The 'whats the point in marriage?' debate :)

[ServebotFrank]

Why should this be a question? To give guidance to your children so they won't grow up to be in the ass of society. Marriage has been around for a LONG time. Much longer then Christianity and it's also a LEGAL thing. It's a way to inform the government of who you're with so you can receive financial benefits(and taxes).
Also I see you mention divorce rises. One, no sensible human being would be marry at the age of 20 that's stupid you need to know the person a long enough time to know you "love" the person. No one takes Marriage seriously because they see idiots marry at a young age and then they divorce later because they find out things about the other that they don't like and have a falling out. Even after I find someone I want to be with (Which is a long time away, I'm 14)
I'm not marrying until I know the person for a stretch of time. Like maybe two-five years?
I don't claim to know anything actually so whether anything I said is very true is yet to be known. I just wanted to say what I knew as input.

 

[saruman31]

There is no point. Everybody cheats at one point, some sooner and some later, depending on the conditions.

 

[blind_dead_mcjones]

historically, marriage has always been about ownership, as back in the day women were legally considered chattels and therefore on par with other living things that a man owned (pets, horses, pigs, sheep, etc) there was also the financial and social class gain to be had by marrying into certain families

the idea of it being about love and commitment is only a concept that has come about recently, but even then the act itself reeks of improving ones social standing and 'keeping up with the joneses' so to speak, there is also such things as marrying to get into another country/avoid being deported, the aforementioned tax benefits, and so on..

if anything its a very bizzare selfish action, its two people bonding together for mutual gain taken to its logical conclusion, landing them with 2 or more kids is natures form of sweet revenge by subverting any form of financial gain they may have hoped for by undertaking the marriage ceremony in the first place

 

[TeeBs]

Depends on who your asking

For the straight marriage couple

-an attempt to find someone you can become one with and spend your life with.
-tax breaks.
-cheaper insurance.
-calling dibs on someone.
-wanting to have sex with someone so bad, that you commit to not having sex with anyone else.
-for funzys
-raising children in a safer environment.
-pissing of parents.
-the signing away of your freedoms.
-a status symbol.
-an attempt to make money.
-to gain land.
-to prove a point.

For gay marriage

-most of the above
-a symbol of equality
-pissing of religious figures
-for super funzys

But truly, just like money and art its only an idea so rooted into our minds it seems factual and absolute.

 

[yundex]

Funny, I was raised Catholic, in Ireland. The thought of not getting married at some point in my life never really crossed my mind. In fact, the idea of being over 40 and not being married seems kinda bizarre to me. It's like falling down the stairs: inevitably, at some point in your life, it'll happen to you. That's what my dad always said.

I suppose the ultimate point of marriage is as a kind of social shorthand for lazy people: a married man is a mature man.

By mention of rings, we don't wear our rings. I basically use/used mine as a prop. I used it to symbolize our connection during the ceremony, and wear it out to family get-togethers, since they like seeing me wear it. He doesn't wear his because his work doesn't allow it.

Out of curiosity, what sort of job doesn't allow wedding rings?

Some engineering and/or mechanical jobs forbid jewelery. People have lost fingers because they thought it would be a good idea to wear a ring on the job.

OT: I was never brainwashed to lean a certain way about marriage, none of the people I grew up around were married. As a result, it would pretty much be up to my girlfriend to both decide and ask.

 

[Nomanslander]

When you get to be around 40, you'll understand.

=)

When you're 20 something you still have a lot to look forward to, enjoying yourself with as many relationships or simply one night stands as you want. But around the time you begin to get way too old and ugly to be pulling digits, you're going to find yourself a lonely old man/women, and trust me you're going to want to settle down.

I mean really! Do you want to become that old dude at the bar still trying to hit on girls half your age, or God forbid a cougar snarling every time a guy looks past you to the group of 20 something hotties dancing in the corner?

lol

 

[Supernatural Girl]

In England and Wales there is no such thing as a common law marriage, so people would have to make provision quite early on if they decide to remain unmarried, otherwise rights that would automatically be granted on marriage will not take affect, such as:

- If your partner dies, regardless of how long you have been together, and they have not made a will then you are not entitled to any of their belongings.
- If what they do leave you is over a certain amount of money, you will have to pay Inheritance tax.
- If a house or flat is in one person's name, the other has no legal right to live there if they are asked to leave.
- A father is not automatically given parental responsibility after a child's birth.
- One partner will not be able to make decisions about medical treatment, if the other is too ill to give their own consent.

However, as long as you make provisions in writing and have set up financial arrangements properly, there is no need to get married or get a civil partnership. It just depends on whether you are traditional, religious or lazy. (just kidding )

 

[veloper]

Historically, marriage was critical for organizing the population into units comprised of a worker and a care giver, so the next generation had a chance at getting a start at life.

Family was social security. The old role model is cheap and efficient even if it made many people unhappy.

 

[M Rotter]

i dunno i think marriage is interesting. Its a tradition that has popped up all over humanity, regardless of the differing cultures. The reasons for having it were different but i thinks its very cool that a ceremony has ingrained itself in us all over the world-even those who dont agree with it.

 

[Danzaivar]

Marriage is a prison for the naive and idealistic, and a financial burden beyond any but childbirth - but at least childbirth completes a biological imperative.

Yeah gotta hate the tax breaks and all the legal conveniences it brings as well.

Course, it's harder to be edgy that way.

That, of course, comes after the ceremony costing in excess of ?30,000. Don't try to suggest that it costs less for a good wedding - if you let a woman organise things, she'll drain all of your finances just for one day. No tax break in existence could make it worth all that strain and effort.

Well a family member of mine had a VERY nice wedding for about £9,000. You can do the absolute basic wedding for a few hundred if you're just doing it for the legal/tax benefits.

30 grand though, are you on about a flipping royal wedding or something? LOL

 

[Sweet_potato1]

This is just me, but whenever I see someone arguing against marriage, I assume they are a teenage boy, or they have the maturity level of a teenage boy.

*And after checking the age of everyone else that has posted, and finding the oldest of you is 22, I kind of stand by that.

I'm 42, and married with a young daughter. Like you I am an accountant by training. I see no purpose in non religious marriage.

Now instead of just throwing out insults, what purpose do you see in it?

Best feeling in the world knowing you have someone who will say she wants to be with you and only you forever. It is nice not wondering if you are going to grow old alone. It is emotional security that nothing else can really offer.

This is just me, but whenever I see someone arguing against marriage, I assume they are a teenage boy, or they have the maturity level of a teenage boy.

*And after checking the age of everyone else that has posted, and finding the oldest of you is 22, I kind of stand by that.

I'm 42, and married with a young daughter. Like you I am an accountant by training. I see no purpose in non religious marriage.

Now instead of just throwing out insults, what purpose do you see in it?

Best feeling in the world knowing you have someone who will say she wants to be with you and only you forever. It is nice not wondering if you are going to grow old alone. It is emotional security that nothing else can really offer.

Haven't you heard of divorce? There is no real security in getting married, just legal obligations to be so.

 

[TheGreatKlaid]

Marriage's worth seems to be based on people's beliefs. I suggested just living together with my girlfriend once and she took at as I didn't want to live together anymore. Just living your life with someone is marriage no more no less.

 

[Negatempest]

Marriage? Wow, this is a complicated/complex situation to explain. One could easily say that marriage is not needed to stay with your loved one forever. But considering this time and age the promise of staying together is....fickle at best. Marriage is more of stating to yourself and others that you will love your significant other regardless of who they are, what they do, and who else you may meet. Though again fickle, but not as bad as a simple promise.

What I do disapprove of is people marrying in just a year of knowing their BF/GF. What the **** will you know about each other in such little time to believe that you could marriage would hold you pair together? But this is just a big pet peeve of mine.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

Funny, I was raised Catholic, in Ireland. The thought of not getting married at some point in my life never really crossed my mind. In fact, the idea of being over 40 and not being married seems kinda bizarre to me. It's like falling down the stairs: inevitably, at some point in your life, it'll happen to you. That's what my dad always said.

I suppose the ultimate point of marriage is as a kind of social shorthand for lazy people: a married man is a mature man.

By mention of rings, we don't wear our rings. I basically use/used mine as a prop. I used it to symbolize our connection during the ceremony, and wear it out to family get-togethers, since they like seeing me wear it. He doesn't wear his because his work doesn't allow it.

Out of curiosity, what sort of job doesn't allow wedding rings?

He works for BNSF railroad.

A lot of High Voltage electricity, a lot of machines.

They like to take precaution, by not having anyone where jewelry. Since they feel it could get caught on something. He says it's silly and it's never happened before, but they wont take any chances having someone get hurt while working, and having to pay them. So no earrings, necklaces, and rings; and that goes for the women that work there as well.

Edit: He doesn't usually wear it, because he can't be bothered to take it on and off constantly. So, he just doesn't wear it.