It depends on the scope. Do I desire to know what it feels like to jump off a building? Yes! Do I desire it more than I desire to continue living? No. So on the narrow scope, there's desire/want. On a slightly larger scope, there isn't.
Take person A. Do you desire sex with person A? Yes! Do you desire it enough to rape them? No! So, do you really desire it?
(Granted, the No! is an assumption, but you hardly seem the type. ;^)
I disagree, but it's probably semantics. "Want" is equivalent to "Desire" for me, and while not purely binary, it definitely has an On/Off point (as well as a "Really On", "Totally Off", etc...)
I'm sure it's semantics. Specifically, vocabulary, it always seems to be.
What words would you use to describe the situation?
You 'want' to have sex with them, but their unwilling, so you decline to do so. Therefor you don't 'want' it enough. Is there a better set of vocabulary for all that?
My desire or want for the person/thing is totally independent of its consent/availability/advisability. I lust after unattainable targets on a regular basis.
I'm not even sure I understand your question. I'm not willing to pay the cost that getting my desire fulfilled would incur, is that what you mean?
I don't think you're asking the right question (obviously, which is why we're having this debate). First I must have the desire before I can weigh the cost-benefit analysis of wanting the thing... they're two separate steps, and even then nothing about the potential costs stops the want (it can stop for other reasons, like finding out something horrible about the person/object).
featherynscale is sexy. I (desire/want) to have sex with her. Socially speaking, it's not likely, without risking other relationships, therefor I do not (desire/want) to have sex with her.
Being able to get rid of the emotion described in the first word? Agreed, not likely (possible by finding out their evil/killed your dad/enjoy fecalphillia). Changing of the second depends entirely on current events.
Further more: Which was featherynscale asking about in the question? I assumed she was asking the first one, which is why I made my 'Unrestricted Free Agent' comment.
In this context, I think "want" and "desire" are describing an emotion.
I want a shiny new Porsche. In order to buy one, I'd have to pay a certain price. At the moment I am unable or unwilling to pay that price, therefore I have not gone to the Porsche dealer.
But I still want one. That describes how I feel, not what I have done.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-04-25 07:34 pm (UTC)It depends on the scope. Do I desire to know what it feels like to jump off a building? Yes! Do I desire it more than I desire to continue living? No. So on the narrow scope, there's desire/want. On a slightly larger scope, there isn't.
Take person A. Do you desire sex with person A? Yes! Do you desire it enough to rape them? No! So, do you really desire it?
(Granted, the No! is an assumption, but you hardly seem the type. ;^)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-25 08:04 pm (UTC)"Get" and "Do" are totally different verbs.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-25 08:11 pm (UTC)What words would you use to describe the situation?
You 'want' to have sex with them, but their unwilling, so you decline to do so. Therefor you don't 'want' it enough. Is there a better set of vocabulary for all that?
no subject
Date: 2008-04-25 08:54 pm (UTC)I'm not even sure I understand your question. I'm not willing to pay the cost that getting my desire fulfilled would incur, is that what you mean?
no subject
Date: 2008-04-26 12:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-26 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-26 10:29 pm (UTC)Socially speaking, it's not likely, without risking other relationships, therefor I do not (desire/want) to have sex with her.
Being able to get rid of the emotion described in the first word? Agreed, not likely (possible by finding out their evil/killed your dad/enjoy fecalphillia). Changing of the second depends entirely on current events.
Further more: Which was
no subject
Date: 2008-04-25 10:02 pm (UTC)I want a shiny new Porsche. In order to buy one, I'd have to pay a certain price. At the moment I am unable or unwilling to pay that price, therefore I have not gone to the Porsche dealer.
But I still want one. That describes how I feel, not what I have done.