Do you believe in Marriage?

[Jenny A]

Right up until the year before I got married the first time at the ripe old age of 21, I didn't think I ever wanted to marry.  That marriage wasn't exactly a mistake.  We had about six very happy years and I'm not sure I'd gamble on a redo of that time.  But it eventually became clear that he never intended to graduate from school and earn a living. 

Once again I was sure I'd never, remarry.

Five years later I did.  Twenty-one years and two kids later, I can't imagine it any other way.

The advantages of marriage are largely psychological and legal.  It promises more permanence than it can legally offer, but it does provide a big speed bump standing in the way of breaking up.  Legally, it makes health decisions, death planing, and retirement easier to deal with.  It's the additional commitment that makes it worth it.

No I wouldn't cheat if I could get away with it.  What we have is based on trust.  And we do not have an open marriage.  But I flirt.  We both do.

[Regina]

I wanna get married in my 30s, not thinking about it until then. I do hope I find my perfect soulmate though. Not sure I'd want to get married if I had any doubts.

[Rhondazvous]

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"....

You'd probably have to go to a judge. You might have trouble finding a preacher who'll say it quite like that.

And, if you do go to a judge, make sure you get a jury.

[brewer]

Serial monogamy. Marriage or not really don't care. Never seems to be my choice anyway.

[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"....

You'd probably have to go to a judge. You might have trouble finding a preacher  who'll say it quite like that.

And, if you do go to a judge, make sure you get a jury.

I don't want no stinking preacher at my wedding lol

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

Here's a little something from an article named "10 Reasons Not to Marry"

7. A man could lose his property, assets and children in a divorce.

"I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house." - Zsa Zsa Gabor

Many divorces end in the man losing his house, assets, and children, all going to the mother since courts tend to favor them. A man can lose everything, leaving him in grief, depression, and even suicide. A divorced man who has lost a lot is not going to be desirable to women.

Therefore, a man stands to lose a lot or everything in marriage, while a woman stands to gain a lot. Not fair of course. But ask yourself this: What advantage is there for a man in marriage? Nothing! Except maybe some stupid tax breaks.

Isn't it better to just keep your property and assets separate? Sheesh. You see how society complicates things and gets into your own affairs? Stupid isn't it? So just avoid it then! It's that simple. Stop being a conformist and caring what others think of you.

Look at the big picture and you see it's a raw deal for men. Marriage protects women and children, at the expensive of men, who are expendable. It gives security to women, and stability to children, but nothing to men. That's because society cares about women and children, but not men. So don't let them take advantage of you.

So it's settled. No marriage for me. ^_^

[*Deidre*]

Not really. I have mixed feelings about marriage. Have seen so many bad marriages around me, so many divorces. It just seems like a recipe for disaster. If you are in a good relationship, why involve the government? lol I've come back to faith, but even with that...I still have misgivings about it. Maybe it's also hard to imagine trusting someone...ONE person with my heart...for the rest of my life.

[Anomalocaris]

Isn't the OP's question a little bit like "do you believe in the weather"?

Weather exists.  You can chose to subject yourself to it by leaving the house.   If you do, sometimes the sun shines on you, some times it rains in you. If you are smart, you bring an umbrella. But sometimes The umbrella acts as a Lightning rod hits and you die. Or you can stay in the house.

Pretty much the same with marriage.

[Minimalist]

I have seen sufficient empirical evidence to be quite certain that marriage exists, yes.

Fuck.  I've lived it for 45 years.  That's all the evidence I need.  Fuck belief.

[Losty]

Here's a little something from an article named "10 Reasons Not to Marry"

7. A man could lose his property, assets and children in a divorce.

"I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house." - Zsa Zsa Gabor

Many divorces end in the man losing his house, assets, and children, all going to the mother since courts tend to favor them. A man can lose everything, leaving him in grief, depression, and even suicide. A divorced man who has lost a lot is not going to be desirable to women.

Therefore, a man stands to lose a lot or everything in marriage, while a woman stands to gain a lot. Not fair of course. But ask yourself this: What advantage is there for a man in marriage? Nothing! Except maybe some stupid tax breaks.

Isn't it better to just keep your property and assets separate? Sheesh. You see how society complicates things and gets into your own affairs? Stupid isn't it? So just avoid it then! It's that simple. Stop being a conformist and caring what others think of you.

Look at the big picture and you see it's a raw deal for men. Marriage protects women and children, at the expensive of men, who are expendable. It gives security to women, and stability to children, but nothing to men. That's because society cares about women and children, but not men. So don't let them take advantage of you.

So it's settled. No marriage for me. ^_^

Can I get a prenup?