Three Times Doesn’t Mean You’re a Loser

People who have been married and divorced three or more times face a social stigma, some research suggests. Others say the stigma is fading quickly.

Here, the responses of single men and women, either divorced or never married, when asked: “Would you date a person divorced three times?”

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* “No. I am only 27, so I probably wouldn’t date anyone beyond his mid 30s. And if he’s been divorced three times by that time, it would make me nervous.”

--Victoria Clayton, 27, single, Encino public relations account executive

* “Yes, I would take it as it goes and see what happens. I’d give it a shot.”

--Dennis J. Noor, 43, single, Hermosa Beach photographer and entrepreneur

* “Yes, I would. I give them credit for keeping on trying. You can fall in love more than once. As you . . . mature . . . different people appeal to you. I would prefer, though, that he not have 14 kids with each marriage.”

--Wendy Taylor, 49, divorced once, Redondo Beach, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

writer and editor

* “Yes, but I would be looking for a sense that the person had learned something from the three experiences. Then I would feel the value . . . was somewhat like having children. Anyone who’s done either, had children or gotten divorced, has clearly been humbled.”

--Warren Farrell, 51, divorced once, Encinitas author, “The Myth of Male Power” and “Why Men Are The Way They Are”

* “If I wasn’t in a relationship now, I would consider it. I wouldn’t judge the person based only on whether they’d been married or not. My question would be, has the person repeated similar mistakes and is there a pattern? Unfortunately, we are unable to call past relationships for references.”

--Dr. Stephen Brunton, 43, divorced once, Long Beach physician