Here goes nothing:

I was having a discussion with a friend on different types of relationships, and what not, and during the conversation, a thought entered my head.

If a "monogamous" couple doesn't have sex, is it really monogamous?

I suppose as long as they're commited to each other then yes.

Yes. There's more to a relationship than sex.

^ Exactly.

^^ agreed

I'm with Halcyon on this one...monogamous means committed to one person, so sex or not if you're in a relationship with someone, and you're not doing it with anyone else, you're in a monogamous relationship

Hmm, I suppose a couple could be both monogamous and celibate.

Unless you use a definition of monogamy that specifies one sexual partner as opposed to one that uses the word spouse instead.

Yes. Married people are monogamous and everyone knows married people don't have sex.

But that would be mono-amorous.

I'm pretty sure that the word "Monogamy" means sexual relations with only one partner.

I think I have said this before; monogamy to me is principally an emotional bond to one individual. Everything else follows on from that.

While I agree with your sentiment I must add that as far as I know monogamy actually means both that you have only one sexual partner AND also you have only one spouse/mate.


Or lets just call the celibate couples 'non-o-gamous' and the problem is solved.

No, it's all about the formalised relationship as recognised under state, church or other. Sex doesn't come into it at all.

While this is true, you also can't have a great relationship without sex. And I'm not talking about the times when there are forced separations.

I am monogamous with myself.

Someone please tell my parents that Since my brother moved out, its almost as if they think they can be louder and that I can't hear through the wall...perhaps they're trying to hint I ought to move out too?

Why do I love this response so much? Can we get married?

^We all should get married to everyone else here on Gnet and I bet we could be featured even in the Guinness World Records as "the biggest family that consist entirely of goths" and at the same time we could have endless debates over the difference between polygamy and group marriage!