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Topic : 01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

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Created on : Saturday, September 29, 2007, 09:23:47 am
Author : DrPhilBoard1
How well do you think you know your neighbors, your friends and even your child's teacher? It is estimated that four to eight million people in North America are swinging in the suburbs -- mostly middle-class folks from all walks of life. Dr. Phil gives you a closer look at who these couples are who engage in sex with other twosomes. First up, Nita and Walter have been swinging for the last 12 years. They say they are happy in the lifestyle, so why does it cause tension in their relationship? Then, Brent says he has a strong yearning for he and his wife, Renee, to participate in a threesome. Renee says the idea disgusts her, but worries that if she refuses to join in, Brent will leave her. They fight constantly, often dragging their 17-year-old son into the middle of their chaos. Brent says he thinks about having threesomes every other day, but says that his desire is normal. What does Dr. Phil think? And, Dr. Phil viewers weigh in and share their thoughts about the swinging lifestyle. Join the discussion.

Find out what happened on the show.

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January 28, 2008, 6:19 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: playfullcouple

Thank you for useing the word opinion.  Not ennough people use that.  My opinion is that cheaters will cheat regardless of if they swing or not.  Most people in the lifestyle have been together for a tleast 10 years.  The average marriage in years of our memebrs at our club is over 18 years wit hthe average age of people at 38.  Now how many organizations can boast those numbers?
I am happy they used the word opinion too.
 
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January 28, 2008, 6:55 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: playfullcouple

We own a swingers club in Canada and have done much research o nthe mater.  Here are the stats across North america.  The numbers are much higher in Europe and lower i nthe far east.

 

50% of couples ahve discussed it more then a fantasy

20% have explored it meaning visited web site, talked to people or visited a swingers club.

10% have tried the lifestyle meaning group sex, swap or 3 sums of some kind.

 

That 10% stay in the lifestyle for some time in one way or another, although, 60% of that 10% never swap, or have teried it and no longer do it.

 

So 10% like the lifestyle and energy, and 6% are active.

 

hope that helps.

 

Playfullcouple

Thanks!    :)

So... what exactly goes on in a swingers club?   How is it different than a regular club?  (im assuming club is being used in the same context as a bar?)
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:05 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: truelove8300

 I really appreciate the non-swingers that have posted on here that, while it's not for them, they don't feel the need to pass judgement on those that choose to swing. I know in my first post I stated how great my marriage is but it's not because we swing. It's because we're finally to a point to where we are 100% open and honest with each other and I'm truely more in love now than I was early in my marriage. I think a lot of swingers feel the same and try to express it, but it tends to come out that we think our marriages are "better" than monogamous marriages. We're not trying to say that at all. I promise. Many of us have had failed misserable relationships in the past and are just trying to convey the difference between our current versus our past relationships rather than ours versus yours. For those who think that I don't have a real marriage, or that I'm not in love with my husband, that we're just best friends with benefits and need to get a divorce, you couldn't be more wrong. We are very much in love.
And some have also stated that swingers just swing because they've lost the "sizzle" in their relationship. That we care about each other like a sister would a brother and take care of each other, but that we're not "in love" anymore and that we should divorce. If that really was the case (and I assure you it's not) then what about all those couples out there that have been married for 25 years and their kids are all grown and the house is paid off and they are the best of friends and take care of each other and couldn't imagine being with anyone else, but they don't have sex anymore because they've lost the "sizzle"? Should they divorce?
And as far as the adultery thing is concerned, I know that's a sensitive subject and that everyone has their own opinion, but as someone who has truely been cheated on, I can sincerely say that swinging is not cheating. Adultery is not just having sex with someone other than your spouse. It's also about lieing and hiding and giving yourself not only physically to the non-spouse, but also emotionally. A spouse can even cheat without having sex at all. If someone chooses to confide in and share an emotional relationship with someone who is not their spouse, while hiding that relationship and not confiding in their spouse, that is considered cheating in a court of law.
I don't really want to get into the religious part. Too many people believe too many things. And the founding fathers didn't include freedom of religion in the Constitution so that we could all be free to be strict fundamentalists.
As far as being damned to hell and what not, isn't Christianity based on the belief that everyone who believes that God sent his Son to die on the cross for all mans' sin so that if they accept this they'll spend eternity in Heaven? That's what I was taught anyways. That all sin is equal and it says in Romans that all have sinned. That would mean I would only be damned to hell if I don't accept Christ. So since those of you who are damning us don't really know if we will or already have accepted Christ, you really can't say where we'll end up.
To conclude, I am a strong, confident, attractive young woman and so are the women we've met in the lifestyle. We don't do this because our husbands demanded. In fact, almost every couple we've met got into it because the wife wanted to explore her attraction to other women. Most men don't even participate, they just watch their wives. But mainly we do this because we enjoy meeting like-minded couples to have as great friends. My husband and my children come first and if ever one of us wanted to quit there wouldn't even be a discussion. We would just quit and be a happy monogamous couple again.
To those who condemn and say we should be fired from our jobs and have our children taken away, maybe you should take the time to get to know some of us. We're good people that volunteer in our communities, serve our country, donate our time and services to help those less fortunate, contribute to charities raise our children to be positive role models and good stuards.
Let me ask one thing. Would you pull your child out of marching band even though they love it, just because you found out the director was homosexual? Would you refuse a medical procedure just because the only Dr. capable of performing it was an atheist? If no, then why persecute a swinger JUST because they swing?
I know in my first post I stated how great my marriage is but it's not because we swing. It's because we're finally to a point to where we are 100% open and honest with each other and I'm truely more in love now than I was early in my marriage. I think a lot of swingers feel the same and try to express it, but it tends to come out that we think our marriages are "better" than monogamous marriages. We're not trying to say that at all. I promise.

  I can understand some of the defensive posturing from the swingers on board as well as how it may (and has) come across as though you are saying this lifestyle is better than monogamy.  Thanks for clarifying thats not what you meant!   :) 

Im pretty sure what the majority of swingers on board ARE saying is that this lifestyle works better FOR THEM but not neccessarily for OTHERS, yes?
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:15 pm PST

I do

Quote From: sunmoonindian

This situation happened to unfold itself in our "family". Thankfully she divorced herself from the lying, cheating, sick man and let him spiral out of control by himself. But comes the point of all the chaos being brought into the home amongst the children. How do you explain the lifestyle to the children and also justify the expenses taken away from the family. It seems so selfish when you are a parent to put someone else through this, when they didn't ask for this shame of your lifestyle choices. Just how deep persay is your fixation with this "lifestyle" willing to go? Online advertising, group chat rooms, random dates out of personal ads... are you willing to be busted by an undercover agent? This fool did and that is how his life became aparent to his new bride/new mother and family who never saw the signs of his addictions. Is this really a personality disorder or are you just fulfulling some deeper need within your self?
Hi you wanted to know how people live this lifestyle when they have Children well let me tell you I am a swinger i am happly married and my hubby and i do this while the children are not around either we will go to the others home or we do it while the children are at a sleep over maybe you should look into to it instead of judging there is thought
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:20 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: funfriends

It was a Halloween theme party. Unlike a lot of vanilla people us swingers dont just sit on the coach we are constantly going to themed parties almost every month. To be honest most times we never even have sex with others it just a lot of fun and if something happens then so be it but its not a requirement for most of us.

I agree. I have met alot of people in this lifestyle it is not all about sex it is about having fun with yourself and your spouse and others that in this lifestyle and not fell judged about how you feel. we have been doing this for about 2 years and have been together for 6 1/2 years it spices up the relationship. if you do not trust your spouse 100% then this is not for you. and you dont always have to be with another couple it could be with a single women and man.
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:21 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: playfullcouple

Not rare at all.....most are there for that reason, females any way, and about 15% of men as well.  My Wife never looked back either and it was great for us as she surpressed her bi-sexual feelings for so long that she started to surpress all of her sexual feelings.  Being who you are is the most important thing.
Ditto for me on suppressing the bi-sexual feelings.   I was afraid of my husbands response to it and then one night I just blurted it out...lol.  And as they say, the rest is history...lol
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:27 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: playfullcouple

This is so true, that is how 90% of the peopel start in the lifestyle.  Being honest with yourself is the hardest part.
i am bi and the hubby loves it it spices up the sex life
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:33 pm PST

hello

Quote From: zimexlady

People who swing have ultra low self esteem and turn to activities that lower that esteem even more.

hello....

I was very upset to see what you wrote...I am in the "lifestyle" and i have HIGH SELF ESTEEM i thank you very much. The issue with this is that you felt the need to pass judgement before knowing anything about the situation. I have alot of swingers and they have great self esteem. I do not judge you on your life style or what you do in your spare time whatever it might be no you may not agree with the way that i or others live our lives but you are not in control of what we do and with whom it is our PRIVATE buzniess.

 
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January 28, 2008, 7:39 pm PST

01/25 Secrets in the Suburbs

Quote From: bearcourage

What happened to you is absolutely horrible!  I can't imagine how any parent could do things like that.  I am so sorry for you and I hope you are finding ways to find your own individual self and move forward eventhough I can't imagine that would be an easy road at all. 
I agree that was horrable. My husband and i are swingers and we have a 11 year old we would never dream about telling him about our lifestyle. this is a private matter. but although we are swingers doesnt mean that that is all we think about. we do not allow many couple to join us we hhave a few that we have become friends with. but we do not just have sex. we also go to partys or just hang out. one of our dear friends that we have done this with has  kids 2 of them are around my sons age and they are best friends. we are like a family if one of them is have a bithday as my son did we invite them to the party. nothing is said or done around these children. we act like a family who cares. i am sick of hearing about how everyone think that this lifestyle is bad for a marriage. i am not forse into this. my hubby and i talked about it because i was thinking about being with another women. we have done this and i still love being with . other women. and it excites him very much. we have been together for almost 7 years. and are still very much in love. i am very sorry that you had to learn this as a child. but please do not judge us. we do not just have intercourse.
 
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January 28, 2008, 7:44 pm PST

AMEN

Quote From: honestwife

My husband and I were directed to this discussion from the swingers online website that we engage in.  I am very saddened to read the flaming and blaming from so many people who in my opinion are ignorant to the subject.  Our sex life is private. Period.  If our sexlife didn't include participating with others I still wouldn't even imagine sharing it with my children, our extended family, neighbors, etc.  We've been married for 16 years and swinging for going on 11.  The amount of trust and honesty, between us as a couple, it takes to participate in the lifestyle is very high.  If I can be honest with my husband (and he with me) when it comes to our sexual desires, it makes being honest about everything else easy.  I don't go around 'recruiting' couples or forcing others who aren't of a like mind to have sex with us, or sharing my sex stories with children.  Grow up and be openminded adults.  It may not be right for you, but that doesn't make it wrong for us.

AMEN.

  i too am in the "lifestyle" and have been married for the last 5 years and been doing this for 4 of those years and we are completly honest and forth coming with each other and that is the way it has to be in order to stay strong in your marrage. I think that alot of people jsut need to open there minds and pay less attention to what we are doing and more attention to what is happening around them in the news and in there back yards. We are not asking them to video tape it for heavensake... our lives our choice

 
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