Marriage Patterns

One of the interesting aspects of Second Life is the ability to experiment with alternate social structures. For example, there seems to have been many non-traditional marriage contracts constructed in Second Life. I'd like to know a little more about some of these experiments.

If you are involved with or know of a marriage within Second Life, especially a non-traditional marriage, I would love to hear about it. What kind of marriage is it. What are the agreements involved? Who are the parties involved? How does the marriage cross over into RL?

I would love to hear more.

I'm married. I got knocked up illegitimately by her boyfriend....she thinks its hers. She beats me daily, but only when she drinks.









I've already said too much.

I was married to Plastic Duck for several months...

Bitch! Get back in your cage. *takes a swig of beer*

Musta been a laugh riot...

one of the alternate marriage types is gorean Free Companionship.

In the gor sims, people are either Free or slave. Free Companionship is entered into only by Free men and women. the contract lasts either for 1 actual year or 1 internet year (i.e. 3 actual months). When the time period ends, the couple either renews it or goes their sepparate ways. All aspects are covered by the contract including mutual property and children. I myself am in a FC arrangement with someone and we recently renewed for 1 actual year.
If you have any questions about it, you can IM me in game. I don't frequent the boards often and just happened to spot this thread and was intrigued by what answers may result.

One thing that is EXTREMELY apparent in Second Life marriages is that "forever" is WAY over-used. "Forever" in SL is a VERY short time frame. The vast majority of SL and/or any online relationships burn hot and fast and burn themselves out quickly, especially when real life married people are involved. I say "vast majority" because I am a freak in this regard (and possibly - no PROBABLY - in other regards, too!) and also because I have seen online relationships move to RL and survive but they are an anomaly, not the norm. Also, when real life married people are involved, the vast majority of these relationships are transient and doomed long before "forever" comes into play since they cannot last forever without much collateral damage. Friendships can last forever, online marriages most often cannot. Besides, like all marriages, the excitement wanes over time to either die or change to something deeper and more powerful that fits your real life. Most online "marriages" are for the excitement of the blooming relationship and once that has withered, it's time to move on.

My Second Life partner and I have been online friends for almost 9 years in a variety of worlds. We are partners in Second Life but not "married" as we both see online marriage as rather silly (just our opinion, folks). Our partnership involves being together and working together without the public protestations of "love" and "forever" though there is a great deal of love, along with respect and fun, in our relationship. Besides, I already have a fantastic husband (who knows about my relationship with my partner and has since the beginning)....who on earth needs more than one of THOSE???

Remember folks, these are just my observations based on 10 years of online life. We all know there are exceptions to every general rule and it would be silly to start pointing out the inevitable exceptions to me. More power to those exceptions!

Sheesh, what is it about these forums that makes you put a disclaimer and/or explanation of everything you say?? Nevermind....I know.....

That's mostly because half the women in SL are men

True but I ain't doing no guy...

I've heard from a Linden that that's balanced out by the fact that half the men in SL are women....

Yes, you are. You just don't know it.

P2

I've been Married once, It ended when She Ran away from me with a man. I've owned in exess of two dozen slaves, and Loved each of them (And still do really). I have Officiated at weddings, Free companion Joinings, and Collarings, Including being one of two Officiating a Traditional First Nations (Native American) wedding that took a Week to perform.

I've been in a Loving relationship with a Girl who has worn my Collar for over Four RL years. In SL terms that IS forever, and beyond. I've had other relationships, the average length is One RL year.

Given the RL divorce rate in excess of fifty percent, and Over three quarters of those happening in the first year, I'd say for duration, we are doing comparably well.

Keep Loving. Things will REALLY start going to H*ll when we forget How to do that.

Angel

Angel, these are exactly the stories I want to hear about.