Open Marriage?

[WannabeSif]

No, chicup, if you will look at the original post, it was October. The only reason that I am here now is that I am subscribed to threads, which I am about to undo.

[WesternSwing]

To me "open marriage" is an umbrella term for any kind of emotionally, sexually or both relationship. It can be whatever situation outside the accepted one-on-one type of a relationship works for that particular couple.

Mr. WS

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by WannabeSif

No, chicup, if you will look at the original post, it was October. The only reason that I am here now is that I am subscribed to threads, which I am about to undo.

Yea I knew that, I was responding to the post above mine.

Hindsight is 20/20.

[j&rcouple]

We think of open marriage as cheating swinging involves both husband and wife together both being satisfied wether it is mf mf,mfm or mff all have to be there

[WesternSwing]

Originally Posted by j&rcouple

We think of open marriage as cheating swinging involves both husband and wife together both being satisfied wether it is mf mf,mfm or mff all have to be there

Cheating is when only one member of the relationship is aware of the couple's "open relationship" status.

[Mr.Essex]

Originally Posted by Chicup

And for some people the cookie crumbles leading to a horrible forum disaster with threats of legal action and hurtful words.

I'd laugh, but it's always interesting to meet someone who can actually thing on my wavelength. And I hope that none's actually done the whole "He's a bastard!", "Well, she's a frigid bitch!" dramabomb on this board.

[babeandhon]

To me, an open marriage means that either person can have sex with anyone they want. That means they can have sex together, through swinging or they can have sex seperately without the spouse being there. I have learned a lot by reading posts on this website. One thing I did learn is that definitions are so different....and that as long as everyone is in agreement then the definition really doesn't mean that much. Who really wants to be labeled anyway????

I've not been able to follow things real time over the holidays, so I'm late. BiloxiCouple has it probably as good as anything.

What I was going to do is quote a post I made in the thread Article on WebMD about Polyamory.

Originally Posted by BiloxiCouple

From Wikipedia

History of the Term
The origins of the term open marriage remain obscure. Researchers in the 1960s used the term open marriage to describe individual freedom in choosing marriage partners.[1][2] Closed marriage meant individuals had to marry someone based on social prohibitions and social prescriptions. Open marriage meant individuals could choose to marry someone based on personal preferences.

Nena O'Neill and George O'Neill changed the meaning of the term with the 1972 publication of their book Open Marriage, which sold over 1.5 million copies. The O'Neills conceived open marriage as one in which each partner has room for personal growth and can develop outside friendships. Most chapters in the book dealt with non-controversial approaches to revitalizing marriage in areas of trust, role flexibility, communication, identity, and equality. Chapter 16, entitled "Love Without Jealousy", devoted 20 pages to the proposition that an open marriage could include some forms of sexuality with other partners. These concepts entered the cultural consciousness and the term "open marriage" became a synonym for sexually non-monogamous marriage, much to the regret of the O'Neills. In the 1977 publication of The Marriage Premise, Nena O'Neill advocated sexual fidelity in the chapter of that name. By then however, the concept of open marriage as sexually non-monogamous marriage had gained a life of its own.

Today, with many committed couples not seeking formal marriage, the term is frequently generalized to 'open relationship' or 'responsible non-monogamy'. The concept of being sexually open versus closed is also sometimes applied to triads or other groups larger than two.

[curiouscpl72]

Originally Posted by ViSexual

Trusting, and being trusted to, take advantage of opportunities offered?

great reply!this is exactly what DH and I have embarked on,we do reveal the details of engagement on our coming together after a separate encounter.....

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by curiouscpl72

great reply!this is exactly what DH and I have embarked on,we do reveal the details of engagement on our coming together after a separate encounter.....

This thread needs a warning label along with their main thread.

Just for the record this thread ended horribly for both in the couple.

[mwc_mich]

To us open refers to the communication between us more than anything else. WE have been practicing open/poly for the last 5 years and its taken many forms but the one thing that has remained the same and essential for us to live our alternate life is communication. Without that nothing would be possible!!!!

[metroman]

Originally Posted by WannabeSif

No, chicup, if you will look at the original post, it was October. The only reason that I am here now is that I am subscribed to threads, which I am about to undo.

I have to weigh in on this one. To me, "Open Marrigage" means each marital party may maintain a seperate sex life via outside dating/sex. For an unspecific amount of time; it is fun and exilerating; husband/wife sex can be awesome, however, the ultimate end is STOP or DIVORCE. For me it was divorce and for everyone I know who tried this. It lasted until the Mrs thought she had fallen in love with a partner - she was free and he took a hike. What was left, collateral damage of divorce and stupidity & goodbye to half of everything!

[Brian and Jo]

We have been enjoying what we call an open marriage for over 30 years. It has been a very successful and enjoyable experience for both of us. Of course we are active swingers as a couple but we are both free to expand our sexual experiences alone. Over the years both of us have met and played alone with many partners. We are both bisexual so our single encounters have been with both sexes. We do have a strict rule which we have always adhered to - we tell each other beforehand when we are going to have sex alone with another partner and we tell each other afterwards what happened. We feel that this communication is a reason why our open marriage has been so successful. There is no jealousy and neither of us can be accused of cheating.