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Originally Posted by Ree  I agree with a lot of what has been posted above. In my humble opinion, we have become a society seeking instant gratification. ... Too often, folks just barely take time to scratch the surface of getting to know a potential significant other and they fill in the blanks with what they THINK or WISH that person to be.
Then there's television, movies, the media, our peers. The level of expectation is raised to an unbelievable mark, so not only do we want it NOW, but it better be DAMN FANTASTIC! It's a recipe for disaster. |
While this is certainly true, there's a further problem that exists: the presumption that anyone can be anything. Kids today are raised believing that they can be anything they want to be, which is false. This transfers onto potential partners: they can be anything they want to be, too.
On the other hand, (and not to derail the thread!), should we therefore provide quality and service lower than our capabilities, in order to make sure people remain properly expectant of lower standards? (I'm speaking of more than relationships, obviously, but all those other sources of instant gratification.)
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Originally Posted by Matthew Shea Personally, I think those that argue "monogamy is not natural for humans" are missing the point. Whether or not it's natural is irrelevant since, as intelligent beings, we're obligated to deal with the consequences of our actions as best we can. You can't just jump from partner to partner spreading disease and impregnating anyone who just might be at the right time in her cycle without having a destructive influence on society. The needs of society outweigh our "natural" desires. |
Would it be acceptable if this person shouldered the responsibility of every resultant child's upbringing?
Marriage, and the nuclear family, is an utter fragmentation of society. Families are insular and atomic units of cultural upraising, far more than pre-American societies had been, to my knowledge. If I had my way, I would fragment these further, and force would be cultural nurturers to do so in the public forum, rather than in the privacy of their homes, and in so doing coerce the exposure of diversity to children.
Gah, and I'm derailing the damned thread again. If either of you are inclined towards discussing either topic further, feel free to make a thread or ask me to.
