NancyLebovitz comments on Unknown knowns: Why did you choose to be monogamous? - Less Wrong

48 Post author: WrongBot 26 June 2010 02:50AM

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Comment author: NancyLebovitz 27 June 2010 06:05:38AM 5 points [-]

See Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife for an extended example for why there's more to life than reproductive fitness.

The author is from a fringe Mormon sect which pushes families to be one man, seven wives, and as many children as possible.Going on welfare isn't feasible because of fears that the illegal arrangement might be discovered. The result is not only a serious level of poverty, but an emotional mess because of jealousy among the women. They each wanted more time and attention from their husband than he had available.

Comment author: Alicorn 27 June 2010 07:02:29PM 6 points [-]

I feel like I should point out that the official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has officially repudiated polygamy (except insofar as men can be "sealed" to several wives if it happens that each dies before he marries the next). I've lived in Utah and this repudiation is carried out in everyday social stigma; it's not just on paper. Since "Mormon" is recognized as a nickname for that religion more readily than its spinoffs, calling polygamist sects "Mormon" instead of the distinct "Mormon fundamentalism" is misleading and perpetuates stereotypes. "Fringe" is a nod to this, but it doesn't specify what it's on the fringe of (even standard-issue Mormonism could be considered on the fringe of, say, generic Christianity).

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 27 June 2010 10:47:59PM 1 point [-]

How would you recommend that I describe such groups? Always mention that what they're doing is repudiated by the vast majority of Mormons?

Comment author: Alicorn 27 June 2010 11:07:42PM 2 points [-]

You call them "fundamentalist Mormons", or name the specific sect.

Comment author: Douglas_Knight 28 June 2010 03:53:28AM 2 points [-]

I think that naming the specific sect is a lot more likely to miscommunicate than "fringe."

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 28 June 2010 01:06:28PM 2 points [-]

I agree on that.