Discussion Questions

Much of what we do - from buying a latte, to shopping online, to signing on to a phone plan - is regulated by the rules of contract law.

• Do you think contracts build trust or erode trust between people? A prenuptial agreement is a kind of contract, do you think this type of contract strengthens or weakens a relationship? Why or Why not?
• What do you think of the statement, "My word is my bond." Should our word be held to the same standard as contracts? Explain.

Much of what we do - from buying a latte, to shopping online, to signing on to a phone plan - is regulated by the rules of contract law.

Do you think contracts build trust or erode trust between people? A prenuptial agreement is a kind of contract, do you think this type of contract strengthens or weakens a relationship? Why or Why not?

What do you think of the statement, "My word is my bond." Should our word be held to the same standard as contracts? Explain.

my classmate wrote

please respond it base on your opinion and research

1: I think that contracts erode trust because you wouldn't even think of making a contract for something if you thought the person would follow or listen to whatever you were asking them to do without a contract. When you form a contract for something it's always out of a little bit of doubt that they person would not follow through without a contract being put out. That is why the article states you should not sign a prenup contract when you get married, why if you were happy and excited to be married would you even think about signing a prenup. Also things like phone plans we sign a contract because they think if we didn't that we would not pay so that shows a sign of doubt. I do think professionally contracts are smart but between people like within a marriage not very smart. Referring to the statement "my word is my bond" I think that should be enough if it is between two people that trust and respect one another you should want to respect the other person enough to keep their word. But professionally and between two strangers it's better to put it down on paper. Imagine if you are renting a house from a stranger and you do not paper work or anything and you just tell them that you promise to pay your rent, that would not work. So my final verdict on contracts is they are smart for strangers or professionals but for marriages and family their word should be enough if your trust and respect them.

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my classmate wrote

please respond it base on your opinion and research

2: I think contracts build trust between people, because they are mutual agreements between two parties who agree to go through with something, whatever it may be. For example, a contract may require both sides to shake hands to ensure agreement, which demonstrates that there are no issues. I think a prenuptial agreement weakens a relationship, because it could bring about potential fear to either side of a marriage. For example, one of them may pass away or request a divorce in the future. A prenuptial agreement is what prepares a couple, before they get married, of the possibility of the marriage falling apart. The thought of the marriage falling apart could make the couple feel unsure about the marriage, and if they both really want to go through with it, because the wedding ceremony is where the bride and groom state their vows to each other. Those vows are promises to one another, and if those vows do not come from the heart, then the wedding should not be followed through with, thus breaking the prenuptial agreement.

The statement "My word is my bond" to me sounds like a promise made through speech, where someone promises to keep their word, as they are comparing it to a bond they have with someone. I think our word should be held to the same standard as contracts, because without one holding their word to a high standard, then the word could lose its value over time to the other person, and it may be subject to breaking that word. Following the opposite direction of the quote, if someone breaks their word, then the bond is also broken, and all trust will be lost.