Jerk, on 19 March 2013 - 08:51 PM, said:
Not that I don't appreciate you explaining all this to me or that I think her reaction was an author error or anything. Compare her to Abbey for a moment: Abbey is maincast and a shitty character, Jasmine has a bit part but runs circles right the fuck around him in character quality.
Everyone agrees: we all hate Abbey
Ace, on 19 March 2013 - 10:22 PM, said:
Look, Mouse, I know you masturbate to Another Path every day, but remember where it occurs in the story. Paulo had second thoughts about this the whole damn time he got with Jasmine. Did her actions in not spending time contribute? You betcha sonny. Did she try to work on it? Yes she did. (BTW I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to bring up the grandma thing, but mores the pity) But yeah this is what ended up causing her to realize that she didn't know what a relationship really was and that it was unfair to both of them to continue it.
Now, when we get to why she is upset, please tell me you aren't so blind as not to see what's really going on here.
1. She's 14 and she broke up. Come on, that causes some tears even when you're the one doing the dumping.
2. She probably wouldn't take it as hard if Paulo had said like, "Jazzy look this isn't working because I can't see you and etc etc etc." No she's a little sad and angry because the reason he gave for dropping her was to go to someone else. I think I'd be pretty bitter about something like that also.
Hey, maybe I see what you're trying to say that she "realized" she fucked up somehow by keeping Paulo apart from someone he truly loves or something. But lets be honest here, neither of us really believes that garbage.
Bottom line: Jasmine and Paulo's relationship was shoddy to begin with and, while neat at times, was a high school relationship where both parties barely knew what they wanted. Please think for a moment before you shove all your frustration out without any thought about it.
Man this serious cat drama is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
Ehhh. I think his entire 'giving her a shot' thing in Back and Forth shows at the time he enters into it, he isn't thinking about Lucy romantically. They were starting to get together, and then David 'bang everything' fucks it up and throws Paulo into a series of bad decisions. Here comes Jasmine - she looks like a chance for him to redeem himself.
Another Path happens, and Paulo wonders if he made the right choice. Begin Paulo's character development of thinking about what he should do. During this, he keeps giving Jasmine more chances - he resolves in Carry Me to break up, spends the entire day taking care of a sick Lucy, but because of her gesture at the end of it, resolves to keep going. To keep trying to make it work. Lucy's descent into depression and Jasmine's continued negligence continue to push him away. Friends encourage Paulo away from Jasmine. He doesn't act based on a snap judgement - this entire thing he's thought a lot about, and didn't want to hurt Jasmine. He is honest because he knows it's the right thing to do.
Again, Jasmine wanted the best situation for herself - she had Paulo at one step above "violin lessons", couldn't make time for him, put everything else first, and decided on her own to break it off with that as the excuse. She'd keep the power there. She justified that in her mind.
Breakups hurt; I've not once said they don't. Even in a mutual breakup. However - she was going into it not expecting to be hurt (she's breaking it off with him) and got hurt (realizing she fucked up so badly his heart strayed, even though he not once cheated on her).
She has no right to be bitter at Paulo. She has every right to be bitter at herself. She was the one who fucked up. She was wanting to break it off with him. I reiterate: she should feel bad. She should be angry. At herself. She played the breakup card before him, and wanted honesty. That is not his fault.
I am not saying she 'realized she fucked up by keeping him away from his true love'. That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying, she either has or should realize she fucked up in that she was a bad girlfriend and let someone else into his heart. Because she wouldn't go into it. She spent her time pushing him back, pushing him away, making excuses, and even made excuses in her reasons for the breakup! That's how she fucked up. I'm glad to see you always enjoy strawmanning me on this, tho.
Bottom line: Paulo tried to make it work. Jasmine strung him along for months and barely made any effort to make it work. Paulo stayed faithful to her for months, despite getting heartbroken and frustrated. Jasmine used him to get rid of things in her life she didn't want.
Jasmine is to blame for this situation she ended up in. And she should feel bad about it, so she doesn't repeat the same mistakes with someone else later in life. If you actually did care about her, you'd see that.
This post has been edited by SpaceMouse: 19 March 2013 - 11:40 PM