Should we laud Trump for speaking freely and openly about his non-monogamous lifestyle?
That's a really interesting question. Personally, where my thinking is now, I wouldn't laud anyone who aims to rule over others with the power of government. Most of them seem to me to be power-hungry sociopaths. Also, the nature of his actions seem to be quite demeaning to women (even if he claims "and they let you do it" when you're a celebrity).
I'd rather not talk about Trump because it distracts from what I think is more real: How should you and I talk about it? How should our wives? What about our family, friends, and neighbors? If polyamory or non-monogamous lifestyle leads to increased human wellbeing, is that something we should all consider and explore? Are we only held back by the residue of religious norms about human sexuality? I'm reading some books on this stuff, and it's possible the version of "husband and wife" we live here in the West isn't exactly "normal" when you look at the full span of human history.
My preference would be to ensure no topics are off the table and everything can be evaluated, analyzed, and considered. I'd love to live in a world where shame, guilt, and ostracism are saved for truly immoral behavior. That, of course, requires we actually agree on what immorality is. For me, it means violating the non-aggression principle. Not because I dogmatically believe that's the be-all-end-all of human ethics, but because it's the best model I have found so far. If we could have open conversations about sex, what would society look like?
To take it even a step deeper, what about our kids? Sex is a powerful, powerful thing. Should that power be unleashed by teenagers who's brains aren't fully developed? Could they do harm to themselves with that power which they later regret?
All interesting questions. I agree, education is the start. And yes, sample size does become a problem, especially if the conversations aren't allowed.
RE: Let's Talk About Sex