Top 5 answers when someone says “Oh, I could NEVER be polyamorous!”

Whenever I mention to a new person that my wife and I are in a polyamorous marriage, I expect some kind of reaction, since our culture has such a fraught relationship to non-monogamy. But despite how many times it’s happened, I’m still always a little thrown when someone’s immediate response is, “Oh, I could NEVER do that!!”

This happens more often than I can possibly express. It’s quite strange. I don’t go around proselytizing about polyamory (anymore, at least), because I believe people should choose whatever relationship structure works best for them. And yet, even when I merely mention my own relationship structure briefly in passing, there is a high likelihood that the person I’m talking to will loudly declare their own unsuitability for non-monogamy. Like… okay. Thanks for sharing, champ!

Anyway, having encountered this so many times, I thought I’d share with you my 5 favorite responses when this happens, ranging from sassy to compassionate, incase they help you navigate the same situation someday…