# I pit people who get married. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 11, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297 "2006-04-11T23:38:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/41 "2006-04-12T01:33:28Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > > [@drmark2000](#): > > > > I have responded to challenges that I am, in fact, what I say I am by stating, unequicocally, and in matter of fact, that I DO possess a PhD in clinical psychology > > .Whoop-dee-shit. I can make unequivocal, matter-of-fact claims, too. That, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee. I suspect he meant he is treated by someone who has a PhD in clinical psychology. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/42 "2006-04-12T01:36:42Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > I suspect he meant he is treated by someone who has a PhD in clinical psychology. Now _that_ I find believable. The other thing, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/43 "2006-04-12T01:42:50Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > **crow** has posted some stats, above. Okay, assuming that those figures are accurate, let’s say the divorce rate is in the 40’s, or even high 30’s. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I believe you’re misinterpreting those stats. The read that the per capita divorce rate in any given year is 3/10 to 4/10 of a percent, not 30 or 40%. This says nothing about what the overall chances of a marriage to succeed is. It may be 30-40%. It may be more. It may be less. Those stats don’t tell us that, though. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/44 "2006-04-12T01:50:59Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > there has been a 50% divorce rate for the past 40 years Not that bad of an alternative when you consider how the other half of all marriages end.😉 > [@Squink](#): > > 20 years this past March. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I married my wife at the ripe old age of 22. Feh. I married at age 19 twenty six +plus+ years ago. We knew each other less than 2 months, and no, she wasn’t pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/45 "2006-04-12T01:53:10Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Whoop-dee-shit. I can make unequivocal, matter-of-fact claims, too. That, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee. But can you make your claims > [@mark2000](#): > > unequicocally ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/46 "2006-04-12T02:05:53Z")
A man checking in here to say I am married, happy to be married, was happy to be getting married on the big day. As to the whole 50% thing. I listened to a program once where this was discussed. One of those on the program made what was, to me anyway, a good point. Those quoting fail to consider that we don’t start from zero each month or year. For instance, if 1000 marriages take place in January and 50% failed there would still be 500 on Feb. 1. 1000 more marry, lose 500, and now there are 1000 married couples. March 1, 1000-500= 1500 married couples. 1500 married in March and 500 divorces. Now consider those married for decades. Now factor in the falling percentage rate, couples having married the same partner more than once, and those married many times skewing the averages. Count me among those married and gladly so. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/47 "2006-04-12T02:06:20Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Without marriage, you don’t have divorce. Splitting up, however, is a natural thing. We are rarely monogamous creatures, by nature. When we impose the structure of marriage, we create many more complications that would otherwise be unnecessary. Are you seriously trying to say unmarried relationships aren’t complicated? You’ve never had a girlfriend, have you? > [@](#): > > 50% divioce rate=flip of a coin. As has been explained, the divorce rate isn’t 50%, and one would presume some people enter into much smarter marriages than others. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/48 "2006-04-12T02:06:53Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I have responded to challenges that I am, in fact, what I say I am by stating, unequicocally, and in matter of fact, that I DO possess a PhD in clinical psychology. Perhaps you are. However, having failed to demonstrate a grasp of ninth grade statistics, I fail to see why anyone should accept your odd claims regarding any topic that requires math (such as extracting numbers from your rectum and misinterpreting them to support a rather dumb fight on a message board). ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/49 "2006-04-12T02:10:22Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Gauntlet laid down! you mis-spelled “mitten”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/50 "2006-04-12T02:13:26Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I pit people who get married. I pit assholes that have no idea of what they are talking about. There. We’re even. > [@drmark2000](#): > > Is it right to base a decision that will affect one’s life for the rest of one’s life on the flip of a coin? Flip of a coin? Have you EVER been in a relationship other than the one with yourself? > [@drmark2000](#): > > Is it right to base an industry around one day which the man dreads, and the woman looks forward to because it will probably be the only day in her life when she is the complete center of attention? ( **Many women have admitted this to me**.) Most hookers are not interested in getting married. At least, not to you. > [@drmark2000](#): > > Why do we continue to perpetuate this shibboleth of marriage when it is clearly an ineffective and damaging means to bind one man and one woman together in an unnatural monogamous union? Ever have a dog or a cat to take care of? Perhaps a turtle in your youth? Maybe a rock you liked? Have you ever cared for anything enough to want to take care of it? > [@drmark2000](#): > > I DO possess a PhD in clinical psychology. From what mailbox on what Caribbean island? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/51 "2006-04-12T02:18:00Z")
> [@wring](#): > > you mis-spelled “mitten”. He left out the “Foot stomped petulantly” part as well. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/52 "2006-04-12T02:20:16Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > 50% divioce rate=flip of a coin. That is the most flawed statement I think I’ve seen yet. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/53 "2006-04-12T02:24:32Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Is it right to base an industry around one day which the man dreads, and the woman looks forward to because it will probably be the only day in her life when she is the complete center of attention? (Many women have admitted this to me.) But… um… I’m looking forward to it. aaaaaaaand I like to be the center of attention… My fiancée hates being the center of attention. Um… Waitaminute! I must be a woman, and she must be a man! Sexism!!! YAY! Black people love fried chicken! Waitaminute. I love fried chicken (drove 2 hours to Queens to get [campero](http://campero.com)). aaand I’m white. Huh. I don’t know about this stupid over generalisation thing. I’m not very good at it. (Though technically every black person does love fried chicken, cause if you don’t love fried chicken, you aren’t a real person) This thread is stupid. Can we just talk about fried chicken instead? Mmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/54 "2006-04-12T02:26:02Z")
There are advantages to being married, you know. Flirting’s more fun - and easier. Okay, cheating slightly, as this relates to having children: you get to play at being coach, and get the chance to tell a captive audience about your exploits as a young person, which they can’t disprove, however much they might raise their eyebrows or mutter “Here he goes again”. You get to hear (regrettably not often enough, but perhaps that would spoil it anyway, as the anticipation of hearing it again is more intoxicating still) the best, most gratifying line a woman can ever deliver: “All the best ones are married.” Why get divorced and lose all this? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/55 "2006-04-12T02:56:02Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Whoop-dee-shit. I can make unequivocal, matter-of-fact claims, too. That, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee. > > > [@What Exit?](#): > > > > I suspect he meant he is treated by someone who has a PhD in clinical psychology. > > Now that I find believable. The other thing, not so much. What I find unbelievable is that **drmark2000** has a PhD in clinical psychology, and can buy a cup of coffee for a buck! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/56 "2006-04-12T03:07:22Z")
> [@](#): > > 50% of all marriages end in divorce Even if it were true, I have a more shocking stat for you: 100% of all lives end in death. The important part is what you do in the interim. Marriage has been very good for me. It made me more of a grownup (stop laughing, Gorgonzola…) Pick the right partner, and you’ll complement each other and help each other grow in the direction of the traits you admire in your spouse. Rather than bemoan the differences, you can learn from them. Gorgonzola is far more responsible, dedicated, and hard working than I am. Left to my own devices, I’d probably just drown in a growing mound of cheetos crumbs and empty coke cans or something. She helps me be better than that. I in turn have taught her many things, such as how to spend hours in front of a computer without accomplishing a damned thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/57 "2006-04-12T03:09:41Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I in turn have taught her many things, such as how to spend hours in front of a computer without accomplishing a damned thing. That’s beautiful. I have a tear in my eye. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/58 "2006-04-12T03:09:48Z")
Oh, and thanks for the kind words, **RTF**. I want to have your baby. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/59 "2006-04-12T03:10:38Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What I find unbelievable is that **drmark2000** has a PhD in clinical psychology, > > and can buy a cup of coffee for a buck! > > CMC fnord! I could believe you can get coffee for a buck, though it’d be a particularly low-rent, low-quality, fourth-rate blend. How much do you think his PhD is worth? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297/60 "2006-04-12T03:13:50Z")
**drmark2000** , do not post idiotic threads. I hoped that you had learned something from your recent suspension. I’m going to discuss your future posting privileges with the other mods. Lynn For the Straight Dope [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-get-married/352297.md?page=2)