Public marriage proposals

[ki0kA]

From time to time, we see on the news a man making a marriage proposal to his girlfriend in some event. I've reflected about that subject and I believe there are three kind of men who do that:

1 - Men who are well intentioned and want to make a surprise to their girlfriends that they think they will like and feel special;

2 - Men who do it basically to show off and have their 15 minutes of fame, so to speak;

3 - Men who are afraid that their girlfriends won't want to marry them and, by making their marriage proposal publicly, they will force them to accept, because all those people who are watching are waiting for the "right" answer (yes) and if she says "no", all people will think "poor guy, he made her such a beautiful surprise and she said no. How can she be so cruel?"

So what's your opinion about this? Do you agree with any of those categories I've mentioned? None of the above? What do you think about public marriage proposals?

I consider myself a feminist and quite strongly so- however I see nothing wrong or sinister or controlling in someone declaring their love for someone else and essentially putting themselves in a pretty vulnerable position to do something special for the person they love. My husband proposed to me fairly publicly- not a stadium or anything and none of our family present (which I would have hated). But he put himself out there for me and I loved it. I didn't feel pressured to say yes and I certainly hadn't planned it for me or dropped any brick size hints. Sometimes it's just beautiful and romantic.

"Manipulative, controlling, full stop."

okay then.

I would hate it if my dh had proposed publicly, but to be fair some people would love it so there is no right or wrong each to their own. But if you were the one proposing you'd have to be pretty sure they'd say yes or you'd never get over the embarrassment!

I watched a car crash proposal in my crappy local pub once, there was a shit local dj on and then he suddenly announced to some poor woman in the corner that her boyfriend wabted to give her her birthday present early. Then DJ announced that the guy wants to marry her. Her boyfriend then gets down on one knee and pulls ring out (actually cringing remembering this)
Woman looks like she's about to bolt, everyone in the pub is watching knowing she's going to say no, DJ senses the situation and runs over and starts saying 'you love him didn't you? What's the problem?' In a really encouraging like he's talking a child into something, while her boyfriend is practically shoving the ring on her finger! Oh so awkward no one knew where to look.
Needless to say I never saw them in there together again.

I think there's a difference between "proposal at a nice restaurant where staff know about it" and "proposal that is announced to the whole room in a pub" and the like.

I also consider it rude to not make the proposal himself but let someone else announce it.

And then there's the fact that I know my married friend got a nice proposal at a nice place after her boyfriend asked her sister what she'd like.

I don't think pub proposal guy asked the woman's family.