I'm Glad I Still Have All My Hair
Last weekend, I went to a bachelor party in Atlantic City for my former college roommate Doug. It was a good time. We had fun. Possibly too much fun, but there were no arrests or venereal diseases so maybe not. I don't know. What's too much fun? I draw the line at police involvement or permanent disease but I could be wrong. I'm no lawyer. But you know that. Or maybe you don't. I'll type it again: I'm no lawyer. Now you should know. Unless you're too stupid to read. In which case this is all wasted on you anyway. Hey, Guy Who Can't Read: Learn how to fucking read, dumbass.
Now, as is the case with bachelor parties, the night was all about the groom-to-be. He got the meal he wanted, the strippers he wanted, the drinks he wanted and the gambling he wanted. We toasted him. We stayed up with him. In short, we made sure he had a great time. That's the job of the members of a bachelor party: to make sure that the groom parties like a nineteen year old sailor on shore leave. That's the way bachelor parties work. There's a reason for this and I will reveal said reason to you before this piece is finished. But not now. Because now doesn't work with the flow of the overall post.
You see (again, this is limited to those of you who can read), while I was in AC (that's what the cool kids call it) bachelor-partying away, my girlfriend was bachelorette partying her ass off in beautiful Ybor City (note: only beautiful in the daytime). We both spent the following Sunday lying on our couches and not moving. The following Monday, we talked about our separate experiences in the "friends getting married" party department. And I learned something that I always kind of thought I knew.
Girlfriend explained to me how her and her friends went out of their way to embarrass the bride to be at their bachelorette party. You see this shit all over drinking districts on your nights out: chicks wearing dildo caps, veils with "slut" embroidered on them, young brides encouraged to let guys "suck for a buck" (the lamest of lame bachelorette party gimmicks) etc, etc, et al, and on and on and stuff like that. The goal, as I understand bachelorette parties, is to make fun of the young bride and force her to face the ravage toughness of the single world for one last night.
With bachelor parties, the goal is to make sure the groom to be has one crazy ass evening that he'll hopefully remember forever. We're not trying to embarrass the man, we're trying to let him have one last taste of the good life.
Again, I kind of understood this difference but I never really realized why this difference occurs until Girlfriend and I broke down the motivation for the difference between the two parties. And that motivation is as follows:
Women embarrass the young bride because they are jealous of her upcoming nuptials. Men aid the young groom in debauchery and good times because they feel sorry for the poor bastard.
And that got me thinking: why do men get married anymore anyway?
I mean, what's in it for us? It's basically just an invitation to give up fellatio and risk half our stuff.
Maybe I'm just bitter because I've slept with so many unhappily married women or maybe I'm being totally logical because you have better odds in blackjack than in marriage or maybe I'm just a total idiot who has no clue why the world is the way that it is but I think I have a legitimate question here.
In this world of moral hazards and a complete lack of accountability among our citizens, in this buy now pay later humdrum we call America, in this popular culture laden chunk of crap we know as society, how exactly can men benefit from marriage?
Feel free to answer in the comments if you think you know. Because I don't have a shit clue.











14 Comments
good, although your latest articles have taken on a markedly darker, more pessimistic tone than usual, why's that?
i always wanted a personal sandwich chef during game time, although that hasn't worked out well. i guess we should opt for what we've forced upon gays, unwed cohabitation and non-legal, unofficial unions.
In my opinion, men get married because they think the relationship will carry on as is, and not change. They`re sure the lul of the initial bliss will carry on forever. However, most men (or people, if you will) are stupid, and do not plan for the future.
The only way a man (or woman, or gay man, or lesbian, for that matter) can REALLY benefit from marriage is by marrying someone richer than themself, and even then it`s only one half of the couple benefitting.
I know you're all being funny (or at least trying to) and I don't wanna get all "The Notebook" on you, but whatever happened to true love?
You may have better odds at Blackjack than (happy) marriage but then again you don't have to marry the next best girl/boy/whatever.
I'm telling you, if you find that one person that is willing to put up with the stupid shit you pull and possibly still loves you for it, now isn't that worth holding on to?
i liked this, but what does it have to do with having all your hair?
Well, I'd get married if I *could*...
...And if Seann William Scott was the one asking *g*
I think men get married for the status/respect/social norm. If you're an older man and you aren't married your coworkers start to look at you like "poor bastard, he's so awful no one wants him" and for some reason the ability to have a family and work makes men look better in the workplace. Means you've got morals and priorities or something.
but hey, what do i know, i'm "just a woman"
The only answer I can come up with is this, and I quote Alec Baldwin from The Departed: "Marriage is an important part of getting ahead: lets people know you're not a homo; married guy seems more stable; people see the ring, they think at least somebody can stand the son of a bitch; ladies see the ring, they know immediately you must have some cash or your cock must work."
I'm pretty sure Trevor is right. It's a non-verbal message to have that wedding band. Plus, women don't burn the chicken wings and somehow manage to fill the cup with just enough beer that it's full but doesn't spill when you walk.
Jessica I am pretty sure the hair comment came from one or two places. One would be that when Nathan and I do talk, the conversation frequently comes around to the topic of marriage. I have told him that one of the reasons I got married is that I started gaining weight, and was tired of working out, and that I was losing my hair. Also, I am reasonably certain that the young man in NJ is also losing his.
As to your questions Nate, I got fuck all for a reason. I have been married for 15 years, got 3 great kids and everything that is supposed to make a happy marriage. I am happy most of the time, but at least once or twice a month we go through what I call the " I love you, but I don't like you very much" bit.
All I can say is if you do not want kids, there is no, repeat for emphasis, NO reason for a man to get married. 'Cause, God Forbid, but if something were to happen and for my wife and I it ain't till death do we part, I will NEVER get married again.
Some of ya'll look at this the wrong way. Once married, you can really let yourself go. I gained 50 pounds! Vanity be damned. Just give me t-shirts from hell and I have a perfect wardrobe. Who the fuck do I need to impress any more? Sex on demand is great. Anytime I want it, all I have to do is ask. She cooks. She cleans. She feeds our cats. She runs circles around me. I buy her flowers about once every other month (when the guy on the side of the road is there selling them). I eat her pussy about 2-3 times per month (which I like). We had a quickie for lunch today.
Married bliss is possible. I've been with my wife for 11+ years. Everyone wonders if the grass in greener somewhere else, but I just remember how awkward and frustrating single life was. No thank you. Condoms suck and do STDs. Don't ever want to worry about either ever again.
Hey buddy, how about them Bulls?
We can't, Nate. We just can't.
It's the girlfriend, duh. She has delivered you to reason. Yes we see a change. Run Nate Run!
um, well here's a question turner:
whats in it for the girl???
im no feminist, but marriage in general is a most ridiculous tradition. unless there are fiscal benefits.
Post new comment