You're looking at Less Wrong's discussion board. This includes all posts, including those that haven't been promoted to the front page yet. For more information, see About Less Wrong.

Salemicus comments on Strategies and tools for getting through a break up - Less Wrong Discussion

27 Post author: lululu 18 May 2015 06:01PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (44)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: Salemicus 19 May 2015 02:41:31PM 3 points [-]

The lesson here is to start and conduct relationships with a consciousness of impermanence so there are no nasty surprises

To me, the whole purpose of a relationship (as opposed to a casual fling) is to make investments that will pay off down the road. This requires a sense of indefinite permanence. Yes, your direct relationship will end eventually (death) but your investments, such as the family you create, can continue forever - in that sense the relationship you have built need never end.

If your lesson is truly a good one, why is it that all the successful marriages I'm aware of are based on absolute and indefinite commitment? Or is my sample non-representative? How many successful marriages do you know that are conducted with a consciousness of impermanence?

Comment author: [deleted] 20 May 2015 02:17:28PM 1 point [-]

Now I am confused. "Till death does apart" is BOTH an absolute and indefinite commitment and a consciousness of impermanence. For example the novel cliche "and they lived forever ever after" lacks the later part. Forever vs. death.