[UUPoly-L] Polyamory vs. Swinging

["Doug Walters" <dougwalt1@comcast.net>]

I see the list venturing into the poly and swing distinctions.  I'm this and 
not that.  Well I'm that somewhat and does that mean I can't be some of this 
also.  I think of trying to distinguish between polyamory and swinging is 
similiar to the discussion a few years ago about being straight or gay.  You 
were one or the other.  Bi-sexuals were just people that wouldn't make up 
their minds.

Then Alfred Kinsey, a famous sex researcher, created a scale for 
understanding sexual orientation during his groundbreaking research in the 
1940s. He put heterosexuality on one side of the scale and homosexuality on 
the other, leaving plenty of room in the middle for the ambiguities of life. 
And yes it is not a perfect representation of sexual orientation in that it 
is too simple.

However it helps me to think of relationship orientation as being on a 
continuem.  Monogomist on one end and non-monogomist on the other end. 
Along the scale you sprinkle titles.  Single partner marriage, poly 
fidelity, open relationship, cheating, swinging, and so on.  I'm not sure 
how to actually construct such a representation.  Has anyone done that or 
seen a paper on the subject?

Thank you,

Doug W
Portland, OR