[shrinkermd]

"According to Lasch-Quinn, the 1960s' 'therapeutic sensibility' - with its premium on 'individual identity, emotional expression, and an immediate, superficial sense of wellbeing' - has now become the 'dominant political theme of the new millennium'."

If the above is true, it goes a long ways in explaining the lengthy discussion held above.

Rutgers does a masterful job on this and other issues. Their statistics and writing are clear and to the point. If you hit the URL above you will find additional data and conclusions about this topic. A job well done!

[SGCOS]

Another reason might be that the two words "I do" is the longest sentence known to man.

[FryingPan101]

This is an incredible piece of work which I intend to share with a number of people. Thanks for the post.

[Blue Screen of Death]

I have no problem with commitment, I think.

[MrNeutron1962]

Sounds like your basic bovine purchase verses free dairy products issue.

AKA: Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

Not that I'm saying Mrs Neuton is a cow mind you.

[laurav]

I'm a little confused about the fun, exciting bachelor life these researchers refer to. Many of my single male friends find that most evenings they're cozying up to the TV with a can of tuna for dinner and a bottle of Jack Daniels to wash it down.

[N. Theknow]

As for myself I married Miss Right.

Now 28 years later I find out her first name is Always.

[discostu]

It's probably because for the last 30 years the media has been obsessed with characterizing men as "afraid of commitment" and have convinced us that's how it's supposed to be, it's become part of our gender role.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

This whole topic must be considered in the light of increased health and life expectancy. Isn't a 25-year-old woman now as healthy and having as long an expected remaining lifetime as an 18-year-old did in 1950?

And of course the problem of divorce and children comes into play. People get attached to dogs, never mind children--and if the other person can call things off and take the children--and even move out of state . . .

Throw in child support to boot, and becoming a father is trusting your wife. A lot. So should I be eager to see my son get married? I'm thinking, I'm thinking!

[Enemy Of The State]

Ill tell you why men dont want to commit.

Because we dont want to give away half of our stuff when the relationship goes sour. :-)

[HEY4QDEMS]

Q.: Why do men die before their wives?

A.: Because they want to!

[Jumpmaster]

I am a 53 year old professional, divorced since 1981, no dependents. Near as I can tell, modern woman's idea of Mr. Right is unemployed, alcoholic, addicted to cocaine, out on parole, married to someone else, that beats them up.

[Nonstatist]

..men’s reluctance to marry makes it harder for peer women who are in their prime marrying years to achieve their desired life goal. As one man put it, "That’s their issue."

Well, at least the women have their career. Or maybe they could just suck it up and do the family thing by themselves... You reap what you sow, don't you know...

[sharktrager]

6. They are waiting for the perfect soul mate and she hasn’t yet appeared

Yeah. That's it.

This guy confuses me. He's studied men's reasons for not commiting, but this statement makes me wonder how many men he actually knows.

[Darth Dan]

8. They are reluctant to marry a woman who already has children

Maybe it directly relates to #1?

1. They can get sex without marriage more easily than in times past

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

This survey is being played out in my own home. My 15 yo son has already said that marriage can wait, and wait, and wait. He looks ahead to his 30's and still doesn't see marriage there for him. (Wierd kid. When I was his age, I looked ahead to "Saturday".) He's so busy being an all-American kid (baseball, Motorcycles, camping, shooting, water recreation, etc.), he doesn't have time to waste on girls.

My 13 yo old daughter, on the other hand, has just discovered babies. Everyone's babies. Her teachers and church counselors are in their late teens and early twenties, are marrying and having kids. That "culture" has her infatuated with the lives of these healthy young adults (who DO wait until after marriage for sex). A year or so ago, she said she'd adopt..no way was she going to waste her athletic body on babies. Now.. she's changing.

So, if I read this correctly, my daughter and her friends are growing up, going to college, preparing themselves for lives as Mom's or careers, while my son and his buddies are going to disappoint them. They're having too much fun to get saddled down with kids.

[glasseye]

10. They want to enjoy single life as long as they can.

Running and ducking.......heheheheheh

[KoestlersRedFiat]

Category 6 describes me.

But at 37, I realize I am not going to find that soulmate. Dating in A.D. 2002 is an exercise in frustration and humiliation. From this and other like threads, I know that I'll have a lot of other singles for company in the retirement home that lays in my future.

[Vic3O3]

Thank God that not ALL men in this country are as vapid as these 60 examples!

[tm22721]

Marriage will eventually be the refuge of those who can't get sex any other way.

BUMP

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Why this man won't commit is simple,THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS LOVE!