It seems to still be a common opinion that your life won't be complete unless you settle down with a spouse/partner. How true do you consider this to be? If that's what you want to do and you find a person to do that with then good for you, but not everyone wants to and they seem to be massively patronised and pitied.

I can see why people are afraid of being alone forever, and I know of people who have stayed single and seen it as a defeat and as a result they've become incredibly bitter.

But I think that more than anything, it is the sense of not having lived up to a standard that makes them bitter. If you don't live up to the ideal of having a traditional family then you're somehow flawed. What if you simply don't feel the need for all that stuff, or even that you would be unable to live your life the way you want it if you were to surrender to those ideals?

I'm not in any way having a go at anyone here, I just find it weird that these are standards which still rule our perceptions of society - and individuals. Why are you seen as a failure if you don't want to get married (or some equivalent)?

In a way I'm just as "guilty" of this as anyone else. I am to a large extent happier alone, for a number of reasons, but the thought of spending all my life "alone" scares me. My plan thus far is to adopt a couple of kids by myself when the time comes. I love kids, but I don't want to go through the whole pregnancy/birth thing and I don't particularly fancy getting married.

Where do you stand on this? Thoughts?