Would you swear on your child's life if it wasn't true?

[noodleaddict]

Say you've been cheating on your partner and have lied about it, mostly to uphold the idea that you're a good person and you also just can't admit to it. They don't believe you however. You're not sure if you want to save the relationship as you're fed up with arguing and being snooped on. However it would be easier to stay together in many ways. Your partner then says they will give you another chance as long as you swear on your child's life that you haven't slept with anyone else (you definitely have). You're not religious or superstitious at all and you don't really believe in that stuff. Would you do it?

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

I'd probably grow up.

[WheresTheEvidence]

No

[SmitheringSmithison]

I wouldn't swear on my child's life even if I hadn't done anything wrong never mind if I had, I find the concept of it childish and crass.

[Whatthefudger]

YABU

[Oldraver]

To me, anyone that says...swear on xyx life...I would think lying.

Its a horrible meaningless phrase, used by people who wont tell the truth

[Beelzebop]

Nope

[Annesmyth123]

They're a cheater. They lie. They will say whatever they think will get them off the hook.

[Schmoochypoos]

No

[BlueberryMarshmallow]

No that's ridiculous. I remember my mum once swearing on my life as a child (about a similar thing) and I knew she was lying. I was convinced that was the end of me.

[thecatneuterer]

I don't have children, but would happily swear on any family member's life, or my cats' lives if I thought whoever I was talking to would be daft enough to think that my doing such a thing was in any way meaningful. It's just words. It means nothing. If it would help a necessary lie to be believed, for whatever reason, I would do it.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

So childish.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

I wouldn't swear on anyone's life. Even if I were telling the truth, let alone the life of my own child

[Janeofalltrades1]

Yes. Swearing on anyone's life doesn't mean anything.

[PacificDogwod]

Well, whether we would or not is really not relevant, is it?

Trust once damaged cannot be repaired by making meaningless statements.

And yes to 'growing up.

Action. Consequences.

[SparkleTwinkleGoldGlitter]

I wouldn't swear on anyone's life because I'm not in a school playground!

[PurpleDaisies]

Swearing on someone's life is pretty meaningless if you're not a trustworthy person to begin with.

Which person in the op are you?

[noodleaddict]

Haha. Ok thanks for quick responses everyone. Just to make it clear I am not the cheater. Just wanted a quick poll on whether people think this means anything. Consensus seems to be that it's a silly playground thing, which I'd have to agree with!

[CoolCarrie]

People who swear on anyone's life are clearly idiots, stupid meaningless phrase

[WorraLiberty]

It means nothing at all.

No-one has died because someone swore on their lives.

But I do tend to think it's a phrase used by people who are lying anyway.

[Lilmisskittykat]

It's just meaningless ... I wouldn't think it meant any more or less truth then if they just denied and promised

[FutureMrsRanj]

I would be honest in the first place, the whole scenario is ridiculous and will just end up with more repercussions, most likely surrounding phrases like "but you swore on chardonays life it wasn't true"

[Funnyonion17]

Yes, because i don't believe in superstition so i would happily do it and not worry. However i wouldn't tell lies tbh, especially ones so big.

[BigusBumus]

Me - Who took the last packet of crisps?
DS - Not me
ME - Swear on my life
DS - Ok then I did. Sorry mum.

I can always get the truth out of my kids if I say this.

However, in the OPs scenario it is meaningless as hell, as a) they are not a child and b) a cheater is a liar by default anyway.