Discussion: The virtues of polygamy.

[miko2d]

Guys, I need an input and it could be an interesting discussion, so please contribute your opinions on those specific questions.

 Disregarding the social moores (for this discussion), there are advantages and costs for all involved.
 Starting from least obvious (at least as far as public opinion in US is concerned), what are:

 a) Advantages of polygamy to participating women.
1. Woman does not have to settle for a second-rate male as a husband and a father of her children because the best ones are taken. Desirable men often display wilingness to have more then one woman in their lives, so that is not a problem.
Woman can excercise more discretion over selection of a father and an environment to grow her children and a choice is usualy a good thing.
2. Woman gets a more stable/lasting marriage - if she does not entirely satisfy her husband  in some respect, he is much less likely to dump in favor of another woman. Even a woman is infertile, she may be a valuable and happy member of a family.
3. Besides being fathered by a more desirable man, woman's children are likely to benefit in life from having more siblings.
4. Children receive better care. (Tac)

 b) Advantages of polygamy to a man.
1. Having more children.
2. Having more stable marriage, smaller temptation to switch partners - same as a woman.
3. Children receive better care - same as for a woman.

 c) Costs/disadvantages of polygamy to any participants.
1. Less sex per woman?

 d) Advantages of polygamy to society.
1. Children grow up in more suitable environments. If more then one woman is willing to join a marriage, there must be something good about it.
2. Healthier, smarter children - for both genetical and nurturing reasons - following from better woman's choice.
3. May encourage having fewer children per women which helps if overpopulation is an issue.

 e) Disadvantages of polygamy to society.
1. Surplus of males which can create some social tensions.
2. Tac: May encourage larger families which is a problem if overpopulation is present.
3. Sligh reduction in genetic diversity


 I have some opinions but would like to hear yours first.
 I will update this post filling in the examples in blue

 miko

[Dune]

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same.
- Oscar Wilde

[Tac]

I believe that if all participants are willing, what's the problem?

1 man with more than 1 wife or 1 woman with more than 1 husband can make a much more stable home. Financially and emotionally for the children, as there is more chances of adult-child interaction and the job security of having 3 sources of income.

Just look at families that have the grandparents living in the same house as their children and grandchildren. There's always someone to be there for the kids, there's financial income from the working generation and from the retired generation.. and their costs of living are drastically reduced because they are in 1 house.

a) Advantages of polygamy to participating women.
1. Financial security, child care.

b) Advantages of polygamy to a man.
1. Same as above.

c) Costs/disadvantages of polygamy to any participants.
1. none that I can see. Its the same as monogmany.

d) Advantages of polygamy to society.
1. Better education, better housing arrangements.

e) Disadvantages of polygamy to society.
1.  It would encourage large families, something that in an already overpopulated world is not a good idea.

[batdog]

I cant afford my ONE wife much less MORE than one... Oh and women who dwell togather for a period of time tend to have that time of the month very close togather... imagine THAT. Just friggen kill me now please.


xBAT

[Raubvogel]

The memories of trying to juggle more than one girlfriend at a time are deterrent enough for me.

[Eagler]

Thats one of the few things the Arabs have right,
keep a bunch in a tent and pick the one with the most stable hormones for that particular week

[Ripsnort]

Here's a reason NOT to...just multiply this lioness on the right by many...



You also get a nice keychain on your wedding day:

[miko2d]

Originally posted by Tac
e) Disadvantages of polygamy to society.
1.  It would encourage large families, something that in an already overpopulated world is not a good idea.

 That is not obvious to me. Why would an average american women have more children if she lived in a poligamous relationship then otherwise?

 Yes, taking care of her children would be easier - with wives sharing care, etc.
 But at the same time she would be in a family with a few children which would reduce the urge to have more children of her own.
 For a men the urge will definitely be smaller since all children are his.
 So instead of 4 women having 2 children each, 8 total you  could have 4 women having 5 children each in common - and being able to excersise more maternal care.

 Besides, US and the whole North America is far from being overpopulated.

 miko

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by miko2d


 Besides, US and the whole North America is far from being overpopulated.

 miko

Compared to 3rd world nations...yes.

[Gunthr]

Miko, to humour you, I thought about this a bit. I was thinking about the plusses ... for instance, if you were in the dog house with one wife, you could turn to another for solace and companionship...

but what if your wives worked in collusion against you, to "straighten you out" and get you to "improve your weak areas" ??? Most American husbands are only too familiar with this.

You could be in deep sh*t, my friend, having more than one wife in this culture.

[Eagler]

it's simple math ....

PMS x (how many?) = R U crazy!

Unless you can stash them away during their off week(s), you gotta be insane or loveable PW boy

[miko2d]

Gunthr: ...for instance, if you were in the dog house with one wife, you could turn to another for solace and companionship...

 In this culture (wife more often then not a head of a family) choice of a new wife would lie more with the curent wife(ves) then with the husband. So of course wives would usually work in a collision against a husband. Faced with several wives, a husband will not even try to argue and surrender at once, thus saving everybody a lot of frustration.

Eagler: PMS x (how many?) = R U crazy!
 Having each other they will be much less likely to turn to a man for comfort which he is not equipped to give.
 Most of the emotional problems between wives and husbands result from him not being able to understand her feelings. Having a close female person around, why would she go to a male for comfort and support?

Gunthr: You could be in deep sh*t...
Eagler: you gotta be insane...
 Anyway, I never implied polygamy is for faint-hearted.

 miko

[streakeagle]

I don't know about other parts of the US, but in the city areas I have lived (San Diego, San Francisco, Groton, and of course my place of birth and current home Tampa) there is a shortage of single women. The women are already in a postition where they can afford to be very picky and demanding of men. Having a handful of wealthier men monopolize an already limited supply  would only make the situation worse for us single guys.

I have a friend here that was born and raised in Kosovo but has lived all over the world. He says Tampa is the worst place he has ever seen for finding a good woman to date (much less marry). He suggests I go to South America or Eastern Europe where American employed middle class white males are in high demand and short supply

If I were ever wealthy enough to make polygamy practical, I think I would still prefer only one wife.

[Daff]

Hmm what about the opposite?..a woman having several husbands?.

Daff

[Pei]

Why would any sane man want more than one wife? The idea is to have the bare minimum of wives and as many mistresses as feasable.