For those who don't know, an open relationship is when you have more than one boyfriend / girlfriend and all of the people are okay with it or you have only one boyfriend / girlfriend and you choose to include people in your romantic and/or sexual activities.

I, personally, don't believe in open relationships because to me it seems to defeat the purpose. I don't like the idea of being with more than one person because to me it feels wrong. To me it isn't love, just lust. I believe that you can only truly give your heart to one person because you have only one heart.

But that's just my opinion on it.
What's your view on open relationships?
Are you/were you in one?
Do you believe someone can love more than one person?

What about dating. Not 'dating' in the sense of oh we are two people who are in a relationship and such, but like in the sense that oh I'm going out with person A on Monday night on a date, then on Tuesday I'm going out with person B. Say that you develop a 'relationship' with both these persons on your date nights, however you are not fully committed to them as in the one-on-one relationship?

Well see, I don't believe in that either. I wouldn't personally do it because it seems wrong. I was raised to believe to get to know a person very well before ever going on a date with them, and if I don't already know which I like more then I shouldn't string either along. But that's just me.

I am not in a open relatship, I dont beleve in them at all.
I do beleve you can love more then one person but that doesnt mean you should date both of them! you have to pick.

I thought that dating was a way of getting to know someone? Like I want to know Missus better so I'm going to ask her if she would like to go to the movies on Friday.

Originally Posted by Wynna

I thought that dating was a way of getting to know someone? Like I want to know Missus better so I'm going to ask her if she would like to go to the movies on Friday.

that's just a one time date but you can go steady dating too that's a relatship :)

To me, dating is a form of courtship. It's determining romantic compatibility. I wouldn't go on a date to get to know a friend, I would go on a date to see if I am romantically compatible with someone.

I Don't think its nice someone Always gets hurt. Even tho they are okay with it. Can't have a main squeeze and except it to go all fine and dandy :lol: just not right and fair to the other people.

I am far too jealous a person to ever allow something like that to happen as is the man I've been seriously involved with for the last six months. It's all or nothing.

I'm alright when you're "seeing someone" if you go with other people. I mean, technically you're not really in a relationship, so no-one gets hurt. It's a bit of fun for everyone involved. But I think when you reach the stage where you're in a relationship with someone, it should be exclusive. Naturally, if I think that another girl is getting in about my guy, I will go scats. An open relationship, to me, is not a relationship and should not be treated as one.

Also, I personally agree with Wynna, I think that dating is a way to get to know a certain person better.

Of course someone can love more than one person. I don't see why that should seem impossible just because I personally cannot. I've seen it; it happens and it's every bit as real and legitimate as my own relationship.
I also don't see why anyone should take issue with other people having open relationships. Yes, it does work out just fine for a lot of those involved. No, it does not always end in someone getting hurt.
People do not all work the same way. Some people are made to be with only one person at a time or ever, and some are not. I find it awfully rude and presumptuous to claim that there is no other way when it is rather obvious that there is and that that is what works best for a lot of individuals.
In short, to anyone with personal preferences, speak for yourself.

It is possible to love more than one person. I think it's silly to think that you HAVE to stay with one person. It also depends on the relationship. For example I had one ex that was perfectly okay with me dating another person. She was MY girlfriend and he never asked to do anything with her or anything like that. She was just mine. She was fine with me dating him, he fine with me being with her.

There's been other relationships where I was perfectly fine being with only that person because they did not want me seeing other people. I do let people I date know that I am open to open relationships. Like with any type of sexuality, for some people it works and for others it does not work.

As for it not being "fair", I allowed my ex to see who he wanted if he desired so. He just never took up the opportunity to see anyone else. He just was not interested. It was not like I had different people around all the time because I am not into swinging. I do however see nothing wrong with being in a loving, caring relationship with more than one person. It doesn't always have to be just sexual. That kind of thing just does not work for me. I have to have a level of love and respect for someone before that happens.

I don't like the idea of them. I'm so not in one. I do, however, believe it is possible to be in a happy relationship the includes more than one other person. I believe it would be incredibly difficult and I, personally, would never be happy with such a thing, but it is certainly possible.

I don't know if I'm in one
But A LOT of my friends are... o.e

I can't do open relationships. I'm way way too jealous for it. Casual is okay, but if someone is with me, they should be just with me.

I have friends however who are in an open relationship and doing quite beautifully. Not really my thing though.

I have to wonder if people realize that monogamy is a relatively new concept. I think you can love more than one person at a time. I love my parents, I love my boyfriend, I love my siblings (some days), I love my pets. It's the degree of 'love' that changes.
Now just because I believe it is possible to be in an healthy, open relationship, doesn't mean I could do it. I too would get to jealous if my boyfriend was seeing other women. I barely see him as it is, with my work, his school/work, and wanting to spend time with our friends...

With me, personally, an open relationship wouldn't work. I'm far too insecure, so I'd go absolutely bonkers if I had a polyamorous partner. I am not polyamorous myself, so I wouldn't date anyone else if I was already in a relationship. Monogamy for me. XD

But as far as everyone else goes, it doesn't bother me at all. Ok, it bothers me, as usual, when this generation's teenagers use it as an excuse to bang everything and pretend it's ok because "I'm polyamorous!", but as far as people who do know what they're doing, it's cool.

Basically, to answer all questions: I don't mind open relationships, as long as it's not me; personal preferences. But I do not condemn in any way anyone who is in one and is very happy. I'd never be in one, I can't, neither me dating more than one person or the person I'm with dating someone else. I'm insecure, I'd dread becoming second to the other person. But that's just me, of course. As for loving more than one person at once, I slightly agree with Syraannabelle, that there are various degrees of love and we love more than one person (as she said, pets, family, friends). But as for loving more than one person like a life partner, the degree of love that you feel when you want to be with someone the rest of your life, hum, I don't find it possible for me. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

I did read a journal somewhere about a married couple who they both had someone else and it was working perfectly fine. So, I guess it's possible, but only for some people.

I find it disturbing when someone says you can't love more than one person then has a child or two. Do they not get loved? Love for a child, pet, sibling, parent, etc. and love for a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend are different types of love, yes, but that doesn't mean any of them are limited.
I think monogamy, polyamory, swinging, and whatever other relationship dynamics you can think of are pretty cool (with the exception of involving children and animals in the actual relationship, of course). I see it as "whatever works for you as long as it's consensual" (which obviously doesn't involve children and animals... yeah).
I'm poly. Right now I am in a monogamous relationship though (it was polyamorous for most of it... the monogamous thing is a recent change). I'm honesty not sure how it'll work out, but for now it's working fine since I'm more focused on my schooling than dating.