Re: Stella and.......
I'll take my leave of this discussion after this because I can see that we're not going to readily agree on this.
You can physically take advantage of someone (i.e. domestic violence, rape, etc.) and then you can take advantage of someone's feelings (i.e. manipulation of any kind). I don't know how I can explain my stance more clearly.
Entertaining a crush is by definition having more expectations than sheer lust. Adam had a crush on Stella way before the shooting happened, therefore, he was already more vulnerable than Stella when they got into this one night stand in already heightened emotional circumstances.
The only canon we have to see who those characters are and what they feel is what we're shown and told onscreen. If the canon is not self sufficient to portray the characters adequately, then it's shitty fiction with plotholes.
Since you're so adamant to bring Mac/Stella into the discussion, yes, Mac would have more power than Stella from a boss/subordinate standpoint but those two would already be better off having a fling together because they'd be on an equal emotional footing. Neither has been said or seen entertaining an unrequited crush for the other onscreen so neither would be taking advantage of the other from an emotional standpoint.
In my book, playing with fire is relative to what you can't stand to lose the most: your job or a serious relationship. If your job is your priority and you want to be 100% sure of keeping it, then don't enter into a romantic relationship in the workplace at all, whether it's casual or serious. If it's not, well then, make sure that you're on the same emotional page with the other person as to manage the risks of such a relationship otherwise this is exactly where you'll find trouble.
I'll take my leave of this discussion after this because I can see that we're not going to readily agree on this.
Taking advantage of a person's feelings for you IS taking advantage of the person. You can't take advantage of a person and NOT take advantage of their feelings and vice versa. That makes no sense to me.
You can physically take advantage of someone (i.e. domestic violence, rape, etc.) and then you can take advantage of someone's feelings (i.e. manipulation of any kind). I don't know how I can explain my stance more clearly.
Once again, we have nothing but speculation to go on when saying Adam and Stella are not on equal emotional footing. Adam could very well have jumped at the chance to sleep with "his crush," but that doesn't automatically equate to him getting in over his head or having expectations that Stella doesn't, so you can't say at this point that Adam is more vulnerable than Stella. There's no proof one way or the other.
Entertaining a crush is by definition having more expectations than sheer lust. Adam had a crush on Stella way before the shooting happened, therefore, he was already more vulnerable than Stella when they got into this one night stand in already heightened emotional circumstances.
And yeah, Adam had a smile on his face when he called for her in the hallway, but again you're making a huge assumption based on one look. Just like it's a huge assumption to think Stella slept with Adam for selfish reasons.
The only canon we have to see who those characters are and what they feel is what we're shown and told onscreen. If the canon is not self sufficient to portray the characters adequately, then it's shitty fiction with plotholes.
The potential is there, but the potential would be there for Mac/Stella too because it's a boss/subordinate relationship and Mac has more power in the relationship than Stella does.
Since you're so adamant to bring Mac/Stella into the discussion, yes, Mac would have more power than Stella from a boss/subordinate standpoint but those two would already be better off having a fling together because they'd be on an equal emotional footing. Neither has been said or seen entertaining an unrequited crush for the other onscreen so neither would be taking advantage of the other from an emotional standpoint.
And if your job means the world to you even a serious relationship with a boss/subordinate might not be worth risking your job. The potential for things to go very wrong is still there and in my book playing with fire is playing with fire. Casual or serious, a relationship with a boss/subordinate has too much potential to go wrong in too many ways.
In my book, playing with fire is relative to what you can't stand to lose the most: your job or a serious relationship. If your job is your priority and you want to be 100% sure of keeping it, then don't enter into a romantic relationship in the workplace at all, whether it's casual or serious. If it's not, well then, make sure that you're on the same emotional page with the other person as to manage the risks of such a relationship otherwise this is exactly where you'll find trouble.