Quote:
Originally Posted by sexychoclit  I think that an open marriage is more "don't ask, don't tell". Swinging is when the couples choose to allow other sexual partners into their lives. How they choose to do it could be by playing together, playing separately, watching while the other one plays, etc. However, they still have the consent of the other person. A person going outside of their relationship without the other partners knowledge and lies about it if they are confronted is just plain cheating. |
I think you'll find that is going to depend a LOT on the couple in question. MOST open marriages that I know are just that OPEN in that they are very open with each other about what they are each doing, the big difference between those who classify themselves as open (typically) and swingers who play seperately is that those in the open relationship and have OPEN permission set - as in they have permission from the start to do who they want rather than having to get permission on each individual beforehand. The discussions after the fact tend to be the same (as far as filling the other partner in on the details).
That said, I know there are some that fall into the generalization that you made... and I think that those couples are probably the ones that others look at and base their view of open marriage being a bad thing that pulls the couple apart (because they aren't really being open, are they?!).