Thursday, December 08, 2016
Math and reality disagree
Another random and pointless thought.
In strictly legalistic and mathematical terms, bigamy is just a subset of polygamy. Polygamy is any arrangement >1 wife, including the case with 2 wives.
In reality the two words are totally different.
Bigamy nearly always means two separate households which are unaware of each other. The man, typically a traveling salesman, is out of town for long periods, and each wife believes he's out of town during the days when he's with the other wife. Even without the double-life trick, bigamy means two separate households. This is an unstable setup and generally collapses at some point.
Polygamy nearly always means one big household with two or more wives cooperating to raise all the kids. This is natural and stable. Works well if the man has enough money through work or welfare.
= = = = =
Similar to butler/maid or waiter/waitress. Legalistically these distinctions are ILLEGAL HATECRIME DISCRIMINATION, and must be reduced to housekeepindividual and servindividual. In reality the types are entirely different. Butler and waiter are narrower categories, restricted by an added quality of haughtiness and condescension that isn't required of maids and waitresses. This atmospheric restriction is separate from the male/female distinction. 
Labels: Language update, Natural law = Sharia law
¶ 1:40 AM
