What's the point of getting married?

[normal]

Do you get tax refunds? Are there economic advantages? Here they are negligible, and if you want a divorce in Norway you have to be separated for a year until you can get properly divorced.

And why do I have to promise in front of some people I don't know that I'm not going to leave my wife? I promised her already, isn't that enough? I also told my friends that I intend to stick with her, so I have witnesses!

Why did you get married?

Or, why didn't you get married?

I'd like to know

[Gawdzilla Sama]

We get an extra $173/month from the VA.

[Bella Fortuna]

I would, but........................

[Animavore]

There is no point for an atheist. The whole point of marriage is that it's a sacred union under God as witness. Secular marriage makes no sense.

[normal]

We get an extra $173/month from the VA.

What's VA, and is that why you got married?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

We get an extra $173/month from the VA.

What's VA, and is that why you got married?

Veteran's Administration. Disability pension. And yes, that vast sum was just too tempting for us to resist.

[normal]

We get an extra $173/month from the VA.

What's VA, and is that why you got married?

Veteran's Administration. Disability pension. And yes, that vast sum was just too tempting for us to resist.

Cool. I would also have married for that

[Bella Fortuna]

There is no point for an atheist. The whole point of marriage is that it's a sacred union under God as witness. Secular marriage makes no sense.

Not strictly true. Marriage is ingrained in our general consciousness as evidence of commitment, to the partner and as a public attestation. It's a symbol and a cultural ritual that demonstrates a promise publicly made and approved and accepted by our family and social circles. (Ideally, of course)

And there are some concrete economic and legal benefits that those not having that state-sanctioning can be deprived of.

On a personal level, it's a romantic gesture and symbolic measure. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I could.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

We get an extra $173/month from the VA.

What's VA, and is that why you got married?

Veteran's Administration. Disability pension. And yes, that vast sum was just too tempting for us to resist.

Cool. I would also have married for that

You have to declare up front if you want the money or ten chickens ever month.

[leo-rcc]

And you went for the money?

[Bella Fortuna]

And you went for the money?

Only after the bank refused to accept deposits of any more chickens...

[Animavore]

There is no point for an atheist. The whole point of marriage is that it's a sacred union under God as witness. Secular marriage makes no sense.

Not strictly true. Marriage is ingrained in our general consciousness as evidence of commitment, to the partner and as a public attestation. It's a symbol and a cultural ritual that demonstrates a promise publicly made and approved and accepted by our family and social circles. (Ideally, of course)

And there are some concrete economic and legal benefits that those not having that state-sanctioning can be deprived of.

On a personal level, it's a romantic gesture and symbolic measure. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I could.

Fair enough. Not for me. If I have to do a lot of puffing and posturing to just to prove I love someone then I'm not interested. We have dogs can jump through hoops just as handy.

[Bella Fortuna]

I don't see it that way at all. It's not about forcing feelings or actions that aren't in you - it's about letting out what's already there.

But that's more the nature of love, and less about marriage in particular or as an institution, so I digress...

[Animavore]

Exactly. Theatrics aren't needed.

[Callan]

I ask myself this question every single day.