s lives. Be careful
I am not so sure about the social construct theory because it’s still an individual decision. And when you say something is “aimed”, I am curious about who is aiming.
It seems to me that most people are really afraid of being alone and therefore prefer keeping their current partner even if he/she is not the perfect partner or their dream partner.
Reblogged this on Like Some Punk Bride of the Future and commented:
That’s picking on symbols, but I love it anyway.
Thats a very original insight Andreas! I hope you did not see people actually locked on that supposedly bridge? :D I think what people want to lock is this feeling of falling in love so deeply that you feel like you have finally found yourself full and complete, perfect just the way you are, and adored and taken care of so well like never before. In short, showered with lots of love we all crave so much. People just want to last that feeling for ever. And, if I may add my two cents here (I know I know nobody asked this ;) ), you might have been very seriously betrayed in your life by someone you loved a lot or someone you were dependent on. Just food for thought maybe ;)
No, I don’t think I have ever been betrayed, but I don’t believe in emotions lasting forever. And I really cherish freedom.
And do not worry, I used to hate a symbol of heart for years and years and years. Even thou I am a girl I had only one piece of cloth that had hearts on it, I remember it to this day :) Even in my teen years when all girls do not dress anything not pink or with hearts, I did not have any except that one sweater. So it does happen ;) but it also tells a story ;)
You don’t know how much I laughed when they removed the love locks from Pont des Arts…
I guess a lot of people could finally break up after that.
Pingback: A Walk around Tbilisi | The Happy Hermit