Cav's Place

Relationships in more than two… Aside from the religious limitations (excepting religions and cults that demand celibacy, I think only Christianity limits the number of people in a relationship to 2), why wouldn’t they be socially accepted?
Before you jump at my throat, I should mention that the idea came to me after reading something written by a girl on a forum. She had a (long distance) relationship with a guy and, at the same time, a very good friend who was obviously suffering because they can’t be more than friends. Therefore I’m not talking about things like “let me try with X, Y and Z at the same time and see how that is like”, but about such cases. Cases where you have a relatively serious relationship and another person that really seems to be in love with you appears. (Or cases where a need for something new is felt and, unless a 3rd person temporarly appears, the couple will not make it.) Why must you hurt someone in these cases? Why can’t society understand? Why couldn’t the one you’re with at the time (the first one) understand?
In the given situation it actually seems simple for a while, as long as said relationship (the first one) has to remain long distance, I can’t see why she couldn’t be with the other guy as well. Things would get harder only when (and if) she could spend some time with the first one…
But even generally speaking, when neither relationship is long distance, why couldn’t this happen? Everyone would be happy, and if the first partner thinks about making a scene, (s)he should consider that the alternative could be ending the current relationship, not rejecting the “newcomer”, therefore, unless (s)he is blinded by jealousy, pride in fact, (s)he shouldn’t have any reason to complain.
In religions that allow more than 2 people in a relationship, it’s a man and more women. Aside from the stupid idea left over from ancient times that the woman is inferior to the man (and I say this in spite of the last… 30 hours, during which my girlfriend gave me enough reasons to hate women, so you can imagine how I’d have said this without having these problems), what other reason can there be found for this limitation? If you can have a man with x women, why not a woman with x men, or x men with y women?
As far as I know (if anyone knows for sure, tell me whether this is true or not), marriages in 4 are allowed in Sweden, so I assume that such relationships are not frowned upon by the society there. But, after all, Sweden is the most liberal country, in spite of the general idea that Netherlands is. Why couldn’t this be allowed elsewhere too? Sure, the road from law to social acceptance is long, and such freedom could be abused in many ways, but I think many problems would be solved. And abuse will cease after a while. In Netherlands, during the first 2 years after light narcotics were legalized, you could see “piles” of dreamy locals collapsed on the streets. After 2 years this phenomenon visibly diminished, and currently you’ll seldom see locals buying “weed” from the “coffee shops” that sell it, as this is something generally only done by foreign tourists.
Something forbidden is always interesting, and is fully exploited when it can be done apparently without punishment. But, if allowed, it becomes normal, and is only done by those who know what they are doing and why they are doing it…