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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:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 19/10/2014 22:51

riverboat... I can see it from your side too. Less investment, less hurt, more easily forgotten and brushed aside.

Thinking of yourself in that position is one thing, it's very sobering to think of your own husband being the one to cheat. I know exactly what you mean.

foreverton · 19/10/2014 22:53

Lyingwitch, you sound so nice! Thanks for your kind words xx

TheRealAmandaClarke · 19/10/2014 22:53

It suggests men are shallow

The thing is, men, as a group, are shallow. You only have to be passing a strip club at chucking -out time to know that.
Some men are less / more shallow than others. Some man are less likely to cheat than others. Some women are more likely than some men to cheat.
But there is a difference between men and women on this matter. Probably due to conditioning?? Overall, imo, men are more driven by their genitals than women are.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 19/10/2014 22:54

RealJoan... I'm curious. Why do you think these married men are taking a particular interest in you? Do single men do this as well and you've just highlighted the married ones or is it only married ones?

No doubt you tell them where to get off so no harm done. Practice your look of disdain/disgust in the mirror and walk away.

Suzannewithaplan · 19/10/2014 22:57

It's very difficult to know the truth about any kind of cheating because people who cheat have compelling reasons to keep their activities hidden.

We only find out about the affairs that we find out about, we like to think that all cheaters will get their comeuppances but my guess would be that many people of both sexes cheat and are not discovered.

I expect research has been done about rates of cheating in relationships but would even that be reliable?

I'd be curious to know what impact electronic communications have had on rates of infidelity but I cant see how we could ever have reliable information.
All we have is anecdote, the plural of which (as we all know) is not data!

TheRealAmandaClarke · 19/10/2014 22:57

foreverton Thanks

SaucyJack · 19/10/2014 22:59

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad foreverton, but I do think it's a little daft to say noone is above cheating.

Millions of people manage to not cheat from one year to the next- or indeed for their whole lifetimes. They can't all be uggers who never leave the house, Shirley?

lifesentence · 19/10/2014 23:12

It is interesting how much flack men are getting here - not saying it's unfounded, I have no idea what the statistics are. Maybe women are just better at not getting caught? I know several men who have strayed, but only one woman - and that was an exit affair, she left her dh only a few months into it.

My df was a serial cheat and I spent the first several years of my own marriage convinced all men would cheat and it was only a matter of time. I was poised ready to find out and end my marriage at any time. Because of that, I didn't really commit to the marriage as much as I should have. I eventually realised the worst wasn't happening and started to think maybe I had been a bit sexist, maybe I had let my experiences colour my judgement, and maybe if women could be faithful then so could men.

I had a real crisis when I started to accept this as I was desperately afraid that as soon as I let my guard down - that would be the time he would cheat! But I finally decided I was just being sexist and unfair. I still half expect it to happen, but I don't fret over it much any more (20 years in).

TheRealJoanWarburton · 19/10/2014 23:13

Lying - single men too but there are fewer single men around in the age group (40 to 60).

I don't think they're taking a 'particular interest' in me. They know I'm single, they try it on. No doubt they try it on with everyone. I can assure you have no illusions about my attractiveness. Every one of them has been a surprise to me, the first one an incredible life-changing shock.

And no, I don't tell them where to get off. I might sometimes look bemused... they're not people I 'disdain', so I don't look down on them.

So far I've said 'Can't do that, its unsuitable, family first', 'Can't sin', 'Sorry I'm expected somewhere', or made similar excused, and not followed up on the ones who left that to me.

But who knows what the future will bring.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 19/10/2014 23:35

RealJoan... Ah, statistical significance regarding age group. I think you could just come up with a stock phrase that's comfortable for you, eg. "No, thank you" or "I'm not interested" or something less polite. The married ones are disrespecting you. Your responses are not very definite, put it that way. Save polite responses for those who are at least single and available.

foreverton, you're very welcome, thank you. Thanks

TheRealJoanWarburton · 19/10/2014 23:43

"No thank you" might work for me .... but I like to leave my options open, so how about "Not right now"?

I was concerned about the disrespect at first - now I just think, well, maybe...

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/10/2014 00:11

If they're married, RealJoan, "NO!" is a better option really.

The single ones, you can answer what you like.

TheRealJoanWarburton · 20/10/2014 16:06

If they're married, RealJoan, "NO!" is a better option really

Not really. NO makes me responsible to uphold someone else's marriage, which I'm not.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 20/10/2014 16:55

'No' doesn't make you responsible to uphold someone else's marriage. No means you're doing the right thing.

There's a big difference.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/10/2014 17:25

RealJoan... I can now see why you're getting propositioned by so many married men. They think you will say 'yes' or they sense that you're not as definitely opposed as you might be.

Perhaps you could stop pretending that you're not actively courting an ego boost from these men, it's quite obvious that you are from the way that you're posting and it was quite jarring the way you listed the married men who think you 'might'. Have the courage to at least own that and maybe have a word with yourself about how you are presenting if you don't like the way you're perceived.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 20/10/2014 18:02

how depressing is this thread Sad I trust my partner and he trusts me.... we have had the conversations about yeah, but what if... and the upshot was that if he or I wanted to take things further with someone else we would tell each other and finish our relationship first, we are open with each other and chat about 'having pulled' whenever someone shows him or me any interest, its fun and makes us feel good, we love that we are still attractive to other people but are in a committed and above all respectful relationship and 100% know that we would never let each other down on that, not saying a mutual attraction could never happen, but we would never act on it without sorting things out first and tbh we are so good together that it is unlikely that it would ever ever happen.

museumum · 20/10/2014 19:09

Neither my husband nor I had a load of one night stands or wild affairs when we were single - why would we suddenly start shagging around now we're married??

TheRealJoanWarburton · 20/10/2014 21:42

lyingwitch, how nice it must be for you to believe that you know it all.
you're wrong, of course, but you'd never believe it.

GatoradeMeBitch · 21/10/2014 00:25

Nope, I don't agree. I know of men who have been propositioned at work and rejected the advances, and I also know some women who are only as faithful as their options. A couple of my female relatives blossom under the attentions of almost any man, and I know they have had affairs.

You can't generalize; there are decent people in both genders, and horny dogs in both genders!

ScarlettlovesRhett · 21/10/2014 07:50

Agree with a pp about it being a 'perfect storm' - that's when otherwise good people have an affair.

There needs to be some sort of discord in the relationship (feeling 'pushed out' or sidelined usually following a baby or if a spouse's work is getting all their attention and energy)
It is usually when the relationship is 'comfortable' - past the infatuation stage and there is nothing left to 'discover' about each other.
There needs to be interest from another party (if someone else finds you funny, interesting, good company, attractive).
There needs to be opportunity (usually works night out/work trip away etc).

When all those conditions line up at the same time, in perfect alignment, that's when otherwise good, trustworthy people cheat imo.

Sliceoffacutloaf · 21/10/2014 08:06

Lyingwitch so what if Joan WAS courting an ego boost? Hardly a crime! Don't we all like a second glance now and then?!

TheRealJoanWarburton · 21/10/2014 08:48

Erm... as stated upthread, I am the world's most least likely person to attract male attention. I don't court it. I dress 'plain', as the Amish might say. I don't seek out men or ask them to notice me in any way.

The point of my posts is that if men try it on with me, they will try it on with anybody, or in fact everybody.

Do you have a husband/partner? Chances are, he's not faithful.

Sliceoffacutloaf · 21/10/2014 09:17

I don't disagree, but maybe there's something about you that MM go for - maybe you look like you might be very discreet. Or just have cracking knockers, who cares?Grin

JohnFarleysRuskin · 21/10/2014 09:23

Do you have a husband/partner? Chances are, he's not faithful.

You just sound silly now.

TheRealJoanWarburton · 21/10/2014 09:28

Think what you like. We'll all be hear to post support when you find out the truth.

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