I agree with Sparky - it devalues what you do share. I would rather have a shorter relationship and move on to someone new when things got stale than share a partner. However its the greatest act of unselfishness to let your partner have their freedom and not be possessive about them. I'm just not sure I am that generous. Also I'd maybe feel unwanted if my partner was keen to share me on a regular basis.
I can see where it can be very useful. In terms of long distance relationships - it may not be practical to confine oneself for very long periods. I have mixed feelings, but I don't know anyone who it has genuinely worked for. In fact in some circumstances I have been acquainted with the open relationship thing was merely an excuse to begin a serious relationship with someone else.
Pretty much what crumpet said. In my first marriage, my husband just loved my best friend. Who wouldn't she is a bundle of life. But she developed feelings for him and that really fubared my friendship with her. It made me feel like the outsider in my own marriage. I no longer was funny, interesting, cute..none of the above. I did not get the jokes and well although nothing transpired, I found myself wishing it would so I could just be free of the both of them. Nothing like being the third wheel with two people you love. He did not have the same attraction to her, but jeeze he might as well have, he found her much more facinating it felt like, and that hurt me much more than any fling might have.
I don't know, maybe I am strange that way, but I like to be special to my special someone. Not just a spittoon they sleep with. I like to be the one they share jokes with and like to be around and talk to. I like and just come to life if I am the one they are proud of and if that bond is one nobody can interfere with.
I find myself as of late a bit harder and of the mindset that if someone is gonna go...then go. Don't try to share me, don't have me as an old shoe and someone else as the cake and excitement. Because I am surely someones excitement...and if not, my own. Nobody needs to feel like the last one picked in their own loved ones life. I spent too many years as the last one picked for the baseball team. And as an adult too many years as the first one picked to be the icing on the cake. I know now that I don't have to be an old shoe. So in my mind...walk if you must...but keep walking if you want to share and if I am not the special one.
I forgot that for a bit, but I seem to remember that now, and although I don't like being hardened a bit...I like remembering that.