One more observation.
Americans (and perhaps others who visit this board) are currently consumed with a contentious nomination to the Supreme Court. Political drama aside, "he said, she said" aside, we think there is an opportunity--and maybe an obligation--to reaffirm the foundational principle of swinging and the lifestyle: play occurs ONLY by mutual consent, and "no means no".
For years and even decades, the vanilla world has focused on the "non-monogamous" aspect of the LS. With fair frequency, that focus is intended to vilify how we live and play.
Perhaps the time has come to change the narrative and focus on the "consensual" aspect of the LS. While we would never pretend to speak for others, our perspective might be summarized:
1. We believe in autonomy: the right of persons to control what is done to and with their bodies. We believe that to be a fundamental and inalienable human right.
2. The exercise of that right involves a process called consent. Consent means that a person understands and agrees to whatever is going to be done with, for, and to their body.
3. Persons who cannot understand what is going to be done with, for, or to their bodies cannot give consent. Infants fall into this group, as do intoxicated persons, people with dementia and so on.
4. Coercion negates the validity of consent. The use of threat, physical power, weapons, confinement, starvation, or other force invalidates any apparent consent.
5. Consent is a process and is always voluntary. Autonomy requires that persons can change their mind and say "no" just as easily as they can change their mind and say "yes".
6. Marriage is a legal relationship typically founded on deep emotional and spiritual connections. Marriage never requires surrender of autonomy: intimacy can never be compelled.
7. Neither can monogamy be compelled. Couples (married or not) may choose monogamy as part of their reciprocal commitments and devotions. That choice cannot be assumed or implied; monogamy is voluntary and, as such, is an extension of the autonomy of both parties.
8. Consent requires clear understanding of what is intended, and equally of the risks. This is part of "informed consent".
9. Persons capable of making informed choices and giving consent must be able to do so willingly and without sanction or fear. The right of autonomy provides for the right to say "no" and also for the right to say "yes".
10. Persons not capable of making informed choices are unable to give consent to intimate behaviors. Consent to intimate behaviors cannot be implied, substituted, or delegated. Ever.
Those in the LS might remark that "these truths are self-evident". Perhaps they are--to people in the LS. To vanillas, maybe not so much.