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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU' Men are as faithful as their options'.

174 replies

needyoumorethanwantyou · 19/10/2014 17:58

The US comedian Chris Rock said this a few years ago. Obviously it was a glib comedic response to the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the response by his male political opponents about how disgusting it was yet, it was very unlikely anyone was 'trying to blow them' in political office and if someone was trying, they'd probably do the same.

Obviously everyone is an individual and women cheat too so I'm not just talking about men but AIBU to think there's some truth in this?.

I see so many threads on MN about long (decades in some cases) relationships when an infidelity comes out of the blue. I don't believe that all of these men/women were unhappy in their relationship beforehand. I think most of them were.....before they were presented with another option.

Shirley Glass even says in her book about infidelity that people need to have strict boundaries about interpersonal relations outside of their romantic relationship, particularly with work mates. But isn't that saying that if someone has chance to spend enough time with someone else and there's mutual attraction, an affair will often follow?.

It's happened to friends of mine who have been devastated by apparent complete changes of character from the partner they thought would never be unfaithful.

I also know of partners that aren't cheating but do try it on with other people and if they weren't knocked back, they would be cheating!.

And I totally disagree with this idea that OW/OM cause the problem, 'offering it on a plate' or whatever. I think it's that the cheat probably wasn't presented with an alternative to their spouse/partner before and when they were - they went for it.

I am a bit world-weary I admit!. But often when I hear 'oh, they'd never cheat' I do sometimes think...maybe that's just because they don't have the opportunity.

AIBU?.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheep · 19/10/2014 18:00

some people will cheat some wont - men and women the same

some people are twats - some aren't

SaucyJack · 19/10/2014 18:06

YABU. Some people have morals- some people don't. Some people wouldn't ever cheat.

However, I fully accept you can never predict your partner well enough to say that they'll never cheat.

Bogeyface · 19/10/2014 18:08

I do think there is some truth in it. Some people have better personal boundaries than others and I think thats where "It just happened" comes from. They werent planning to cheat but didnt have the awareness of what can happen if you allow yourself to become too close to someone.

I met someone a while back, lovely guy and if I was single I would have gone out with him like a shot. He was most definitely my "type". But I have not had much to do with him because I dont want to cheat. I know that if I got closer to him I would find it very easy to slip into an affair so I didnt.

Drumdrum60 · 19/10/2014 18:15

Oh the chaos of an affair . Not worth it . Ever.

TheRealJoanWarburton · 19/10/2014 18:18

My late mother said the most dangerous thing was 'proximity'. People who spend time together end up having sex.

Alisvolatpropiis · 19/10/2014 18:19

There's some truth to it,I would say.

But then I don't think people cheat unless there is something wrong in the relationship either.

gamerwidow · 19/10/2014 18:19

I don't think it's just about options. I think all men and women have the potential to cheat if a perfect storm of options plus personal problems occurred. I.e generally speaking I don't think either me or my partner would cheat but if something happened to make us feel really low or unvalued and an opportunity presented it might be us vulnerable to temptation.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/10/2014 18:20

I think the issue is that you don't know the inside of someone's mind, even your partner's, possibly even your own. I know people who I would say would never cheat, some who would given half a chance and a guarantee they wouldn't be caught and some who try it on at the first opportunity.

BettyMoody · 19/10/2014 18:21

its is SO interesting this, isnt it. My h trusts me way more than most men, as I have loads of male pals, he never interrogates me about anything ever. BECAUSE of that I could never ever betray him as that would be shit on top of shit.

i think they stray as they think they will get away with it. Not necc at ALL to do with the partner

notagainffffffffs · 19/10/2014 18:21

Hmmm not sure on this. I kindof know dp wouldn't cheat because he would hate to not wake up in the same house as our dc. His dad left and he hated it.
Im pretty sure he had an offer from an ex colleague a few months back when he was very drunk but I dont think anything happened because he told me about it.
If im attracted to someone I do work hard to put barriers up/ take a step back etc but I do know ive had the option to cheat

BettyMoody · 19/10/2014 18:21

I once heard a radio 4 thing about genes and it said there is a fidelity gene.

Toadinthehole · 19/10/2014 18:23

Perfectly normal to be in a relationship - even a very serious long term relationship - and find other people very attractive, including people you spend a lot of time with - work colleagues, friends, etc. You might notice their attractiveness less if the relationship is functioning very well. If the relationship isn't going well, there's less reason not to give into temptation.

BettyMoody · 19/10/2014 18:23

www.everydayhealth.com/columns/dr-laura-berman-on-love-and-sex/is-cheating-in-your-genes/

i dont think they weigh up the ' losing my family' thing AT ALL. its just fun, and or easy

Bogeyface · 19/10/2014 18:23

But then I don't think people cheat unless there is something wrong in the relationship either.

Do people still believe this?! What if the only thing wrong in the relationship is the person who is cheating? So many times affairs are found out and the cheater doesnt want the marriage to be over because they are happy in the marriage. Saying "there must be something wrong" implies that the cheated on spouse must also somehow be to blame for the fact that their OH didnt stop themselves from cheating.

BettyMoody · 19/10/2014 18:26

i dont agree that there is something rong to causebinfidelity, but several people say AFTERWARDS that things , looking back, weren't perfect. Most of us tolerate a degree of annoyance /lack of harmony or whatever and don't resort to cheating, though,

maybe we all need marital therapy

Alisvolatpropiis · 19/10/2014 18:26

Bogey

Er yes I do believe it.

That something wrong is often caused by the cheater themselves. Inability to communicate develops, withdrawing from the relationship as a result, vicious circle begins, meets someone they think they can take to and so on. Or vice versa.

So I'm not saying that the spouse is to blame.

BettyMoody · 19/10/2014 18:26

'wrong to cause infidelity'

SevenZarkSeven · 19/10/2014 18:29

Nah

I think some people are "cheaty"
And some aren't
Some are bastards
Some are just shit at keeping it in their pants
Some people get drunk a lot and some people don't

I dunno.

I just think some people are kind of reckless and feckless and have poor impulse control and stuff

And some people are just more monogamous in their souls

I think probably the state of a relationship actually has very little to do with it a lot of the time?

Dunno Smile

SevenZarkSeven · 19/10/2014 18:31

Of course there are lots of different sorts of cheating as well that different sorts of people might get up to.

It's all a bit complicated probably Grin

SevenZarkSeven · 19/10/2014 18:31

The opportunity thing is the reason behind men all over and for lots of history wanting to keep women under lock and key though isn't it I guess.

Sorry for multiple posts - it's an interesting one!

BumpNGrind · 19/10/2014 18:32

Maybe it's true, but for my dh the two options he has are cheat or lose everything.

I trust him that he lives me and isn't that bloody stupid and he trusts that I mean what I say.

needyoumorethanwantyou · 19/10/2014 18:33

I don't think you can ever know anyone 100% even if you share their life with them.

But I also know that human beings are complex and it's not as simple that infidelity means that person always was a bastard/bitch or had no morals.

I've had friends cheated on by their partners who were loving, dependable people. The sort of people that always helped other people out. That were kind and intelligent and great parents and faithful, romantic and in love. Until they weren't.

I don't think (unless in the case of genuine personality disorders) that all they were before was a fabrication.

They were genuinely all those things before an opportunity presented itself or a friendship developed or whatever. There are threads on here saying 'how could I not know he was capable of this' and friends tell me the same about their partners and I don't think they WERE capable of it before it happened if that makes sense?.

OP posts:
Thefishewife · 19/10/2014 18:34

Agreed I think this I s why pop stars ECt find it difficult.

Toadinthehole · 19/10/2014 18:34

i dont agree that there is something rong to causebinfidelity, but several people say AFTERWARDS that things , looking back, weren't perfect.

But these things are all relative, and judged from the perspective of the new relationship. X leaves A for B, what (s)he loves about B is probably going to be something A doesn't have. A's own individual merits would (in the short run) become irrelevant.

Idefix · 19/10/2014 18:38

Not really sure it is as simple as how you have put it op. Fairly new to mn (seeking a fix to fb addiction...) but I currently live in an environment which on the one hand shoves conventionality down your throat but on a nearly monthly basis get told/see the fall out of people being unfaithful. I thought it was just the bubble i live in but since joining mn not so sure.

Some people just don't put the same value on faithfulness and think it is ok to lie about it to their partners. It is very sad and upsetting when the other partner finds out.