Open relationships have drawbacks

Badger Herald ^ | 2-14-06 | Darryn Beckstrom

[hinckley buzzard]

It is a common occurrence for someone to proclaim this so-called “relationship” status on Facebook or to engage in a sexual rendezvous with another person while in a supposed relationship.

I'm not sure what "Facebook " is, but these behaviors were a "common occurrence" long before it existed!

Oh, and does the writer know that the O'Neills were divorced shortly after publishing the book celebrating the wonders of their "open marriage"?

[rzeznikj at stout]

mark for later read

[GladesGuru]

"Biologically speaking, their offspring have a better chance of survival overall if they are of differing paternity."

The stats on abuse of children by other than the birth father would belie your statement. This would also mirror the usual situation in the animal world, where the male often kills the offspring and then impregnates the female in order to assure success of his genetic preservation efforts.

Might I ask where you got data to support your above quoted statement?

[Melas]

The stats on abuse of children by other than the birth father would belie your statement. This would also mirror the usual situation in the animal world, where the male often kills the offspring and then impregnates the female in order to assure success of his genetic preservation efforts

That may or may not be true, but in either event, it's not biology. Biologically speaking, a female's genes have a better chance of surviving if she varies the paternity of her offspring. The down and dirty science is simple: Multiple paternity minimizes any chance of unfavorable heterozygous gene pairings.

[GladesGuru]

"That may or may not be true, but in either event, it's not biology."

I think you may be blurring biology and genetics. An organism is biologically successful if it's offspring reach reproductive age.

Thus the facts about father v. stepfather raise children is biological in that is influences biological success.

One closely related fact may be relevant. While factors like IQ are genetically controlled, merely marrying a high IQ person (assuming one is also high IQ) may, but not necessarily will, produce high IQ children.

That's why is is sometimes called "potluck at the meiotic dance".

Happy biking, by the way.