I'm surprised there are no closely related topics here... at least I couldn't find one (is there any?).
It's interesting to me because I sense the shifting of meaning in the ideas of commitment, loyality and even love. What do you think?

Poliamoria = Sexually-transmitted diseases

It has been discussed many times. usually gets raised by newcomers that don't stay long.
Last time it was posted isn't even that long ago, but I guess it disappears in the archives real fast cos it's not what most people here are interested in.

Last I looked it was 2021 not 1968.
Polyamory is the practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the informed consent of all partners involved.

I'm sure there are still people practicing polyamory lifestyles but usually not on a free dating site.

Most people I know are stingy with their love. They don't want to share. They want their relationships to be personal, dedicated and committed to one person at a time.

However, if ya tilt yer head just so and squint a lil, nearly everyone dating multiple people could have the capacity for polyamory. Usually, morals and wisdom prevents them from committing to that lifestyle.


I think, you are sensing the beginning of the evolution of the human species to a personal fulfillment desire.
Religion used to set morality standards generation after generation. Recently, religion has taken a back seat to personal fulfillment.
Parents used to be active in their children's lives, teaching their morals and attitudes while guiding them to adulthood.
Recently, the media has been teaching the children. Few families sit together for meals and most of the time, the TV is on or someone has their nose in a phone.
Instant gratification has become the norm for many people.
Great, meaningful relationships take time and effort. Many of the current population want it all right now.

There are people who prefer taking it slow and sure. Many are afraid because they rushed into a relationship which ended badly for them. Some are hesitant because of horror stories they have heard. Then you have the ones who know building a meaningful, loving relationship with someone has to be done correctly and that takes time.

This trend which is evolving the human race bleeds off into other areas of life as well. Instant credit, fast service, fast food, shop at home, instant communication, instant internet and it goes on and on.

Some people will date one person after the next after the next and continuously change partners 'looking' for that one perfect match.
The problem with this is the fact all people are different and nobody is ever going to live to anyone else's expectations perfectly.

You end up with stressed out, impatient people jaded about life and how nothing ever works how they want it. They feel cheated or worse, unimportant.
Self-esteem takes a hit and they look to others to fix that which only they can fix. Sometimes depression sets in.

I see many things others do which contributes to their malcontent in life.
I see the changes in personal relationships and personal attitudes towards life.
There are a lot of delusions in society which bleeds into personal lives.
So Yes,
The ideas of commitment, loyalty and even love are changing. For the better or worse is unclear at this point in time.
If society trends toward polyamory, its certainly going to affect families and future generations. Good or bad, I can't really say.
But...its not a precedent. The 60s decade opened the door and the resultant generation initiated the change. Now, 2-3 generations later morals and values have changed. I seriously doubt we are in the 'end game' of this evolution, perhaps we are seeing the beginning?
Whether multiple partnered love takes hold is still a question.

Interesting topic for discussion...

Thank you Tom, especially for the very last columns, I like this kind of open minded curiosity about change and future. I was wondering that taking aside the psychical/ biological/ evolutional aspect, could P. expand the quality of relationships to a higher, richer level. I think it also have sg to do with today's new social behavioral forms like partnership, community-thinking. In this aspect I see a certain development in the attention (care?) to ourselves and to others as well.

Yes, I've searched through the pages without a result.
One person can be enough to gain new thoughts :)
Thanks for the answer!

I also think it's high risk, avoidable only with a small number of trustworthy partners. Which goes into the cathegory of committed relationship but multiplied.

Trust? Well ... the more people, who are involved in this type of relationship, the more people, I have to trust. Which is difficult, if you problems, trusting even one person

Well, you did ask for opinions...

There's pros & cons to every intimate relationship.
By evolution I was not meaning physical evolution more of a social evolution.
Modern society evolves over time and reproduction disciplines also evolve over time. Morally, right now, polyamory is still taboo for much of the population.

I've read some interesting science fiction works which explore the lifestyles of people when reproduction is removed from individual people and embryos are grown in vats.
Without the necessity of the reproduction process and the requirements of that union, people are free to love as they wish. Society adopts and open mind concerning sharing love. Marriage becomes non-existent and individuals are free to express sexual desire with anyone they choose.

While we are a long way from that scenario it is possible in some distant future. Test Tube babies have already been done as well as cloning. As morals change, so might the laws which keep these technologies at bay.

There are examples of communal marriages and families. While still taboo, they do exist as 'cults'. The fact they exist kinda opens the door to social acceptance...eventually.

Additionally, there is a potential market for the science fiction concept of the life-like sex bot android. Tho far from realistic technology right now, who knows what the future consumers will demand? However, if sex bots do become common in society, that would indicate an acceptance which might lead to socially accepted polyamory.

Right now, as others have already stated trust, STDs and moral attitudes get in the way of "Free Love".
Way too many have 'personal baggage' which gets in the way.
Jealousy saturates human society.

Love this lifestyle

Sure, it's all beer and skittles til someone gets serious and someone else ends up getting shot in the butt.

Thanks again, very meaningful thoughts to me.

Poliamoria

I believe, there's a vaccine for that now.

Wait! Maybe that's polio.

making me laugh not sure how effective it would be given many men are afraid of needles !!!

The expression "committed but multiplied" is an oxymoron.

Hi Laura increased awareness can be effective in bringing about whether change is effective depends on risk assessment , (what we see as a threat or reward) . As with accepting differing expressions of sexuality , changes to relationship norms are slow to progress . Beliefs and attitudes grounded in cultural and religious values have a lot to do with what behaviour society as a whole is willing to accept . Likely having multiple partners at the same time will remain an outlier in western society for many years to come . The practice of having multiple partners is not new in the eastern world and has existed for centuries . .

thank you

Polyamory is little more than multiple 'Friends with Benefits' in my opinion, unless it's leading to some form of polygamy, but since that involves total commitment it is unlikely.

I think about it as real love, commitment, respecting and valuing more than one person. It supposes bigger sovereignty and independency and maybe more consciousness about being in a relatioship and about the merits of having a connection.

Polyamory? Okay, is that in fiction or something real? I really have no clue how that's possible! But I am reading on....