Polyamory vs.Open Relationships

[Maya]

Some of you may have had experiences or knowledge regarding the thread topic. I have a few questions:

1.) Are you in a monogamous relationship? If so, describe your current relationship. Are you happy? Do you think there is something missing in your relationship? How would you improve your current monogamous relationship?

2.) Are you in an open relationship? If so, describe your current relationship status. Are you happy? Do you get jealous with your partner dating someone else besides you? Do you think this will work in the long run?

3) Are you in a Polyamorous relationship? If so, describe your relationship. Are you happy? Will it work in the long run?

Do you think that Polyamory and an open relationship have similarities? What are the similarities?

I would like to know any experiences you may have had or your views regarding these questions I have asked. Thank you in advance for taking the time!

 

[InfiniteScience]

I'm in an open relationship, and have been for three months, but I've know my SO for several years. He has two other partners that I've never met, however, we talk on Facebook a lot. I don't think that I really get jealous of his other partners, but one of them does tend to get on my nerves most days. I'm kind of surprised that I'm not jealous, because usually when I get attached to people I get needy and want all of their attention. I think that I've developed a sense of superiority over the others because I've known my SO the longest. Anyway, I...think I'm happy? I'm not sure. This is my first serious relationship, so I have no idea what's going on or what I'm really feeling, but I do see it working out in the long run. Not like, in terms of marriage or a 5+ year relationship, but I could definitely see this going for a little more than a year.

EDIT: In my opinion, polyamory and open relationships are similar in the aspects that a) there are multiple partners, and b) usually one or more people involved want there to be honest discussion about additional partners/partners outside the relationship (if that makes any sense.) I think the main difference is that in a polyamorous relationships, it's multiple people committed to each other in one relationship; whereas in an open relationship, there's two partners, but one partner (or both) might have additional relationships with people not involved with their other partner/s.

 

[Abject]

More relevant: what are the differences between polygamy and "open relationships"?
I have always known them to be synonymous/the same

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

More relevant: what are the differences between polygamy and "open relationships"?
I have always known them to be synonymous/the same

Open relationships (as I've always seen it) are set up with one core relationship and each person being free to pursue a sexual relationship with others, whereas a polyamorous relationship is set up with a core relationship and each person being open to pursue a closer emotional relationship (and not limited to every person being in a single relationship)

I'm currently in a polyamorous relationship (and have been in open and poly relationships in the past) and find that while many people will be open to the idea at first, in practice they find they have issues sharing. Jealousy and competitiveness rear their heads and things can get uncomfortable. Some people need to experience this to realise that it's not for them.

I'm happy in the relationship I'm in because we spent a long time talking through what we wanted from a relationship, only to find we were both looking for a poly relationship.

 

[llama112]

Monogamous relationship here. It's what we both want. I don't want to be with anyone else, he doesn't want to be with anyone else.

Yeah, what Black Rabbit said is basically what I thought of open vs poly relationships. Open relationships have one actual relationship and then other sexual partners. Poly relationships may (or may not) have one main relationship and other relationship(s) as well which also involve the emotional part (not just sexual).

 

[Maya]

^will you ever be open to other types of relationships in the future?

 

[Corazon]

my interpretation of what these words mean + relationship structures:


Monogamous Relationship - 2 people with 100% of their "love" (emotional and sexual energy?) devoted to each other.
X=Y


Open Relationship - OK to have sex outside of the 2 Main partners, however the Open Relationship is actually an extension of a strong trusted Monogamous Relationship.
abc-X=Y-def


Polyamorous Relationship - When people openly "love" more than one partner at the same time. There may be a relationship structure that is an offshoot of a monogamous relationship, but there doesn't have to be...
A=X=Y=B



* The underlines are just to keep track of the differences from a reference point, and the gender-colors can obviously be arranged in different ways...

 

[Maya]

^Have you been in an open relationship? Polyamory? Are there any experiences you liked and didn't like about the relationships?

 

[Black Rabbit of Inle]

my interpretation of what these words mean + relationship structures:


Monogamous Relationship - 2 people with 100% of their "love" (emotional and sexual energy?) devoted to each other.
X=Y


Open Relationship - OK to have sex outside of the 2 Main partners, however the Open Relationship is actually an extension of a strong trusted Monogamous Relationship.
abc-X=Y-def


Polyamorous Relationship - When people openly "love" more than one partner at the same time. There may be a relationship structure that is an offshoot of a monogamous relationship, but there doesn't have to be...
A=X=Y=B



* The underlines are just to keep track of the differences from a reference point, and the gender-colors can obviously be arranged in different ways...