Pardon my sophistry, but what does understanding polyamory truly mean? Do I know the definition of the term? Do I have some kind of intuition or understanding that goes beyond knowing the definition? Aside from this nit-pick I couldn't help but make, kindly allow me to elaborate. However, I ask that you keep in mind I don't have a clear grasp on relationships as a whole. I have dated not even once in my life.

From what I can gather from the sidelines, "traditional" relationships (for the lack of a better word, please correct me if this terminology is incorrect and/or offensive) seem to aim at either satisfying a particular kind of emotional need or a sexual need, in the hands of one person.

If we accept the premise that a relationship serves to satisfy particular needs, then we must also acknowledge the likelihood of finding a being abysmal, considering the many hardships involved in both emotional compatibility as well as sexual compatibility. This emotional component in particular may, perhaps, be why the concept of having friends while being in a relationship is even allowed to exist in mono relationships.

Given these bad odds, it seems to me that it would be reasonable to augment a relationship by including more people as long as everyone involved raises no objection thereto. But this does not seem to match everyone's mental model or expectations.

For safety reasons (namely with regards to sexually transmitted diseases), however, at least sexually mono relationships may prove advantageous in the long run.

With all due respect, I must decline answering the final part since "Would you date [person]?" is something I could only reasonably answer if I had relationship experience in the first place.

1. Yes, I do understand it. I have friends who are and I accept it and appreciate that's their relationship style.

2. Definitely not. There's really only one person allowed in my heart in a romantic sense, and only one. I don't think I could let myself really be intimate (emotionally/physically/sexually/psychologically) with more than one person in that manner. Plus, I already have enough trouble with myself; I think more than one person in my heart would make things just too complicated for me to handle.

3. I would, but insofar that they're amenable to being monogamous with me. I know a few people who are polyamorous at core, but are in a committed monogamous relationship. That works for them, and that's their choice! Otherwise, if this hypothetical polyamorous person does not want to do such, then I totally respect that.

This one is hard to answer.

Before my egg cracked I would reply (and have replied before when asked) that I wish I could but I don't think I have capacity to date even one person, let alone multiple. That was when I thought I was a cis guy and tried hard to "fit in" with the heteronormative system. It didn't work super well.

Now things are quite different, but I haven't really gotten used to it yet. Especially since I still don't really have proper emotions, and dating is an area where it's a big problem. I can logically consider if I want to be with a person or not, and often I do, but I don't really feel it, if you know what I mean. In fact, at one point I was wondering if I'm aromantic because of that. So I need to get that fixed first, I hope hrt will make it at least slightly better.

So:
- I do understand polyamory
- I would (at least try to) date a polyamorous person
- Can I date multiple people? I don't know, I need to find out whether I can date one person first (and I don't mean just flirting on fedi)

I think that's just the normal state of things and some religions made modern society think it's no longer normal. If you can feel love for multiple people at once, and they love you back, why the fuck should you be forced to only pick one and hurt the others?

If I didn't have so many issues with being in a relationship in general then yeah I could probably date a poly person. I guess it would lower the stress for me because at least I know they won't depend on me 100% and when I inevitably hurt them it will have less consequences. I don't know if I could date multiple people myself because I don't really know what being in a relationship with each of them would really mean, since I have no experience.