Do you really think that couples cop out without "making some kind of an attempt" to work things out before splitting up? That just seems so heartless, like there was no love to begin with...

When you first said it I thought you were referring to all of us Cancers...

Athen I have to be honest with you we should go back to old fashion marriage. The man is the head of the family he should provide,protect, and control his family. The woman is the help mate she must submit to the man and support him. The man must love and respect his wife so that the woman will always obey him. Whether the woman is working or she is very rich she must submit and obey her husband. Men should be more hard working and responsible take of your wife still provide, love and treat her like a woman even if she is richer than you.

I can't be so sure that money would affect dating a university student. For one, male university students, I've dated a few, and money was the last thing that could ever come between us. We liked each other, and that was all that mattered. It was always a younger guy. They were quite caring. I can see why their parents were proud of them. In todays working world, it's hard to know whether it's even worth studying for any diploma or bachelor degree anymore. As almost every job is being cut by the government, so who is gonna find worth in earning any sort of degree, when in the end, they may turn you away anyway, because the government made them do that. I can see why teens think education is hardly a step on the employment ladder these days. Education, why did I ever bother? lol ;)

I do believe a lot of couples do cop out. To me when a man/woman is not happy at home and chooses to cheat instead it is a cop out... Leaves no room to work things out.. which they had no intentions too..

When partners expect each other to play out "fixed roles" this can lead to problems...The roles can block growth and create a "ball and chain" existence...Life becomes nothing more than meeting expectations and boring roles and ruts and routines..."Same old, same old" gets "old."...But it's different when each partner feels free to grow and evolve through the years and see "new sides" to who they are. (Within the framework of their marriage.)

Nobody is ready to make amends

Yes, I agree with your view... in my heart of hearts I wish things were like they used to be... but then my logic takes over and reminds me that we weren't really happy with the way it used to be either, or we wouldn't have fought so hard to gain our rights and freedoms... So today, I'll be happy just to have a man who can love me unconditionally and completely, and even this is somewhat of a fantasy too... okay then... a man that can walk, talk, and chew gum all at the same time will suffice...

Ha ha ha haaaaa....
No he wouldnt! Not when he's a 10yr old!

I must have done it all wrong... In my last marriage of 18 yrs, I let mine be whoever, and do whatever, he wanted... and as the years progressed he grew away from me, not closer, actually changing into somebody I didn't recognize...

Maybe it's because there's not enough love and respect left for the couple to stay together,..even if things go tough, but the couple's love still burns eternal,then they would really try to work things out..on the other hand, sometimes a couple seems to have it all, money,fame,power,and yet, one day, you'd be surprised they got divorced,.why?..love runs dry...baffles us all huh? , but that's the truth...

Sorry about your experiences...My husband and I were constantly coming-up with new ideas and taking on new challenges "together." We started and ran new businesses together. (Combining our skills.)..Once in awhile we branched out on our "own" a little more. But we helped and supported each other in a "back-up" positions and still "shared all" with each other...I don't think there was anything we didn't know about each other because we shared our thoughts and feelings and experiences and "dreams" with each other on a continual basis. (Through-out the course of each day.)...My son was close to both of us too. We all loved being close and "sharing all" with each other...Now I just have the cats to talk to and it gets pretty lonely at times.

Why don’t marriages last for lifetimes anymore? Is one of the reasons because most women work and don’t have to rely on men for their support, so they are more independent minded? What are other reasons?

Yep! Dat's it; marriages Started becoming Shorter when Women Started becoming Equal to, or Bigger than Men.

At Least, where I'm from, that's the Main Reason Marriages Don't Last.

Overall tho, over 90% of Marriages here Last

Amazing...no one has mentioned the changes in religion.
When I was young, everyone went to church on Sunday, these days I'm almost afraid to say that I'm going to church on Sunday for fear of the raised eyebrows and questioning looks.
Yes it's true that when your faith says you can't divorce, you look at marriage in a whole different light. It's a one shot deal so you gotta make it work. Problem with this is that those people who were caught in abusive relationships had no easy way out.
But now in just one generation, we've swung the other way where the out is so easy it's considered the norm. 'Oh...he's not working out? Get a divorce!' I'm hoping that the pendulum may swing the other way to a happy medium.

Amazing...no one has mentioned the changes in religion.
When I was young, everyone went to church on Sunday, these days I'm almost afraid to say that I'm going to church on Sunday for fear of the raised eyebrows and questioning looks.
Yes it's true that when your faith says you can't divorce, you look at marriage in a whole different light. It's a one shot deal so you gotta make it work. Problem with this is that those people who were caught in abusive relationships had no easy way out.
But now in just one generation, we've swung the other way where the out is so easy it's considered the norm. 'Oh...he's not working out? Get a divorce!' I'm hoping that the pendulum may swing the other way to a happy medium.