With time you will discover that most people have no idea whatsoever what polyamory is, and some assume by mistake that it means polygamy. Unfortunately, even when you explain to them for the first time what polyamory is, they will still think that it is another kind of polygamy, an open relationship or swinging couples, and therefore you might want to tell them about the differences between them in order to clarify that this is a new term.
Polyamory (poly – many, amory – love)
The word polyamory is a Latin word which means many loves, that is, having simultaneous loving, romantic relationships with more than one person.
Polyamory is not an open relationship!
Open relationship (flings)
A sexual relationship with several partners without love or commitment.
Monogamy (mono – one, gamy – marriage)
On the other hand monogamy refers to being married to one person only as is common worldwide.
Polygamy (poly – many, gamy – marriage)
Another situation/term, known as polygamy, which is most commonly a relationship of one man with many women. This is an essentially chauvinistic relationship, which places the man in the center and considers women as his property. The man is permitted to marry several women, while his wives are loyal only to him. This relationship was prevalent prior to the monogamous era and exists at present in diminished form is some African and Arab countries, however in Western countries it is illegal.
Despite your desire to tell the world about free love, it is reasonable to assume that people will not be easily convinced. You can summarize the issue in several sentences that will give them food for thought until the next conversation:
• My heart is able to love more than one person.
• Polyamory is an adult relationship based on trust and honesty, unlike monogamy, which is based on jealousy and possessiveness.
If people disrespect you, just answer them bluntly:
• My partner encourages me to cheat on him, so I also encourage him to do the same.
• My partner has never cheated on me because she always lets me know me before it happens ?
• Our intimate relationship is no business of yours.
The concept of loving more than one person is fairly simple. We love our mother and also our father, our siblings and all our children, therefore to love more than one person is fundamental and natural. So the reason people find it difficult to agree with us is because polyamory shatters their view of the world and creates a cognitive dissonance, as they are dying to fall in love again, on the one hand, and they are worried about God, the state, the family or simply their mental fixation does not allow them to do so, on the other hand. The result is anger or rage that explodes without thought. It isn’t personal, so don’t take it to heart.