Do you believe in Marriage?

[The Grand Nudger]

Marriage means having someone who can help you resolve the problems you wouldn’t even have if you were single.

I’ve never seen a happy marriage up close. You sign a piece of paper saying “for better or worse.” But there’s nothing in a single life that can tell you what “for worse.” Could be. It’s a gamble. Like choosing what’s behind Door #1 or Door #2.

Oh, IDK...I have some idea as to what "for worse" entails. This isn't my first trip on the merry-go-round.

as to this:

Now if you found out your partner cheated on you, would that be the unforgivable sin, the end of your relationship?

For me, no. For her, yes. Discussed, understood, accepted...I put my name on the dotted line, so did she.

[Losty]

I wonder how my future spouse might feel about "to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for so long as we both choose and as long as neither of us completely fucks up everything"....

[The Grand Nudger]

I'd imagine your future spouse would, by default, find that as amenable as you do.  That's who you're looking for anyway, right (insomuch as you're looking for anyone at all)?  The list of candidates will be comprised solely of those who would agree to those terms..lol.

Speaking of which, pro-tip to the unmarried. Never settle. There are plenty of us, whatever it is you want...I promise you....it's out there.

[Whateverist]

Marriage means having someone who can help you resolve the problems you wouldn’t even have if you were single.

I’ve never seen a happy marriage up close. 

Agreed but I assumed that is just a subset of never having met longterm house mates who were entirely happy with each other.  Everyone who isn't me turns out to be unreasonably at odds with my timing and preferences.

[The Grand Nudger]

A happy marriage doesn't have to include two people who are -entirely- happy with each other.  I'll never, for example, be happy that my wife is a god bothering jesus freak.  But the pussy's good, so fuck it.  

[Mermaid]

Now if you found out your partner cheated on you, would that be the unforgivable sin, the end of your relationship?
http://rhondadenisejohnson.com/Shoes.mp3

Yes. It's something we have talked a lot about. It would be a big crack in the very foundation of the trust that we have for each other, and it would not be fixable.

[Thumpalumpacus]

<singing>

I'm an outside cat, not fit to be tied --
I might come around and visit but don't you lock me inside.

[The Grand Nudger]

Ha!  Women have been locking outside cats inside since time immemorial!  That's the answer to the question "Whenceforth cometh cat-ladies".  It;s almost as if they prefer the outside cats.....some obsession with virility and vitality not found or recognized in domesticats, henceforth referred to as pussies. Chicks dig Tom Tom.

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm not totally against marriage I just see it as unnecessary.

I'm not totally against a marriage that also happens to be an open relationship either. I don't see marriage as necessary for commitment (and I never think absolute commitment is realistic in any relationship: if it's not working out and can't be redeemed then that should be the end of it) - and I also don't see monogamy as necessary for a meaningful relationship when there's lots of well earned trust on both/all sides. I would see a marriage as certainly meaning my wife was my "primary partner", but if she was still open to having sex with others then that would be fine too.

The main thing is trust is paramount. Whether in a monogamous or non monogamous relationship. In fact trust is of course the most important thing between close friends too.

I'm personally open to both monogamous and polygamous relationships... but I do like the freedom of polygamy. Just both partners need to agree on what kind of relationship they're in and no actual cheating is ever excusable.

I do think that if I were in a polygamous relationship that I may have one partner that I was closer to than the others... I do tend to have favorites

Openness and honesty is what it is about above all. There's nothing wrong with being single and having fun either That's awesome too.

I think the ideal situation for me would be to be in a relationship with a female who I found very attractive and sexy and also happened to be one of my closest if not my closest friend, who I could trust and be open to her about everything, and for her to feel she could do the same - but there's never any pressure about any of that. And I also think that when you trust someone very much and they trust you very much back then that makes it much easier to also have an open relationship too, which is always fun and keeps things exciting

[Edwardo Piet]

So as for the poll, I'm looking for the "maybe but probably not" or "meh" options. So I'm not willing to vote strictly "Yes I believe in it!" or "No I don't" because either vote would seem misleading. I'm not really for or against it.