Group Blog Project Week Two: Questioning the Many Forms of Relationships
Our link to the blog: http://www.yourtango.com/blogs/open-up
We decided to present the blog from yourtango.com. Considering our class theme of rhetoric in today's pop culture, we wanted our blog to deal with love and relationships. So we then decided to use a blog that focuses on all different types of relationships and forms of love. This lead us to yourtango.com which comments on many controversial relationships that exist in today's society.
The author of this blog is Jenny Block, a bisexual who is married to her husband but also has a girlfriend. The blog addresses all different forms of relationships including monogamy, polygamy, and open relationships. She asks questions that challenges the readers thoughts on love and realtionships in general. She comments on the pros and cons of these different relationships and the inner dynamics of making each type of relationship work. Considering polygamy is seen as a crime in the United States, and open relationships are often looked down upon in the United States this blog contains very controversial topics. Therefore, there are many extremists that comment on the blog, either agreeing whole heartedly or absolutely disagreeing. Some of the posts on the blog include, "Open Marriage Benefit: A Three-Parent Household" and "Open Marriage: Love Vs. Sex." These present controversial topics that challenge people's thoughts about love and relationships. It also talks about all the different affects of all the forms of relationships on the all people involved.
As mentioned before the auhor of this blog is a bisexual that is married to her husband but also has a girlfriend. This presents an interesting point of view on these topics because she practices some of the forms of relationships that she speaks about. Many people that comment on the blog do so seeking advice from Jenny on how to help them with their various relationships. This is also a unique relationship between the author and the people that follow the blog.
When you are reading the blog keep an open mind and try seeing the topics as the author would. This will allow you to see the topics from another point of view other than your own and help you gain more insight on the topic.
Here are some example discussion questions to get you started...
Which post sparked your interest the most and why?
Out of all the forms of relationships addressed which do you think is most controversial and why?
Do you think that polygamy should be allowed in the United States?
Why do you think that the social norm in today's pop culture is monogamy relationships opposed to open or polygamy relationships?
What are your views on the topics on the blog?
By: Michael, Sam, Song-Hak, and Sarah
Being raised in a strong Christian home, and being told that marriage is between a man and a woman makes it hard to comprehend a relationship where there are three people involved. But at the same time this is Amercia and where freedom of religion is a must, it would be difficult to tell someone that they could not engage in marriage with two others if it is what they truly believed what right. I believe that it should be allowed in America, but whether or not I support the people involved is a different stoy.
ReplyDeleteIn our last blog we looked at new kinds of relationships and I think this blog is showing another type relationships. Our Society is changing everyday and if people feel that polygamy suits their life style then I don't see a problem with it. Its their life and they should be able to practice whatever kind of relationship they want even if this means having more than one partner.
ReplyDeleteI do not think polygamy should be allowed in the United States. The posts on the blog did not change my mind on this subject. Having an open relationship or being promiscuous while in a relationship is degrading to your partner. It shows you are unwilling to fully commit yourself in every way possible. In addition, the blog on 'jealousy' is another interesting topic. With polygamy there will always be a feeling of jelousy within a relationship creating a very unhealthy situation.
ReplyDeleteThe article that most sparked my interest was the one of the woman having a girlfriend and a husband. I don't understand how a couple can enter into a relationship like that without having problems or getting jealous. It seems that in order to be involved in that sort of relationship, that the two main people involved are not quite ready to settle down or to commit only to each other. Therefore, they both agree that they love each other, but they want to see other people too. I can imagine that at some point one of them would end up being jealous of the other and feel as if they weren't getting enough attention. If someone chooses to participate in a polygomous relationship, then why get married?
ReplyDeleteI believe that monogamy should be aloud in the United States. What I mean is a according, If the man as the means to his end it should be acceptable. If he is financially emotionally mentally and physically stable to support them equally I see why not. Outside of marry I wouldnt condone it because you still have the masses of sexual encounters that your partner has had. At least in marriage there is a common ground thats if the first wife is okay with you having another wife. In marriage your less likely to have disease and std's to occur. I do think polygamy should be allowed in the United States but only in marriage.
ReplyDeleteAll the posts on the blog were very interesting to me because I never thought of polygamy and having multiple relationships before because it is not the way we view relationships and love in pop culture today. Pop culture and the way we view things though, is changing everyday. I do not think polygamy should be allowed in the United states but I do see that in other countries there could be some benefits with pologamy. I see more negative benefits though then the positive ones. I think a relationship should be out of love to one person or monogamy.
ReplyDeleteI think that this choice of blog is very interesting, and can/will be refuted with many strong contradicting views. As you said during your presentation, polygamy still happens in the US even though it is a crime. The occurence of these types of relationships occur, I believe, because it is hard for many people to find one person they are happy with. There are always the social and economical advantages, but the main reason is that a lot of people cannot find someone they love. Many times husbands and wives get tired of each other or fall out of love as their relationship progresses. If they participate in polygamy then they have many different "lovers", allowing them to alternate and not be restricted to just one. This enables, or what those people belive this produces, them to love all their partners and never bore of a single relationship. Since they do not have a feeling of being "tied down", they can express love and intimacy with more power and freedom.
ReplyDeleteI think that this author brings up many good points when it comes to polygamy. I personally would not engage in a polygamous relationship because that is against my values. However, I think that people should be able to make their own decision when it comes to this matter. I don't think that the government has a right to tell people how to love. If someone feels that polygamy is the right path for them, then they should be able to pursue it. We should not try to tell people how to love. America is changing so much today, and I think that eventually polygamy will be allowed in the United States.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that polygamy should be allowed in the United States. I think that it would cause a lot more problems. How could the issue of jealousy in these relationships not come up? I think that in a true loving relationship, the people in the relationship should be committed to their partner. If someone truly loves someone else, they should not want to have another relationship with anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI think that you guys brought up a very interesting point about the author's point of view. She is obviously living a very controversial lifestyle and therefore, can give advice to others who feel the need to break the norms of society. I thought the post "In Relationships, Does 'Normal' Exist" was very interesting because it discusses how outside influences can have an impact on the decisions you make, even regarding things as personal as love. I somewhat agree with her closing remark, that when it comes to love and sex and relationships... no one size fits all. But society definitely makes it seem like everyone's relationships should be the same. Not that I am a major fan of alternate lifestyles, but I'm a supporter for others who feel that that is what makes them happy. And that's what I'm seeing from Jenny Block.
ReplyDeleteThe post polyamony: what if you keep falling in love. This blog post sparked my interest because it gives some controverial issues that have been reseached for a long time. The most controvesial type of love is about love between two different families because it involves ethical and morally issues. I don't thinkpolygamy should be allowed in the usa.I believe we should still keep monogamy relationships. I think it is a ver y good materia lfor us to think about it. My view of this blog is think and judge because ddifferent topics are in different cases and we need to think about it separately.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Sicong Hua
ReplyDeleteYou might take a look at this timely celeb news/gossip piece that hit tabloids this weekend. Christina Aguilera and her husband (with whom she has a young son) have filed for separation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/10/exclusive-christina-aguilera-had-open-marriage-says-woman-approached-singer
Neither party has accused the open marriage, Christina's alleged bisexuality, or any other specific issues for thier difficulties, and the spouses have parted as friends.
Can you use some of Block's posts as a lens for interpreting this contemporary pop culture issue? What might she say about the break-up?
I found the article "Is Marriage Just About Sex And Babies?" very interesting because it talked about this idea that people are only marrying now for legal purposes as opposed to marrying for love. I think that this article is wrong because many people still marry for love otherwise what is the point of half of the dating and things we do if we are all in it for money? Granted I believe some people do fall into this category where they use marriage simply for the government aspect but I don't think these few people should be ruining the traditional image of marriage that most people have burned into their minds.
ReplyDeleteI think that the article about 'Diagnosing A Dead-End Relationship' is very interesting. There are so many people out there that are living in unhappy relationships because they feel like they have to. They fail to realize that what is best for themselves should be the most important focus in their lives and that is exactly what Jenny is saying. She's saying that if you are unhappy with what you have, then go get something that will make you happy because life is to short. I think that is great advice.
ReplyDeleteAside from the obvious main issue of polygamy that is brought about by this blog, I believe the author made an important observation that can apply to loving relationships. It's that people are rarely completely open to their partners, which causes jealously, deceit, and suspicion in relationships. If people are honest to their significant others about their wants and feelings, they can work on the problems together and find a solution that works for both of them. Or, the other option is that there is no solution, and that the best option is to end the relationship. Now this may not sound like a desirable end, but, if the alternative is to stew unhappily in a relationship, then getting out of it is the best thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI found the article "Open Marriage Benefit: A Three-Parent Household" very interesting. It seemed very weird and interesting to me that her girlfriend helps take care of her child. I personally would be very jealous if someone else was taking care of my kid- especially if I am still with the biological father. Also looking from a kids point of view it would be very weird to me to have three "parents." I align myself with a more traditional view that there should be two parents. To me it doesn't make a difference if it is two men, two women, or a man and a women, but having three parents seems out of place. It is a different structure than more commonly seen. It could also confuse the child. If you where a child with two biological parents, and a girlfriend/boyfriend of one of the parents raising you how are you suppose to act to the girlfriend/boyfriend? Do you treat them as a parent and listen to them, or do you not give them much authority? The aspect of bring a third parent into the situation raises a lot of interesting unanswered questions.
ReplyDeletePolygamy is accepted in other countries and religion, why not U.S? And what about someones right if that person is allowed in their religion does that mean we are breaking our constitution? Well believe it or not, in Islam it is allowed to have upto four wifes as long as if that person is capable in finacial wise and that person have to treat all them equal. Interseting, huh?
ReplyDeletePolyamory is something i definitely something i don't agree with. An article I found interesting was "Open Marriage Benefit: A Three-Parent Household." This article was interesting because the views are so different from my own. i don't understand how have an extra person would help because it is unfair to everyone in the relationship. Also it is not fair to the rest of the family. Though she said that it works out i have a hard time believing that it is fair to everyone involved.
ReplyDelete