To "love the idea of someone" means to have strong feelings of affection, admiration, or infatuation for the image or perception of that person rather than the actual person themselves. It is a form of idealization, where the individual is enamored with a version of the person that may not necessarily reflect their true personality, qualities, or flaws.
When someone loves the idea of someone, they may be drawn to an idealized version of the individual they have created in their mind. This idealized version might be based on limited knowledge, fantasies, or wishful thinking rather than a deep understanding of the real person.
This phenomenon can occur in various situations, such as having a crush on a celebrity, being infatuated with a person you've never met but only know through social media or online interactions, or having romantic feelings for someone without truly knowing them on a personal level.
Loving the idea of someone can be both thrilling and challenging. It can be exciting to daydream about a perfect version of the person, but it can also lead to disappointment when reality doesn't match up to the idealized image. It's essential to recognize the difference between the fantasy of someone and the actual person, as forming a genuine connection with another individual requires understanding and appreciating their true identity, with both their strengths and weaknesses.