That's a different conversation. What little data we have on long-term polyamorous and open relationships isn't good.

Posted on September 24, 2026 at 02:00:53 PM by Beave

I would tell you that inherently the idea of swinging is that you're still doing it together. That's very different from an open relationship or polyamorous situation where people are pursing more than just sex separately. I think humans are inherently monogomous in the short term, but struggle with it over the long-term. Without social constraints and views on marriage I think most people would fall into a bunch of shorter monogomous relationships over the course of their lives. People are jealous. I don't think most people want to know their partner is actively dating other people.

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Thread:

On Swinging and flexible monogomy... - By Beave September 24, 2026 at 01:48:47 PM
- I've had a similar evolution - By Alpo September 24, 2026 at 02:40:01 PM
  - You're right brother, everything in life is about sex.... - By jonpc September 24, 2026 at 03:32:56 PM
  - How much of swinging do you think comes from: You want to cheat? OK, if you cheat, I will cheat too so let's do this in a controlled way.* - By MasterBates September 24, 2026 at 02:42:39 PM
    - I think it is more "I love you, I want to be married to you and spend my life with you, but I'm bored. Let's spice things up."* - By Alpo September 24, 2026 at 02:45:41 PM
- I would say that fidelity is important to me personally, but I think people should do what they want, as long as they aren't hurting anyone. When someone is hurt or a victim, that pisses me off. * - By Kevin September 24, 2026 at 01:55:25 PM
  - Yes do what's best for you if you're not hurting anyone. If that involves non-traditional relationships or sex lives, good for them.* - By Beave September 24, 2026 at 01:56:38 PM
    - Like you I have become more tolerant of others. But the danger is the potential impact on people close to them. And also ultimately with one's morals/beliefs* - By Rich September 24, 2026 at 02:27:50 PM
- I think that’s reasonable and I struggle to think there’s anything immoral about consensual non-monogamy. Different story when you introduce social dynamics that cause relational rifts.* - By WOK September 24, 2026 at 01:51:46 PM
  - The problem is that it doesn't actually work.* - By LS&Play September 24, 2026 at 01:53:14 PM
    - Half of marriages end in divorce. Who is to say what works?* - By WOK September 24, 2026 at 02:11:14 PM
      - (More like 2/5ths.)* - By ftb September 24, 2026 at 02:21:41 PM
    - That's a different conversation. What little data we have on long-term polyamorous and open relationships isn't good. - By Beave September 24, 2026 at 02:00:53 PM
      - That was what blew up my sister's marriage. She initiated the polyamory. It was all well and good until he started fucking other people, too. - By Alpo September 24, 2026 at 02:50:47 PM
      - I don’t know the answer to this question: is the little data we have skewed by the fact that many ENM ppl keep this info to themselves due to social stigma? - By Craig September 24, 2026 at 02:12:38 PM
      - I can't imagine it is healthy for kids to find out their mom is getting plowed by multiple dudes while their dad watches. Or vice versa.* - By MasterBates September 24, 2026 at 02:09:19 PM
        
        Possible counterpoint: is it healthy for kids to find out that dad plowed mom last night on the very couch they are now sitting on?*** - By Craig September 24, 2026 at 02:16:07 PM
        
        I am sure they prefer that than mom getting plowed on that same couch by the neighbor while their dad plowed the neighbor's wife on the breakfast table high chair.*r. - By MasterBates September 24, 2026 at 02:21:02 PM
        
        Ultimately they prefer to see their parents as completely asexual and don't want to think for two milliseconds about anybody plowing their mother.* - By Alpo September 24, 2026 at 03:05:25 PM
        
        Exactly.* - By LS&Play September 24, 2026 at 02:10:44 PM
      - I don't disagree with any of that. But it's hard for me to say "people should do whatever" when those kinds of behaviors have a much higher risk of blowing up the lives of so many people around them.* - By LS&Play September 24, 2026 at 02:04:32 PM

The Victors

That's a different conversation. What little data we have on long-term polyamorous and open relationships isn't good.