Alpha, I know you and I disagree on this issue to large extent, and I'm really not trying to pick a fight with you. I did see some things in what you said here though, and thought I might offer a different perspective.
It is disrespectful because with a topic like the one in this thread you are basically saying to the person, "Hey I really really want this thing very badly that YOU can't provide. I know you can't do anything about it, but I'm just letting you know that I'd really like it."
What positive result does that really give THEM? How are they supposed to feel about that? I know it makes the person saying it feel better because they are getting it off their chest and expressing how they feel and/or they don't feel like they are hiding something, but it really doesn't do anything positive for the person they are telling.
The positive thing that comes from this is discussion. For some people, keeping things in, not sharing the fantasies, hurts. For other people, hearing about fantasies that don't include themselves hurts. I firmly believe that people can find a balance.
As an example: my husband is curious about vagina. As a man, I don't have one of those. I am NOT okay with him pursuing his curiosity, but I'm still glad he told me about it. Otherwise, the massive amounts of straight porn I found on his hard-drive would have had me wondering, and the train of thought wouldn't have been pretty. As uncomfortable as his "fantasy" makes me, it's a part of him. Being his partner means I have to find a way to accept that discomfort, so I do. That doesn't stop me from teasing him about it, though.
Keep in mind, I'm assuming that when two people love each other/are in a relationship they will do their best to provide what each other want. The topic of this thread would be the exact same thing as saying, "Hey I really want this expensive piece of jewelry... I know you can't afford it at all but I'm just letting you know. Oh hey look, that guy over there bought his partner the expensive piece of jewelry that I want and you couldn't buy for me."
I don't think the purpose of a realistic relationship is ever going to be about providing what each person wants. Desires are fickle and strange and often uncontrollable. Relationships are about providing what each person needs. Wants are secondary. E.g. I want to take a year (or more) to travel the world and see just about everything there is to see. Of course I've told Masked about that desire. I don't expect him to ever attempt to fulfill it, though. It's unrealistic, and I know that! I'm just telling him about my dreams, because they're a part of me, and I figure he wants to know.
The same thing goes for sexual fantasy/desire. I tell him, he tells me. Neither of us is expecting the other to attempt to accomplish anything that's beyond his bounds. It's just about sharing our innermost selves with each other.
Expressing your fantasies to your partner is all about you, it really has nothing to do with helping them out in anyway unless it's actually something they can do.
I don't disagree. But I think a big part to being in a successful relationship is being able to accept that each of you are going to be selfish sometimes. I also think if you turn that statement around, you'll find that the person hearing the fantasy is helping the person who is telling it. And what's wrong with that? In any relationship you will sometimes give, knowing full well that there's nothing to receive in return. That's just the nature of the beast.
I agree that an open line of communication and trusting your partner is a good thing. However, just because a random thought crosses a person's mind, doesn't mean they always have to express it to their partner under the premise of communicating/trusting/not feeling guilty about having the thought. Sometimes wanting to express something does more harm than good. Some things are just better left unsaid...
I don't agree with this. It might be better for one of the parties involved, but it isn't helpful for the one who now feels he/she has to keep a part of themselves hidden away. Some people are expressive, and show their love by sharing themselves completely. Those of us who love expressive people have to learn how to see this expression for what it is - a full surrender of inner thoughts and feelings. It's important to not succumb to jealousy and fear, because those emotions are so easily misinterpreted as a desire to control and suppress.
And with that, my dear Alpha, I will stop dissecting your post.
I hope everyone who had the patience to read through the whole thing is able to see how it connects to the OP. :redface: