"Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood."

Does marriage work? Does monogamy work? I guess that depends pretty much on who you are, and what your thoughts and feeling are about that particular subject. I think the majority of us would like it to work, but as the statistics prove, it doesn't always work. Two in five marriages here in the UK end in divorce. Infidelity is the cause of around a third of all marriage break-ups. Things aren't looking good for monogamy. Afterall we are a different society to the one our grandparents grew up in. There is more on offer to us, and many people want to take advantage of that. Relationships, families, and other things are not peoples number one priority anymore, so maybe it is time to open our minds, and look for a modern alternative to monogamy.

Well maybe the answer we are looking for is, polyamory. This is a relationship, just like any other, based on love, trust, and everything else, except it involves more than one person. It isn't pologamy, which is when you are married to more than one person. It isn't an affair, because all parties are aware of the situation, and they are all happy to be in that situation. It isn't swinging either, as that is about recreational sex, and polyamory is a way of actually structuring a relationship. If you look into polyamory there isn't really a way of defining what it is. It is what you decide between yourselves, and what feels right. People who enter into these relationships refuse to let society dictate to them what the right way to be with someone is. They are open and honest with each other and that is good enough for them.

When you are in a relationship like that, I would imagine that jealousy is a big issue. I mean in monogamous relationships it's an issue, so imagine what it's like when you know your beloved is bed hopping? This also raises another point, is it possible to love two people? Can you do that? Some would argue; especially those that practice polyamory, that love is an infinite thing. It isn't something that you can limit. So why shouldn't you spread the love, who are any of us to say who you can love? Or how many people you can love?

Some people are not able to be with just one person. They just don't have it in them. So wouldn't this kind of relationship suit them? Where they can be honest about not wanting to be with just the one person, and building a relationship with a few people. Maybe polyamory is an alternative to people who don't want the modern day constraints on a relationship that we all accept. Maybe it will stop so many people getting divorced, and cheating. Maybe. I'm an old fashioned girl though. I am not sure I would be able to keep one person happy, nevermind two or more. I think that I will stick to monogamy. Treat others how you would like to be treated yourself, and I really wouldn't like to share. So why should I expect anyone else too? Love, and relationships are what you make them, if you are happy in that situation, more power to you. It isn't for me though


Comments (Page 2)
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on Aug 02, 2006
If you want to say other people might feel differently, and be able to live in polyamory, you can go ahead and say that all year long, but I wouldn't even believe it if you had one to show me. It's a lie. Even economic principal says the more of something you have, the less use it is to you.

Pretty soon, society IS going to start trying to break down those barriers that monogamy is hiding behind. It's harder than ever to be monogamous, and it's only going to get harder in the future. Good luck to all us monogamy fans.
on Aug 02, 2006
I don't really want that in a potential partner either, a guy who has slept with alot of women would not be attractive to me, I would just wonder how itchy is dick is, hehe!


Hmm, I think it is called a communicable disease...

I am not sure it is about what society tells us, I think it more about what we feel is right ourselves.


Maybe I'm talking out of my arse, but if we are born into and live in a society that consistently tells us we're supposed to behave a particular way, then couldn't it be we're conditiioned to believe these ways are the right way and if we try any other way, this conditioning is the thing that makes any other way feel wrong.
on Aug 03, 2006

Baring your soul and bonding to another person is not a light affair. I can understand polygamy....all parties are initrinsicly bonded to one another. Polyamory is just a fancy name for " I don't want to commit". Cause face it, if they really did want a meaningful, permanent relationship....they would get married.

I have to agree with you, I think that relationships are deep intense things that should not be taken for granted, and that some of these people are taking an easy out, but at the same times that means they can't take away the same things from it.

Subconciously you can look at a live in relationship as non-binding. Getting it official later takes away the loose and easy mentality they had previously....and then the marriage fails.

Hmm..I'm not sure about this.  I personally would be quite happy to live with someone and never get married, and that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to commit to them, because I would be, but I just don't put the same significance on marriage as others do.  I trust my own ability to stay with someone, and know I love them, without a wedding ceromony to prove it.

Pretty soon, society IS going to start trying to break down those barriers that monogamy is hiding behind. It's harder than ever to be monogamous, and it's only going to get harder in the future. Good luck to all you monogamy fans.

So because it's hard we shouldn't do it?  That just makes it sound all the more worthwhile to me, not less.  To be with one person it a wonderful thing, and just because that isn't always easy to do doesn't mean we should just give up, the rewards we get for those sacrifices are more than worth it.

Hmm, I think it is called a communicable disease...

Hehe...I have such a way with words!

then couldn't it be we're conditiioned to believe these ways are the right way and if we try any other way, this conditioning is the thing that makes any other way feel wrong.

That could be the case.  Maybe it plays a part in it, but I think other factors play a part too.

Thanks for the comments x

on Aug 03, 2006
Because it's hard, we SHOULD do it. I meant to say, good luck to all US monogamy fans.
on Aug 03, 2006

Because it's hard, we SHOULD do it. I meant to say, good luck to all US monogamy fans

I'm sorry I completely misread that.  My apologies.

on Aug 04, 2006
I'm quite monogamous at the moment, and wouldn't have it any other way. Apology accepted. After all, I can't understand half of what I write anyway, never mind getting others to understand.
on Aug 05, 2006

I'm quite monogamous at the moment, and wouldn't have it any other way. Apology accepted. After all, I can't understand half of what I write anyway, never mind getting others to understand.

Hehe...'quite' monogamous huh?  You sound dedicated   It wasn't how you wrote it, it was just me having another one of my stupid moments (moments that seem to be pretty continuous!).

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