Hi duszek,
D:1. Why "on her terms" AS ?
AS: I think there is a distinction to be made here. There is a huge difference between being in a relationship and a first meeting hoping there will be a relationship. I am talking about the latter, which is the stage that pluto is in regarding his opening post. He is in the beginning stage contemplating whether or not there could be something deeper between himself and the person he is attracted to. Since we only know his feelings at the moment, we can only speak about what he tell us and not about what the girl tells us. For all we know she doesn't know that he exists. We have no idea about her feelings. Since we can only know what Pluto tells us then I think we can only surmise that he is the one who would be wanting a relationship and not the other way around.
Since this is the case, then is stand to reason that "on her terms" would be a more polite way for Pluto to engage the young lady...since he would be the one asking...and she would be the one accepting or rejecting. He would be foolish indeed to go up to her demanding she take the relationship on "his terms" as this she might find rude and turn her off. Although I will admit that some women might find this approach masculine and be turned on. But then we have another thing to consider if that was the case, and that is...Pluto's feelings on the matter. Does he want to be in charge and have a woman who is subservient to him? If so then a relationship might possibly work. But I think that would be too big a risk to take at first if he really wants to get know the girl. Simply because even if she is the subservient type he has no clue if she is a selective subservient type who takes a while to 'warm up'. So I am just playing a numbers game here....there would be a greater chance for pluto to have success if he politely requests to get to know her on her terms rather than demanding to get to know her on his. After they are in a relationship then it becomes a game of give and take. But at first it's not always such the case.
D:2. By control I do not mean manipulation (taking advantage of the other party not having the whole picture) but remaining a free agent.
AS: You mentioned Tom Sawyer and how he got the kids to paint the fence for him. That was pure manipulation as the other parties did not have to whole picture. They were duped into believe that Tom wanted to paint the fence because he thought it was fun. However, in his mind, he did not want to paint the fence and instead wanted someone else to do it. He did not relate that to the other kids. No, he played a trick on their minds and made them think they were getting the best of him. At the end, they realized they have been duped and were not happy about it.
D:3. I think that balance is important and that the two should like each other more or less to the same degree.
AS: But in the beginning stages of the relationship this isnt always the norm. The one who is asking for the relationship to begin is the one who is vulnerable. Because they only know their feelings...they do not know their love interest feelings.
D:A possible criterium:
If neither can say whether he likes or is liked more by the other one.
AS: It could be that pluto's girl like him as much as he likes her. But we can't know that yet...because she is not the one pursuing him. Do you see the difference between first meetings and being in a relationship?
D:It´s o.k. to check the tempreture of the other party´s liking.
Any pretext is good enough, even the most un-creative and silly ones, like for example asking what time it is.
What counts is the reaction, as expressed by the tone of the voice, body language etc.
AS: Yes, but it is not always an accurate account of what the other party is thinking. She might be oblivious that he wants to date her and instead think that he is just a nice person. In that case she might just go about her business as usual with no discernible "body language." That doesn't mean she wouldn't be interested if he had made his intention clear.
D:4. I do not remember everything, but some things I remember very long indeed. You cannot tell in advance what will be rememberd and what not. Memory is independent. So there is always a risk that some words or actions of yours will be remembered for ever.
AS; Yes, words or actions might be remembered forever...but the problem with remember forever is that no one is perfect and if you are in a relationship for years...that's a long time to be held up to scrutiny for every little wrong thing you might say or do in your life. It is quite possible to have a bad day and let emotions get the best of you. Horrible to have a person who either leaves you or holds that against you every day of your life. Not only horrible for the person having the bad day but horrible for the one who holds a grudge as well....as they will be hard pressed to find someone who never has a bad day. So they might feel disappointment time after time in relationship because they are looking for something that doesn't exist...namely...the perfect person.