Should you know about every relationship your significant other has had before they met you?
by 
Challenger
ANSWERS: 86
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Only ask what you really want to know.
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I agree, ask only what is necessary for you to know.
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I don't know if I *should* know about every relationship he has had; but, I would prefer it that way. Past relationships are a part of his life and they have helped to make him who he is today. I think knowing something about past relationships can help me to understand my partner better. I don't think I have to have the details, just the highlights will do.
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No way!!!! It had nothing to do with you, don't ask for trouble! And DON'T tell them about yours either!!! BIG MISTAKE!
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The only thing that I would ask is if he has ever been married and does he have kids....the rest is history.
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Only if that person is willing to tell you. Also are you willing to tell them of your own pasted? If you both agree to a point, then I believe you may have a good relationship between one another. Just my point of view......M.C.S.
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Unless one of those relationships resulted in an STD I wouldn't care either way.
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Ewwwwww no way somethings are better left a mystery.
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Nope. In that situation, I would rather remain blissfully ignorant.
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Not much more than an outline. And even that isn't necessary. I take her as I found her. I don't need to know that Henry pushed her down a well and that she stayed in bed at Four Seasons with Phil for three days. And during those four days they -- and then they -- after that he --. I really don't care to hear all that.
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I think you shoud know about all the serious long term relationships for sure, but I would leave out all the one night stands, that would just make the person look bad.
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Only if I planned to write her biography.
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Nah - if the relationship turns into a "keeper" you'll find out about the significant ones as time passes... the rest are of no consequence... after all, your partner is choosing to be WITH YOU - so what do the "test drives" matter?
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some things are some times better left unsaid
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who wants history, i prefer mystery i am married so it doesn't apply to me but when i meet you for the first time, don't tell me about all your skeletons in the closet.. i really don't need to know.
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No , I think that just causes jealousy and emotional stress with a lot of people.
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No.
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Absolutely not! There lies disaster! You would be constantly measuring yourself (watch it, wise-guy) against all the others. You would wonder about their qualities and faults that you may or may not also have. What was Sig-other's attraction to them before, and what caused the demise of their relationship. Take their offerings of love to you without checking the horse's teeth. (aren't I a poetic sob?)
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No... it's their past and some things are better left in the past...
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No, what happened before you got into a relationship with each other is irrelavant. The only thing that really matters is YOUR relationship and what is going on in your current lives! You are not what you were yesterday or who you were with in the past, but how you conduct yourself and who you are today. There is exceptions of course, if you have children from a previous relationship or if you have issues caused from a prior relationship such as STD's or trust/fear issues from abuse.
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No that just puts a strain on the relationship.
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The only relationships you should know about are the ones that lead to marriage or children the rest just don't count!!!
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I knew. It helped to understand who they were and their experiences coming into the relationship. By no means should it be a requirement, but if you want an open and honest relationship it should be considered. Just don't judge them about it or hold it against them if you do know. It was in the past. You are the present.
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No, I am not interested in his prior relationships, what matters is the one he's in now...ours.
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gimme a break... if itold all my encounters, it would take months! the only thing i am concerned about is disease free... and not into things i can't handle.. not many of those tho....
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I think you should probably tell your s.o. about your SERIOUS relationships after you've been together a little while, and you should tell them if you've been with anyone they're close to or know so there's no surprises there. but you don't have to tell them everything about every relationship. it is the past after all.
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I'm a little boggled at all the no answers. I don't have Love's dating history memorised, but we've certainly talked about it. I'm not jealous, I'm not insecure just because Oh no, he dated someone- multiple someones- before me. I'll agree some are more vital to know about than others- marriage, children- and what's most vital is probably knowing s/he's disease free. Seriously, though, it's educational. It tells you what kind of person they are. 27 girlfriends in three years? a long-term relationship until he broke it off? always dates younger, always dates above his social class, always dates (race) people, can't make a relationship work any further than 30 miles away? I also know Love has told me how glad he is that I'm "okay" with him having dated other people. His flatmate's then-girlfriend would get all spastic on him if he told a story that somehow included an ex.
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I think you should know a lot about your s/o's history and once you've been together a while you should pretty much know it all, just through your converstions and paying attention.
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No, I don't think so. I mean, it's good to know some things about past relationships but if you dwell in the previous ones, you'll be too worried about that to have a good relationship now.
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if you ask and she bring out 3 binders full of names, the answer is no.
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Depending on the other person, that could take a long time and be way too much hassle ;) I don't care where someone has been. I care about where they want to go. Mind you, if they've picked up something from their past that I need to deal with, then obviously I want to know about it.
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this has nothing to do with it but your from guam??? cuz i am!! lol but the question thing i think its not that important its good to know but you shouldnt bug about it cuz your with them and thats all that should matter.... :D
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I don't think that i should ask my partner about the past.... and for me i don't care about it..... if my partner wants to talk about it he will tell me everything.... but if he doesn't want to then i wont ask.... all i really care about is from the first day i met my partner.. thats all that matters to me.. then he SHOULD tell me everything that happens to him....and by the way it goes for me too i don't like anyone to ask me about my past...;)
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i dont wanna hear it and i dont wanna tell mine to my wife so she should not ask.
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i would say HELL NO, that question will only end up getting somebody jealous and no good will come of it, the past is the past, live in the now
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Brief outline, no details - they might want to know yours! Nothing to be gained from confessions, better to start afresh and with a clean slate.
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I would prefer not to!
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No. Why would you want to know that?
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Nope ...not necessary :-) !
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If they have engaged in very risky behavior then yes I have a right to know if I am putting myself at risk for contracting a potentially deadly disease. I don't however have a right to know every little sordid detail of every single relationship my partner has had before me.
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The cat isn't out of the bag but you can sure hear it meowing. This can go one of two ways. It can be the begining of the end if every indiscretion in ones life was revealed to his or her s/o. It would be an underlying dragon just waiting to burn all the good things you love about them away with one breath of miss spoken thought. The other way is if it becomes the central preoccupation of either. For example if the guy or girl keeps brining up past affairs and its all they dwell on, your thoughts will eat away at you as if to say am I better or worse or will I just end up the next conquest. Yep I think both parties should show some restaint when it comes to the past because if there is love the past should remain the past so you can both see through to the future.:)
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if you are very serious with them, yes. and for sure one should always know your significant other's sexual history.
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Oh HELL no...and vice-versa.
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Who cares, water under the bridge, through the bush, in the bush, on the mountains....
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i dont know if i 'should' but i do know about all his serious relationships and a few more, i would know all of em but hes had so many he doesnt even remember them all
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I don't know. It depends on his background. Frankly I probably wouldn't date anyone with a background, but ive been interested in them before. It just depends. I don't really spin that way. I think it really just depends.
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Do I HAVE to know? No. But it think there is benefit in knowing. Regardless of what it has been it wouldn't change anything but I think I'd just like to be aware of a person's past up front so there are no surprises later on. I'd spill it all out too.
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No, it's best not to engage in sexual activity before marriage. Then if he/she has they should be given tests for V.D. You wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life with venerial warts or herpes, or some of the deadly diseases.
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I don't think that it should b a requirement or anything, but delving into past relationships with your significant other could really help you understand that person more. But conversations like that could get really ugly, so, don't ask if you don't want to know the answer.
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Only when they need to tell you.
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I dont think it should matter any more, if that person is with you !!! I really wouldnt care..
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eww no, not at all. I dont know very much about my partners past and he doesn't know very mush about mine. It makes us much happier
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Not unless legality or disease might be an issue. The past is the past. It can't be undone, so unless there is a danger of disease or disgrace, move on and don't look back.
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Honestly i dont think i would want to know! Sometimes its just best to say look you had any STD's? And if he says yes it gives you an idea!
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I would consider it helpful.
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Nope, I don't care. The past is the past. If he felt something were important enough for me to know I would listen, but otherwise, I really don't even think about it.
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No I prefer not to really know. It's rude to talk about ex's too much anyways.
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If she was intimate with Hugh Hefner...that would be some helpful information.......
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Nope, i know that my guy has been with many women, and it has given him the experiance that he has today, that he is "teaching" me. Of course i make certain that he has a clean bill of health, yes, thats a must, but i really dont want to hear the details of what he has done, or who he has done something with before me. i can say when he met me, he lost all interest in anyone else- and have even had him tell me that.
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I would say yes. Just shows you have an open relationship with lots of healthy communication.
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i think it should be asked...only the serious relationships should be worth the mention ...not the 1 week flings or something. But it's useful to know so that you know to what extent the emotional attachment would be like and to know that you shouldn't be like the past exes are like. (if it is serious). I mean the new relationship should mean something..why be with someone who seemed like he/she constantly cheated or was fickle in the past?
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um, my guy said he doesn't want to know...personally, i'm curious about his past relationships...he's told me some but there's some things he won't tell...should i know...not necessarily...i probably would change my mind if i heard all the details.
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I've always wanted to know .. but sometimes I don't bother him AND MYSELF asking.. I'm extremely jealous I'd rather not hear though..
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I didn't want to, she told me anyway & now our relationship is strained.
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Only if there was sex involved in any of them in case there could be any chance whatsoever of STDs.
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HELL NO !!
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did she murder her last boyfriend/husband?....that i would want to know!!!
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I would just think that that only ones worth knowing about it the ones they were the most serious about, and if they are over them or not, considering their long history together. Any other relationship before you, is not really all that important to know, because they probably didn't shape him/her in anyway shape or form to the person they are today, as opposed to the more intense relationships. Those are the only ones i would worry about. Yes people learn from each relationship they have ever had, and did probably shape them into who they are today, but essentially, it's the relationships that had more weight to them that cause the person to transform into who they are currently. Hope his helps!, Good luck!
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The real question is, "Why would you WANT to?"
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No. Nor do they need to know about yours. As the relationship matures and things get serious you need to make sure there are no skeletons in the closet, but the important thing is your own relationship, not the past.
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I think she should tell you when you are making love, adding how much better than you they were in the sack.
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No.
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no unless they're previously married.
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Why ask about things in the past when you have NOW and the FUTURE to deal with? Even if children is involved in the equation, you should let the past stay where it is. I neva ask my partner about his ex unless he brings her up (which never happens unless that the ex asks for more money for their child).
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No, their life before you is really not your concern as long as it does not impinge on your relationship. I would hate to know every detail of a persons life.I believe everyone has a right to privacy.
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Only if you can get both sides of the stories. Otherwise, you're not really going to learn anything.
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No you're not getting in a relationship with everyone your bf or gf has been with you are starting a new, fresh relationship with him or her. Why is the past relevant?
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It depends on how many relationships he or she has had due to a steady increase of STI but other than that no not really
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NO
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It might be interesting to know, by probably not necessary.
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its better off not knowing all. its not necessary but there sex life might be
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I do. And he knows mine. To me it would be weird not knowing? It would feel like i didnt know him as well. Just my thoughts anyway.
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Every relationship and all the details. Sometimes I wish my boyfriend would just shut up to tell the truth. I haven't told him about every relationship I've ever had. I suppose if he wanted to know more he would ask. And I'd tell him. That could take a while though.
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I don't see the benefit in knowing that information. Seems it could potentially cause problems and questions.
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There is no should. You will only know that if you are willing to talk to them about it and if you are able to accept they've had lives before you and that kinda thing. +5
- M.C.S. - Dave 
Sunset 
desotapop 
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