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Luis Calzadillas
Professor Jackie
English 113A
3 November 2015
Cohabitation
This debate is about two writers (Belinda Luscombe and Theresa Didonato) who both
disagree on the terms of living together before marriage. This debate will take place on a
Saturday afternoon at a Starbucks coffee shop, where the two debaters will sit across from each
other, give each other a handshake and hug then begin to argue.
Luscombe: Hello there.
Didonato: Good morning.
Luscombe: I'm going to talk to you on why I think that living together before marriage is an
awful idea.
Didonato: I'm going to argue with you on why I think that it is a good idea to move in together
before marriage.
Luscombe: I think that living together with someone before marriage is a disaster waiting to
happen, look at the facts: Marriages that start off with a cohabitation are bound to end bad with
more arguing and insecurities that will arise. Couples start to see each other in their comfort
zone, leaving them more vulnerable or bound to start a war with another.
Didonato: Even though I'm arguing with you, I must agree with the facts that you are stating.
Couples that cohabit before marriage can have some negative outcomes, such as poor marriage
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quality, less satisfaction in a relationship, troubles resolving conflicts, and most importantly,
divorce. But couples can also follow by the inertia effect: As soon as a couple cohabits together,
there momentum towards marriage grows stronger and there for making it harder for them to
break up because of great investment in one another.
Luscombe: That is bullshit! Couples moving in together before marriage shouldn't be living
together, not only are they forced with more responsibilities, they also
have to make sure they don't decide to rip each other's heads off. Most couples that move in
together do it because they are having issues with money so decide to "room together" or also
have unplanned pregnancies.
Didonato: That information is easily arguable. How about you get your facts straight next time,
ass wipe. For about (61.2 percent) of couples,The number one reason for cohabitation is to spend
more time with their significant other. Only about (18.5 percent) cohabit for a financial purpose.
About (14.3 percent) do this to put their relationship to a new test. (Rhoades, Stanley, &
Markman).
Luscombe: You may have some facts that you pulled up from the internet but guess what I have?
The cold hearted truth. Put yourself in a situation where two people decide that they want to live
together, but remember this, they are young and still not fully mature. They consistently argue
with each other and always push each other way. What do they think would be the great outcome
to a crappy situation ? MOVING IN TOGETHER. They then finally get the courage to move in
and start a new chapter in each others life. Days go by and they start to argue with each other
once again, it goes down hill from there. They wake up every morning with disgust in each
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others eyes because they cant stand the fact of each others presence in the same room. They try
to avoid speaking to each other because they know that an argument is bound to happen, well
guess what? they cant do anything to avoid because they both live with each other. Its common
sense that living with someone who you are not married to does not work out because when you
marry someone, you know what life is about and what is going to happen next, the preview of
marriage is being with each other.
Didanato: YOU KNOW WHAT?! Im fed up with this debate *throws cold coffee in Luscombe
face* If two people who genuinely love each other decide that they want to take their
relationship to the next level, then so be it. Couples have the right to live together before
marriage because it gives you a preview on how life can be with someone you love.