Polyamory

Definition

Openly having multiple (sexually intimate) relationships.

It can take many forms: swinging, friends with benefits, free love, open relationships, polygyny, polygamy, etc. The primary feature is that all participants openly consent to the non-monogamous arrangement.

Polyamory sees people as shared assets. The fundamental scarcity of individuals is their limited time, attention or focus. Everything else is an artificial scarcity. You can share possession of these things not ownership of a person.

Similar to contracts for various shared assets, polyamorists develop lists of rules that govern the relationship. Its bounds as well as its commitments are consciously arranged. Polyamorist often use scheduling software to arrange time and availability.

Polyamory can be conceptualized as either a form of "Res privatae" or "Res communes" type propertarian arrangement. How you conceptualize it overall matters less than the specific rules of the arrangement.

Discussion

Polyamory's essential difference with monogamy is its sexual non-exclusivity. Monogamous people already have multiple relationships of varying intimacy levels, just not sexual ones. Polyamory sees that as an artificial scarcity.

Polyamory, and other open forms of non-monogamy, are merely a type of relationship preference. Monogamous relationships that are similarly openly consented to, are an equally valid preference. Both are compatible with P2P values.

History and Future

Polyamory and open non-monogamy likely began with humanity. Hunter-gatherer tribes still practice it even today. Polyamory often arises in the enclaves of networked subcultures opposing the dominant socio-culture regime. The Hippies, Feminist, Gay and BDSM communities are a few examples.

The internet and p2p networks allow for more efficient sharing of possessions, including people's romantic attention. As calendar and scheduling type software develop, new forms of sexual and romantic temporal relationality will be created. Cheap travel, transnational communities, cybernetic enhancements and virtual worlds further create profound implications for relationality. These allow for new micro-possessionship or ownership that will redefine the individual as technology develops.

Closed Monogamy and Closed Non-Monogamy

Closed monogamy and closed non-monogamy (cheating) are types of relationships where one or more of the participants doesn't know and can't change the terms of the relationship.

Though many polyamorist tend to favor egalitarian arrangements, they do sometimes rank partners as primary or secondary and so on. Each are subject to different bounds and commitments.

Potentials for p2p commons oriented matriarchal polyamory?

Matriarchies

Documentaries

The Women's Kingdom

Marriage Customs - China Anthropology

More Information

• Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamory

Possible connections:

• Neuro Economics: http://p2pfoundation.net/Neuro-Economics_and_Cooperation

"Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that plays a key role in social attachment and affiliation in animals and causes a substantial increase in trust in humans."

• Child Rearing & Social Reproduction and Distributed Child Care http://sharewiki.org/en/Social_Reproduction

Articles:

• Riding the relationship escalator (or not)