The Theory of the Fringe

By popular demand....I am going to all tell you all about my most universally correct theory.  Some of my others have flaws and exceptions.  But this one....IRON CLAD!

So FIRST let me define FRINGE

Fringe is your acceptance/rejection of things that are sketchy/ not completely in line with the standards of the Church
(ps...this is ambiguous if you are not Mormon...so please feel free to ask if you want more explanation...I LOVE to answer questions)

FOR EXAMPLE:
Lots of fringe:
watches R-Rated movies and doesn't have a big problem with it
Medium fringe:
doesn't watch them...but also doesn't care if others do
No Fringe:
doesn't watch them...and is very upset by others watching them

Lots of fringe:
"Sabbath Day?  Its just like any other day"
Medium fringe:
"Disney movies are ok...and the Super Bowl"
No Fringe:
"Scriptures and church movies are for me"

And of course it is a continuum from fringe saturation to complete lack of fringe.

Fringe levels are based on individual beliefs and values and every person has a different level of subscription to various items.  You might have a very un-fringey view on the Word of Wisdom, but you have a more fringey view of modesty.

In general...some people are simply more fringey than others.
(In my opinion, either extreme is usually not optimal.  But its not my place to judge.)

ANYWAYS....so you are wondering what this has to do with boys.  Because lets be honest, all my theories have to do with boys and dating.  And honestly the dating application is the practical aspect of this theory.


You need to date someone with the same amount AND type of fringe as you. 
(relates slightly to the Theory of the Flares)
And when I say date...I mean court.  (see future post for that explanation haha)

If you have lots of fringe--you want to try and find someone with a lot as well....and the opposite is also true.
Most people fall somewhere in the middle of the continuum.  This means you need to find someone who has similar individual fringe levels as you.
EXAMPLE: you both care a lot about boys serving missions, but both are flexible when it comes to dating before you are 16.

Think about the practicality of it.  If you are married which level of fringe is the family going to go with?  What if your kids want to go to a friends birthday party on a Sunday....and you and your spouse have different fringe levels about Sabbath Day observance.  PROBLEM!!!!!!!

Now I am not saying that conversations and compromises in the engagement and early marriage periods won't assist in preventing these issues.  But you can only realistically compromise when you are just a little off.  If you are WAY far apart on something...it's gonna be a lot of work.

Plus....people who have different values and beliefs than you are going to eventually drive you crazy.  Yeah you may like them as a friend...even a good friend.  But remember.  You have to live with this person...FOR ETERNITY...which is a mighty long time if they drive you kinda crazy!

So there you have it...the theory of the fringe :)

So now the question is...how much fringe do I have??

here's a hint ;)




I mean not really...but kinda ;)