ANSWERS: 36
  • It is a relationship that is not sexually exclusive.
  • A myth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EDIT: The concept is only a theory. It is one of those ideas that recently reared its head again during the free-loving ideology of the late 1960's and early 1970's. However, it is rarely, if ever, successfully practised by two people long term, without consequences. This is because no matter what you may think you are involving yourself in, you can never be 100% "open" and "disconnected" from that person, without any feelings coming into play. If you think you have such a setup, then you don't have a "relationship", you simply have a convenient meat exchange. If you have any kind of regard or feeling with that person, you cannot but help being emotionally involved and feelings aren't something we can control, regulate or apportion as required for our own purposes. If you are not emtionally involved with the other person, you are simply using them and they may also be using you. You can couch such so-called "relationships" in any fancy language that you want and you can pretend that you just don't or won't get emotionally involved or committed, but we're all the same underneath the hood and so you're just fooling yourself if you think you can maintain something like this. In my extensive experience, people who engage in such practices often do so to escape something else, unhappiness or a bad marriage for example, in which case they are likely to be seeking something more than a bit of physical loving once a month, whatever they openly say to you with their words and their bodies. We can't choose who we love or who loves us.
  • Where you let the guy do exactly what he wants and do exactly what he tells you to...
  • Hi, this is an interesting question, I am not judging or implying anything when I answer your question with a question O.K.! smiling. Are you willing to participate in a relationship involving you and others during the same period of time, each having knowledge of it and each are in agreement alone with intimacy? This is considered an open relationship, If you answered yes, then you are in an open relationship. If you answered no, well you have an understanding of what to look for in this type of relationship.
  • It is a relationship where both parties tell each other they are ok with the other one cheating on them. It is still cheating, whether the other knows about it or not.
  • I guess you could say I am in one. When she takes me shopping my girlfriend opens her mouth and I open my wallet.
  • I've always thought an open relationship is a foolish, doomed one! Without commitment, the relationship is called "dating."
  • It's not really a relationship,because there are no commitments.
  • It's usually used to mean a long term relationship, where the couple are in one way or another not bound by the "normal" conventions of sexual fidelity. It DOES NOT mean a relationship without any rules or commitments- just the various obligations will vary between each couple. Some couples live with each other, and do "couply" things together, but have an agreement whereby either can sleep with other people whenever they want. This isn't the same as dating, where you might be conducting several casual relationships at one time- the primary relationship will always take priority(There is often a rule that the openess stands on the condition that neither member of the primary couple refuses each other sex, or can choose sex with another over their partner). This kind of "Do what you want" open relationship is actually pretty rare. Second type (more common) where one or both of the couple with the permission of their partner have sex with another specific person. This is most common in cases where one of the couple is unable to perform- perhaps because of a disabling injury or illness- one person agrees that the othe rperson must satisfy their sex drive, and would rather they do it in a sanctioned, honest way, than cheat and lie. Sometimes it happens where the couple spend a lot of time apart (e.g. one of them works abroad) or occasionally where one person has a much higher sex drive than the other. Also sometimes in cases where one person is bisexual, and the other straight and they have a strong urge to satisfy their "other" urges. Or there may be a particular fetish involved. More couples than you might think come to some kind of arrangement of this type. "Swingers"(or wife-swappers) - couples sleep with others in an organised fashion by pre-arrangement, with other couples who do the same thing. A sort of "variety-is-the-spice-of-life" attitude. Probably one of the emotionally safest ways to do it, as everything is agreed and organised in advance. Threesomes etc- couples bring a third or fourth party into their sexlife, or participate in group sex in clubs. Couples will have different rules regarding the degree of "openess" - some will agree that "anything goes". others that "anything goes but use contraception", some might be "Anything goes but I don't want to hear the details/ meet them.", some "You see the other person only for sex, and in no other capacity.", some might have a no kissing, or even no penetrative sex rule- it really does vary a lot. But basically anything where two people function and live as a couple, but do not have sexual relations exclusively with each other, is an open relationship. Funnily enough, couples in these relationships are often a lot more functional than those in exclusive relationships- because an open relationship requires by it's nature that specific rules and expectations are clearly laid out to both parties. For "conventional" relationships, often the problems start because both partners made certain assumptions about what a relationship entails and no-one bothered to outline their expectations- so one person thinks porn is OK, the other thinks it's cheating- and it all degenerates into an ongoing argument. Open relationships usually manage to by-pass these kind of fights. Although, admittedly, it's not right for everyone.
  • Open relationship? Hmmmmmmmmm Something that really does not have a lot of restrictions or boundaries. Where the couple are happy for the other partner to continue to sleep or have entanglements with people from outside of the relationship. Like a 3/4 lane highway, too much traffic moving at one time
  • It's when you feel happy enough to share your man...or woman!
  • I always thought of open relationships and open marriages as two people who do what they want when they want while being committed to another. Its my personal opinion that this way of life is wrong. If people want to have sex with others, stay SINGLE
  • it is where you are both free to see other people... does not always work and it depends what restrictions are set in place too, you may decide sex is allowed or not allowed. It is entirely up to you what you put in place
  • it is an open way of cheating, because you are committed to someone esle, but openly sleeping around. either way i see it as cheating, as you are committed to someone! it's selfish and self absorbing way of life. stay single if you want multiple partners.
  • where you feel you can communicate with your partenar, very openly, with no limitations, and you can be yourself.
  • An open relationship is a relationship between two people, that never lie to eachother. A couple that shares their feelings with eachother, about everything. If you disagree with something, then say it. Dont let others stomp all over you.
  • It means you aren't only with each other. It is a base for a horrible relationship.
  • in my experience an open relationship consists of each partner sharing the other. they both agree to this behavior and sometimes the person or persons sharing will all share with each other. the relationship strangely is based on trust. they do however set boundaries. with some couples this behavior, to each other, works out very well for the relationship and actually is seemingly healthy for the relationship. in the negative, sometimes it will backfire and obviously damage the relationship causing its demise.
  • It is a relationship whereby each partner is allowed to see other people and even sleep with them if they want.
  • In short, good friends with benefits.
  • about to be a really fucked up situation, unless you just happen to not have romatic feelings toward eachother and they just happen to not develop with all the sex you are having. otherwise you will end up lhing to eachother about the things you do without them. if the other person is requesting it and you already have feelings for them, it will be all bad.
  • open relationship = your bfgf but you can also see other ppl
  • I just think an a open relationship is just one big lie...I mean fine you and your partner say its ok for you to sleep with someone else, thats all fine and what not...but try going into a bar and even saying your in a relationship...most good girls don't go for that (bad ones on the other hand :-) ) what I'm saying is I've always thought it to be one big lie cause not only you and your partner have to want it...the people you sleep with to has to be ok with it...then the people they sleep with and then out of no where its one big open train...its not likely that you'll talk someone into the whole open thing...so most people don't even tell the person out side the relationship that their even in one....and that is a lie...see haha
  • LF good answer. I SO agree with the comment about many open relationships being more functional than conventional, because like you said with one person thinking this/that is cheating and the other one not, that's where all the miscommunication comes from and as alternative as I am, I will say that communication is the #1 aspect in relationships. And for those of you who think it's 'wrong' please open your minds. It's only wrong if one partner does something against the others wishes. I've heard people say that open marriages aren't real marriages. The couple themselves (whether married or not) should be the ones to decide what the rules are in their own relationship, not society or the Bible (I'm not putting down the Bible I respect it very much but still). Same thing for people who say it isn't a 'real' marriage/relationsip if you're sleeping with other people. Lemme ask you this: do you marry someone, or 'be with' someone JUST for the sex? No, you're with them because you love them, want to share your life with them, the day to day things, good and bad, etc etc. You don't marry someone for the sole purpose of being able to have sex with them (and for the ones that do you're screwed no pun intended). Even though I'm female I have a guys view on sex/love; they're 2 totally seperate things. I'm not saying I've never 'made love' or combined love and sex, sure I have and I think all committed couples should. But we all know women tend to connect the two a LOT more than guys, to guys sex is just sex, it's physical. I know a couple who are in an open relationship and I have a friend who is in awe of it, in disbelief that they're still together and 'how can you let him sleep with other women? that's a recipe for disaster!'. No it's not (it depends who you are). Does this man love his wife any less because he sleeps with other women? No. Has he lost interest in her? No. Is he less committed to her? No. (when I say committed obviously I don't mean in the monogamous sense, I mean as a life/love partner). Have things changed between them for the worse because of it? No. To him in his view, like I said IT'S JUST SEX! It's 100% physical and nothing else. It's always been this way, and will continue to be this way in viewpoints: men and women are different in the area of sex. Alas an open couple needs to have 100% clear communication in every area of their relationship, be confidant and sure of their love/devotion to one another, etc. For me, the thought of my guy sleeping with other women does not bother me. We've all recently heard of the 'emotional cheating' side of things. That would bother me. I don't really care about monogamy (sexual), I just don't like polymory in my case, for others if it works for you, good for you. But I'd rather be the one he shares his life with, feelings/thoughts/dreams/troubles etc. Anyway that's just my view :) Again, my main point is to each is own. I think the only way something can be considered wrong is when it hurts someone, so if it doesn't hurt you or others where is the harm really?
  • An "Open Relationship" In my own opinion it is just heartache at a low simmer - Once two people have sex a connection is made to some point (from what I have witnessed) small or large either form. Being "Open" tells me "Don't get attached" and or "don't catch feelings" for that person. I can only go by what I have already been through so take my advice with a grain of salt. Hope this helps
  • A looser form of polygamy.
  • open to date other people.
  • Ok you have got a great def from lady fuschia. What I am commenting on is these negative people who think it is wrong, or sinful, or just an excuse for people to sleep around and still say they are in a relationship. I must ask why do you judge those you do not know? I am in a happy, healthy, loving open relationship. He can sleep with anyone he chooses and I can sllep with whom I choose. It isn't ugly and dirty. It is just another form of trust. My relationship's rules are simple. Tell me when it happens, let the other person understand that this is just sex and friendship no emotional attatchments, and finaly be safe. Honestly is always the best policy. 50 years ago it was sinful and wrong to date interracialy hell people still have an issue with gay relationships. For those of you saying it is wrong and never been in one you can feel how you want but scrutinizing another person's relationship is wrong. As long as everyone involved knows what is going on who cares?
  • a doomed relationship. no loyalty, no commitment, higher risks of getting stds, and not much trust. its like why bother?
  • It's a non committal relationship where you are free to "be with" other people and involve other people without it being official cheating. +5
  • It is perversion all too common in our age of sexual immorality.
  • One where there is no door waiting to hit you in the arse cause it swings both ways.
  • Honest communication?
  • An arrangement by which a couple can practice for their inevitable divorce.
  • It is when you both agree to see other people while coming back home to each other and love each other despite the fact that you see others for lust.
  • In the old days it was called dating. You dated as many gals as you wanted, whenever you wanted, and nailed as many as would let you. Your girlfriends dated as many guys as they wanted, whenever they wanted, and nailed as many as would have them. In dating there was no expectation of monogamy, fidelity, or similar BS until you both agreed to 'go steady', move-in, get engaged, or marry. Unlike today, where gals are convinced that if a guy even sends them a valentine card it is tantamount to a binding commitment.

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