Tony SOH Founder
07/02/13 8:18 am
Good question. I voted yes, but I would say that there should be some supervisory steps taken that aren't normally done so in marriage between adults...something similar to screening and ongoing review that foster parents are subject to.
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 11:53 am
Good point, and the only thing I can know for certain, if I had a terminally ill 8 year old with less than a year to live, I couldn't possibly think rationally. I might throw up my hands and say what's the harm. But I don't know.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 11:59 am
Bob, are you a parent? I'm asking because you said that your decision would boil down to "the happiness of the child."
That isn't what parental decisions are based on. You do what's best for your child- and many times that makes them unhappy.
Tony SOH Founder
07/02/13 10:37 am
I agree it would need to be very specific criteria. How about:
If a person is under permanent state residential care due to severe mental developmental limitations, and they want to get married...
Kris Humidity Central
07/02/13 12:27 pm
If the 24 year old has been her caregiver for many years, and knows the problems etc, and it's obvious the mentally handicapped woman enjoys being around with caregiver, I see no problem.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 11:58 am
Bob, if you're ever unable to discern the harm in allowing your 8 year daughter to marry a 24 year old man, I would encourage you to give up custody of her to the next person you see and get yourself a vasectomy.
I'd even help pay for the vasectomy.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 12:02 pm
There is no normally adjusted man on the planet who would want to be romantically involved with a mentally handicapped girl who has the mental capacity of an 8 year old.
Something is wrong with the 24 year old, and I would get a restraining order.
TopsQueen Oregon Coast
07/02/13 8:47 am
We had two clients That wanted to get married to each other they both require sheltered living so I imagine there are some supervision going on in their lives
timeout Boston Strong
07/02/13 10:38 am
I said no. How can a woman with the mentality of an 8 year old possibly know what marriage is all about. It just does not seem like it is morally right to me.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 12:05 pm
I could possibly understand this only in the event that the man was using marriage to somehow extend his insurance benefits to the girl, or pass his property and wealth on to her without tax penalties.
But if there is a romantic interest, no.
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 12:05 pm
Yes I do have kids, and I'm confused, was your example asking what I'd do to raise them right, or the dying wish of a child? And if you can say for certain what you'd tell your dying 8 year old, hell, maybe you are a better parent, because I can't
rlands
07/02/13 7:32 am
That's very true. It's a tough situation. But like I said the family should have some say in it. They can probably gauge if it's best for her or not.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 12:09 pm
Bob, I wouldn't allow my 8 year old child to marry a 24 year old man under any circumstances. Aside from the plethora of moral issues, there would also be legal issues. For example, doing so would allow him to make decisions for her instead of me.
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 12:10 pm
You know, you could be right in saying the only proper parenting thing to do, is take her last dying wish and squash it for the sake of her well being, maybe I'll consider it, if I am in such a horrible predicament, kudos on being a better parent btw
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 12:10 pm
There would also be the legal issue of me murdering him with my bare hands just for asking me to marry my 8 year old.
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 12:12 pm
And wouldn't, at that point be solely symbolic to 8 year old, unless you were thinking I was going to drag her from her death bed to the justice of the peace to sign dozens of forms, if so, um no
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 1:07 pm
Guess I just had a hard time imagining pulling a dying child from her death bed to get an actually wedding. Was much more plausible to envision the make a wish type theme, Lol, seems you and I think differently. Love your assumptions too :)
rlands
07/02/13 7:41 am
Good question. I'd imagine you could set it up so there's some sort of parental signature necessary. Like it is now for those between 16 and 18 who want to get married.
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 12:24 pm
No, bob, we were not talking about play marriage or symbolic marriage. We're talking about marriage- because that's what your question is asking.
I think you're realizing your responses have been ridiculous and now you're reframing the issue.
JustBob Your anger fascinates me
07/02/13 11:42 am
I was wrestling with this one too. The difference, I think, between her and an 8 year old, is the 8 year old won't be that way forever. If your 8 yo wants to get married, you say wait. What would you tell this girl?
MrMilkdud
07/02/13 11:47 am
Bob, would you tell a terminally ill 8 year old with 1 year to live that she could marry a 24 year old? For all intents and purposes, that 8 year old will be 8 for the rest of her life, too.
rlands
07/02/13 7:18 am
If you're sure she really wants to be married. But I think her family should have some say in it.
eLucidate writing
07/02/13 9:08 am
We can't disallow it as a general principle. Everyone deserves a chance to seek out love and companionship. We should, however, evaluate this situations on an individual basis because there is a disturbing president of people taking advantage...
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