How important or useful is it for your own girlfriend (or people in general) to hold some fear for you?

My opinion.

Fear I believe is important, it in a way breeds respect (outside of that generated by your own self through how you carry yourself).

male_female.

Fear, is in a way, sexy or results and increases the sex force. It is quite attractive when we know that for some one, some boundaries cannot be crossed and you cannot just walk all over them. It is such a force, this fear thing. But only in reasonable amounts. If a woman has no fear for you, it's sad indeed.

There is the saying, 'familiarity breeds contempt'. This is because after enough familiarity, we care less. The fear wall goes away resulting in the the behaviour that usually follows when one gets too familiar with you.

in_general i.e. everyone else.

When one fears you, you hold some 'power'. An example is your boss, you might say, yes it is just respect that you have, but No.. it is some fear too. When you know your boss could replace you, and that you do hold value to him but not that much, also knowing that he (in a way) holds the key to your happiness rather than you holding his. Due to this knowledge and that little fear, you respect him and wouldn't say much in his presence as you would with a random mate.

Reflection.

  • Why do people prefer never meeting their idols? Because that illusion of the idol being larger than life could dissipate once they know them more, get familiar and think.. oh well, just another person like me, no big deal!

  • Why is it that before you want a woman (or anything else, that pretty iMac for example), the feelings for her and the 'want' for her is so great, but when you do get her, it's just meh! ?

Conclusion

It is a good thing to bring reminders to people that they can't cross the line, that they do not get too comfortable and behave in unacceptable ways toward you. Do not be too tolerant - maintain the little fear they 'must have' for you.

But this is my opinion, what is yours?