Poll: The Harem Thread

[Mechamorph]

Conditionally, yes I would and a lot of it hinges on the first corollary, that everyone is a willing participant and wants to be there. It works out like the old days, less than five generations ago, where a man can have many wives (at least in my own culture, I reckon Occidental cultures have been monogamous for far longer). If they are willing to put in the effort of being a happy extended family, I would be content. Wish fulfillment aside, it was the way things worked for a long time and sure, having the love of multiple people would be a great thing. Yes it would be exhausting but in the end I think it would be worth it.

 

[ccggenius12]

I mean, it WOULD be one step closer to being Fidel Castro, but without the systematic oppression of a country... Nah, sounds like too much effort.

 

[Callate]

No.

I think dividing my attention between multiple partners would almost inevitably end up with someone feeling neglected. If I'm going to share my life with someone (and they're going to share their life with me), they deserve my full attention.

 

[Flames66]

Probably not. I don't like being around large groups of people.

 

[ThatOtherGirl]

Ok, there are really about 4 questions in "would you want a harem?"

1. Does sex with multiple partners at once appeal to you?

I don't know, maybe? I could try it, I guess. A threesome sounds interesting, but I am not sure how it would work out in practice.

2. Does access to several sexual partners appeal to you?

I am not sure about that one either. It sounds appealing on a purely physical level but sex is better when it is highly intimate, and I don't know if it would be possible to maintain a high level of intimacy (or more specifically if I could) with multiple partners. I would rather be highly intimate with one partner.

3. Would you enjoy developing emotionally intimate relationships with multiple partners?

Yes, this is easily the most appealing part of the idea.

4. Would you be willing to balance the complex social demands?

I would be willing to give it a shot. Relationships are lots of work, but it is something I enjoy.

Honestly I think I would prefer to be part of the harem. I'm not particularly interested in having a physical relationship with multiple partners (outside of the occasional threesome, which sounds interesting) but I wouldn't mind if my wife wanted to. Especially if I get to develop close relationships with the others in the harem. That sounds fun.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Is not a large part of the appeal the bragging rights, showing off that you have lots of partners, rather than it actually being desirable in of itself?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Sure!

I think dividing my attention between multiple partners would almost inevitably end up with someone feeling neglected.

It's a harem. The last thing you would worry about would be hurting anybody's feelings.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

My personal belief says no.

But whatever float people's boats. I mean, if all parties involved can agree to it I see no problem with this.

 

[MHR]

Uh, yes. Of course.

The moral line between just being a 'playa and being a dirty polygamist, for me, is marriage or devoted relationship among many. Since it's all just about sex, and with the lack of control over those people, and them having their own autonomy, I take no issue with it. Harem me up!

The biggest problem I have with polygamy is the greed. Retention and emotional subjugation are bothersome. Leave some women for the rest of us dammit!

 

[Kae]

Nah, I'm too beautiful, everyone would end up fighting for me at the end, like they already do.

 

[Drummodino]

Good lord no, that sounds like way too much work. Call me old fashioned but I'd much rather have just the one partner for love and sexytimes.

 

[Drummodino]

Well, I'm sure my opinion is known when it comes to harems.
So, no. One hundred, one million times no.

Even if I was forced, it would only be a harem for half a episode before it turns into the horror genre. Actually, that would be an anime I would like to watch. All of the harem stuff going on in the first episode, and BAM, the protagonist turns out to be some kind of terrible psychopath. Then it turns into a survival horror. Or heck, maybe the opposite way around, the girls want to kill him, and the protagonist kills them in self defence.

Japan should get on this.

Have you watched School Days Mr Storm?

 

[FPLOON]

Sure... although, it would be in a Highschool Romance-kind of harem... and all my male friends would be crossdressing just like me...

Spoiler: And the thought of all this just make me go all...

http://45.media.tumblr.com/901c8c85c9a283d2228637e05cc424b3/tumblr_mn0crhqrMW1qixfalo1_500.gif
https://45.media.tumblr.com/333fd1d3f178dd9a8b85c57c17fa2ffa/tumblr_n4nrusWPoE1s8y6xro1_500.gif
http://media.tumblr.com/6c67d890d33ea1b97360aa88b378a485/tumblr_inline_mi3zn0HRu91r92nht.gif
http://49.media.tumblr.com/b996b96258b9532942ce67db2531728a/tumblr_mm4l4vPuRS1s96b9jo1_500.gif
https://31.media.tumblr.com/70e9f90025491d63f160c6f73f2f2f86/tumblr_inline_nl78pjeASa1snzun5.gif

That last one is me [not] conforming to the fact that this definitely feels more fantasy than actual reality at this point...

*ahem* Other than that, it wouldn't always be romantic, but it would definitely be filled with FRIENDSHIPPING TO THE MAX!!!

 

[wulf3n]

Is not a large part of the appeal the bragging rights, showing off that you have lots of partners, rather than it actually being desirable in of itself?

For some sure, but for others... It's hard enough finding one person who likes you for who you are, having a whole bunch would be swell, even if the they only like you on the condition no one else but the harem can ever know.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

From a "That'd be hot" standpoint? Sure.

From a realistic, buzzkill standpoint? Fuck no.

I mean, I can barely handle the emotional/physical needs of one person other than myself, let alone an entire group of people vying for my attention and time. It'd be kinda awful after the first week or so. Would just wind up feeling terrible because I couldn't really do what I wanted without having to consider the emotional state of X number of companions.

Just think of all the dates you'd have to go on per week.

All the sex sounds great, for a bit, but it'd just be fuckin' exhausting.

But, then, I'm the sort to give a damn about people so...if ya don't? It'd work out well.

 

[StormShaun]

Have you watched School Days Mr Storm?

No, but I do know about it.

Some say it's the worst anime in existence.
Some people detest the main character and his always brick-like appendage.
Some hate it just because they heard it was bad.
And some hate it because of 'boats.'

Haven't seen it personally, but I've seen the ending.
I felt sorry for Mokoto at the start, but finding out what he did... boy, did he deserve it.

 

[lionsprey]

no. as someone who is ugly the one thing i console myself with is that there is no risk more then 1 woman would ever fall in love with me at the same time. maybe if i was polyamorous and could love several people romantically at once. otherwise the guilt would eat me up from inside.

 

[Paragon Fury]

Also, people need to chill about Kuu (the kid) in the picture; she isn't a loli and is treated as an actual kid in the show. She is just there to be adorable and funny, not actually part of the harem.

 

[Chris Moses]

I am in a harem so far as I am (a guy) in a 3-way relationship with 2 other guys. I know this is beneath some people's definition of "harem", but the OP did say poly-amorous relationship of any size (that minimum being 3). It hasn't all been smooth sailing. What relationship is? I've had my issues with jealousy. I've dealt with it in a way that suits me. My relationship with my first partner will celebrate its 20th year Nov 2nd. Our third will have been with us for 10 years June 6th of this year. These lengths of time I think go a long way to validate our relationship. We've thought about adding a 4th and/or getting friendly with other couples but nothing has panned out so far.

 

[maninahat]

Having spent years trying to escape shared accommodation, I don't think I could ever go back to it by having a platoon of women around the house, fighting over who left the fridge open. If I was going to have a Harem, they would each have to have their own place and life to live - it would be easier for everyone if I drifted between them and worked around their schedules, rather than have their lives revolve around me. Have I discovered some kind of reverse harem, where a woman can only get one fifth of a guy?