Open Marriage / Relationship

[...]

[afleitch]

It's up to each couple really. It works for some and not for others.

[dead0man]

I don't know if I could do it, but more power to people who can.  I think they should be able to make it "official" even, but most people aren't that liberal.

[DC Al Fine]

I don't know if I could do it, but more power to people who can.  I think they should be able to make it "official" even, but most people aren't that liberal.

What do you mean by "official"?

[dead0man]

I think I was making a jump to polygamy that I probably didn't need to make.

[Mopsus]

Unnatural, ungodly. Would never work in the real world.

[Frodo]

I would advise against open marriages, especially when children are involved.  Or if you're planning on having them.  

But if we're talking open relationships short of tying the knot and without the kids, then I'm okay with it.  I think it's something worth experimenting with if you're in your twenties, and you remain unmarried.   

[Torie]

Unnatural, ungodly. Would never work in the real world.

Leaving God and "nature" out of it, I personally know many gay couples in open relationships that seem to work. Anyway, here is a bit of data on it.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Unnatural, ungodly. Would never work in the real world.

Some people live in their own little worlds, lol.

Anyway, I wouldn't do it and I don't think a couple with children should do it, but if someone (who isn't my bf) wants to open their relationship, I don't care.

[Ohioguy29]

I would advise against open marriages, especially when children are involved.  Or if you're planning on having them.  

But if we're talking open relationships short of tying the knot and without the kids, then I'm okay with it.  I think it's something worth experimenting with if you're in your twenties, and you remain unmarried.   

[Del Tachi]

Generally supportive, but I agree that it doesn't work for every couple.

I will say that I think many people's notions of cheating and infidelity are quite antiquated, and I don't think I would have any issue being in an open relationship if there were clearly communicated, mutually agreed boundaries about what my partner and I wanted out of it.  I am a gay man, so my opinion probably skews liberal on this topic.

[rc18]

From the experiences of people I know it doesn’t tend to be a permanent solution as people’s emotional state changes. E.g. ending up feeling the significant other is holding you back from deepening other perhaps more satisfying relations that have developed.

[DC Al Fine]

I can't speak to the homosexual experience, but it seems like a terrible terrible idea for heterosexuals. Monogamy is far and away the best system for family stability, child rearing etc. What happens when an unplanned pregnancy occurs and one of the parents is not part of the "core" relationship for example? It seems like a recipe for divorce, poverty and heartache.

Unnatural, ungodly. Would never work in the real world.

Leaving God and "nature" out of it, I personally know many gay couples in open relationships that seem to work. Anyway, here is a bit of data on it.

I read an article few months ago, that it's quite common among the gay community in West Hollywood, and it working rather well,

I consider myself a very liberal person socially,
but when my partner kept bringing it up, I was extremely hurt, I just don't like sharing, we broke up because of it, 
it might be selfish of me, I dunno, I guess I'm not so liberal or open minded after all,

But as I intially said if people are happy and ok with it, I can only wish them the best of luck 😊

Alternatively, perhaps your partner was selfish for not respecting your feelings?

Also, I'm a tad confused about you thinking yourself not liberal. I don't see any conflict between wanting to live traditionally in your own life and social liberalism. There's this strange tendency in social liberalism to conflate the political/social with the personal that I find perplexing.

Generally supportive, but I agree that it doesn't work for every couple.

I will say that I think many people's notions of cheating and infidelity are quite antiquated, and I don't think I would have any issue being in an open relationship if there were clearly communicated, mutually agreed boundaries about what my partner and I wanted out of it.  I am a gay man, so my opinion probably skews liberal on this topic.

Could you elaborate?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Not a fan.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Whatever floats your boat...but I’m a believer in two’s company and three’s a crowd. 

[Technocracy Timmy]

It really only becomes seriously problematic when there’s children involved (regardless of if the parents are hetero or homosexual). Otherwise it’s fine if that’s what people are into.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

Fine if it's consentual.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Not for me.

I'm quite liberal as well, but would also break up with my partner if they suggested opening the relationship.

[HisGrace]

I definitely don't want to do it.

I don't think there's anything unethical about it, but it's easy to see how it could cause a bunch of different problems. But if someone wants to do it more power to them.

[Santander]

Appalling degeneracy.

[Del Tachi]

Generally supportive, but I agree that it doesn't work for every couple.

I will say that I think many people's notions of cheating and infidelity are quite antiquated, and I don't think I would have any issue being in an open relationship if there were clearly communicated, mutually agreed boundaries about what my partner and I wanted out of it.  I am a gay man, so my opinion probably skews liberal on this topic.

Could you elaborate?

I think a lot of people still consider sexual infidelity the gravest crime that can be committed in a relationship.  While this certainly makes sense in a world without birth control, casual sex has become so accepted in other parts of our culture that I find very few instances where I think I would end a marriage because of it.  Holding sex up as the pinnacle of romance and connection gives it way too much power over people, and I think that's created a wide host of problems and issues.