Up, Down and All Around

Call me 'old fashioned'

... because I really am! And there's nothing like reading a very UN-old fashioned article to make me realize that.

The article in question is entitled The New Monogamy: Marriage with Benefits, published in the November 2005 issue of the New York Magazine. Found it via the Sassy Lawyer's blog.

Apparently, non-monogamous relationships have evolved to the point that relationship rules are already in place and well-defined, as shown in the excerpt below:

(1) The Vampire Rule: If they’re both in the same city, they have to make it back by dawn.

(2) The Three-Strikes Rule: All pinch hitters must be interested in befriending both Siege and Katie (and vice versa); however, up to three solo dates are acceptable to warm someone up.

(3) The Postcards Rule: If they’re seeing someone else on their own, they must bring home photographic evidence.

(4) The Woman-Only Rule: Katie is bisexual, Siege is not—thus, for pinch hitters to meet rule No. 2, they must be female.

(5) The Veto Rule: for Katie’s benefit, allowing her to rule out potential home-wreckers.

(6) The Safety Rule: What some couples call “body-fluid monogamy,” i.e., always use condoms when having sex with a third . . . or a fourth . . . or a fifth . . .

I think I was slack-jawed for most of the time I was reading the article. Ayayaay!

Once again, I find myself questioning the notion of a happily ever after.

And yes, the timing doesn't escape me: this is not exactly the best way to be starting February, the month of love!

Side note: The guy named "Siege" in the excerpt above also happens to be the owner of the blog Operation Eden, which I had found a few months ago filled with hauntingly beautiful photos of post-Katrina destruction.

Tags: Relationships, Magazines

Posted by CF at 7:30 AM