How Sure Are You Before Bending That Knee Proposing In Public?

By Mfreke Udonkang

Before bending that knee in public, this is how much confidence you need.

Asking in public and getting a 'No' can be really disappointing
On January 15, 2018 a clip surfaced on social media, which showed a boyfriend walking away after his girlfriend proposed to him

The woman had shun society’s rules when she went down on her knee, proposing to her boyfriend on the ground floor of Ikeja city mall only for the guy to turn down the proposal in the presence of all the passersby you’d expect to find, milling around on a Sunday at the bustling hub of enjoyment on the mainland.

What resulted from this action was an embarrassment of epic proportions, no doubt; and it served to show again, the precarious ledge on which people place themselves whenever they decide to shoot for the grandeur of a public proposal as opposed to doing so at an intimate scene – like Prince Harry who proposed to Meghan Markle in the privacy of his home.

Only a month ago, a similar occurrence happened when a guy’s public proposal was turned down by his girlfriend at the mall, with her friends watching on.

In response to that lady’s brave rejection, one LG said:

“When [anyone] chooses to propose when you are yet unready for that level of commitment or you’re not comfortable enough to take that leap with [them], you need to learn to say an emphatic no!

“It does not matter where [they] did it – in church, at your family get-together, in class, at the airport, anywhere – you need to walk away.

“…The fear of embarrassing him in the presence of people should not deter you from saying no. Those flashing cameras should not force you to say yes.

“…[Anyone] who feels comfortable enough to propose to you in public should be presumed ready and comfortable with the worst happening in public.”

It actually turned out, in this particular story that the guy had allegedly been cheating on the babe, sleeping with her friend and her friend’s younger sister.

So like in the previous case, it’d be unfair to jump to the conclusion that the ICM boyfriend rejected his babe simply to spite her or make her look like a fool in public.

Women need to realise that men have preferences and wishes and fears and reservations, too.

So getting rejected when they shoot their shot or go the extra mile to propose cannot be ruled out of this equation of emotions.

Reaction to the embarrassed ICM girlfriend saga shows that many women are yet to get this memo. Apparently there are women who think the guy should have said yes to save her the embarrassment, even if it's only temporarily.

Twitter users react to the ICM proposal story where a boyfriend said no to getting engaged to his babe. (Twitter)

As earlier stated above, anyone who feels confident enough to shoot their shot or propose should be aware that they do so at the risk of being rejected, no matter how minute.

Rejection is not gender-limited. Anyone can get it.

So how sure should you be before proposing in public?

Understandably, the fear of rejection remains pretty high for more women than men.

Regardless, having a marriage proposal rejected in public remains on some insane, uncharted level of embarrassment whether you are a man, woman or some undecided cross dresser.

No one should have to bear that humiliation if it can be avoided.

So before bending that knee in public, it is advisable to consider all the pros and cons, and how far the relationship has gone.