This new series I'm watching has the coolest guy I have ever seen. Barney Stinson from "How I met Your Mother". He has the most outrageous theories on women and relationships. It's great fun listening him explain and then realize that some of it is actually very true. One of the best he stated is the Platinum Rule. It's like there is this golden rule in the bible saying "Love Thy Neighbour". But there is a rule above it, The Platinum Rule, which states "Never ever ever 'Love' Thy Neighbour", if you know what I mean. It means that you never date or hookup with someone you meet on a regular basis because it will never be as good as you think it will be. For example, one of your friends, your office colleague, a person you often meet in everyday life such as a waitress at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant. The Platinum Rule always works out in a routine 8 step method.

Step 1 - Attraction
When you see someone on a regular basis, you tend to overlook what you first did wen you met them. If at first sight, you didnt like him/her that much, this wouldn't be the case. But after you have initially discarded that idea, and as you meet them more and more often, you start seeing them in a new light. You begin to notice more, tend to forget what turned you off at first, and the more you see them, the better they start looking. But all of your friends will say don't do it, because the platinum rule will happen. They advise you not to pursue it because the consequences will be bad later. It's like "Dont shit where you eat". They say don't make the mistake. So this leads to ...

Step 2 - Bargaining
You don't date people who are already in your circle. Office mates, friends of your closest friends who hang out with you, people you will run into again after it is over. Your friends will tell you not to do it. But, you say that it wont be like that and everything is gonna be fine. Nothing bad will happen. You think that it will be okay but it isn't. You say we are just going out as friends and nothing will happen. You say if it starts being weird or gets serious, you will back off. But then comes ...

Step 3 - Submission
You are doing what you normally do and then suddenly you are alone with her/him. The conversation veers off course and you start talking about things you would have never even thought of before. You see them differently now and all the inhibitions are off. Pretty soon, you are doing what you have never done before and never even thought of doing it with this person. The plot changes completely. Everything is suddenly different. And you start doing more and more with this person. You meet them more, you are spending time with them. And never before seen benefits come out of this relationship. This is ...

Steo 4 - Perks
It's like, if u were friends before, you can hang out even more than before and you are now spending time with your girl/boyfriend together with your friends. You don't have to share the time on two different important people in your life. You can do both together. If it's an office mate, you even get to spend time at the office, all day in fact. You get a ride with them to the office and back. You can lunch together easily. It becomes very convenient. If it's someone who works in your favorite coffeeshop or store, you get free drinks, meals, shop items, discounts and things like that. You think that this is the best ever and couldn't be easier. But then comes ...

Step 5 - The Tipping Point
You all know how even when you are with your girl/boy, you always need that little time alone. When you just want to do something else, and not with them. But think again, coz you are going to see them all the time. Coz you will have to go to the office and you are going to see them there. When you have a fight and you want to be alone, you are going to see them all the time. Even when you go out with friends, they are part of the group and most likely, will land up with you wherever you go. So it gets like they are everywhere and you can't escape them. You feel that you are constantly with them, All....The....Time. There is no escaping

Step 6 - Purgatory
Now you have finally realized that this was a big mistake. And you want to end it. But how will you do that if you see them again and again and again. They are their when you go to office, to coffee, when just hanging out with your friends doing nothing. When you are in your office and just want to have some fun, you get all uncomfortable becoz they are always there and will see you goofing off. When you go for coffee with your friends, they are there and it's all mushy cutie pie stuff and calling you sweet names, and eating off your food, drinking your drink, hugging and holding your hand constantly. You get absolutely sick of them. They are constantly waiting on your beck and call and it's driving you crazy. You decide to finally do

Step 7 - Confrontation
You finally end it all by telling them that it's just not working. You tell them the problems you are facing and that you don't want this anymore. When you say this, it's very hard not to hurt them. You will always end up hurthing them someway. Of course, you are breaking up. Breaking up is never easy. Especially for the one being dumped. So even if you say it's not them and it's you, they will never believe it and will get offended and angry or sad or depressed or needy or clingy or begging you to stay. It might even be all of the above. But you believe it's gonna be okay coz they are your ex now. In any relationship, after breaking up, you always separate ways. Thats what breaking up means. If this were a normal relationship, this would be easy. But wait. You can't do this because you are going to see them again. And it eventually gets so bad that it leads to ...

Step 8 - Fallout
After breaking up, things will get so bad between the two of you. Your office colleague will start resenting you at work, be critical of your work even (even worse if they are above you in office hierarchy) and will get so hard that you cant even work with them anymore. If they are your friend, your coffees with friends will get spoiled, coz maybe he/she doesn't want to if you are going and then some more people join them and eventually the whole group gets divided completely and people start taking sides. Even if you go together, there will be this tension between you two, and some sarcastical comment will eventually come out to the other person's story or joke and things start to become nasty and hateful. If it's someone you see at a frequently visited place, the place starts getting uncomfortable for you, you get shunned of your deserved service, the people at that place have heard about you and don't like what you did to their fellow colleague and you get ignored or rudely replied to. All of this wouldn't have happened if you didnt see them again.

But becoz you ignored the platinum rule and dated someone like this, this is what you get after all. It sucks, but guess what, you deserved it. You shouldn't have done it in the first place.

I fall asleep by the telephone (telephone)
It's two o'clock and I'm waiting up alone
Tell me where have you been? (where have you been?)
I found a note with another name (another name)
You blow a kiss but it just don't feel the same
'Cause I can feel that you're gone (feel that you're gone)

I can't bite my tongue forever
While you try to play it cool
You can hide behind your stories
But don't take me for a fool

(Chorus)
You can tell me that there's nobody else (but I feel it)
You can tell me that your home by yourself (but I see it)
You can look into my eyes and pretend all you want
But I know, I know
Your love is just a lie (lie, lie, lie)
It's nothing but a lie (lie, lie, lie)

You look so innocent (innocent)
But the guilt in your voice gives you away
Yeah, you know what I mean... (know what I mean)
How does it feel when you kiss when you know that I trust you?
And do you think about me when he touches you
Could you be more obscene? (more obscene)

So don't try to say you're sorry
Or try to make it right
Don't waste your breath because it's too late
It's too late

(Chorus)
You can tell me that there's nobody else (but I feel it)
You can tell me that you're home by yourself (but I see it)
You can look into my eyes and pretend all you want
But I know, I know
Your love is just a lie (lie, lie, lie)
It's nothing but a lie (lie, lie, lie)
You're nothing but a lie

You can tell me that there's nobody else (but I feel it)
You can tell me that you're home by yourself (but I see it)
You can look into my eyes and pretend all you want
But I know, I know

Your love is just a lie
I know
You're nothing but a lie (lie, lie, lie)
You're nothing but a lie (lie, lie, lie)
Your love is just a lie (lie)