P
Pugilistic
Guest
"But I wasn't trying to link matriarchal societies with monogamous relationships, I was addressing TS' assertion that hunter gatherer societies are male-dominated which doesn't seem true to me."
Yeah I agree. Patriarchal society is clearly the dominant paradigm though.
"Marriage and monogamy becomes less of an issue if you have less to pass down to your children."
You have your genes and your experience to pass down to your children, these are the most important things, the greatest resources of all, by far. Legal marriage facilitates passing of property but monogamy is the thing that enhances the survival off offspring the greatest!
"It seems I have offended you because (I assume) you are married and I am insulting your way of life"
I came down on you hard, not because of anything you said in particular, it is obviously some defensiveness, but mainly (I would like to think) tiredness at hearing the same shit from young males not in committed, healthy, long term relationships. Broken families, men raised without father figures and the drive in young men to sow their oats if possible are not a cogent argument for the dominant paradigm of our species relationships and child rearing. Those are the causes, I suspect, for the anti marriage sentiment.
The key aspect of marriage is the invitation of both extended families and friends to come together in the affirmation of the couples commitment to union. You're right that people should examine why they go ahead with it, but i think that a thorough examination of the evidence leads to a greater respect for the benefits of monogamy.
"You said it's the purpose of life. I of course disagree since we're more than just animals and I'd like to transcend my primal desires"
Yet I would say your disagreement is just signalling to potential mates, reforming your position as one of strength rather than weakness, that your behaviour is that which maximises your chance at attaining monogamy, or at least by and large is behavioral traits that have been evolved to do so.
For sure if you have kids, I think marriage is probably a good, if not necessary, social mechanism to ensure the well-being of your children. I'm not fan of that redpill shit, and I actually had a pretty strong father figure (perhaps too strong IMO) but my biggest gripe against marriage is actually government involvement. I get it. I get there has to be legal safety nets in place enforced by the authorities for the benefit of the children. I don't have a particular desire to be monogamous with one woman but if I find a woman who I am really crazy about to the point I don't even look at other women, I'll stay with her for the rest of my life. I still don't want children though so I just don't see the point in getting married. My love won't be altered because of a document says we're official. But goodluck trying to convince a woman that.