CULTURE
BY ASTRID I. VIERA
OLIVE THEORY, RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU YOU GIVE WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON’T GET UPSET
ever: sweet girl meets a guy from a different back-
are and unintentionally, they already share the same
ground which then leads to some trials and tribula-
city, town and state. This can also roll into beliefs and
tions just for them to end up together in the end. But
political views.
at the end of the day, who could turn down a good
Having more similarities or differences might affect
W
tearjerker? Nicholas Sparks is just great at what he
relationships or it might not. Either way, relationships
does.
form in ways people might not expect. Whether your
hen you have a favorite thing it’s hard to think that anyone else would not like
There are a lot of reasons that opposites attract.
best friend is the most opposite person could be from
that same thing as you. Your favorite
As individuals we are so used to ourselves, what we
you or so similar you are practically twins, we are all
thing could be someone else’s least favorite thing.
like, what we enjoy doing, how we respond to situa-
more similar than we are different. It makes us who
Maybe this is what makes some of the best relation-
tions, and of course, what we don’t like. When meet-
we are as individuals and as we are in relationships.
ships, both romantic and platonic. Someone enjoying
ing someone new, they might have a completely
Without differences and similarities within relation-
something opposite from you: like the saying “oppo-
different style of clothing than what you wear, or they
ships, we might not have our best dynamic duos or
sites attract.” This opens up the question: “Do oppo-
might be outgoing and adventurous, but you might
even the power couples, *cough cough* Blake Lively
sites really attract?” Are the best pairing two different
be introverted and stick to what you like. This could
and Ryan Reynolds. Maybe the Olive Theory is some-
things or do similarities make a strong duo? Some
be exciting for someone to see or it could seem like
thing to keep in the back of the mind, a fun conversa-
different things are so good together: the peanut
a nightmare. We can find ourselves in situations that
tion starter, or even something you might notice more
butter to the jelly, the apple to the pie and in the fall,
match us with someone, either romantically or platon-
after reading this.
the pumpkin to the spice.
ically, where the question arises: “How are we even
On a lighter note, opposites attracting can be referred to as “The Olive Theory”, a theory that had
friends or together?” Sometimes, opposites just really work together.
been talked about in an episode of the popular tele-
On the other hand, similarities might be the key to
vision show How I Met Your Mother. The two charac-
long-term relationships, whether platonic or roman-
ters, Lily and Marshall had gone on a date to find out
tic. For some people, similarities are something that
Marshall hates olives while Lily loves them. Marshall’s
they seek when meeting people, as it generally helps
friend, Ted, had explained that this would make
in forming relationships if people share something
them the perfect couple because it creates a perfect
in common. Whether it’s music, clothes or food, it
balance. Therefore, creating *drumroll please* “The
provides an easy talking point without thinking too
Olive Theory.” Is it a proper scientific theory that
hard. Similarities might even be beneficial within rela-
Stephen Hawking created? No, but it still applies to
tionships. This can include certain demographics
everyone’s lives.
that someone might be a part of, including beliefs or
This theory applies to real life but it is also seen in
values, cultures, politics, and even location.
movies and TV shows. In the movie Ratatouille, one
These similarities are of high importance in form-
of the main characters, Alfredo Linguini, is a new chef
ing relationships and may lead to a longer-lasting
at the restaurant; he holds a soft-spoken personal-
relationship. Some of these factors could make it or
ity and tries to keep to himself. On the other hand,
break it. In this case, differences might only be good
he ends up meeting Colette Tatou who also works
for surface-level topics. Similarities also do not have
at the restaurant and has a strong personality that
to be something as pointed as politics or beliefs;
packs a punch. In the end, they get together, and even
many people might be attracted to the people in their
though they are opposites, they work. Another exam-
geographical location since it is where they already
ple would probably be every Nicholas Sparks movie
reside or spend their time. It is already where they
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Nov Issue Rough 2.indd 18
10/31/22 2:56 PM
