What's good about marriage?

[Cheetah]

What benefits do men get from marriage?
What benefits do women get from marriage?

(If you like, exchange 'marriage' with 'long-term relationship' where you think it's appropriate.)

Why do people "couple" up?
Why did/will/won't you?

 

[Arwon]

The useful legal advantages that come from formalising a long term and hopefully lifelong partnership, I suppose.

More deeply: a deep trusting mutual bond with someone you love is one of the best things.

 

[MobBoss]

Well, right off the bat there is a proven advantage of a longer life for married couples.

But being married for now over 27 years I would list the advantages like this (please note I am referring to what would be considered a 'good' marriage as I think thats the context its offerred):

1. Stability. You have a lot less anxiety about uncertain issues.
2. Support. You have someone that will have your back no matter the issue.
3. Intimacy. There is actually a comfort to be found that someone knows you both inside and out. Plus, getting good nookie on a 2 to 3 times a week basis without having to work for it is nice too.
4. Companionship. Doing things together with someone you love is great fun.
5. Teamwork. Having a partner to help with various problems through life is a huge advantage.

And thats just a few right off the top of my head. If you wanted I could probably sit down and right an entire thesis on the advantages. But bear in mind such advantages can easily turn to disadvantages if your marriage is instead a bad marriage, and somehow things have gone wrong. But even then, I think the overall benefit is well worth the risk one takes.

 

[Defiant47]

MobBoss, why did you have to end the thread?

 

[MobBoss]

MobBoss, why did you have to end the thread?

Heh. Well, I suppose I could have waited a few pages for that....

 

[useless]

If marriage is so good, why isn't it available to homosexuals then?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

It is. MobBoss has repeatedly pointed out homosexuals are free to marry members of the opposite sex.

 

[useless]

It is. MobBoss has repeatedly pointed out homosexuals are free to marry members of the opposite sex.

You sly devil, you.

 

[Ayatollah So]

Well, right off the bat there is a proven advantage of a longer life for married couples.

I think that only applies to the man (in heterosexual marriages - no idea about same-sex). Although, for either sex, right after your spouse dies there is a significantly higher risk of death.

Good 5 point list. Intimacy: nailed it.

I suspect marriage isn't right for everyone, but I know it's right for some - like me.

 

[kiwitt]

Real Simple: Sorrows halved, Joy doubled. i.e. Love.

Seeing it more analytically, is just wrong. As the rational/logical person I am, trying to define "Love" is not really possible, however, it just feels good and makes me happy.

NOTE: I have been married to my wife for 25 years, and known her for at least 35 years, and it still feels just right

 

[Yoda Power]

Well, right off the bat there is a proven advantage of a longer life for married couples.

But being married for now over 27 years I would list the advantages like this (please note I am referring to what would be considered a 'good' marriage as I think thats the context its offerred):

1. Stability. You have a lot less anxiety about uncertain issues.
2. Support. You have someone that will have your back no matter the issue.
3. Intimacy. There is actually a comfort to be found that someone knows you both inside and out. Plus, getting good nookie on a 2 to 3 times a week basis without having to work for it is nice too.
4. Companionship. Doing things together with someone you love is great fun.
5. Teamwork. Having a partner to help with various problems through life is a huge advantage.

And thats just a few right off the top of my head. If you wanted I could probably sit down and right an entire thesis on the advantages. But bear in mind such advantages can easily turn to disadvantages if your marriage is instead a bad marriage, and somehow things have gone wrong. But even then, I think the overall benefit is well worth the risk one takes.

Great post. Basicly the reason I want to get married.

 

[Verarde]

Bla bla bla what MobBoss said earlier, look it up above me.

Ba-boom. Pretty much my take on marriage as well.

 

[civver_764]

It's an outdated tradition that needs to die. If you love someone so much why do you need a legal document to prove it? The fact that the divorce rate is high only shows that marriage simply makes life harder for the majority of couples.

 

[Smellincoffee]

As a teenager the idea attracted me -- I thought being in love would prevent me from being lonely --but the older I've gotten the more questionable it seems. I get the value of intimacy, but at the same time I don't like the idea of being around one person all the time...and I like to have control of my home environment.

And I agree with civver_764. If I were to get married, I can see making a vow to that person...and deliberately snubbing the state/religious aspects of it. I don't need society's approval, and I'm almost insulted that society thinks I should want it.

 

[kiwitt]

The point is I considered myself regardless of the piece of paper. If you get hung up on this aspect, there is a problem in the way you view marriage. If there was no piece of paper, I would still be married to my wife, we would have just had a different type of wedding.

As marriage is the joining and working together of two people as one.

 

[Archbob]

From a outsider's prospective, I've noticed married couples just seem more committed than couples that were "co-habitataing".

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

My dad thinks it's so great he has done it 4 times and my mum did it twice.

 

[Methos]

The fact that the divorce rate is high only shows that marriage simply makes life harder for the majority of couples.

I disagree with your implication. One, I think too many people jump into marriage too soon. Two, people don't seem to understand what marriage is about. The get married, but continue with the mentality of "me", rather then "us". Granted, my opinion is that comes from today's society.

 

[civver_764]

That is precisely the problem. Society, religion, governments, all push people into getting married and the majority of couples only end up getting divorced. A process that is fun for nobody.

Marriage started out as a political thing for men so they could work out which women they could have ownership over. I see no reason for it to exist in our modern free society. The fact that is still has such a negative effect on society is only icing on the cake. Human relationships are complex and shouldn't be dictated by such strict and inflexible terms.

 

[kiwitt]

Civver, are you married ? ... unless you are, you can't really understand, what it means from the inside of a marriage.