Real Talk About Open Relationships

"Polyhedric Love" was directed by Maria Rosa Badia. It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.

[darksavior]

The issue I find with being open is that while I agree you can have multiple loves (emotional and/or sexual) there are only so many hours in the day, and only so much of a person to go around, and so devotion and balancing partners can be an issue. That can be tough to navigate and not feel overwhelmed or neglected. So while there isn't love scarcity, there is time, attention, and resource scarcity, that's just logistics. Also, it can be difficult to feel special to someone when you are one of many.

[whosscottgreen]

Couldn't do it. Different strokes for different folks.

[aikitherese]

Where are the couples over 50? or 60? Whatever works for you, that's great. I'm curious about the statistics of long term polyamory over the course of a lifetime.

[jibsssss]

I'll stick with monogamy.

Having one partner for life gives me sentimental value that one person is all I need ♥️

[DimitriTechOfficial]

Openening up my relationship made me figure out that i didnt have a friendship with my partner. He was just using me as a trophy. Once he got me he wanted other trophies. I guilted myself because i was the one who brought up opening it. But Honestly it was just an idea and wanted to take things slow and start by sharing our love together with others first. But he wanted to just straight up do other people and hated the idea of doing stuff together. that was the first major flag i ignored.

[ItsSoulRealPodcast]

Open relationships are ethically nonmonogamous, but not polyamorous. This video seems to actually be about polyamory.

[wiidiwii]

Live and let live is what I think when it comes to how other people choose to live their lives.

[alexbourlis]

No one can own a person. But you have the right to own the story you live with someone.

[lindayang]

People don't understand that there's different types of an open relationship. It's different for every relationship. It could be poly, it could just be you and your partner having sex with completely other people or being open emotionally. Or only have your partner open, or just you open. There's always rules. To keep things under control. You might not agree with it and is strictly monogamous, and that's okay. Just like how being poly is too.

[matthewweflen]

John Stuart Mill advocates the "liberty of tastes and pursuits; of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character; of doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow: without impediment from our fellow-creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them, even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong."

He was a pretty smart guy.

[Nathan]

Polyamorous isn't me for. I'd get too jealous. But I don't want people telling me how to live my life. And I don't think polyamorous people would want me to tell them how to live theirs.

[bencastillo]

Did it and now we’re not together anymore. Literally different strokes for different yolks.

[PseudoPseudoDionysius]

Why’s the title about open relationships if the video is only about polyamory? Like this kind of relationship is ultimately very different to physically open relationships.

[petewinslowofficial]

Someone is always getting the short end of things in open relationships. They aren't what they seem

[coburgkid]

Open relationship = Let me look for someone better while I have you at home until I find it.

[darkcherryorchid]

A lot people express the concern of there only being so much for a relationship with so many. I babysat for another polycule, a gentlemen and the two wonderful individuals who shared his home. The three raised their kids with so much love and attentiveness that could melt away my own concerns and insecurities about this. It can be jarring from the outside looking in, but the reality is that the limitations of time and energy do help to keep a maintainable relationship with all involved parties. It's all about knowing what you can balance and manage really. Nobody is trying to have a real, deep relationship with 10 people at a time bc that just isn't realistic. Three or four is what appears to be most common in my community at least.

[uealistic]

Human beings are not monogamous by nature. That's a cultural thing, and not part of our biology or instincts. Where we get in trouble in this world is in not having flexibility in the systems we use to relate to and support and take care of each other in various ways. Monogamy may be the cultural norm, but it is *not* the biological norm, which is why cheating in relationships is such a huge problem. Having an open framework and honest communication not only prevents this from happening, it helps both people grow, psychologically and spiritually. Plus, there is a huge benefit in having other people in your life in that way. If something happens to one, you have other people to support you and help you through life whereas with monogamy, you're screwed if you lose your partner-- I'm not talking about being financially screwed, I'm talking about being screwed on a heart level. Love is something that never decreases by being shared.

[paull.rogers]

I'm an aromantic asexual. Not kidding. When I watched this I was wondering why aren't people talking about my group? Anyway, I don't think they are weird. They are just different.

[alvincyt]

Translation: You aren't good enough, and I was just settling in first place because the wall was around the corner and I needed that big day in my life.

[aidanbearor]

Everybody is gonna have a stroke in the comments and be super over critical of these people.