1) @LdyGry: Experience certainly adds to one's knowledge, but true knowledge is achieved through understanding. Saying that it would take "10 years minimum" to achieve certain states of mind is inaccurate, only in that some people will progress faster than others.
2) As to the argument that any spell cast with harmful intent will not bring harm to you: The theory that "You get what you put in" cannot be scientifically proven; there are far too many variables to take into consideration for this to be done. However the concept of Karma has been around long before neo-Paganism. In fact, it dates back to around 1000 BC. Not only that, but many ancient and modern religions hold the idea that you will be punished in the afterlife or the next life for the wrong you do in this life. So stating that nothing bad will happen because people have been doing love spells, hexes and curses for thousands of years is definitely an unsafe assumption.
I do not personally agree with the use of love spells to alter someone's state of mind. Casting general spells to help find love, to increase your attractive energies, etc. is neutral.
I don't think you can artifically love in someone, there has got to be a small amount of love to get the spell to work at all. I have cast both types of love spells, I find the non person specific spells come about in a good way, but majority of the time person specific spells can become very weird.
For example I did a person specific spell on a girl I worked with, I was shy and did a spell for her to think of me a lot and to come to me. What I didn't realise was she didn't agree with some of the things I was doing at work at that time, she spent all of her time thinking about me but the thoughts weren't good and it destroyed any chance I had with her through non magic ways.
I've looked into love spells from every form of magic, even Ceremonial magic where a demon was asked to get a girl to fall in love with the caster, the demon refused and said they couldn't do it no matter what was offered in return.
nenetwork is right. It's true that all magic is a force, but they won't hurt other people. A forcing someone to love you love spell is practically distroying the person. It's taking their life away. Why would you want to do that to someone who you "love".
