Joreth's definitions
A person who practices polyamory in a way that tends to separate, compartmentalize, or isolate all of his or her romantic relationships from one another, treating each as a separate entity. A free agent often presents himself or herself as "single" or behaves in ways which are typically associated with the behavior of a single person even when he or she has romantic partners, and often does not consider the potential impact of new relationships upon existing relationships when deciding whether or not to pursue those new relationships.
Commentary: Some believe there are not necessarily two distinct styles of polyamory, those of Free Agent and Family-Oriented. But rather there is a continuum with Free Agent on one end and Family-Oriented on the other. Most people fall somewhere in the middle to one side or the other, with extreme examples of Free Agent resembling casual sex partners or friends with benefits where the partners have no contact and possibly even no knowledge of each other (but an acknowledgement of an open relationship or no sexual committment); and extreme examples of Family-Oriented resembling Polyfidelitous relationships where any new partner of anyone in the Polyfidelitous group automatically has an equal relationship with all other members of the group. Some people are capable of having relationships of varying degrees of emotional intimacy and may slide along the continuum at different times with different relationships.
Commentary: Some believe there are not necessarily two distinct styles of polyamory, those of Free Agent and Family-Oriented. But rather there is a continuum with Free Agent on one end and Family-Oriented on the other. Most people fall somewhere in the middle to one side or the other, with extreme examples of Free Agent resembling casual sex partners or friends with benefits where the partners have no contact and possibly even no knowledge of each other (but an acknowledgement of an open relationship or no sexual committment); and extreme examples of Family-Oriented resembling Polyfidelitous relationships where any new partner of anyone in the Polyfidelitous group automatically has an equal relationship with all other members of the group. Some people are capable of having relationships of varying degrees of emotional intimacy and may slide along the continuum at different times with different relationships.
John is dating Sally and Suzy, but Sally and Suzy have not met and do not know each other and John does not consult Sally or Suzy when deciding to take on more partners. John is a Free Agent
by Joreth April 8, 2010
Get the Free Agentmug. A relationship involving exactly two people. The most accepted form of romantic relationship in most Western countries is a monogamous dyad.
Often used in the poly communities to refer specifically to two people within a poly relationship or to distinguish between specific branches of a multi-person relationship network.
Often used in the poly communities to refer specifically to two people within a poly relationship or to distinguish between specific branches of a multi-person relationship network.
by Joreth April 8, 2010
Get the Dyadmug. Prescriptive comes from Prescribe: Latin, praescribere =
1. to write at the beginning, dictate, order;
2. to lay down a rule : DICTATE;
3. to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ORDAIN;
4. to specify with authority.
A prescriptive relationship, then, is a relationship in which a person or people create a set of rules governing the relationship before the people involved ever get into said relationship. These rules are often set up to define a relationship involving someone who is not even in existence yet and therefore cannot give his or her input into the relationship agreements.
By contrast, a descriptive relationship describes the relationship as it is at the time with input from all involved.
1. to write at the beginning, dictate, order;
2. to lay down a rule : DICTATE;
3. to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ORDAIN;
4. to specify with authority.
A prescriptive relationship, then, is a relationship in which a person or people create a set of rules governing the relationship before the people involved ever get into said relationship. These rules are often set up to define a relationship involving someone who is not even in existence yet and therefore cannot give his or her input into the relationship agreements.
By contrast, a descriptive relationship describes the relationship as it is at the time with input from all involved.
John and Mary have a prescriptive relationship. Even though John and Mary haven't met anyone they're interested in yet, they have decided beforehand that anyone they date will be female, in love with them both equally, single, will live no more than 10 miles away, will not call John by the nickname "bunnylips", will not eat with them at their favorite restaurant, and cannot ever listen to the song John and Mary danced to at their wedding while John and/or Mary are in the room with her. When they meet her, these rules are non-negotiable and she has no say in them.
by Joreth April 8, 2010
Get the Prescriptive Relationshipmug. The point at which the thought of another relationship, or another hobby, leaves one feeling more exhausted than excited.
I've reached the polysaturation point! I have a job, two boyfriends, and a photography hobby, and the idea of one more thing to do makes me tired just thinking about it!
by Joreth April 8, 2010
Get the Polysaturationmug. V.
Prescripted comes from Prescribe: Latin, praescribere =
1. to write at the beginning, dictate, order;
2. to lay down a rule : DICTATE;
3. to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ORDAIN;
4. to specify with authority.
To prescript a relationship, then, is to create a set of rules governing the relationship before the people involved ever get into said relationship. These rules are often set up to define a relationship involving someone who is not even in existence yet and therefore cannot give his or her input into the relationship agreements, such as a married couple deciding the rules for a future extramarital partner before even finding one.
By contrast, a descriptive relationship describes the relationship as it is at the time with input from all involved.
Prescripted comes from Prescribe: Latin, praescribere =
1. to write at the beginning, dictate, order;
2. to lay down a rule : DICTATE;
3. to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ORDAIN;
4. to specify with authority.
To prescript a relationship, then, is to create a set of rules governing the relationship before the people involved ever get into said relationship. These rules are often set up to define a relationship involving someone who is not even in existence yet and therefore cannot give his or her input into the relationship agreements, such as a married couple deciding the rules for a future extramarital partner before even finding one.
By contrast, a descriptive relationship describes the relationship as it is at the time with input from all involved.
John and Mary prefer to prescript their relationships. Even though John and Mary haven't met anyone they're interested in yet, they have decided beforehand that anyone they date will be female, in love with them both equally, single, will live no more than 10 miles away, will not call John by the nickname "bunnylips", will not eat with them at their favorite restaurant, and cannot ever listen to
the song John and Mary danced to at their wedding while John and/or Mary are in the room with her. When they meet her, these rules are non-negotiable and she has no say in them.
the song John and Mary danced to at their wedding while John and/or Mary are in the room with her. When they meet her, these rules are non-negotiable and she has no say in them.
by Joreth April 9, 2010
Get the Prescriptmug. The slang term for a chain of fast-food restaurants called Chik-Fil-A. Usually used in a derogatory term to refer to their strongly Christian policies (being closed on Sundays explicitly for their employees to attend church), anti-gay policies and extremely large financial contributions to anti-gay-rights bills and amendments, both of which stem from the owners' interpretations of their denomination of the Christian bible.
by Joreth November 16, 2011
Get the Jesus Chickenmug. Derogatory. An individual or couple seeking a unicorn or HBB. Different from a person who is merely attracted to bisexual poly people. Refers to someone who is seeking "that special third to complete" their family. They often believe a bisexual third partner will prevent jealous feelings on the part of either of the original members of the dyad because of the mistaken assumption that one will not get jealous if one gets to do all the same things as the other and no one ever experiences anything apart from the other half of the primary couple.
This type of couple expects their hypothetical future partner to be single or willing to give up any existing and future partners, to love & have sex with both members of the original dyad equally, and for each member of the existing dyad to reciprocate exactly an equal level of love and sexual attraction for the new person.
This type of couple will not consider any kind of relationship with a male, with someone who is only sexually attracted to one of the original dyad members, with someone who is already partnered, & usually promises to break up with the new person for the sake of "protecting" the existing dyad, leaving the unfortunate third partner feeling disposable. Sometimes the unicorn is expected to not develop any emotional attachment and is strictly there for a sexual relationship (equally distributed to both members of the dyad) and/or is prescripted as a secondary.
This type of couple expects their hypothetical future partner to be single or willing to give up any existing and future partners, to love & have sex with both members of the original dyad equally, and for each member of the existing dyad to reciprocate exactly an equal level of love and sexual attraction for the new person.
This type of couple will not consider any kind of relationship with a male, with someone who is only sexually attracted to one of the original dyad members, with someone who is already partnered, & usually promises to break up with the new person for the sake of "protecting" the existing dyad, leaving the unfortunate third partner feeling disposable. Sometimes the unicorn is expected to not develop any emotional attachment and is strictly there for a sexual relationship (equally distributed to both members of the dyad) and/or is prescripted as a secondary.
John is so insecure about sharing his wife with another person, that he thinks he won't ever feel jealous as long as his wife never does anything with anyone else without him also participating so he's looking for a hot bi babe that'll be willing to share them both equally and not make any waves. He's such a unicorn hunter!
by Joreth April 8, 2010
Get the Unicorn Huntermug.