Lisanthur

Ah, good to know the tax is not so big. I just speculated when people will actually consider it. Yes, it's better keep away of such delicate topic.

I agree with you, many things that was normal before isn't normal now, I've hear about some law in England that it's illegal to commute suicide, I guess it was strongly linked to religion. That dog tax is quite interesting though, I wonder if people in the Netherlands would try to vote it out. Or else no one would buy dogs haha!

Aw, you're so nice. I know what you mean by institution, I really don't know how to react to the fact that families become just another function to maintain economy of the state, it can be sad, it can be good, who knows. Prove themselves or just make their parents happy. Guess marriage just gives you some advantages. What didn't kill you makes you stronger, glad you live in such a lovely family.

Oh, it's nothing, I deal with long conversations a lot, haha. Sorry for making it long. When you got that far the notion of marriage disappears and in place comes natural, surviving instincts; females find the strong partner to make healthy offsprings and males to crate as many offsprings as possible. That's all logical, the strongest survives and continues its line (making new offsprings etc.). Yes, idea, feelings and world change throughout the time, some quickly some slow, but now, what is the significance of marriage then? Isn't being a couple enough then? Does it differ much from married couple? I agree on the children's part; there are people who treat them as items rather than another living human being. It sickens me to see parents deciding everything for their children and not asking what they really are, this is human rights violation. It is also sad that people make children just for the norm or as an excuse so that other partner won't leave you. Of course, a birth of a child can change minds of the parents and they will take a good care of him/her, but that's only when they are capable of taking care and already at the age to do so (not that young parents can't handle it but it' rather too shocking for both parents and the child). I'm sorry to hear about your dead sister, it's very ad to hear that, and I'm sure your parents are great, I'd say you're turning out well. Hope you and your family is doing well.

Ah, so it's logical that long-lasting relationship ends up in marriage? I see, I suppose it will look unnatural if it didn't, wonder if people will find it disgraceful. Weren't you the one who said that marriage does not equal having children/family? I think it starts out other way round, first family was important then came marriage as legal bind and security to keep other men away from married woman so there won't me any more children running about with single mother and many stepfathers. It's interesting that even animals get aggressive when someone else tries to "steal" someone's partner. So in the human world woman has more security in marriage, to be protected, provided the safety and supply to create a family. But don't you find it ironic that it's not like that most of the times? So many divorces, values change but idea of marriage did not? Everyone think marriage equals making family and most women want that, and some men are okey with it, but do they realise that it's not going to be the same old family style as it was previous centuries? Do they really want to make children? Is it just because "to reproduce" and keep the population? Just to be a mother, because it's a good image in society? Boast about having kids, which makes you a real man? I admire the real parents, who actually wanted children and live lives together, make team work with whole family, but I see so many people with divorced families, cold relationship between parents and genuine indifference in their children's lives, it's cruel. Why they do marry? Because they feel they have to, just like lying to kids about Easter Bunnies because everyone else does that. I wonder if getting married for sheer love and to spend time together is appropriate. Yet you'll still get pressured to have children, it's a norm in many cultures, nations and societies. No matter where you go you'll be judged regardless. I think they don't make bonds but feel that "responsibility", an instinct to protect their children and continue to keep the population, surviving. Animals can be cruel as well, for crocodiles eat their children if they know they can't keep as many or simply due to hunger, many males leave their "wives" because they did their duty and mothers just keep rising their cubs, or completely leave them alone, leaving the nature and natural selection choose who survives and who not. It simply seems that everyone has own idea of parenting and idea of marriage.