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BytheSea
10/27/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Five years is NOT enough time to figure out if people will be together for life. Is that considered a sucessful marriage these days? Statistically? #marriage
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ElinorGee
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Excellent. I'm seven years younger than my boyfriend, and am working on my 3rd masters (while he only has a BFA). It's gonna be smoooooth sailing for us! #marriage
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TopLevelExecutive
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Not sure why Beyonce is used as an example of this, because she's just as (un)educated as Jay-Z. #marriage
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Ulookinatmyjunk, JOC
10/26/09

@TopLevelExecutive: That's what I'm wondering. He's older, so it's right in that respect. But I think the both of them are high-school grads. #marriage
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Kali Mama
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Maybe it's to do that the choice for a socially less obvious mate (older, low education) makes it clear there are other aspects of the relationship that negate those (shallow) negatives, giving the marriage a better starting point to begin with. #marriage
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jleigh
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Dear UK Telegraph: before you use the word "scientists" you should probably make sure they're actually scientists. Because personally, I don't see someone with a PhD as automatically being a "scientist." And if you actually do a little fact-checking and find the article you're talking about, you would see that the people who made this study are SOCIAL scientists. Does not equal science the way your readers probably think it does. At least the BBC just said "experts," not that it's a bunch better.

Plus, don't get me started on correlation does not equal causation. #marriage
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Atomic Bowling
10/26/09

@jleigh: I can somewhat see the argument that a social scientist is not a "scientist" scientist (although I do also agree with egg cream that using the scientific method should qualify one). Why on earth would it be a problem, however, to say that they're experts? They are people with PhDs in a particular area of study. You may or may not agree that their field is a valid area of study, but that doesn't change the fact that they have achieved a level of knowledge in that field that is beyond the norm. #marriage
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jleigh
10/26/09

@Atomic Bowling: @egg cream: Just a quick note: I don't want to knock social sciences. I think they are necessary and useful. I just don't like how there's no real distinction between the different scientific fields (both hard and soft) in journalism these days.

I will stick to my guns somewhat. The study is a statistical analysis of couples, I see it as more a statistical study than a scientific study. I don't see that as a traditionally scientific study.

Also, I do think the "experts" line is potentially misleading. Are they experts in marriage and relationships? The woman they interviewed or cited in these articles is in Management Sciences, which doesn't seem right on point. They may be experts in their fields, which seem rather varied, but I don't know if it's proper to say they are experts on marriage and the article isn't terribly clear in which it intends them to be. #marriage
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clevernamehere
10/26/09

@jleigh: I don't think anyone reading the article would think they were physicists because really, that would make no sense. #marriage
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la.donna.pietra
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
I'd hazard a guess that the real issue is that there aren't very many marriages between older women and younger men. In the U.S., at least, something like 3.5% of all marriages involve a wife 5+ years older than her husband. Therefore, the sample size is automatically a lot smaller.

(I know this because Mr. Pietra and I got hitched a month ago and I'm 5 1/2 years older than he is. He also has a master's to my bachelor's degree. Clearly we're doomed, except for the part about how we've been together for 9 years already.) #marriage
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random_play
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Nice work, Anna! Your prospects of marrying a science journalist are excellent, as you are apparently cleverer than about 90% of them. #marriage
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redqueenmeg
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Well, that's just silly. Men older than I am are not *attracted* to me. So nyah. #marriage
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funzette
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
The real question is has anyone bothered to tell Jimmy Soul? The rewrites are going to cost a fortune.

If you want to be happy for the rest of your life,
Never make an older, less-educated woman your wife
So from my personal point of view,
Get a younger, smarter girl to marry you! #marriage
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funnyface
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Sweet, I'm five years younger than my husband, and though he has more formal education than I do, he's always telling people I'm the brains of our operation. Clearly we will never ever have problems and will skip blissfully through marriage...ha. #marriage
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JLady
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Personally, it isn't whether one of us is smarter than the other, it's whether we each have things to bring to the table. I like dating a man who has a different knowledge base because I like to learn things.

Do I think that's what everyone wants in a partner? No. Why? Because every partnership is different, and sometimes pure stubbornness is what keeps a couple together, not age difference and education levels. #marriage
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Elaken
10/26/09

@JLady: Oh, I love people with a different knowledge base - for the same reason. #marriage
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YourScreenplaySucks
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
On sleepless nights, I've often found myself wondering, "If Jay-Z were an apparatchik serving in the corrupt government of a crumbling Soviet republic, how would he style himself?" Thanks to the picture accompanying this post, my mind is finally at ease. #marriage
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valhalla_i_am_coming
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Hmmm...sounds more like it was published in the "European Journal of Dudes Making Shit Up." #marriage
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rah29
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
Hah. My boyfriend of about ten years sent me this today with the subject heading 'Good news for us!' (he's 5 years older than me, and I'm getting a PhD whereas he stopped at a master's degree). But I have a feeling that there are other factors that explain our relationship's longevity a little better! #marriage
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
10/26/09

In reply to Science Says: Marry An Older, Less-Educated Man
I think the premise of this study is terribly out of date. One should only take objective factors into account if marriage is necessary. For many people today, marriage is a choice. Marriage is generally not based on combining or exchanging wealth and land. Having children out of wedlock is becoming more accepted and more women are making a living on their own (rather than depending on someone else to provide for them). The reason why many people marry today is because they love their partners and want to build a life together, which does not leave a lot of room for objectivity. #marriage
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la.donna.pietra
10/26/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: Pshaw. And here I thought most people got married for health insurance nowadays.
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Edited by la.donna.pietra at 10/26/09 11:18 AM la.donna.pietra was starred la.donna.pietra was unstarred

Sputnik_Sweetheart
10/26/09

@la.donna.pietra: OK, you win. #marriage
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