What is your definition of an exclusive relationship?

[ponchsox]

I've always looked at it as a marriage compatibility test. It seems younger people have a completely different take on it today. More of like a package you buy at the grocery store with a use by date and discard? On to the next new and best thing?

[carhill]

WRT romantic relationships, for myself exclusivity has been where my romantic, emotional and sexual energies have been focused on/with one person to the exclusion of all other potentials. Historically, I've never had sex with someone I wasn't exclusive with, as it's a package with me. For others, YMMV.

 

Regarding it being a 'marriage compatibility test', I never thought of it that way but, at the time, my intentions were to get married and enjoy family life and hopefully children so perhaps you're right. My exW 'passed' the test more completely than any other so I asked her to marry me.

[Under The Radar]

Emotional (as in romantic love) and Physical Monogamy with a man or woman (depending on your sexual orientation).

[Peanut9330]

I've always looked at it as a marriage compatibility test. It seems younger people have a completely different take on it today. More of like a package you buy at the grocery store with a use by date and discard? On to the next new and best thing?

 

I don't think it’s so cut and dry as you state there but I do think a big issue nowadays is too many distractions. Most people don't take as much time to sit down and spend enough quality time together. Many younger couples when spending time together always have their face in their phone or tablet, which results in poor communication skills and later on may cause incompatibility. That's why a lot of relationships are quick to end because people are just all over the place, instead of making quality time for one another to determine long term compatibility.

[MissBee]

Some people get into relationships very lightly. It has always baffled me personally.

 

Exclusive relationship for me means we've had "the talk" about what we're looking for and we've been seeing each other for a while so I have enough info to know if you're someone I could be serious about and potentially marry.

 

I haven't as yet married anyone I've been exclusive with, but the point is, for me to even decide you're my bf means I at least have seen the potential for us to build something. If I don't see that potential then what often happens is I may "see you" and we have some kind of casual relationship but it is not exclusive in that I have stopped looking.

[Mariposa10]

I know of a couple who are "exclusive" only when it comes to sex...?

 

So, they hang out every now and then, when they can they don't have much time to spend together.

 

How serious is this type of relationship? For me it's a little bit confusing, yet interesting...

 

Has anybody been in a relationship like this?