Counterpoint: The myth, the money, and the manufactured romance

Every year like clockwork, Valentine’s Day shows up in red, pink and sparkles acting like it owns the place. Suddenly, the world is drowning in heart-shaped everything and even the grocery store strawberries are dressed like they’re going to a high school homecoming. It’s always made me wonder: Is Valentine’s Day actually about love, or is it just a glitter‑covered Hallmark holiday we all pretend to enjoy?

Let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day only works if you believe in the kind of love and romance that only exists in early‑2000s rom‑coms. You know the ones: the guy does something extremely questionable, the girl forgives him right away and everyone claps like this is completely normal behavior? 

Imagine “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” in real life. Andie would’ve blocked Ben’s number by Day 3 and filed a restraining order by Day 7. “10 Things I Hate About You” might be cute on screen, but if a guy secretly paid someone to date your sister so he could date you, you wouldn’t write him a poem. You’d write him a strongly worded text, or email if that's what you’re into.

Do not even get me started on “The Notebook”. If someone hung off a ferris wheel to ask me on a date, I would not swoon. I would feel harassed. These movies only work because the women forgive behavior that would send the rest of us straight into a group chat rant with our girls.

Valentine’s Day thrives on that same delusional, magical thinking. It’s the one day a year when we are expected to shove all our affection into a fancy dinner, a tiny jewelry box and a bouquet that costs more than a utility bill. If you are single, the whole holiday feels like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. Suddenly every store is wrapped in pink and red heart-shaped bows, and you’re just trying to buy toothpaste without tripping over a wall of baby pink M&Ms.

Now don't get me wrong, Valentine's Day is equally as horrible for guys. Valentine’s Day turns into the Super Bowl of romantic performance, where men are expected to show up with the perfect gift, the perfect dinner and the perfect speech about their undying love, all while pretending the price of roses didn’t just triple overnight. It’s a high‑pressure scavenger hunt where the clues are vague, the stakes are emotional and the prize is not disappointing your partner.

Honestly half the time they are set up to fail. If they go too big, it’s considered trying too hard. If they go too small, or get their gold-loving girlfriend a silver bracelet, all hell breaks loose. Valentine’s Day is basically a relationship obstacle course, and the men are out here dodging expectations like they are in “American Ninja Warrior”.

At the end of the day maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s our fault for participating in a holiday that asks too much from everyone and gives very little back. Women feel pressured to be effortlessly romantic, men feel pressured to be mind‑readers with perfect gift‑wrapping skills and we all are just trying to make it through February without drowning in a sea of pink confetti. 

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