Teen marraige.

[Lithium]

Alright, I've started a debate on this before, but people's views change. And we've gotten new members, etc...

So, what do you think about teen marriage? I don't like it that much. Marraige at 18 or 19 doesn't bother me, but most teens under 18 are still living in their parent's homes, and here's my idea of marriage:

1) True love. You love them despite their wrongs and their faults.
2) It's for life. While I don't look down on divorce like a conservative, I don't like it when people get knocked up and run off to Vegas and get married b/c their drunk. (I think it should be illegal to get married while intoxicated but thats a whole different topic...)
3) Financial stability. Now, I can understand married couples going through hard times, but it's stupid to get married if Mom and Dad are still supporting you.
4) It shouldn't happen just because she's pregnant. If you don't love each other it'll float to the top. And eventually, you WILL find someone you WANT to be with, and it'll fall apart.

To be honest, not many teens fit all four. I can't speak for all... there are a few teens that are mature enough to handle true love, commit to a lifetime relationship, who can handle financial concerns and who wouldn't do it just to get out from under Mom and Dad's control. But most wouldn't.

~

What are your opinions on teen marriage?

Where I live, it's 16 w/parental consent. The reason why I say it should be 18 is because not only should teens pretty much be protected from themselves, but some parents force their teens to marry - and I don't think that should be allowed either.

Alright im done with this.
add your thoughts.
discuss.

[Dante]

I agree! It is a shame that some states allow people to get married as young as 15(in 2006) I think that should be banned.

As for the getting drunk and getting married, in vegas they are not allowed to marry you if you are clearly intoxicated. obviosly there some who will still marry u as long as they get business.

I do not mmind 18/19 at that age you are an adult. but anything younger I am against

[DomSoulWraith]

I also agree, but I think you shouldn't get married until your in atleast your twenty's. When your eighteen, you can't support yourself that well, usually.College takes a lot of money, and if your paents are paying for that you aren't supporting yourself. Then, there's your living establishment, appartment, house, etc. After all that I seriously doubt any teen can afford to keep themselves fed, and get married. If you're not going to college you might be able to do it since you have a lot of time on your hands for JOBS. Now, there are some lucky people who inherret money from past away relatives. So, I agree it should be true love, you shouldn't be intoxicated(duh!), it should be financialy stable, it shouldn't be just because she's pregnet, but I think marrige should be after college so you can get a better job and not have to pay for college, as much.

[DomSoulWraith]

I didn't, necessarily, say it was a bad thing if it doesn't ruin your life, and is a life long commitment. I hate divorces. I'm glad you can get them, but I hate them. That's why I think, if you're getting married make sure you're serious about it, and really, truely, love this person.

[Dante]

Marriage has become nothing more than a sham these days!

[DomSoulWraith]

No, only for some. Some people take it seriously, and truely want to have a family with the other. I for one won't get married until positive of the person I want to be with, and am absolutely sure she would want to have a life-long marrige with me.

[Melchi0r]

Too little teens would be actually responsible for marriage, so they should ban it.

[Sugar and Spice]

I am against teen marriages. But then again I have become disillusioned and believe, as Dante said, that marriage has turned into nothing more than a sham.

[mRojas2000]

Teens are never mature enough... still less with something such delicate like marriage..

[rok.my.sox]

Teen marraige it not a good idea, because younger teens should be busy at school, plus they might want to have children really early. just not good.

[My_Toes_Are_Cold]

Most people at 18 haven't had enough life experience to really dedicate to something as serious marriage. But, some 18 year-olds are able to, and that's why it's so young.

My father actually told me not to get married until I was at least 30.

[Glasgow]

I agree with NeverLetGo( I forget your name :P ) and everyone else, teens just arent ready for the responsibility of marriage and having children. You need to be emotionally mature and stable enough to take on that challenge. Thats why im not gettin married till im atleast 23. I can go on for hours :D

[mRojas2000]

I'll try not marrying till I'm 25... I think my dad was like 26 when he married, so a year less doesn't really hurt... I think 25's the perfect age... I should be mature enough.

[Whisper]

my dad married at 18

[Lithium]

Hey Paul, my names David. :D :P

Alright..here are some bad examples I've had:

Sister: she's 26 - married at 18 when she was 6 months pregnant. After years of an abusive situation, seperating once or twice a year and constant fighting, she's very close to the end of a divorce with him. He'll be 33 in December. She was 17 when they met and started dating, he was 23.

Mother: married at 18 when she was 5 months pregnant with my older brother. When she had my sister (the one mentioned ^up there^) she was filing for divorce with him. When she told him she was pregnant with my sister he accued her of being a hoe and sleeping around. She left him at 22 when he backhanded her across the face.

Real life examples:

Sister-in-law: She's 28 - pregnant with my brother's fifth child. She met my brother when she was barely 16 and ended up pregnant a few months later. They didn't get married for a few years after, after my second niece was born. They've seperated a few times and had their spouts. Right now things are working out, who's to say what's gonna happen once things get stressful when shes 6 months pregnant (that's about the time they've seperated all the other times.)

Good examples:

A guy named Jimmy from my old church: He's 69, him and his wife have been married for 51 years. She was 15 and he was 18 when they married. They raised 5 kids together.

Now...I'm not trying to throw the dirt on it. But, more times than not, teen marraiges end in divorce, and in a bad mess, usually with kids involved.

SOME teens at 18 or 19 are mature enough and have enough life experience to get married. Some teen marraiges do last, but most don't.

Now, myself? I could see myself getting married at 18 or 19 or in my early 20s - IF I had a stable income, money set aside, etc. Chances are, I won't have any of that at 18. Who knows, though?

[serial-thrilla]

i am against it aswell. as for me i cant say when i will get married because i dont know when i will meet someone who i really love. so it could be 18 or it could be never, we'll have to see.

[Whisper]

i am against it aswell. as for me i cant say when i will get married because i dont know when i will meet someone who i really love. so it could be 18 or it could be never, we'll have to see.

Smart man
I agree with matt

[*Dissident*]

I think teen marriage should only be allowed under several cirumstances:

*Both spouses are over the age of 17
*Both spouses have parental/guardian consent
*the couple will have a place to live
*one of the spouses has a steady job to pay for 2 or more people
*the couple has a place of residence
*the couple have no past history of felony or conviction

Those are pretty much my hard rules for marriage, the couple shuld love eachother too, and all that stuff, but you cant make a law of love, i dont think.

[Phantom]

I don't even see the point of getting married anyway.
I guess its more of an assurance thing that your not going to run off on the girl.

[redcar]

people can get credit cards easier, work with children easier than that!

ok over 17 i agree with that.

parental consent, up till the age of 18 though, i agree with that.

a place to live, also agree with that.

steady job to be able to support 2 or more people. that implies that the purpose of marraige is to have children? anyway wat about full time students? and even people who are not students, to get a job that can support just one person is hard enough to come across in some places.

but no past history of felony or conviction? now thats a tad extreme! speeding is a crime, so if i was convicted of speeding i am not allowed to get married? having no criminal record is the kind of thing teachers need etc. not people getting married, no matter what age.

[*Dissident*]

felony is different than misdemeanor...felony is like bank robbing and kidnapping and rape...

[redcar]

felony and misdemenor are not words we use in Ireland, so forgive me if i got it wrong!

[*Dissident*]

i know, thats what i thought, i didnt mean to criticize at all.

[Bankai15]

marrige is a sacrid thing and sould not be abused. By some teenagers who think they are in love.
FF out.:D