Francisco d'Anconia said:
I've always said that the term "Starter Marriage" was coined by some poor slobs (or slob-ettes) who married with the common delusions of what getting married would "automatically" give them without little effort on their part. Of course their expectations weren't realized and rather than saying they failed, they say that it was just a starter marriage or a practice run.
"Unplugging" was never the problem for me -- dealing with what I saw going on around me has been the problem.
For better or worse, I've always found it very difficult to lie to myself about my own behavior or the behavior of those around me. Sometimes I think I 'unplugged' too early and it cost me in terms of peace-of-mind. A more gradual process would have been better...
Anyhow, what I'm getting at is this: Ok I saw the bull**** earlier in life, but
just how fracking long does it take these 'normal' people? I know a woman in her mid-20's who is only starting to 'get it', but it took her one failed marriage. I know another in her 40's who sees part of the picture but not the whole thing. The only guy friend I have that's close to unplugging has had a one-itis set back recently. Of course he thinks I'm a misogynist for my views, but oh well.
Sometimes I wish my father would 'get it' just so I had a family member to talk to. Fortunately for him my mother has never been as bad as she could have been.
That German woman Vilar was right -
how the hell has woman not been unmasked? Maybe it's just taking longer, but will happen.
There's going to be gender-scandal in the UK, maybe this will be the opening shot:
http://www.imprint.co.uk/books/TWR.html
In the meantime, welcome to the desert of the real.