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Why is it not illegal to cheat on someone

382 replies

Miratea · 09/02/2025 13:17

I don’t want to give too many details. I found it pretty traumatising to be lied to. The person went on about how great of a person they were and how they weren’t like other guys. They acted like they cared about me and would be supportive of me. They were exactly like the “other guys” they described, they were a cheat with a number of others waiting in line, got with someone new every 5-6 months and I was nothing special like they’d made me out to be. I found it really traumatising and have trust issues because of it. They really rushed things and then moved on and I never saw them again. They turned on me and started being really nasty towards me. It feels like emotional whiplash. I know it wasn’t my fault but I don’t understand why these men do it

OP posts:
Whoarethoseguys · 09/02/2025 13:35

How would that be policed?
I'm sorry you have been hurt but of course we can't legislate for it. People are not chained to each other for life.
And cheating on someone isn't the same as domestic violence or cohersive control.

Fuckingpissedoff1234 · 09/02/2025 13:34

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 09/02/2025 13:25

I wouldn't object to adultery being illegal.

I certainly think that proven adultery should be taken into account when splitting assets in a divorce, in favour of the wronged spouse.

It's very difficult to actually prove adultery, because you have to prove that sexual intercourse actually happened (not just x stayed in a hotel room with y). That's why most divorces involving adultery are granted on the basis of unreasonable behaviour instead.

Splitting assets on the basis of this is also crazy. Assets should not be split based on who got more hurt at the end of the relationship. Can you imagine the legal fees involved in trying to sort that out!!

Butchyrestingface · 09/02/2025 13:33

The person went on about how great of a person they were and how they weren’t like other guys

Surely that alone signalled they were conceited and swollen-headed?

BatchCookBabe · 09/02/2025 13:33

LeavesOnTrees · 09/02/2025 13:32

Can you imagine the trial :

'WE WERE ON A BREAK'

😆

Ross Geller Friends GIF by netflixlat
DeepFatFried · 09/02/2025 13:33

I think there is a serious issue over consent:
Say you really like someone, dating them, they tell you they are single. Then once you have been in a sexual relationship you find out they are married and living at home with children . And you would never consented to sex had you known the truth.

We need to build this into discussion with teens.

But it would be very hard to criminalise and police.

Though what happened about the women who entered long term relationships with undercover police infiltrating New Age traveller activists? I think they were paid compensation / damages?

BatchCookBabe · 09/02/2025 13:33

😂 WTAF have I just read?

Your post is batshit @Miratea You weren't even married!

Ghost him and move on with your life. Be happy. THAT is the best 'revenge!'

LeavesOnTrees · 09/02/2025 13:32

Can you imagine the trial :

'WE WERE ON A BREAK'

CheezePleeze · 09/02/2025 13:31

Because men and women's prisons would be full to bursting point.

Because children would have to go and visit their mums and dads in prision.

Because essentially most of us don't want to live in a dictatorship.

It hurts being cheated on but relationships are not mandatory, so we choose to enter them at our own risk.

Lanzarotelady · 09/02/2025 13:31

OP - grab yourself by the short and curlies, hold your head up high and move on!

DemonicCaveMaggot · 09/02/2025 13:30

I suppose you could take out a civil suit for infliction of emotional distress but I have absolutely no idea whether a lawyer would take it or the court system agree to hear it. You could sue for costs for therapy or missing work due to mental health reasons directly caused by the affair.

Making it flat out illegal wouldn't work at all. What about teenagers whose relationships last about 6 weeks on average? The police would be either completely tied up with all that drama or just refuse to touch the whole thing with a barge pole.

KilkennyCats · 09/02/2025 13:29

Christ almighty, isn’t there enough evidence of the fucking nanny state as it is?
Some people are totally unable to navigate life without a team of support staff at their elbow.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/02/2025 13:29

You can't legislate against everything.

How would you confirm and prove he'd cheated? That you were official and monogamous? Would you prosecute both if they knew he had a partner? What kind of punishment would make you feel better? Financial payments? Jail? Castration? And it's not only men who cheat. What if one person leaves so considers them broken up so gets with someone new 6 months later but they're not divorced?

Lanzarotelady · 09/02/2025 13:28

I would personally rather see watching video's on your phone without headphones a crime punishable by death rather than adultery

Tillow4ever · 09/02/2025 13:27

What punishment would you recommend if it were made illegal? A fine? Doesn't sound like it would make the victim feel much better and wouldn't be much of a deterrent. Jail time? Seems far too strong a punishment for the crime - and where exactly are you going to put all these additional criminals?

It's a horrible thing to do to someone, but I cannot see any way it could be made illegal.

LeroyJenkinssss · 09/02/2025 13:27

What is it with these posts? You want to make cheating illegal (!) and another person wants to abolish prisons all together?

the guy is a prick no doubt but FFS it’s just life.

Lanzarotelady · 09/02/2025 13:26

I think I would rather deal with it myself than go down to the local nick! Well what happed Officer, my boyfriend got pissed and shagged Mary from the local boozer round the back of the pub!

HoldingTheDoor · 09/02/2025 13:26

Because people aren’t property. It’s a completely insane idea.

Octavia64 · 09/02/2025 13:25

It used to be, if you were married.

Back in the seventeenth/eighteenth century it was possible to sue people who had sex with your husband/wife.

It was called criminal conversation.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_conversation

There were a lot of problems with it, most obviously that getting actual proof that someone has cheated is a bloody nightmare.

In the 30s when divorce was only for specific reasons like adultery sometimes people who wanted to get divorced would go to a seaside hotel and hire someone to pretend to be their lover. They'd leave loads of evidence, but not necessarily have sex with them. Then they could get divorced by reason of adultery for which there would be lots of evidence.

A lot of lawyers hated it because it made a mockery of the law. These people didn't actually commit adultery they just wanted to get divorced and this was the easiest way.

user1471538275 · 09/02/2025 13:25

It's a personal relationship issue, not a legal one.

You're using extremely emotive language 'traumatised' where I would use 'upset'

You learn from these experiences and develop knowledge and skills to help you navigate future relationships.

BilboBlaggin · 09/02/2025 13:25

Because to be illegal it would make it a crime, and the police don't have enough time and resources to cope with real crime like theft, without having to investigate whether your partner slept with someone else last Friday night.

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 09/02/2025 13:25

I wouldn't object to adultery being illegal.

I certainly think that proven adultery should be taken into account when splitting assets in a divorce, in favour of the wronged spouse.

BedBathAndBeyonce · 09/02/2025 13:25

Jesus. Think it through!

Lanzarotelady · 09/02/2025 13:25

You're hurting, you're angry, but it cannot and will not be made punishable by the law.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 09/02/2025 13:24

I want to say YABU but I've witnessed the aftermath and it doesn't seem right that someone can unleash such devastating trauma on another and walk away without consequence.

LeavesOnTrees · 09/02/2025 13:24

There aren't enough resources to deal with all the actual crime happening so I don't think dragging the justice system into people's relationships would help anyone.

Women cheat as well.

There are countries where it is illegal, I think they stone adulterous women in Afghanistan for example. No thanks

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