# Single people over 30: would you be willing to marry without love?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-people-over-30-would-you-be-willing-to-marry-without-love/520384>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 7, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-people-over-30-would-you-be-willing-to-marry-without-love/520384 "2009-12-07T23:43:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-people-over-30-would-you-be-willing-to-marry-without-love/520384/61 "2009-12-11T14:08:17Z")

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> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#):
>
> Attn female respondents:  
> Of those of you who broke it off with a male you “didn’t really love”, how many came to that realization because he was lacking in confidence, competitiveness, or similar culturally-programmed masculine qualities?

Are you asking from personal hurt? Because your negativity seems that you might be.

To be honest, I have broken off a few relationships. But the reasons for breaking them off were the lack of compatability in key areas.

See, I’m spoiled. My stepmom and dad had this amazing relationship and I got to see it first hand. In spite of all the crap they got for leaving their respective spouses and becoming a couple, they had a deep-seated passion for each other (not just sexually - I mean a true passion of companionship) that forever tainted any chance of me “settling.”

Trust me, if someone broke it off with you - they did you a favor. Don’t settle for less than awesome. You are better off alone.

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**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-people-over-30-would-you-be-willing-to-marry-without-love/520384/62 "2009-12-11T15:37:03Z")

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OK here goes.

I’m 68 in a few days, I live alone, I own my own home and am financially secure and reasonably happy as things are. I have to answer to not a soul.

To answer the OP, yes I would marry again but I hasten to add that although love wouldn’t have to be the overiding factor, there would have to be some degree of attraction

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**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-people-over-30-would-you-be-willing-to-marry-without-love/520384/63 "2009-12-11T16:10:04Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> . . . when you say “without love,” are you also saying “without sex”? Either way, what would be the point? If you’re lonely, get a few pets.

And have sex with them. Problem solved.

Regards,  
Shodan

PS - Not single, but if the Lovely and Talented Mrs. **Shodan** were to pre-decease me, I might consider it. As long as “without love” does not mean “not basically compatible, and no sexual attraction at all”.

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