WHY do people CHEAT?

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Replies

  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.

    I'm not sure I agree with this, it seems like guys who cheat are just "self centered *kitten* players", women who cheat are "looking for something the relationship is lacking".

    See, I don't agree with that. Men are complex creatures, too. They have needs, wants, desires. We may be biologically different, but I think our innate humanness is essentially the same, regardless of the gender.

    I didn't mean to imply that as fact, or my opinion, just my impression of the stereotype

    Gotcha. I might have misread. :laugh:
  • s131951
    s131951 Posts: 3,776 Member
    edited October 2019
    6qe5a4u6zdip.gif
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.

    I'm not sure I agree with this, it seems like guys who cheat are just "self centered *kitten* players", women who cheat are "looking for something the relationship is lacking".

    See, I don't agree with that. Men are complex creatures, too. They have needs, wants, desires. We may be biologically different, but I think our innate humanness is essentially the same, regardless of the gender.

    I didn't mean to imply that as fact, or my opinion, just my impression of the stereotype

    Gotcha. I might have misread. :laugh:

    I kind of want to hit 'disagree' on all of your posts since you had mentioned it. It's like a giant, red, candy-like button. . .
  • This content has been removed.
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    s131951 wrote: »
    6qe5a4u6zdip.gif
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.

    I'm not sure I agree with this, it seems like guys who cheat are just "self centered *kitten* players", women who cheat are "looking for something the relationship is lacking".

    See, I don't agree with that. Men are complex creatures, too. They have needs, wants, desires. We may be biologically different, but I think our innate humanness is essentially the same, regardless of the gender.

    I didn't mean to imply that as fact, or my opinion, just my impression of the stereotype

    Gotcha. I might have misread. :laugh:

    I kind of want to hit 'disagree' on all of your posts since you had mentioned it. It's like a giant, red, candy-like button. . .

    That's okay. I'm counting up and accumulating disagrees to see how many I can get in one thread for my opinions. :laugh: I'm currently at... 25 for this thread alone. Gotta try harder.
  • s131951
    s131951 Posts: 3,776 Member
    s131951 wrote: »
    6qe5a4u6zdip.gif
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.

    I'm not sure I agree with this, it seems like guys who cheat are just "self centered *kitten* players", women who cheat are "looking for something the relationship is lacking".

    See, I don't agree with that. Men are complex creatures, too. They have needs, wants, desires. We may be biologically different, but I think our innate humanness is essentially the same, regardless of the gender.

    I didn't mean to imply that as fact, or my opinion, just my impression of the stereotype

    Gotcha. I might have misread. :laugh:

    I kind of want to hit 'disagree' on all of your posts since you had mentioned it. It's like a giant, red, candy-like button. . .

    That's okay. I'm counting up and accumulating disagrees to see how many I can get in one thread for my opinions. :laugh: I'm currently at... 25 for this thread alone. Gotta try harder.

    You might have friend requests from s131952, s131953, s131954, s131955 . . . s131998 and so forth soon
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    1sphere wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.
    I don't think that one side gets more flak, it's more an issue of how much more easier it is for a woman to cheat via apps. Men can try to cheat on apps too, but it's a hell of a lot more difficult, and that now looks like a fact nowadays.

    Why would it be more easy for women to cheat on say Tinder than it would be for a man? You're both still using the app to get what you want. It doesn't exist anymore (I think), but Ashley Madison used to be predominantly used by men looking for extramarital affairs and it was quite successful at what its job was.

    It's all because of the dynamic. In human sociology as we know it, men generally seek out/approach the women, and women do not tend to chase men - some women are even repulsed by the idea of chasing or approaching a man. Then with growing users on these apps, it ends up looking like 200 men focusing on one female profile. This is the bizarre reality of it and this is in essence why it's easier - a women just has to dissect all the profiles, and a man goes unnoticed or ignored because of the large volume of "creeps" she already had to deal with.

    Okay, I see where you're coming from. The sociological aspect as opposed to a technological one.

    It does not help that women (at least in most Western societies) are taught that chasing after men is beneath them and that a man should "work for" his desire to be with a woman. We are also shamed for being the aggressors as though that somehow makes us "less than" or "easy".

    And most of us have had this ingrained into us since we were very young without even realizing it.

    I have never used Tinder or a dating app/website of any sort, so I am unsure of their algorithms or mechanics. You're just reinforcing my desire to never use them, though. :laugh:
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    s131951 wrote: »
    s131951 wrote: »
    6qe5a4u6zdip.gif
    ... why does it feel like there's still more shame/stigma (even in this thread) against women who engage in extramarital affairs, than men who do? If one is wrong, then both are equally wrong, yes? So why do women get more flak for being sexually aggressive and/or pursuant in their desires?

    Seems kinda... double standard-ish.

    I'm not sure I agree with this, it seems like guys who cheat are just "self centered *kitten* players", women who cheat are "looking for something the relationship is lacking".

    See, I don't agree with that. Men are complex creatures, too. They have needs, wants, desires. We may be biologically different, but I think our innate humanness is essentially the same, regardless of the gender.

    I didn't mean to imply that as fact, or my opinion, just my impression of the stereotype

    Gotcha. I might have misread. :laugh:

    I kind of want to hit 'disagree' on all of your posts since you had mentioned it. It's like a giant, red, candy-like button. . .

    That's okay. I'm counting up and accumulating disagrees to see how many I can get in one thread for my opinions. :laugh: I'm currently at... 25 for this thread alone. Gotta try harder.

    You might have friend requests from s131952, s131953, s131954, s131955 . . . s131998 and so forth soon

    Sweet. :laugh:
  • Unknown
    edited October 2019
    This content has been removed.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    ghudson92 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    Cowsfan1 wrote: »
    Humans man... we some complex mfp’ers amirite??? Human mind is fascinating isn’t it.

    I still don't understand the human mind itself


    it's not that difficult....

    just start with Pizza, then work your way down.

    This is an interesting perspective on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and I am here for it

    Stupid Ole' Maslow can order his own pizza.
  • ghudson92
    ghudson92 Posts: 2,061 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    ghudson92 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    Cowsfan1 wrote: »
    Humans man... we some complex mfp’ers amirite??? Human mind is fascinating isn’t it.

    I still don't understand the human mind itself


    it's not that difficult....

    just start with Pizza, then work your way down.

    This is an interesting perspective on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and I am here for it

    Stupid Ole' Maslow can order his own pizza.

    Maybe if he ate more pizza he wouldn't have felt the need to make whiny pyramids
  • This content has been removed.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
  • ghudson92
    ghudson92 Posts: 2,061 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    ghudson92 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    ghudson92 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    Cowsfan1 wrote: »
    Humans man... we some complex mfp’ers amirite??? Human mind is fascinating isn’t it.

    I still don't understand the human mind itself


    it's not that difficult....

    just start with Pizza, then work your way down.

    This is an interesting perspective on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and I am here for it

    Stupid Ole' Maslow can order his own pizza.

    Maybe if he ate more pizza he wouldn't have felt the need to make whiny pyramids

    7d1822e4a5c98502026dd72766c48726.jpg

    Same thing but better
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    1sphere wrote: »
    I need a "laugh" button :D

    We all do.
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
    for some men that’s a thing they like
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".

    are they hiring ??
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
    for some men that’s a thing they like

    Do you mean a cuckold fantasy/fetish?
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
    for some men that’s a thing they like

    Do you mean a cuckold fantasy/fetish?

    yes. i’m not at all saying that’s what was going on. i was reminded of it by your wording and thought i’d throw in one more ball to juggle in this discussion.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
    for some men that’s a thing they like

    Do you mean a cuckold fantasy/fetish?

    yes. i’m not at all saying that’s what was going on. i was reminded of it by your wording and thought i’d throw in one more ball to juggle in this discussion.

    I'm aware of it in theory, not sure how prevalent it is given that it's not something the cuckold is going to chat about openly.

    Doubt it applied in either case as both husbands dumped her pretty quickly once they found out. She used to get a kick out of making Hubby #2 socialize with her lover and his wife though (the connection was only through her, they weren't all friends before she started the affair).
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    ythannah wrote: »
    ythannah wrote: »
    1sphere wrote: »
    I think it's because they didn't find love

    I have met people that cheat even when they love their significant others and they have the perfect family!!!.

    As have I. One woman in particular whose cheating became common knowledge because she was very indiscreet about it, with both her first and second marriages. I think that having the entire workplace knowing about her behaviour may have been part of the thrill.

    It got to the point where coworkers felt so badly for her second husband they would plead with her to just end the marriage instead of making a fool out of him. She would just laugh and tell them, "I'm going to eat my cake and have it too".
    for some men that’s a thing they like

    Do you mean a cuckold fantasy/fetish?

    yes. i’m not at all saying that’s what was going on. i was reminded of it by your wording and thought i’d throw in one more ball to juggle in this discussion.

    I'm aware of it in theory, not sure how prevalent it is given that it's not something the cuckold is going to chat about openly.

    Doubt it applied in either case as both husbands dumped her pretty quickly once they found out. She used to get a kick out of making Hubby #2 socialize with her lover and his wife though (the connection was only through her, they weren't all friends before she started the affair).

    sounds like it was her kink though. too bad she couldn’t be honest about it and find a willing partner
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    So to answer the as far as "cheating" in a relationship, the simple answer is the "cheater" wants more than he/she has, right or wrong
    More complex answer would involve what the definition of cheating is, some men and women don't mind sharing so they do not consider it cheating, but other may judge and consider it cheating based on their morals, values and beliefs.
    Cheating is more a Judeo/Christian stigma, many cultures and religions around the World do not consider infidelity cheating
    Cheating is a perspective, swingers do not consider sexual relations with others cheating, Mormons with multiple wives do not consider it cheating, many cultures have condoned multiple wives or husbands or sex partners.
    Now, don't wanna get too deep on that, I would just say if a couple is committed and the man or woman wants sex with another fwb and his/her partner does not allow that or know about it; it is terribly wrong especially if they don't practice safe sex and put their partners health and life at risk.
    Me, I don't judge and don't care about someone else's business if it doesn't affect me, I have had swinger relationships and committed relationships, threesomes, foursomes, many combinations and know and have known many people and couples in all kinds of sexual situations, different situations work for different people.
    Cheating can be defined many different ways, so this is a tough question to answer

    Actually, the bolded is a good point. What I consider to be out of bounds for a relationship may not be the same for someone else, even my partner.

    That's why that whole "communication" thing becomes important and it seems like we either are losing our ability to effectively communicate those needs and desires or we were never taught how to in the first place. We being collective, not you/I specific.

    i was never taught that skill. I’m learning fast though

    I forgot to respond to this. I wasn't taught it either. As a matter of fact, it was reinforced in our family that you don't discuss your problems/issues at all and that when you're depressed, it's perfectly acceptable to hide yourself in a room and watch soap operas, essentially ignoring your family except when you're obligated to do something.

    I, too, am in the process of learning communication with people.
  • Reckoner68
    Reckoner68 Posts: 2,139 Member
    Because they're confidence tricksters
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    So to answer the as far as "cheating" in a relationship, the simple answer is the "cheater" wants more than he/she has, right or wrong
    More complex answer would involve what the definition of cheating is, some men and women don't mind sharing so they do not consider it cheating, but other may judge and consider it cheating based on their morals, values and beliefs.
    Cheating is more a Judeo/Christian stigma, many cultures and religions around the World do not consider infidelity cheating
    Cheating is a perspective, swingers do not consider sexual relations with others cheating, Mormons with multiple wives do not consider it cheating, many cultures have condoned multiple wives or husbands or sex partners.
    Now, don't wanna get too deep on that, I would just say if a couple is committed and the man or woman wants sex with another fwb and his/her partner does not allow that or know about it; it is terribly wrong especially if they don't practice safe sex and put their partners health and life at risk.
    Me, I don't judge and don't care about someone else's business if it doesn't affect me, I have had swinger relationships and committed relationships, threesomes, foursomes, many combinations and know and have known many people and couples in all kinds of sexual situations, different situations work for different people.
    Cheating can be defined many different ways, so this is a tough question to answer

    Actually, the bolded is a good point. What I consider to be out of bounds for a relationship may not be the same for someone else, even my partner.

    That's why that whole "communication" thing becomes important and it seems like we either are losing our ability to effectively communicate those needs and desires or we were never taught how to in the first place. We being collective, not you/I specific.

    i was never taught that skill. I’m learning fast though

    I forgot to respond to this. I wasn't taught it either. As a matter of fact, it was reinforced in our family that you don't discuss your problems/issues at all and that when you're depressed, it's perfectly acceptable to hide yourself in a room and watch soap operas, essentially ignoring your family except when you're obligated to do something.

    I, too, am in the process of learning communication with people.

    you seem adept at expressing yourself. it’s encouraging to know it’s a process
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    edited October 2019
    Reckoner68 wrote: »
    Because they're confidence tricksters

    i have to pee, the bathroom is all the way over there, and you keep making me laugh

    edit because i forgot my oxford comma. i don’t care for capitalizing, but commas are dear to me
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    So to answer the as far as "cheating" in a relationship, the simple answer is the "cheater" wants more than he/she has, right or wrong
    More complex answer would involve what the definition of cheating is, some men and women don't mind sharing so they do not consider it cheating, but other may judge and consider it cheating based on their morals, values and beliefs.
    Cheating is more a Judeo/Christian stigma, many cultures and religions around the World do not consider infidelity cheating
    Cheating is a perspective, swingers do not consider sexual relations with others cheating, Mormons with multiple wives do not consider it cheating, many cultures have condoned multiple wives or husbands or sex partners.
    Now, don't wanna get too deep on that, I would just say if a couple is committed and the man or woman wants sex with another fwb and his/her partner does not allow that or know about it; it is terribly wrong especially if they don't practice safe sex and put their partners health and life at risk.
    Me, I don't judge and don't care about someone else's business if it doesn't affect me, I have had swinger relationships and committed relationships, threesomes, foursomes, many combinations and know and have known many people and couples in all kinds of sexual situations, different situations work for different people.
    Cheating can be defined many different ways, so this is a tough question to answer

    Actually, the bolded is a good point. What I consider to be out of bounds for a relationship may not be the same for someone else, even my partner.

    That's why that whole "communication" thing becomes important and it seems like we either are losing our ability to effectively communicate those needs and desires or we were never taught how to in the first place. We being collective, not you/I specific.

    i was never taught that skill. I’m learning fast though

    I forgot to respond to this. I wasn't taught it either. As a matter of fact, it was reinforced in our family that you don't discuss your problems/issues at all and that when you're depressed, it's perfectly acceptable to hide yourself in a room and watch soap operas, essentially ignoring your family except when you're obligated to do something.

    I, too, am in the process of learning communication with people.

    you seem adept at expressing yourself. it’s encouraging to know it’s a process

    It helps when you stop caring (as much) about the judgment of people (whether known or unknown). I realize now that I have nothing to really hide. The things I've done/the things that have been done to me.. I feel no shame over them anymore. They were and are (and always will be) part of a process of growth. Some parts a lot more painful than others.
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    Open marriages aren't cheating. If at any time one or even both partners feel like it's cheating then that's not an open marriage.

    Crossing your mutually agreed boundaries is not an open marriage.

    Agree with this👆

    Quoting you because I'm too lazy to go back and find the original, but I have a question.

    What if neither party ever officially agreed on any boundaries relating to other people? What if it was never discussed? What if it was (sort of) discussed but no terms were ever agreed upon because the two parties saw things very differently?

    Not picking on you, just really interested in how others would answer.
  • Unknown
    edited October 2019
    This content has been removed.