1.) The shortened version of polyamory, is not poly. It's polyam, poly is a shortened term used by Polynesian people, the polyamory community is trying to change its use of language as not to encroach on there use of the term - they used it first, it's only fair :)

2.) Polygamy? Is not polyamory. Polygamy is, usually rooted in religious beliefs (Mormons for example!) It's usually rooted in the idea of owning your partner as a kind of property. It's specifically about one man having several wives, polyandry is several husbands for a woman

Polysexual? That's not polyamory either! I've had a lot of folks refer to me as polysexual and, that ain't it chief! At the end of the day poly, in its pure term just means many, so it's suffix is used widely - does not mean it's all related to polyam! Handy polysex definition!

4.) Polyamory is not a open relationship. *gets up on my soapbox and shouts louder* POLYAMORY IS NOT A OPEN RELATIONSHIP! What is a open relationship? Google got you covered again on this one! Open relationships? Usually very heavily a sexual thing, also called non-exclusive

5.) I'd like to preface that - polyamory is different for everyone, not everyone will have the same experiences with the idea and I don't pretend to speak for a entire subset of LGBT+, I do however. Wanna debunk some myths so folks can stop thinking I'm just getting sum fuk.

6.) Polyamory? Is not for everyone. - nor should it be. Polyamory is not inherently better than monogamy (monogamy for those who are unaware is a romantic relationship with just one person) Polyamory is not the soloution to monogamy and your not bad for being one or the other.

7.) Then what the fuck is polyamory? My personal definition? Polyamory is the ability to love more than one person romantically at the same time. I define myself as a polyam person, or Polyam in nature, I am however currently in a exclusive monogamous relationship.

8.) Polyamory? Is about trust & communication. Polyamory is based, its rooted in trust. Polyamory only works when all parties involved are informed & consenting. If you lie to someone, go behind there back in a relationship, that is not polyamory, stop trying to dress up cheating

9.) Wait so, your boyfriend knows that you have another boyfriend? Yes! I've been in a multitude of different types of polyam relationships, I've been so far as to go on triple dates with all three of my boyfriends. My partners, have, ALWAYS known about each other. That's polyam

10.) "That's weird" well of course it is - weird dosent mean bad! It is not what the cultural/societal norm is so, I'd be suprised if it wasn't weird to you! Calling something weird - that you may not have seen before. It's not insulting. It's fine - and I honestly agree!

11.) "I couldn't do that" There's usually not a good response to this and I've come to dislike hearing it. The answer is usually to laugh awkwardly and be all, fair enough or, oh no I understand. I'm not saying this is offensive, I'm saying, you don't have to say this ^

12.) is it a sex thing? Polyamory, is about having several romantic, consenting, loving relationships. Are consenting adults in relationships having sex? More likely than not. That dosent mean all polyam people are - nor does that mean there having orgies or threesomes.

13.) I don't want this to come across as trying to deny sex is a part of it. That would be, dismissive of people's experience. I however, want to just, lay to rest the idea that the focus is sex or what most/all polyam people do is have swingers parties, it's not true.

14.) Can you be open and polyam? Yes, you 100% can and I 100% have! You may be wondering, how the heck does that work! So, as a reminder, polyamory is about romantic love and relationships, being open? That's rooted in gaining intimacy, that does not have to be romantic.

15.) DO all polyam relationships work the same? Not even fucking close xD there are folks who are married and are polyam, folks who have children and are polyam. There are huge polyam families who cohabit. Polyam is as different as people are. Polyam is valid however you enjoy it

16.) How do I know if I'm polyamorous? There's no test or easy answer aside from, do you love more than one person romantically at the same time? Your likely polyamorous or wanting a polyamorous relationship. How you proceed with those feelings is your personal choice 💖

17.) How do I tell my partner that I love someone else as well as them? You would be shocked how many times I've been asked this. Honesty. IS. The. Best. Policy. If you can't open up, be 100% frank about your feelings, no matter how difficult or scary. Your not ready.

18.) You have to be honest, polyam is all about honesty, you have to be able to tell your partner ANYTHING and everything. You have to be completely transparent and be good at communicating your changing emotions and feelings on your situation. It's the only way polyam works.

19.) Polyam relationships fail because people stop communicating - I would argue the same for many mono relationships tbh! If you want a polyam relationship, you have to open up, it's scary but, if you can't do it at the start, it will fail further down the line.

20.) MY partner wants to be polyam but I don't. This one, always stings to hear because the honest advice is. That If you and your partner want contrasting different things in your life - the best thing to do is follow those separately. I always encourage talking, be honest!

21.) Don't you get jealous? God all the time! Jealousy is a normal human emotion! Of course I would get it in a relationship, I'm jealous of other polyam groups who all live together or my partner seeing there partner every day, or even them having sex when I'm not, it's normal.

22.) Well how do you deal with jealousy? Idk how do you deal with jealousy? We all get it about something! Apply tools from other areas of your life to deal with those issues. I can't stress it enough that open communication of your feelings is the only way to tackle those issues

23.) How do I come out as polyam? I've never had this issue, I've been kept a secret before from parents just to make it easier, I've been understanding of that. I've never hidden anything from my family or from my friends. It was no issue to me. I faced confusion, not hate.

24.) Here's a Google definition of polyamory as I realised I only really threw up my own back there! I tend to use my own modified version of this, I feel this definition can still be confused for a exclusively sexual thing, that's a stigma I work to break personally.

25.) The infinite heart symbol is the recognised symbol for polyamory, infinite love and infinite hearts really sums it up perfectly. We do also have a flag, it's, a interesting one for sure! Here is also a great video on polyamory: thanks @elleteedee 💙❤

ANYWAY THANKS FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK ON #polyamory I hope that you came out of this better informed and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have left! I'm not, a spokesperson for everyone, but I'll help where I can! Thankyou!