From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!npois!cbosgd!nscs!rmas70!cly
Newsgroups: net.singles
Title: Re: more questions
Article-I.D.: rmas70.201
Posted: Tue Sep  7 08:19:35 1982
Received: Wed Sep  8 03:36:24 1982

I think the marriage ceremony is to please the traditional
people around us (THAT ought to start some discussion!).
When someone announces that they are getting married, notice
all the positive responses they get from "society".
(Oh, how wonderful! I'm so happy for you! We're having
a shower/batchelor party for you! etc. etc.)
If the same people announce they are going to start living
together, the responses are certainly not as positive
(if at all). On the other end, the announcement of a divorce
brings just as many expressions of sorrow or negative responses.
The announcement of a split-up of a live-in does not.
The only reason I can ever see for getting married is to 
protect a kid from the harm that would surely come
from being regarded by society as different or abnormal.
I have seen too many marriages fail to believe that
getting married makes the relationship stronger - it just
makes it more difficult to get out of.
I could say much more, but I think I will wait and
see what you have to say.