I have become incredibly comfortable with being a bachelor, and I don't think I can ever go back to relationships. I'll admit that a huge factor in this decision is that I just don't want kids, ever. If I did, that would complicate things.

  1. Status and wealth. In the vast majority of relationships, the man is getting the short-end of the stick. He is the one who is dating down. So if you get into a relationship it's likely you're selling yourself short, and in a way you are funneling your assets into a person who herself is funneling less back to you. Dating down = bleeding money.

  2. Law. In some places it doesn't even require getting married for a division of assets to be possible. When the relationship comes to an end and the assets are divided, the man comes out the loser (as we established that the man will usually take home more money, so more of his went into the joint assets). In some countries it's even illegal to DNA test to check if your children are really yours. Speaking of...

  3. Pregnancy. Wherever abortion is possible, it is on the mother's terms. So the mother can at any time during pregnancy opt out of parenthood, but the father cannot. He is at the mercy of the mother's decision. Whether he chooses to take an active role or not, he'll be responsible for the child's upbringing either directly or indirectly through child support. If the child was wanted but you guys break up anyway, good luck with the custody settlement... The courts are heavily biased in favor of mothers.

  4. Time. Dating costs a lot of valuable time and money, and often doesn't lead to results. If you do get a relationship, the money sink tends to go away (until a break-up...) but the time sink stays. If you have a day off, you can't just do what you want either. Everything you do always has to be part of a compromise. And then there are the times where you get dragged off by your SO to do shit you absolutely don't care about...

  5. Peace. Two people roughly means the double the amount of problems in your life. And with two voices you'll even have to compromise (and thus half-ass) on many of the solutions for these problems. Many people claim that you can tackle these issues as a team and that you're actually better off that way. I disagree. It leads to discussion, hesitation, and unsatisfying solutions.

  6. Failure. At the end of the day a huge number of marriages end in divorce, and a far greater number of relationships end in break-ups. The amount of cheating going on in the west is rising, and it seems to be driven mostly by OLD and women. And even out of those relationships that stay together, some still stay together in misery (dead bedrooms, not wanting to go through a divorce, ...) If we look at the ROI of most relationships, they are a net loss in time, money, and inner peace.

I do agree that some relationships are good. And AWALT is horseshit. My best friend has been in a great relationship for about seven years now. Yet even he says: "I love her dearly, and I won't leave her, but if I had known about all the shit in advance I never would have gotten involved with her." And this is the most exemplary couple I know. Both good people, but they still deal with tons of crap. The relationship is barely worth it from my male friend's point of view. And I suppose that is my point. If good, worthwhile relationships are so rare for men, is it even worth looking for one? Personally I don't think so.

In most relationships, in what way does the man benefit? A woman could give a list of things. I don't think the man can. It's cohabitation with a very good female friend that puts sex on somewhat of a speed-dial. Kinda, because even that can be complicated. Companionship can be gained from a good social circle and a dog. Sex is good but rubbing one out isn't bad.

I guess this leaves children as the ultimate reason for wanting a LTR.

I realize this post may scream MGTOW but I prefer not to be labelled that. Happy bachelor will do. There is a ton of stuff in MGTOW that I'm just not about.