What % of population swings?

[Meggybear]

I'm still trying to reconcile...trying to make it okay (in my head) that I do this (swinging)... and that it's somehow normal. Maybe it's first-time jitters...or maybe it's because society has brainwashed me since birth to believe that sex is somehow wrong or bad or dirty? (Hmm...I like that dirty idea hehehehe)

To the point: Does anyone have an idea what percentage of the us population is involved in swinging in any given year?

Meggybear

[avid]

Meggy, I wondered about the normalcy issue at first too. I always giggled when I said the words "swinger" and "lifestyle". I couldn't believe I could possibly apply them to me and my partner.

For me, I just needed more time. More time to learn who swingers were, and how and why partner sharing became a hobby or pastime.

My first time at our local club, I knew I belonged. We met a lovely couple who had been in the lifestyle for quite a long time. It was obvious that they were deeply connected to each other and in love. They, like us, were in touch with their sexuality and enjoyed exploring it, especially with other couples who were also in love.

Take some more time, and you'll see, because it does seem obvious that you're curious.

[beaverz]

Sorry I have no idea what % of the population swings. I personally think it is higher than what the average (non-swingers) person thinks, but I would doubt that swinging would be considered normal by most.

We are not swingers at this time, we are just taking our time getting educated on the lifestyle and what to expect if we ever take the step. We are somewhat in your shoes (pre-swingers), but we are not going to let the main stream dictate what we should or should not do with our sex life or our marriage.

I'm still trying to reconcile...trying to make it okay (in my head) that I do this (swinging)... and that it's somehow normal. Maybe it's first-time jitters...or maybe it's because society has brainwashed me since birth to believe that sex is somehow wrong or bad or dirty? (Hmm...I like that dirty idea hehehehe)

I wouldn't base it on what is normal and what isn't normal. To me it's more normal and acceptable to have an affair behind your spouse's back than to swing. Just look around at your own family and friends, if they are like mine many of them are in miserable relationships, I would prefer to be in an abnormal relationship. I would much rather go against the gain and do what my wife and I feel comfortable with.

Good luck!

[Spoomonkey]

Originally Posted by Meggybear

To the point: Does anyone have an idea what percentage of the us population is involved in swinging in any given year?

100% of the cool people!

Spoomonkey

[Meggybear]

Great answer Mr. Spoo!

[WesternSwing]

Well, I don't know about the national average, but if I do an informal sampling of couples profiles between the ages of 18 and 99 on two swinger's sites I come up with an average of 1413 couples in Utah swing. Now, of course, many of these profiles may be outdated or they were just testing the water, so there is a margin of error in this method.

Take Utah's population in 2005 and subtract the the percentage of the population below 18 years of age (31%) and then take that into the number of swinging couples X 2 (2 people per couple ) I come up with about 0.2% of Utah's population is swingers or profess to be or are thinking of being.

Not allot of us here.

Now I recall reading in a sex survey a while back that something like 40% of the respondants listed a threesome as their number one fantasy and as many as 20% have actually done it. But, as you can see, very few are actually are actively seeking it or would classify themselves a "swingers" even though what they are doing is "swinging" by any measure of the term. So the percentage is probably much higher then 0.2%.

Damn, why did I do this?

Mr. WS

[sereneiders]

WesternSwing,

I'd suggest you to start a poll here asking "how many of you people are swingers?". I am pretty sure the figures would resemble the ones given by Spoo.

[WesternSwing]

I thought of that... then the margin for error would be 0%.

[WesternSwing]

Originally Posted by Meggybear

To the point: Does anyone have an idea what percentage of the us population is involved in swinging in any given year?

Meggybear

The question really is, and I should have said this in my last post: why are you justifying whether or not you should do something based on how many others do it? I wonder what percentage of the population are base jumpers. I'm sure they don't worry that I don't do it.

The point is, don't let others tell you what is right for you. Only you can make that decision for yourself. If it makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone else... then go for it.

Mr. WS

[Amanda69]

There is no real way to estimate what percentage of the population are swingers as it is a mostly hidden way of interacting. Can't imagine somewhere doing a study and calling random households asking whether or not they swing??!! Even swingers are likely to answer no...

Gotta agree with Spoo though definately 100% of the cool people

[Mike and Jan]

I'll bet that of couples who've been married for more than ten years that at least 90% have at least one of the spouses who've thought about it. Of these, probably 75% of the spouses are the husband and the other 25% the wife.

And, of couples that have been married a long time I'll bet that over 75% have thought about it together.

I'd go so far as to say that almost 50% of these couples would participate in some form of swinging given the perfect situation and other people.

Of these long term married couples I'd guess that at least 25% have experimented with swinging, of some fashion, at least once.

OK, just my opinion. But in reality we humans are not monagomous creatures. We, like eagles, do tend to make life long committments with a partner, but also like eagles we feel the need for sexual adventure with others.

[fun4Ds]

i dont know the stats but here is how i feel about it.

i think 75% of the population thinks about it

of thoes, 50% mention it

of thoes, 50% can talk about it (this is where we fit in as a couple)

25% of the (couples like us) enjoy what we do, and feel pretty normal about it. its who we are.

and we share that with some really cool people .

[intuition897]

The actual stats would be interesting if there was a foolproof way to get them, but seeing as how it's such an underground activity, and how some people who have sex with others are either cheating on a spouse (which, to me, disqualifies them), or are actually vanilla and have to get drunk at an office party to do it, or do it once out of curiosity...the definition is difficult to put your finger on because it deals with something so close to home for everyone, and how you react to it sways the question. I don't know how to describe it.

I like Spoo's answer. Frankly m'dear, I don't give a shit how many people think I'm abnormal for thinking and feeling the way I do. I think they're all crazy for not being able to grasp how great this is. Then again, I do have one concern...

I've heard the one way to know you're crazy is when you think the rest of the world is insane...and you're the only one left holding all your marbles. Luckily I found this board full of crazy wackos just like me!

[prettylady]

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

100% of the cool people!

Spoomonkey

Hey I'm almost cool
I have waited so long to be one of the cool kids.
Your friend,
Prettylady

[prettylady]

I wonder how much money I can get from the goverment to do research on this very topic.

I can travel the country going from swing club to swing club, party to party, meet great people and have mind blowing sexxx. All full funded

I have heard of worse research projects that got funded.

Your friend,
Prettylady