Dating multiple people at the same time; have you done it?

Yes I’ve done it. (not serious dating, just going out with a few people at one time) And even to the extent of it being casual dating, not even more serious relationships- no, it wasn’t worth it. If the other people genuinely have feelings for you it is not fair to them that you are seeing someone else as well. I suggest not doing it, it will only bite you in the ass later on.

Have I done it? That’s the ONLY way I do it. You have to make it known UP FRONT to the people you date.

If you do what @Mr_M said, then the other people you date have full knowledge and can make their own choices. I think that’s the only way to do it. Do not hide. You are not doing anything wrong. I’ve had relationships with more than one person at a time, and I made it clear that I was not being exclusive with each of them. It was all fine until one day, my main girlfriend availed herself of the same thing with someone she had only met a half hour before, and right in front of me. I flipped out, and after that, we decided to be exclusive with each other.

You’re just hanging out and getting to know each other and doing fun things like movies or concerts and whatnot, right? What’s the harm in that, if everyone knows what’s going on?

The way I was raised, people date on a non-exclusive basis until they decide to make it an exclusive basis. To me, this means that until we’ve discussed becoming a couple, free agency should be assumed.

Suggestions? Save enough time for you. Get enough sleep, meet your job/school/friend obligations, and have fun. :)

advice: make sure they don’t know each other and don’t have any mutual friends. including nothing that would make a chain linking one to the other. cuz it will get ugly. (even if they know you are not exclusive it will be awkward!!!)

example: no one from the same school (the exception would be if there is like 30,000 at the school). no one from the same work place, no one from the same group of friends.

Yes, I have dated more than one person at a time. I found it kind of too much…..especially the one time I dated two guys w/ the same first name. What a mess.

Thereafter, I stuck w/ one a time. Much simpler….

This is mostly how I worked my entire dating life. I was always honest about it, and several times did decide to become exclusive with one individual (I married two of them). I think it’s normal to do it that way.

I think it has been said here already, but at the expense of repeating. I think it is ok to date as many people as you want as long as you are completely honest and everyone involved is fully informed. No secrets. As long as you act with integrity and compassion, alls I’ve got to say is have fun, use condoms and play on playa! Aint life grand!

Are we assuming that “dating multiple people” necessarily also means “having sex with many people?”

It doesn’t matter. And I don’t feel that subject is the business of any of the people I date (nor is it any of MY business in regards to THEM).