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[–]Kara__El4 Stars87 points88 points89 points 7 years ago* (1 child) | Copy Link
You are absolutely setting yourself up for failure if you agree to this, because he is NOT acting with YOUR best interests in mind. He's acting with HIS best interests in mind and he's being more or less honest with you about it. He needs more. He's not ready to commit. You don't and you are. Go your separate ways, improve yourself, and if you're the right people for each other, in the right place at the right time, you can try again one day, but only if you part ways respectfully now. Sixteen is really, really, young to commit FOREVER. It's okay that he's not able to do that, but don't discredit yourself by agreeing to be his top plate. He won't respect you and you wont respect yourself.
Don't misunderstand that you can just say no and things will continue happily. Based on your post, he seems convinced that he needs this and will probably get it with or without your consent, eventually. Personally, I think you need to end this relationship amicably, while you still can.
[–]cherryhearts16 points17 points18 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Exactly, a man this selfish is not a man committed to you.
[–]BlueButterfly7741 points42 points43 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
I think you care for him more than he cares for you. I think this is hos way of keeping you "on file" while he explores to see if the grass is greener elsewhere. If it were me, I would tell him to go do what he needs to do, but I would be permanently walking out the door when I said it. There is no way I would put up with this. There has to be trust and respect in a true relationship and this is neither. Don't stand by and let him do this to you. 💜
[–][deleted] 18 points19 points20 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This. He wants to keep you around, see if the grass is greener elsewhere. If not, then he can return to you. Life doesn’t work that way and if you allow it once, he will do it again because maybe... just maybe the grass is greener elsewhere.
[–]beaversinthewashroom17 points18 points19 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
I think your gut is telling you something. Otherwise you wouldn’t have read about this online, nor would you have posted about it. Think about what commitment really means to you. Can a man be committed to you if he’s sharing himself with other women at the same time? What do you really want in a relationship? What do you think makes a relationship stronger? Do your values line up with his behaviour? I think you should step outside the situation and think about the things that are important to you. I personally don’t see how an open relationship could make a relationship stronger. If there are any weak points in a relationship, it would make sense to work on those directly rather than open it up to a whole new set of sexual endeavours. I also don’t see how physical relationships with other women can fix YOUR relationship. The logic doesn’t exactly add up.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor22 points23 points24 points 7 years ago (5 children) | Copy Link
I'm going to rewrite the same thing I always do when threesomes and open relationships come up. Most of this, is copied verbatim with your comments swapped in for the other OP. I'm telling you this because this is a tried and true post that you are writing. Many a man has the same request and many a woman tries to justify it in the exact same ways. I can't speak for how those relationships ever turn out. No one ever comes back and tells us. That may be telling in and of itself.
Lastly, in cases like this it's often a good rule of thumb that if you have to ask others if it's ok to do, it's probably not something you are ready for.
Here goes:
It is most likely but not definitely a stupid idea.
Awhile back my husband wanted to do the threesome thing. He'd done it before but never with me and I trusted him and said 'why not'. So I'm just going to tell you what I discovered from that so that you have more to consider when making your decision.
The women who are interested in being with a taken man are not necessarily women you will want in your life. I don't know how this plays out in an open relationship. This may be particularly true since you aren't even married. There will almost certainly be women competing to take him away from you. Competitive women can be dangerous to your life.
You have no idea how you will feel until he goes on dates. Whatever mental preparation you do and however you think you will feel, you simply cannot know the reality of it until it actually happens.
If you decide to explore your options (you are after all opening up the relationship), he cannot know how he will feel until you are on dates. Men are notoriously bad at accepting that their partner is with someone else. He may be banking on the fact that you aren't interested in dating others, but see #2.
There will be times when you are alone and he is with someone else and your hamster will start to spin, even if you trust him. You will compare yourself to the other women. How this plays out will depend on how much self confidence you have and how pretty/impressive/whatever the other women are.
Now a few other thoughts based on your post:
fear of missing out
In my experience, there isn't anything to miss out on. The trust and closeness that you build in a relationship makes sex much different (and better) than in a casual fling. All the same arguments apply here that apply to single women who want to sleep with a bunch of guys before they settle down. Are there sex acts that you won't do with him? He shouldn't be missing out on anything other than numbers unless he has some kink that you won't indulge. You should be able to explore and grow your sex life within the relationship. Some men do crave variety but plenty of men have a few partners in their lifetime and settle down. Variety is an impulse that doesn't have to be indulged to be happy.
I love him and I truly believe he loves me
I believe him...now. I believe you...now. But what happens if the sex is better for either of you with the new partner? And what happens if he (or you) start to get the new relationship feelings from the new partner. These are things that take emotional maturity to navigate for both of you. Will you be ok when he's infatuated with a new girl? Will you sleep next to him and feel comfortable that he had sex with someone else that night? Do you trust him to carry his feelings for a new person and still attending to your emotional needs? To not let you feel less than her?
he told me he just wanted the variety and the excitement of enticing women
It may not even be as easy as he thinks that it will be. This depends on your man's SMV obvi - but you may open the relationship only to deal with his frustration that he's not getting any interest. How that turns out depends on his personality. I think that it's common for people to say "lets have a threesome" or "lets have an open relationship" and then think that a new partner will fall in their lap the next day. It's still dating and dating can still be a challenge. Also, remember that the time you lose with him isn't restricted to the time frame of the actual date. He (or you) will be spending a bit of time on Tinder (or whatever) actually finding women to date, then talking to make the connection, then continuing the communication to build to sex. This takes away bonding time for you guys and refocuses it onto someone else.
want to do everything in my power to create the best relationship possible for us.
This is not enough of a reason to do this. You have to be truly ok with the emotional ramifications and even then it's a gamble.
[–][deleted] 6 points7 points8 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This response is excellent advice and a very thoughtful, accurate assessment.
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
This. Especially the shift in focus. It's not just the time while he's with someone else. It's all the work he'd have to put into meeting/wooing someone.
A friend of mine was in an open marriage, and it recently imploded because of this exact thing. His wife couldn't tolerate the amount of time/attention he had to give other women in order to bed them. They closed the marriage, and are working through it.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor2 points3 points4 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
Yes! I don't know if it's abundance mentality run amok or time out of the dating market or something else but no one in these situations seems to realize that dating someone else actually means dating someone else. He'll be maintaining two or three relationships and that is time and effort. Even just setting up a hook up is time and effort. And if he's up front and honest about his relationship status, it's likely to be even more difficult. Most women don't want to hook up with a man when there is no potential to move forward. I believe the men in these scenarios are very naive about the ease with which this fantasy can be fulfilled. Especially since he hasn't dated for five years. I imagine he's rusty at best.
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Yep. Even hookups are work, and take time away from the primary relationship.
[–]Wolfssenger9 points10 points11 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
I see this as the equivalent of hypergamy and monkey branching but for men. Both genders have a set of biological instincts that are harmful to a stable society. On the sexual axis, this is hypergamy for women and polygamy for men. It takes a certain amount of willpower and discipline to keep these in check and not only maintain a stable society for both children and adults, but also maximize the benefits of humanity's incredibly strong pair bonding abilities.
Your man seems to have no intention, or at least lacks the capacity to put forth the necessary discipline.
Anecdotally, I have a friend who struggles with the same desire and has tried open relationships. Each of these ended bitterly for both parties, and he just found out he has herpes. Needless to say forgoing this discipline has not served him well. While anecdotal, I think it's worth mentioning as I've yet to see this dynamic work out anywhere.
While I'm no authority, my vote here is no. There are plenty of good men, you can find one who can stomach the idea of forgoing infidelity.
[–][deleted] 5 points6 points7 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
This is my biggest fear!!! I have some type of STD phobic so open relationship and promiscuity was never my way of life.
[–]Wolfssenger7 points8 points9 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Agreed. Phobia is indicative of an irrational fear. An STD can trash your life, so that fear is in no way irrational.
[–]Saigunx5 points6 points7 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
He's already made up his mind, whether you agree to it or not. It will get worse as he gets older, as men's sense of morality deteriorates with age.
Source: am guy
If you're not enthusiastic about him sleeping with other women, don't proceed.
You're right that he's trying to have his cake and eat it too, and since he has the desire to be a 'douchey Chad', let him, but unless you're 10000% on board with this, you are exposing your sweet self to ruin.
Use this as an opportunity to leave the relationship and spare yourself a lot of heartache and drama and potential disease. Spend some time getting to know yourself and develop hobbies and value.
I wish you the best of luck.
[–][deleted] 4 points5 points6 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Some people in this world will never be happy without an open relationship. It is gaining popularity quickly in the US and becoming a lot less taboo. For some people it works, but for most I have seen it be a total drama fest. I had a guy I was with want the same thing from me when I was in my early 20s. We ended up breaking up not terribly long after because it wasn't an arrangement I wanted and he has cheated on every girlfriend since because of "needing variety". This was a boy I had known since I was 14 too and had no idea when I got into a relationship with him that it was a thing that would come up. It just suddenly did one day and it was heart breaking. Right now he is single and was recently pining online about not being able to find the right girl. I am happily engaged and having my dream wedding in December. At the time of the break up, it sucked a lot but my fiance now is just an all around higher value man than my ex. It can get better but I wouldn't suggest holding onto this relationship unless in your heart you are really okay with him having sex with others...hoping his desire for other women will just dissipate and he will no longer want this kind of arrangement is not particularly realistic.
[–]KittenLoves_Endorsed Contributor8 points9 points10 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
Open relationships will work if both parties are 100% on board and have agreed to terms that work well for both of them. If you're not 100% on board with the idea, it isn't going to work for you. There will always be resentment, mistrust, and a feeling that he lacks respect for you and your relationship.
Do with this information what you will.
[–]MrTrizzles3 points4 points5 points 7 years ago* (0 children) | Copy Link
This, 1,000%. It's the most important thing by far. You see, there will always be some bad feelings, EVEN IF you are on board 100%.
Women are naturally monogamous (thank the gods) so a part of you will instinctively be riled up upon seeing another woman with your man. You will feel that pain, period.
If you were 100% for the idea you have a chance at dealing with those emotions with clarity. If you went into it begrudgingly those feelings will assault and overcome you and the relationship will not survive. And if after that it does survive, you may not survive it.
TRP likes to talk about how a woman would prefer to share an alpha than have exclusive rights to a beta. This is true but will only occur in certain scenarios, namely when 1) The woman needs to be in a relationship to feel content, and 2) There is a drastic shortage of good men.
Since we're not close to #2 yet, and women need men less and less to feel content, I can't see the "soft harem" idea gaining traction any time soon, although it works just fine for some.
Good luck.
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
If you're not 100% on board with the idea, it isn't going to work for you
This, you also can't convince yourself you're on board with the idea because that never works. You can't change your own mind on something like this without losing a part of yourself.
[–]skeleflor5 points6 points7 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
he knows I’m a good woman but feels as though this is something he /needs/ to do.
If he knows you to be a good woman, demand he treat you like one. THAT is something a good man who values a good woman /needs/ to do.
[–]merel--1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
Opening up a relationship is a big fucking deal. Communication must be flawless between the two of you, you must have very rigid boundaries with what is allowed and what isn't allowed, you must be EXTREMELY secure in your relationship and you must also enjoy the new way the relationship will be between you. Are you allowed to fuck other people? How will he feel about that? How will you feel when he goes on a date with another woman? What if one of you fall in love with a different person?
I also personally think that the fear of missing out is a pretty shitty reason to open up a relationship...
[–]Friskydisc6661 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
you need to focus on yourself, yeah it sucks because you've been with him so long and you always want to take care of him... but honestly even though he says he cares about you... does he really? if he's asking about having plates? i think you should TRY to move on for a bit. NUN MODE just keep pushing yourself to be better then ever, the more you work on yourself the more he's going to be interested. I KNOW YOU LOVE HIM AND ITS HARD TO LET GO but start pulling away. I KNOW its stupid to say this because its a shit game but start playing hard to get. MEN WANT WHAT THEY CANT HAVE. If you start going above and beyond to do better for YOURSELF i promise you hes going to regret ever thinking about another woman. Just start finding hobbies you like doing yourself, start going for walks alone (clear your mind too) volunteer, try reaching out to some girls around school. I have been there trust me i think we all have been there and done that... i just hurt for you i really do. Dont be scared to reach out if you're feeling down either, we're only human.
[–]DoctorWelch 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (6 children) | Copy Link
If you have only been with him (lost your virginity to him) then he is letting his dick get the best of him. Problem is, it’s so hard to see that the casual sex is empty and boring until you’ve done it a bunch. Even now I’m tempted to want to go back to it even though I know the sex itself isn’t even that good.
If he is already having sex and satisfied in that way with you then it’s more about the chase for him. The sex is nice sure, but it’s more about the ability to lay a girl and have that feeling of accomplishment. Once you actually are in bed having sex you feeling nothing, double so if you’ve been drinking.
If you were with others before him I personally say it’s harder for you to make the argument against him exploring. Even so, I think you have to establish some kind of rule or guideline. Open relationship is a little too far in my opinion. His first priority should be you if you’re going to stay together and be married or whatever else in the future. A good compromise would be this: He must put you first and strive to always do what is best for you and your relationship or kids if you ever have them. In return you will forgive any and all mistakes with other women but you are still allowed to see them as mistakes and be upset by them. If he is putting you and your relationship/marriage/kids first however, you have no grounds for leaving him.
This is in contrast to you having lost your virginity to him and being worthy of saying any and all infidelity is worthy of divorce/break up. If you were a virgin, I would try to talk to him and say you understand but that other dudes are saying he is going to regret potentially ruining a good relationship and future with a rare woman. Because I know, after a few causal sex partners he will realize how pointless and boring it all is and regret screwing things up if he did.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor8 points9 points10 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
I really don't see how her virginity or lack thereof plays into this.
Whatever her n count, he knew that at the beginning of their 5 year relationship. That was his time to opt out, he's trying to change the rules of the game midway through and it's not her obligation to stay with him and allow it if doesn't make her happy. Virginity isn't something owed to men.
[–]DoctorWelch 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (1 child) | Copy Link
You not seeing or understanding how virginity plays into it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t. Men’s natural desires don’t care about whether or not you want to accept or understand them.
The fact is, if men want a long term relationship they want you to be a virgin. That’s doesn’t mean they won’t be with someone who isn’t, but given the exact same person one virgin and one not, any man not indoctrinated against his natural desires will choose the virgin.
Virginity plays a roll because it doesn’t matter how long he has been with her, if she wasn’t a virgin when they first got together he will always feel more justified in doing something outside of marriage, whether you like it or agree or understand why.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor12 points13 points14 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
This is idiotic. A man has every right to not be with a woman that isn't a virgin if that is his preference. What he does not have the right to do is demand nonmonogamy because she has had sex with someone other than him. The time to decide is prior to the relationship not in the middle of it.
Men can demand whatever they want. Women are not obligated to give it them. Your advice is bad and is only meant to benefit this man who wants to attempt a harem. If your suggestion is that virginity is important then men who have sex wantonly are as much to blame for the state of society as the women who allow it. If it is entirely up to women to hold the line on sexual morality then the OP is obligated to NOT allow her man to go tarnish the virtues of other women.
[–]pearlsandstilettosModerator | Pearl[M] 5 points6 points7 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
Rule Zero: advice must benefit the woman.
This advice benefits her because it lets her know that if she isn’t willing to compromise based on the facts of their relationship then she shouldn’t be in it. But it also lets her understand where the guy is coming from and whether he is just letting his desires get the best of him.
If she chooses to accept what he wants it means that she is judging the relationship that she has with him to be worth more than sacrificing it to potentially be with someone who doesn’t make her as happy or fulfilled but is more loyal. Who knows, maybe she will find someone better if the break up, but who are any of us to say that she will be find that and be happier than staying in this relationship and working out some compromise.
[–]pearlsandstilettosModerator | Pearl[M] 3 points4 points5 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
I am not here to debate with you. I simply explained why your comment was removed.
[–]cherryhearts 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (1 child) | Copy Link
Ew he's the trashy version of a redpilled man.
[–]pearlsandstilettosModerator | Pearl[M] 0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
There is no need to insult the OPs BF, particularly without giving any advice.
[+]controversalbird-12 points-11 points-10 points 7 years ago (25 children) | Copy Link
In my experience, it just makes them love you even more because you are so awesome for allowing such things. Not many other women are open to such things, so why would they want to lose that?
Alternatively, if you choose not to, it can lead to resentment, bitterness, and losing him. That desire is not going to go away and it can drive people mad.
I've noticed younger people (men and women) who have not been with many sexual partners feel this way. It's something that needs to get out of their system, it's probably biological in many ways (like when you say he needs to do it), that's just how we are programmed. This leads to cheating and other negative behaviors. I see this alot with high school sweethearts (even with kids) that have only been with each other.
Ultimately it is up to you, but I have found great success in it, and conversely my friends that are more traditional have lots of problems (like cheating, breakups, etc).
[–]RubyWooToo 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (23 children) | Copy Link
Nice try, OP’s boyfriend.
[–]controversalbird1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago* (22 children) | Copy Link
lol, I get this is a joke but God forbid I share my personal experience. I'm not advocating one way or the other, ultimately that is up to her. I'm just illustrating what I see when this happens. Then I just get called a man for not having a traditional relationship? Pretty ridiculous.
Apparently, according to people in this thread, an open-relationship will never work. Meanwhile here I am married for 10 years.
[–]RubyWooToo3 Stars8 points9 points10 points 7 years ago* (18 children) | Copy Link
The length of a relationship is no indication of its quality.
It’s great that your arrangement works for you. But one person winning the lotto is not an argument for everyone to quit their day jobs.
What I see in OP’s situation is a guy switching the onus of responsibility for his own desires from himself to the OP. If she declines to open the relationship, then she’s the mean controlling girlfriend. If she dumps him, then he can say it’s her fault for not being open minded. If she agrees to the arrangement and stays with him, she’s supposed to control her jealousy rather than him controlling his penis.
If he thinks the world is an all-he-can-eat buffet of pussy just waiting for him to feast upon it, he should have the cajones to break up with his girlfriend and have his fun as a single man... not expect to have OP as a soft place to land when he’s done or fails.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor9 points10 points11 points 7 years ago (7 children) | Copy Link
I've said before and I'm sure I'll say it many many times more...people who are outliers have a responsibility to acknowledge that they are outliers. If you know that you are lucky that something worked out for you, you should not put yourself out there as an example to others.
I've been open on here about my higher n count. That does not mean that I would recommend that women sleep around. It worked out ok for me, but that is who I am as a person and the man I was lucky enough to find. It would be irresponsible for me to tell strangers that it worked for me so it's totally ok.
If you intend to use your extreme situation as an example then you have to lay out what you've done to make it work for you. Simply saying that open relationships work and traditional relationships do not is irresponsible when there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.
/u/controversalbird
[–]controversalbird0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago* (6 children) | Copy Link
So I shouldn't share my experience because my relationship is an outlier? And to insinuate that this is harmful in someway? That's crazy. I can acknowledge we are outliers, that doesn't change squat.
People just get hung up on their insecurities. That doesn't mean you can't make it work if you want it to or that it's a 1 in a million chance. It takes work, communication, and honesty.
We know exactly what will happen: She let's him do it and feels bad, she let's him do it and feels good, they break up, or he cheats on her. Those are the 4 options here. That's the point I'm trying to get across. I'm in option 2, but I would hate to see her in option 4. Ultimately it's up to her but don't come down on me for sharing my experience. I guess if you want to see women attacking each other, more power to you.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (3 children) | Copy Link
Your explanation here was much more thorough than what you originally wrote but it would be even better still if you told the OP how to make it work in your scenario. Just saying "it can work" without actual advice is what I called irresponsible.
You seem shocked that people here disagree with you. Do you understand the nature of the sub you decided to comment on?
[–]controversalbird2 points3 points4 points 7 years ago* (2 children) | Copy Link
Don't worry, she messaged me privately and we've been talking there since the comments here are so toxic. That honestly makes me sad that we can't even have an open conversation about this. You said yourself that no one comes back and tells you how it went. I wonder why judging from the responses here. It has definitely turned me off to this place a bit. What a great environment you are fostering.
I'm not going to give advice saying she should do it. It's not for everyone. But she should know that there are positive success stories. I am sorry I didn't give more advice on HOW to do it in my original post. The number one thing to do is be honest with each other, which he has been doing in telling her his desires. That's what gives me the hope that they can make it work.
As far as I'm concerned, this is a redpill approach. I'm shocked because it says we should be "objective" but this is anything but. It's also "realistic" from my point of view, it's deeply rooted in "evolutionary psychology" (monogamy is a semi-modern concept propagated by religion and government, even those religions that weren't before), but this is even more modern to me now that it's 2018 and open relationships are here to stay, and enables "long-term relationships" and even "marriage" in my case.
[–]durtykneesEndorsed Contributor2 points3 points4 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
we can't even have an open conversation about this.
I don't see your comments being removed? All I see are people having an open conversation with you, and asking you to elaborate.
I'm not going to give advice saying she should do it.
Didn't you advice in a previous post:
That's quite a dire prediction for the choice of not doing it.
[–]controversalbird1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
'Can' being the key word. There is no guarantee. That's not advice.
[–]Guywithgirlwithabike3 Stars1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link
"I can acknowledge we are outliers, that doesn't change squat"
What are you on? Do you even know what the word "outlier" means?
Do you think following Stephen Hawkings' academic path would be sane advice to give to your average 100 IQ high school graduate?
[–]controversalbird-1 points0 points1 point 7 years ago* (0 children) | Copy Link
I think you are making some assumptions about her. Just because it isn't likely doesn't mean we should discount it.
If you know that you are lucky that something worked out for you, you should not put yourself out there as an example to others.
Just lol. How many basketball players put themselves out there to be an example for young kids? Stay in school guys.
Jesus you people are angry.
[–]controversalbird0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago (9 children) | Copy Link
So he shouldn't give her the option at all? That's stupid. Relationships are about communication and understanding. He's being honest, and we shouldn't fault him for that. If he wants and she doesn't, that's it. It's not her fault, it's not his fault, it's just the way things are.
Like I said, from my observations it's more biology than anything (impregnate as much as you can to ensure the survival of the species). Go observe some bonobos. Younger people (again men AND women) tend to feel this way when they haven't had many sexual partners or just in general because that's the way we are programmed. You can suppress it or embrace it. Ultimately the choice is hers.
People are coming down on me for sharing my experiences and observations. It's silly. I'm not advocating for one way or the other. I'm just saying if she says no, he's gonna cheat on her or he's going to want to cheat on her. So just break up then. I don't care one way or the other. I'm just saying that it can work if you want it to. Be honest with each other, there is no reason to hide your darkest desires.
[–]durtykneesEndorsed Contributor1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (8 children) | Copy Link
Go observe some bonobos.
I often wonder if bonobos ever tell each other: "Go observe some humans!" to make a point about being sexual rebels.
I'm willing to entertain the idea that some humans may be analogous with bonobos, but I'm quite sure most humans aren't bonobos :p
that's the way we are programmed. You can suppress it or embrace it. I'm just saying that it can work if you want it to.
that's the way we are programmed. You can suppress it or embrace it.
I'm just saying that it can work if you want it to.
This is like telling a gay person they could be straight if they really want to, and this is my opinion as a woman in a semi-open marriage (we only do temporary non-monogamy because we've concluded that maintaining steady partners is an exercise in masochism).
Some people are strongly inclined to be non-monogamous, while others simply aren't wired that way, and that doesn't mean they're somehow in denial of their essential bonobo sex drives.
[–]controversalbird 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (7 children) | Copy Link
You don't think bonobos could observe less intelligent animals and make comparisons?
Again, 'can' is not a guarantee, there is no 100%, no absolutes. When I say "if you want it to" I mean if you want to try.
[–]durtykneesEndorsed Contributor1 point2 points3 points 7 years ago (4 children) | Copy Link
I'm confused: are you implying humans are less intelligent, or are you saying bonobos would observe other animals?
This piques my interest, because I often hang out with the poly crowd (if you're hardcore into kink, it comes with the territory), and I hear a lot about bonobos, especially the oppression of one's inner bonobo, for not being poly.
I sexually identify as a jabberwocky, so I find it difficult to relate.
[–]girlwithabikeEndorsed Contributor4 points5 points6 points 7 years ago (2 children) | Copy Link
I hear a lot about bonobos, especially the oppression of one's inner bonobo, for not being poly
I could be wrong but I believe the "we are bonobos" idea (in the zeitgeist at least) comes from Sex at Dawn.
The book's theory (as I recall it) is that we evolved from bonobos not apes. Bonobos are much more peaceful and have sex for pleasure with just about everyone. It then premises that we're not wired for monogamy and uses several native tribes that haven't been touched by modernity (or civilization).
I heard about the book from Dan Savage who pushed it quite a bit. It's an interesting read but considered a flawed theory in general. IIRC the presupposition that we descend from bonobos is more "well this maybe could be true" rather than hard evidence AND most societies have existed with some form of "marriage" for so long it's difficult to say that obscure tribes are our "true" nature.
One of the better lessons is that bonobos have sex to keep peace and soothe hot emotions. I find this to be an excellent strategy with Husband :-P.
I suspect that the poly types picked it up and ran with it because it implies "scientific evidence" for their lifestyle.
I heard about the book from Dan Savage who pushed it quite a bit.
Ah, I learned something new, thank you. I definitely hear about Dan Savage more than bonobos, among poly folks, so I think you're right on the money.
most societies have existed with some form of "marriage" for so long it's difficult to say that obscure tribes are our "true" nature.
Theories of human nature aside, the observable fact is that human societies built on marriages are societies that thrive best.
The last I checked, bonobos are an endangered species, so I'm not sure their sexual strategy is all that viable :p
One of the better lessons is that bonobos have sex to keep peace and soothe hot emotions.
That's the wisest statement I've ever heard, regarding bonobos.
I find this to be an excellent strategy with Husband :-P.
haha Truth!
bonobos would observe other animals. I think they are very capable.
"You don't think bonobos could observe less intelligent animals and make comparisons?"
No, they cannot. You're describing a cognitive function that occurs in the prefrontal cortex, which is barely present at all in bonobos. Hell, you're describing a level of abstraction that doesn't even occur in all humans. The only other species that engage in abstraction through observation at that level, oddly, are squids and octupi.
Beyond that, it seems strange to offer as a behavioral model a species that is critically endangered and limited to a small region of Africa due to its inability to swim across a river. I don't think you've fully thought through the consequences of copying off of an evolutionary dead end.
[–]controversalbird0 points1 point2 points 7 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link
Such things exist in nature is all I'm trying to point out. Most mammals are polygamous. We aren't birds.
[–]Kara__El 1 points 7 years ago [recovered] (2 children) | Copy Link
I love when RP men get mad about how they're received on this subreddit. Glass houses, dude. Glass houses.
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