LadyPact
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I liked this post very much, so for conversation's sake... quote:
ORIGINAL: littleladybug I know that it is probably impossible, but I would be interested in seeing what the actual breakdown is of poly vs. mono relationships within the BDSM umbrella. From my experience in certain communities, as well as reading online fora, it can seem that non-monogamous relationships are more the "norm". My inclination is to say that this is just the nature of the beast, and the overall reality is probably skewed more toward strictly monogamous relationships, but sometimes I do wonder about it. It really would be fascinating to know such a thing, wouldn't it? If there were some way to know statistics like that, rather than just estimations that can be drawn from limited surveys. I'm always curious about that kind of thing. However, you make a really good point about what we "see" vrs what might really be out there because of the views we get. I could really have a good time going through the search feature for examples of people, over the years, who have told me I "shouldn't be on a dating site" because I'm married. (Some have been pretty good jerks about it, too.) A lot of monogamous people who are currently partnered probably wouldn't be on the site unless it was for the social or educational aspect of the place. It has to have something more than *just* being a dating site for monogamous people to stick around. Same goes with the live version out in the world. When monogamous people do clubs or cons, it's for something else other than 'looking for more people to engage'. I've got a fine set up at home, but the social aspect of clubs has always been one of my things. I don't know anybody who has all of the types of dungeon furniture that's out there. I'd say there are a number of pluses if people just want to go out, but just as many reasons for monogamous folks to want to stay home. Again, another reason why the numbers of what we see might be skewed. quote:
Here's the thing though, OP- having the "mono vs. poly" discussion is like discussing religion or politics. For people who are staunchly on opposite sides of the spectrum, there is going to be one of two outcomes. Either an agreement to disagree, or what is, IMO, one of the most annoying comments ever- "but I just don't understand how you could feel this way". From reading the comments, I get why some people are feeling that way. I guess I am seeing it differently because I was monogamous up until my mid-thirties. I didn't have a reason to be poly, so I wasn't. Really, if I lost an interest in kink (it has been known to happen to some folks) I wouldn't have a reason to continue being poly, which might even sound weird to other poly people. quote:
If you are truly interested in learning about the hows and whys of non-monogamous relationships, I'd suggest first doing some reading. There is a lot of information available that might give you insight into non-monogamous relationships. I don't believe that it is inherently "wrong" to post questions about it, but I hope you can see now how certain questions might come across from your staunchly monogamous perspective. IME, there is a vast difference between asking questions for the sake of learning, and putting questions out there that automatically put others on the defensive. (The "I don't understand how someone could feel this way" sort.) I'm definitely with you about the learning part. Even though just about every poly person on this thread practices a different kink of poly, I almost wonder if we have enough forum participants to give a good view. Not that the contributions on the thread aren't good. It's just that there aren't a lot of us these days, ya know? quote:
FWIW, I don't view what you've said here as part of some "anti-poly" agenda. I'd just consider sitting back a bit and taking in what people have to say. That is, if you're truly interesting in learning about how the "other side ticks". Yes, but you know, that works for the other side, too. There are plenty of poly people who can do the same thing. I've seen it happen several times where poly folks get the air of superiority going on against monogamous people when reading the same kind of thread on other sites. Funny how we tend to do that, sometimes. For what it's worth, OP, you've managed to write the best monogamy and poly discussion that's been here for a while.
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The crowned Diva of Destruction. ~ ExT Beach Ball Sized Lady Nuts. ~ TWD Happily dating a new submissive. It's official. I've named him engie. Please do not send me email here. Unless I know you, I will delete the email unread
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