Why do people get married?

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
A few decades ago I could understand marriage. Divorce wasn't as common, women weren't a major part of the workforce (which meant less independence), etc. Now that women share many of the same jobs as men, as well as a 50% divorce rate, I have no idea why people get married these days. It's too much of a gamble with your financial livelihood (especially if you're a guy).

You make a good point. Decades ago the divorce rate was not nearly as high as it is today, but does that mean that married people back then were happier? I don't think so. I think the reason why there were not as many divorces decades ago was due to the fact that the majority of the women were homemakers. The career opportunities for women decades ago were limited and sexual discrimination was prevelant. A woman who was unhappy in a marriage back then couldn't easily say "scew you, I'm outta here" like she can today. Many were more or less stuck in unhappy marriages and stayed the course. Obviously, today is a different story. Women aren't bound to a marriage. Career opportunities are getting better and better every year for women. And frankly, nobody really cares these days about divorce. So, now its an equal playing field, and may the best man - or woman - win!

Seems like alot of people over 30 i have met have been divorced atleast once. Id wager a bit over half.
My mom = married 3x's
dad= 3x's
GF's mom= 2x's
dad= 2x's
kind of sad but at the same time, they are happy now and all their marriages are 10+ years and going strong.

Well, I'm in my late 30's and the majority of my friends and my girlfriends friends have been married at least once. When I attended my 10 year high school reunion in 95 many were happily married. My 20 year reunion which I attended just a week ago, things have changed quite a bit. The majority of those who were married only 10 years ago are either divorced, seperated or re-married. I think its this disposable society we live in. If something doesn't work as expected, it's quicky discarded or replaced.

 

[her209]

Because only the hot chicks dig the married guys.

 

Originally posted by: her209
Because only the hot chicks dig the married guys.

Be like George and wear a wedding ring just to get chicks .

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

 

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

:thumbsup:
Thats my point....

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

Don't forget that if you ever become a vegetable, your spouse can make your medical decisions for you.

 

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

Don't forget that if you ever become a vegetable, your spouse can make your medical decisions for you.

Id trust my mom or dad over a money hungry spouse...

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

While I don't have the most experience in the world and am not a counseler (engineer, heh heh) I don't think your commitment can be as deep until there is someting holding you to that other person. With no marriage you can say "screw it, I don't like you today so I am leaving" While you can try that in marriage the law makes it alot more difficult.

That "piece of paper" signifies our 'till death do us part' vows, nothing else can do that in such a maner. Also, we promised to love and cherish each other in front of hundreds of witnesses, if that does not make something more real I don't know what does.

By being married we have comitted our lives, our minds, and yes, even our resources be it financial and otherwise, to each other. I can say I am commited all I want but until we actually took that step it was just some more words out of my mouth.

-spike

EDIT** and as a previous poster stated, the financial benefits are nice as well

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: buck
Id trust my mom or dad over a money hungry spouse...

Well, you don't want your BFF to make the decisions do you?

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

Don't forget that if you ever become a vegetable, your spouse can make your medical decisions for you.

Id trust my mom or dad over a money hungry spouse...

Your parents will likely die before your spouse, girlfriend, partner meaning chances are by the time you're ill, it'll be your spouse and not the parents making the decision. And I would hope your would find someone that you dont consider "money hungry" and values your life insurance over your life.

 

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

Don't forget that if you ever become a vegetable, your spouse can make your medical decisions for you.

Id trust my mom or dad over a money hungry spouse...

Your parents will die before your spouse, girlfriend, partner meaning chances are by the time you're ill, it'll be your spouse and not the parents making the decision. And I would hope your would find someone that you dont consider "money hungry" and values your life insurance over your life.

I was being facetious, i would think that i could trust the person that i were to marry.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If a male and female are truly in love, why do you need a piece of paper from the government to prove it?

Why not just live together? If you're truly in love, then it should be the same as marriage without bringing legality into the picture.

There are some reasons. I can tell you why for me and my g/f. We love each other, we plan to stay together of course. But financial reasons also forces marriage for us. I need to be under her health insurance, and I cant do that without being married. I have my own health insurance, but having an average of $20-30k in medical expenses every year, I need a backup incase something happens, not to mention if I want to switch jobs. That is our primary reason, but there are some financial savings by being married also, lower car insurance and stuff.

Don't forget that if you ever become a vegetable, your spouse can make your medical decisions for you.

Id trust my mom or dad over a money hungry spouse...

Your parents will die before your spouse, girlfriend, partner meaning chances are by the time you're ill, it'll be your spouse and not the parents making the decision. And I would hope your would find someone that you dont consider "money hungry" and values your life insurance over your life.

I was being facetious, i would think that i could trust the person that i were to marry.

Right on.

As far as being married goes, to me marriage is a symbol of commitment and love. Obviously symbols are mere representations of something deeper and never necessary for the existance of the entity it is meant to represent. But i think by giving emotional bonds a physical, symbolic representation, it helps strengthen that bond. A good example i would say is anniversary celebrations. It's not really necessary. If both parties understand the commitment they feel towards each other, why bother spending large amounts of money to prove that in dinner, presents, vacations to prove it? I think it's because people feel the innate desire to manifest our feelings in physical forms. Marriage is simply a physical manifestation of commitment towards someone else. I look forward to that day.

ok thats my archaic point of view

 

[Promethply]

Originally posted by: Spike
Hmmm, well, I'm a guy and I'm married but was not pressured into it... that would make your argument, um, false?

Some guys actually LIKE the idea of companionship for the rest of their lifes as well as fall deeply in love with a particular woman.

QFT :thumbsup:

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Promethply

Originally posted by: Spike
Hmmm, well, I'm a guy and I'm married but was not pressured into it... that would make your argument, um, false?

Some guys actually LIKE the idea of companionship for the rest of their lifes as well as fall deeply in love with a particular woman.

QFT :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

 

[mercanucaribe]

It must be really late because I misread "married" as "arrested". Or maybe it's just that I misread "married" as "arrested".

 

[StageLeft]

Mainly to annoy people who are against marriage.

 

[Xionide]

In certain states you cannot be charged for rape if you are married to the victim. :evil:

 

[l Xes l]

iz love baby...

 

[m2kewl]

b/c we're fvcked by social engineering and public policy, yet again.

it's all the girlie men of the religious right telling you how to correctly live your life :roll:

/flamesuit on

 

[2cpuminimum]

I'f you're not married, you can't visit each other in the hospital or have any say at all in whether or not they keep your SO's brain-dead corpse "alive" through various tubes. My wife has made it very clear that she doesn't want extreme measures. She used to work in nursing homes. Also spousal health insurance from an employer in some cases.

What about all those other "special priveledges" the anti-gay crowd didn't want homosexuals to have? There has to be a list of them somewhere, they would only be available to married people.