[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by Krsqk:
I think we agreed that it's not ideal, and that some situations are happier afterward than before. It would be much nicer if it weren't necessary, or if there were more protections to hold using creeps liable for dumping a woman without support the minute they're done with them.

"Can't we all just get along?" (said in a laughably pitiful pleading voice)

Your summation sounds about right to me. I'm willing to "just get along" - but I'm glad for the chance to participate in a reasonably civilized debate

As for Gryphin's postulations on the origins of marriage, I'd add the idea that marriage provides a basis for paternal inheritance. In other words, it's generally obvious who a child's mother is - 9 months of pregnancy, not to mention the actual childbirth, are pretty good clues. Paternity was a little more difficult historically (although advances in DNA testing have made it easier, but not necessarily perfectly accurate either). Marriage, and the assumption of monogamy after marriage, leads to the conclusion that any children borne by the female partner in said marriage were indeed fathered by the male partner in said marriage. And, therefore, any titles, land, worldly possessions, etc. can then be inherited by those children with few (if any) social or legal obstructions. Of course, paternity only becomes important in patriarchal societies and/or in societies that do not provide for women during the childbearing years. After all, pregnancy and childraising require a great deal of energy...