Yeah, but you never know which one’s going to be the fluke. My wife had a friend who knew the guy for about 6 weeks, had a medieval wedding in the disco of a cruise ship and then went on a cruise with their family for the honeymoon. Insanity. But they’re at 6 years.

Think of it as paying for your meal and beer, not their mistakes, that way you get your $$ worth.

There’s that interesting notion that ‘normal’ people are seriously disturbed due to their irrational belief that everything they have to do with has a better than average chance of success.  Most people think they’re in the upper 50% of ‘better looking’.  Most people think that they’re in the upper 50% (or higher) of intelligence.  Most people think that buying a lottery ticket is a good idea.  And so on.  Meanwhile, depressed people believe the actual truth - the the odds are stacked against you.

So the capacity of ‘normal’ people to carry on functioning in the face of all this actually adds up to fairly schizoid behaviour. 

Which means that marriage, by definition is an act of dubious sanity at best.  Though, fifteen years into a monogamous partnership, I still believe we can carry on beating the odds…

Hi… just floated on in via other blogs!  I often think of the 50/50 percentage when I’m at a wedding… actually, I’ve been to a couple weddings where some of the other people at the table have said to me, “How long do you give this?” (This was after a couple of drinks, of course!) You just never know with love… it can surprise you either way!

LOL, I will stick to being ‘seriously disturbed’ (i.e. positive).  BUT JUST IN CASE… I will keep on drinking like a slob at the open bar to cover my costs This way I have both sides (sanity and insanity) covered.

I suppose it depends upon your definition and expectations of ‘marriage’. If folks get married because it’s expected, or because they want a wedding, or think marriages have nothing to do with compromise and self-sacrifice...then no, it won’t work. Especially once kids come into the picture.

Realism goes a long way toward building a strong marriage. You don’t ‘try’ at marriage. You do; that’s what the vows mean.

[I’m sorry if that sounds acerbic. I’m getting over a migraine, which doesn’t lend itself to cordiality. ]

One thing to think about with regard to the 50/50 stat is demographics. A couple of 18 year olds that have been together for 6 months and just have to get married because they have nothing better to do and are too insecure not to; that at best 15/85. While another couple that’s been together for six years and the girl finally gives the guy the final ultimatum, well....that may only have a 15/85 success chance, too. Hmmm....best to drink and eat your money’s worth and don’t fill out the check until you know if the bar is cash or open.

On a side note. I lived with eight other guys in college and we are the curve busters. 9 weddings - 0 divorces in a 17 year span so far. We’re thinking about a $1000 a guy pool to pick the first one out.