Open Relationships???

Wikipedia defines open relationship as: a relationship in which the participants are free to have emotional, spiritual and/or physical relationships with other partners.

With all the emotions, feelings, and issues that being in an exclusive relationship brings, I often wonder why any two people would want to add to their relationship, and why they want to be in an open relationship.

I was once asked to be in an open relationship. And it wasn't just the sexual aspect that this person was talking about. This particular young lady wanted to have an emotional, physical, and intimate relationship with me and her other boyfriend. She also said that I was "allowed" to have this with another woman. I laughed at her, but I pondered what things would be like if I was foolish enough to accept her "proposal" You know how you bring the person your with home to meet your parents? Would you be like "Mother, Father, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend Sally oh and this is her boyfriend Billy," And what if Billy and I wanted to take Sally out on a date on the same night? Who would get the date, or would we be on a schedule? Needless to say I didn't pursue such an adventure; one because I can be extremely selfish and wouldn't want to share my girl with another dude, and two I'm not so sure I wanted the diseases that may have possibly come from all this "openness".

I looked online for some discussions of open relationships and I stumbled upon a blog by Violet Blue (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/05/29/violetblue.DTL). She was trying to demystify open relationships and found a sex educator by the name of Tristan Taormino. Taormino had this to say about the myths of open relationships: "There are so many myths about open relationships. I think one of the most popular is that people in open relationships have intimacy issues and trouble with commitment. The assumption underlying this myth is that true intimacy can only be achieved between two people in a monogamous relationship. In other words, if you are emotionally and physically intimate with more than one person, it somehow dilutes the intimacy of each relationship," (Violet Blue).

I do agree with Taormino in the point that monogamous relationships can lack intimacy, just as much as an open one can, but it still doesn't explain to me why so many people are attracted to this form of relationship. In my opinion it is just a way to be honest about your selfish desire to cheat; an honest way to want your cake and eat it to. I can appreciate the honesty, but it doesn't make it right right??? Is it a matter of right and wrong when two people agree to it?

Don't even get me started with the Open Marriage thing. That's just crazy!

Here are some notable people who are in Open Marriages according to Wikipedia:

Ossie Davis actor and Ruby Dee, actress
Dolly Parton
Will Smith actor and Jada Pinkett, actress
Kate Hudson actress and Chris Robinson, rock and roll singer

So tell me what you think about Open Relationships...