Marriage

RedEyedAbyss

(This is a thread about marriage, not all two-person romantic unions. There's a reason I put this in philosophy instead of meatspace)

The idea of marriage bugs me partly because the idea of having to go through the associated ritual rather repulses me, and partly because the idea of a romantic relationship being institutionalized also repulses me. Admittedly, I am still quite ignorant about the alternatives, but so far, if I were to get into a relationship, I would rather it be something along the lines of free love rather than a binding contract.

TheConductor

I'm on my second marriage. It's been pretty good so far. But yes, it's quite pointless.

Wicked223

In the United States, at least, marriage has a shitton of useful legal benefits attached to it, so it's not entirely pointless.

ClockworkUniverse

My main issue with it rituals-wise is that engagement rings absolutely must be diamond because DeBeers said so.

Malkavian

I thought of jokingly saying that someone should use that several hundred dollar Green Lantern collector's ring, but I imagine someone's seriously done this.

Chagen

Okay, this is another one of those viewpoints that's too left-wing for me...

RedEyedAbyss

^^Well, at least that person would have imbued personality into it. Doesn't that make it more meaningful than a generic trinket?

TheConductor

^^^ -cough, cough-

Chagen: Care to elaborate?

Chagen

Conductor: Marriage is a such an established part of society that seeing someone oppose it is....quite shocking.

Also, I love marriage, but I'm an idealist too, so...

Malkavian

Marriage was born out of political creation and making sure you knew who your heir was rather than any romantic reasons. The idea of romantic love leading to marriage is a relatively recent phenomenon.

^^^Wasn't saying so. I just wouldn't get engaged with a GL ring.

ClockworkUniverse

What does that have to do with being left-wing?

TheConductor

Marriage is a bit silly. I mean I'm married right now, but me and Ellie were already sleeping together, more or less living together and we got a dog so getting married made no difference.

But she did give me a red lantern ring as my wedding band, so that's one benefit.

Malkavian

I'm a true conservative when it comes to romance. I conquer a nation and then take the former king's wife and all his concubines.

RedEyedAbyss

^^^Abolishing marriage tends to be associated with certain strains of feminist thought, especially those associated with anarchism.

Stormtroper

By left-wing he probably meant liberal (that is, it opposes maintaining a traditional institution).

BlackHumor

Eh, marriage may be arbitrary but I rather like it.

Just because it's arbitrary doesn't mean we ought to get rid of it.

ClockworkUniverse

^Yeah, I definitely don't think it should be abolished. I just think certain traditions relevant to it should be.

Malkavian

I'm not for abolishing it, I just don't think it should be taken as something expected of people to do.

RedEyedAbyss

Same.

glennmagusharvey

> I'm a true conservative when it comes to romance.

Hmm, this person probably believes in true love, or is a cynic about true love.

> I conquer a nation and then take the former king's wife and all his concubines.

...oh.

MillerCross

Marriage annoys me because it feels unnecessary. And the fact that there are legal benefits to it makes it arguably worse. Of course, it can be seen in a sorta romantic perspective ("We're one before the state") or something.

Nyktos

Depending on how cynical I'm feeling, marriage either seems incredibly silly or incredibly romantic.

PrincessApricot

"The idea of marriage bugs me partly because the idea of having to go
through the associated ritual rather repulses me, and partly because the
idea of a romantic relationship being institutionalized also repulses
me."

Said ritual is what separates a solid relationship from dating and such.

Even if there were no institution, I betcha that such ritual type things would readily form anyways. It provides a feeling of security between lovers, provided that they chose a GOOD significant other.

Of course, foolish mistakes abound; hence why there are people who think marriage is pointless.

Malkavian

Said ritual is what separates a solid relationship from dating and such.



Being a solid relationship is what separates a solid relationship from dating.

Waltzy

^^ But...by that logic gays in America can't have a "solid relationship".

TheConductor

^ Damn right you can't, you freaks.

I see marriage in the same way I see homosexuality, fetishes and vegetarianism and that is "Do what ever the hell you want because I really don't care just don't try to make me do it too".

AnneBeeche

People who have been living together as a couple for enough time are considered legally married by the state of Connecticut and receive all the legal benefits, or so I hear.

If that's indeed true, then that makes actual marriage pointless save for the ceremony.

Noimporta

I see marriage in the same way I see homosexuality, fetishes
and vegetarianism

So you've been gay twice?

TheConductor

No, but I've eaten two carrots and there was that time back at camp...

Vivi

Carrots are too hard for me.

BlackHumor

@AnneBeeche: That's most of the US. Or Australia, Canada and the UK for that matter. It's called a "common law marriage", and the thing about them is it only triggers if the participants actually regard themselves as married.