For a lot of people an open relationship = sex with whomever while married to X. I would assume most have ground rules of some sort, X number of partners, only certain days or times, only with permission from partner, etc...
For me, Poly is a deeper level than your basic open relationship. Whereas most open relationships are based first on sex, Poly relationships lean towards being based on the relationship and emotions first of the triad/quad/omg however many there are. The sex is a happy bonus, but it's not the be all and end all of the relationship.
This of course comes with a disclaimer that YMMV and my opinion is just that, an opinion based on my experiences.
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-11 06:03 am (UTC)For me, Poly is a deeper level than your basic open relationship. Whereas most open relationships are based first on sex, Poly relationships lean towards being based on the relationship and emotions first of the triad/quad/omg however many there are. The sex is a happy bonus, but it's not the be all and end all of the relationship.
This of course comes with a disclaimer that YMMV and my opinion is just that, an opinion based on my experiences.