What does open relationship mean?

Question

I don’t quite understand to be honest…

VIVANT · Accepted Answer

It means you are romantically exclusive with one person but you are free to have sex with other people. Often the people are vetted by the other partner you can’t just get into it with anyone. Safe sex is 💯 mandatory as you are committed to each others well being, sometimes everyone will have met each other, sometimes they are all friend, but not always.

I can understand it not being appealing to many in the other hand I can see it being appealing. Being relaxed about sex takes sex itself away from being the refining point of the relationship or the pinnacle of closeness. I don’t care much s out sex I don’t see it as the height of intimacy I see sex maybe like a good massage if urs good.

Sex is not the thing I’d be comfortable as the exemplification of all things meaningful. I really would not want my partner to find me so uniquely important bc I’m the person he gets sex with. If I’m really close to someone he’s not bc of sex.

And I can see the appeal of taking away the idea we own each others bodies. I see so many u hinged takes on what is physically owed in a relationship. Sometimes people are suck it in pain or going through stuff where we’d is just not doable.

Sometimes people are in love but have vastly different sexual preferences. Rather then trying to twist the love of your life into a person who loves anal or goes down for hours - when you can just do that with someone else who lives it, I see the practicality of it.

No one checks all boxes. If you are deeply in love it will not magically make you into everything your partner is into. That puts a TON of stress on couples and leaves people feeling insufficient and deflated. So for some, open makes it easier to stay bonded and free of resentment.

Sex isn’t always going to be happening in relationships. I think on some levels, it’s healthy to not take it too seriously,

most people had arousal and fantasized about sex loooooong before they knew what it was to truly be in love. Sex exists independently of love. You can merge them but it’s not essential so I don’t really see the big deal of an open relationship… provided the _core_relationship is and remains respectful and strong.

Using worst case scenario if open relationships isn’t really useful bc there are millions of examples of non open relationships where people are miserable as well.. are the best open relationships worst than the best closed relationships? I don't know. Don’t have the data.

Of course, people shouldn’t agree to open relationships if they are not comfortable. That is certain destruction,

Unap0logetic_ · Accepted Answer

Your partner wants to be able to bone other women/men without having a consequence. Usually, they’ll try and say they’re open with you doing the same.. (although, I’ve seen people who aren’t okay with the other person doing it lol or it will be gender specific)

ohmyguy · Accepted Answer

It means that it's cool with you your partner engages in sexual relationships with whom they see fit n worthy.. n your business is running to a similar effect...

Now if one or the other is willingly partaking in such matters while fully aware of substantial comparative disadvatage.

Is fucked up..
A weird kink. or
Fuck who knows
Such notions as thus are and likely remain in the fantasy relms.. n not nowhere near any reality I've come across.. even second or third hand experience...

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

Open relationship means that we will continue our relationship (I'm not sure why) and say we love each other, but if I want to have sex with another woman, I'll do it and if you know about it, you will act like it doesn't bother you. And if you want to boink another guy and I find out about it, I'll pretend that I don't care.

Love Doctor Brad · Accepted Answer

Diving into the world of love and connection, an open relationship is like having your cake and eating it too, but with clear rules and a lot of trust! It's where both partners agree that they can have romantic or sexual relationships with other people, outside their primary partnership. Think of it as expanding the traditional boundaries of a relationship to explore connections with others, while maintaining the love and trust with your main squeeze. It's not everyone's cup of tea and requires a ton of communication, honesty, and understanding. So, if you're navigating these waters, keep those channels open and the understanding flowing. Love can be a vast ocean with many explorers!

Finchie40 · Answer

It’s called , not a real relationship , it’s 2 selfish people , pretending to love each other , while they both go out and screw other people. I

Anonymous · Answer

I think these relationships work out so well is because these people are incapable of loving others. You don’t love the person you’re with because if you did you would have no desire to seek sex elsewhere, so I don’t quite understand what the point of it is, maybe so these people can kind of create an illusion for themself that they’re in a relationship, but the openness kind works too cause there’s a low chance people with brains like this will become emotionally attached to anyone, but there’s always that chance. But these relationships are jokes and people in them are also jokes, but if they’re happy doing it, it ultimately really doesn’t matter at all.

spartan55 · Answer

It's something I would never entertain. To me it means you have an SO with all that goes along with it. HOWEVER you are free to act single and have other relationships. Be it sexual, ONS, whatever. It's just a fancy way of saying you have no commitment.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

It means your in a relationship but you and you partner can sleep with whomever you want to sleep with. Which is stupid asf cause if your gonna do that then why even get into a relationship just stay single and do whatever you want 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️👨‍🏫

Nikki1989 · Answer

We have been in one for over 10 years, but they mean different things to different people. The biggest mistake people make is they are rarely 100% open, as there are still rules and expectations.

LiamJHayden · Answer

It means that the partners can behave as though they are single, which to me seems to negate the concept of relationship, but to each his own. I will not accept such an arrangement.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

It means what you negotiate with the involved parties, I guess?

strateguy632 · Answer

It means i certainly have one lady committed to me  while i can cheat with others. she can't complain because "i never said that we were exclusive just us 2". Source series phil future.

Agape93 · Answer

It's when you allow yourself and partner to have other partners

TonyV · Answer

Commitment free commitment basiclly, or friends with benefits that live together? Or the more likely one person is using the other and looking for something better.

avery58 · Answer

It means they both agree that one or both of them (usually both) can sleep with or date other people. They're not exclusive.

boggboss · Answer

A relationship where their are agreed on boundaries that allow for other people to be in the relationship

jojouzumaki · Answer

Open relationship is having more than one sexual or romantic partner at a time. It’s an arrangement that both parties agree is non-exclusive or non-monogamous.

LiamS95 · Answer

It basically means a couple living together with no relationship to tie either of them down so they each can have as many sex partners as they want.

superchan2011 · Answer

Open relationship basically means that if say me and you were in a relationship, we could still have sex with other people even though we're dating as well.

DJB72 · Answer

Have your cake and eat it. More succinctly, it means you don't actually have the guts to commit to one person

FunkyMonkee · Answer

You're still a couple but you can go fuck other people, if you want.

WhitneySnow · Answer

It means you both can sleep with other people. Not for me, but it’s a valid lifestyle if that’s what you want.

Ironco · Answer

I'm assuming you know the definition of open relationship? That being said, couples who participate in this have a lot of communication and understanding going on. Don't judge them. To each their own

sawno · Answer

Its not suitable for you I don't think. Its a relationship without exclusivity.

SolitarySolace · Answer

Its basically acceptable cheating because neither partner gives a shit about each other enough to stay monogamous

Dongie · Answer

It's when married couples lose that loving feeling but don't want to get divorced so they each date other people.

glennos89 · Answer

I guess you can compare it to a friend with benefit type of roommate where you live together with lol😂🙈 Open relationships are weird as hell

ItsaMeMaik · Answer

Simple: You are in a relationship but can date/sleep with others. 😅

Ariesman81 · Answer

It means I fuck other women while you stay home praying I don't find someone better

msc545 · Answer

In practice, it means that women can have sex with whoever they want outside of the relationship while men sit at home doom scrolling trying to find a candidate for the same thing.

Jennz6 · Answer

You can date anyone without having any problem

Jpie555 · Answer

To me, it means you give each other a hall pass to explore sexual experiences with others… hopefully without losing your emotional attachment to your partner

Mati91 · Answer

In other words they want the relationship benefits while having side piece or have multiple lovers.

Ironic_Method · Answer

That they are open to have other intimate encounters.

MrGSpotHer · Answer

It's basically friends that stay together and sleep with whoever they like

LEGENDARY4200 · Answer

That either person can date/ sleep with whoever they want

Twalli · Answer

You label yourself, but have sexual relationships with others.

TallAnon · Answer

You're in a relationship, but you're both open to have other relationships.

captain_voidwalker · Answer

It means she wants you to pay her bills but Chad to blow her back out

jjj101010 · Answer

Basically u can see other people but come back to each other at the end of the day

Anonymous · Answer

It means you can have sex with anybody you want

NathanDavis · Answer

no strings attached...

Grond21 · Answer

It means there is sanctioned cheating

Samantha_Stevenson · Answer

Google jeez

Cheerfull009 · Answer

Free to sleep with any person

Update_Available · Answer

Disgusting

What does open relationship mean?

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