Dan

Are you implying I’m the same person as Alan B? Seriously?

Rhosty metamorphosised into Alan B some years ago, but I started posting on these forums before even you, or Alan B, or “Rhosty”. And I disagree with Alan almost as often as I disagree with you. For example:

https://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=22308

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Yes, some ethnic minorities come from patriarchal cultures, where it can be hard to enforce Australian laws. And yes, there are countries in the world where women face appalling oppression. But that is irrelevant to the current discussion, which is about reform of Australia’s laws governing child custody in the event of divorce.

Rhian

I would hope so! Cheers if you are an original!

Many men are seeing relationships with women as problematic enough to avoid them. Hence the MGTOW movement. As accountants and economists fail to understand much activity isn't recorded- if men can do things that women can't they will eventually learn that it's counter productive at some point to ask for too much- but maybe they aren't smart enough to realize it.

Men and women have genetically, psychologically, and physically different roles in the community. While we think we are smarter than nature it doesn't mean we are- time will tell. If you think you know better- prove it- we don't have to believe you.

I haven't read Bettina Arndt's article as yet but she seems to have good points- thanks.

The custody problem and the who pays problem are difficult problems- but I can't see a system where the male doesn't get anything and the woman gets everything as working. The woman would tend to exploit the man.

It probably wouldn't work in the current context and I'm not sure that it ever worked this way but- the scenario where for example the woman gets the children if she wants them and the man doesn't have to provide child support seems like a scenario where everyone loses from the breakdown of the relationship- so there is a pressure to try to make things work. I'm sure it wouldn't work in all situations- but probably in most.

I suppose that if you are looking at going into a relationship with a person that has had a string of broken relationships it could mean a lot of heartache.

Others have pointed to failings in liberal democracy including work migration over more supportive parochial communities as the cause of massive increases in divorce and associated costs to society. These are a weight around the necks of everyone in society from living more prosperous lives.

Sadly in many cases the women have greater potential for violence to children due to greater opportunity but often children have less ability to make complaints than women- if it isn't reported it doesn't exist.

It's common for the mother to automatically get the kid/s
- When talking about what's in the best interest of the child;

I put forward the following question:
'Who initiated the breakup, - The father or the mother?'

My parents separated when I was about 4.
I was an only child (until my father later remarried)
And my mother had initiated the breakup and seperation.
My father was not violent in any way.

The relationship with my mother was immediately slightly strained.
If my father had've initiated the breakup, the relationship with my mother may have been different.

My mother may have said "You father has abandoned us"
- And we would've both had a feeling of loss in common in which to build a stronger bond.
Instead we never had that common sense of loss, as it had been my mother herself who initiated the breakup and seperation.

Now it was just a normal thing for the child in a separation to stay with the mother.
But I wonder whether (on the matter of a childs wellbeing) whether it might've been better if I automatically went with my father instead.

In which case my father and I would've had more in common in relation to the breakup;
- "You mother has abandoned us"

So whether or not is has much bearing on the discussion, I just thought I'd throw the idea out there.

- 'Who initiated the breakup?'

To Armchair Critic- It sounds like your mother's character wasn't what you would hope- and doesn't fulfill the archetype of the mother that others would like to portray. Excuse me if I'm off the mark. Sorry I haven't been around for a while.