By Jennifer Donatelli
Valentine’s Day often sparks the age-old debate about whether love at first sight is real or just a romantic notion. Some people swear by it, claiming that an instant connection or an inexplicable bond can form in the blink of an eye. For them, it’s more than just attraction — it’s a deep, immediate understanding or a shared energy that can’t be ignored. Others, however, argue that love is something that builds over time, shaped by experiences, conversations and vulnerability. They believe that true love cannot be rushed, and that the initial spark is often mistaken for infatuation or chemistry.
TBR News Media recently asked Long Islanders what they thought about love at first sight.
Lisa Goldfeder from Babylon
“I don’t believe in love at first sight. You have to get to know someone first, spend time with them, be friends, then the love will come. People who say they believe in love at first sight are more like infatuated to me.”
Lonnie Goldfeder from Babylon
“I believe you can fall in love when you first meet someone. You have that feeling that they’re ‘the one’ and everything else follows.”
Frank Borrero from Huntington
“I believe in love at first sight, but not the kind of love that lasts forever. I love women, so every woman I meet is love at first sight to me. A pair and a spare is my motto.”
Neil Clay from Stony Brook
“I believe in love at first sight. It’s how I met my wife. We both went outside to throw our garbage in the dumpster and I knew from that minute I met my soulmate.”
Lucia Trowe from Huntington
“I definitely think you can fall in love with someone when you first meet them. My husband told me seconds after we met that he loved me and asked me to marry him. We were married 40 years.”
Michael Joseph from Huntington
“I don’t believe in love at first sight unless you’re picking a dog. How can you know you love someone from a chance meeting or look?”
