How do you feel about open relationships? For or against?
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Totally open as long as both people in the couple know where the other stands. Emotions can be tricky, especially when it comes to sex in an open relationship.
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I get the appeal of open relationships on paper, but I think it would get too sloppy in real life. If I were to choose to sleep with someone outside my relationship, I wouldn’t want it to be some rando where I’d have to worry about STDs and other scary stuff. But I also wouldn’t want to sleep with someone that I see on a regular basis and then it’s just out there. Sometimes though, I wouldn’t mind making out with other people.
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Unfortunately, I think I’m currently in an open relationship. I could go on and on about it, but bottom line: it’s not that fun. If your man wants to date other women, you would naturally think: “why am I not good enough to be your everything?” But then again, I have the freedom to be with whoever I want to be, but I’m just not interested. If you are not a jealous person (like I am), then kudos to you – I think an open relationship would work for you.
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I think I’m fairly traditional with this sort of topic. No way. If the person I’m with would like to sleep with someone else, then consider us no longer together and move on. It’s not worth the emotional baggage. Relationships are already hard, why add another reason for wacked out emotions. Plus, what’s the point of being in a relationship in the first place if you’re sleeping with other people? You just put yourself into the gray area of friends with benefits.
To each their own. But I could never do it – I am just too emotional. If I am with someone, they are the only one I want to be with. If I am looking elsewhere then why am I with that person?
Open relationship is just an oxymoron statement… no such thing exists because isn’t a relationship in and of itself a commitment? I’d just call it dating – you’re allowed to date as many people as you want! A wise woman once told me to “keep it on one hand” …. meaning, no more than five guys at a time
-S
I think my views probably correspond most closely with number 2. It’s an intriguing concept, it’s fun to think of, but practically speaking, in MOST cases, it’s probably not going to work.
I don’t think it’s sustainable or meaningful. The joy of real sex is giving and receiving pleasure with someone you really love and feel you can be open and safe with. If the relationship is not exclusive then it is just mutual masturbation, and we are talking about the ‘fuck buddy’ situation – which is fine if that’s what you want – but call it what it is!
I find it sexist
My best friend, H, is in an open marriage. His wife, B, has a boyfriend that he knows. Whenever B is talking to or seeing her boyfriend, H knows. Whenever H is talking to me or seeing me, B knows. I have met her and their daughter. Yes, they have to work hard at their relationship, but doesn’t everyone?
H and I have been friends off and on for a dozen years. We love each other deeply and just one way to express it is physically. His love for me does not diminish his love for his wife and vice versa.
Because H lives out of town, I also have a boyfriend here in town, S. They have both met and get along well. S has a girlfriend as well, M. And I’ve met her and like her.
Open relationships can work, but only with open communication and equality for all members/partners. I personally think they are worth the effort if you are so inclined.
I guess as long as everybody involved whats going on its fine but to be honest I have never got the idea behind and why not stay single instead
Don’t ask, don’t tell IMHO, I don’t need to know who is fucking with who. But this is coming from a man’s POV.
As a woman I totally agree. We both know that we’re seeing other people, so as far as the details go, keep them to yourself. I don’t really care.
Open relationships aren’t real relationships, it’s just two people hooking up and fooling around with each other – and others. Some people are ok with it, others aren’t. However, I remember something I heard from none other than Steve Harvey, author of Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man. He said that men don’t “upgrade” women. If you’re the woman he fools around with on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a guy will almost never see your relationship as more than that. I think it’s important to expect and demand a commitment, or move on to a more respectful, mature partner.
I have mixed feelings about open relationships. I’m currently in one. Essentially I’ve been hooking up with a guy for almost 8 months now. We’re not exclusive, but we both really like each other and act like a couple wheneve we’re together. We’re both huge commitment-phobes so I think that’s why it’s worked so well for us. Neither of us feel like we’re totally ready to make a commitment to someone. However, there are times when I wish we’d just try out a relationship. For the most part I like having the perks of a boyfriend, without the responsibility, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be willing to give it a try.
No. I would never. I personally think the idea is stupid. Its on an episode of House M.D. and even though they seemed happy in the end they found out while the wife was sleeping with other people the husband wasn’t. If this is the lifestyle you want to lead just dont get married. I’m a very jealous person, I dont know why you would be with someone if they wanted someone else. I also think the other commenters are misconstruing it, they arent saying casually dating other people and not being mutually exclusive, thats normal when you are single and dating. An OPEN relationship, it that you are in a relationship where you can see and have sex with other people. I find it dangerous first of all and I just find it idiotic, if you think you are in love and happy in an open relationship you are delusional because something is obviously missing that you have to find someone else to satisfy. I dont really know if there is a difference between being Friends with Benefits and being in an Open Relationship. They carry a great difference of weight with the phrases IMO. Relationship implies commitment (if we are talking about a true monogamous committed relationship not a childish lets hook up with everyone), if you are in a serious relationship you should be serious about it. It just sounds unhealthy: physically, mentally, and emotionally
Also on another note, its okay to look, maybe flirt with people you work with HARMLESSLY with people who KNOW YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE! Cheating isnt an accident, Cheating is a series of choices you made to get yourself into that situation. Period.