To think that affairs might be the collateral damage of social distancing?

[forrasee]

I am not making light of coronovirus and haven't put this in the topic as it's not really about the virus as such.

But it struck me today - there are normally several running threads on mumsnet at anyone time by OPs who have discovered their partners are cheating due to certain signs. At the moment there aren't as many as people have other things to worry about.

Do you think if people can't get out to meet their affair partners that the affairs might die off and go unnoticed? Or, will the messaging will pick up and more will come to light in the tension of living in such close quarters?

YANBU - Affairs will die off if the thrill of physical contact is gone
YABU - People will crack on even when isolating

www.history.com/news/auschwitz-midwife-stanislawa-leszczynska-saint
Here is a story of a polish woman who delivered 3000 babies in Auschwitz
It's not clear how many woman arrived pregnant, how many became pregnant via rape or how many were the result of live affairs between inmates. But we must assume that some of those were the result of consensual sex.

If you haven't already read it I suggest a book " the tatooist of Auschwitz " for an idea of how human spirit survives

When you look at what Christmas does to the divorce rate (as PPs have said) I think that coupled with a crisis which is also a matter of life and death and serious financial hardship then there will be a lot of couples who struggle to weather the storm. I cant even begin to imagine what isolation with my STBXH would have been like, I am grateful that I'm not shut in the house with him!

Your thread title implies you think it's a bad thing that affairs will end. I don't see what's damaging about people staying with their families instead of sneaking around screwing them over and spreading STDs and ruining their partner's/children's lives.

I think that more affairs will get found out, defo

Catching an STD has never been off putting enough to stop affairs so CV19 will not make a blind bit of difference to the selfish arseholes who cheat.

But people aren’t trapped indoors are they. Some of them are just working from home.
So I don’t think people are going to have to spend a huge amount more time with each other than usual. Unless they have to self isolate. Or we go into total lockdown

@DGRossetti ah my mistake -2 hours. Guess I shouldn’t judge our continental neighbours by (actually me being v generous to men) British standards😂

My 18 year old explained last night that sex is one of maslows basic needs....as he strode off to meet his tinder date.

Your thread title implies you think it's a bad thing that affairs will end.

No it doesn't, don't be daft. Collateral damage means it wasn't a foreseen consequence, not that it's a shame!

Buster72 Wow... your a good mum.

Sex isn’t in Maslow’s hierarchy. It is probably part of the love/connections part further up the ladder. It’s obviously essential for reproduction but I doubt that an 18 year old on a tinder date is considering that.

And for about 50% of mumsnetters polled, I recall from a recent post, they don’t need or want sex at all, preferring tea, books or chocolate.

Wow... your a good mum.

I hope that wasn’t sarcasm because it’s always embarrassing to have a SPaG fail when you’re trying to be a dick to someone. 😬

they don’t need or want sex at all, preferring tea, books or chocolate.

God that's depressing

@iloveicedtea
What would you have me do? Rugby tackle him and force him to stay home?

(What's a SPaG fail)

should we provide a quick fingering while dropping off their weekly shop?

There's going to be a shortage of courgettes soon.

(I'm picturing the adulterous couple in Last of the Summer Wine, who were always discovered shagging in a bush up a mountain or something.)

Shagging? Marina always wanted to, but Howard was never going to get it up. Being married to Pearl made sure nothing worked on Howard through fear!

Oh bloody hell, I have offered to get my elderly neighbours shopping in but my services stop there!

I read somewhere that when apple watches were first brought out, lots of affairs were uncovered.

I've been taught Maslow's theories in numerous contexts over the last 30 years. I swear none of them have ever mentioned sex.

I am actually weirdly very concerned about the lack of privacy I will be facing as well as the lack of social contact.

To never have a moment alone to make a private phone call to a friend will be hard, I think. Imagine if that were a friend.

I know people will have little sympathy but I do think a lot of affairs come from people trying to make the best of a bad situation, carry on for DC, not want to hurt anyone etc. People with those kinds of lives are going to find this incredibly difficult.

I was wondering about people addicted to drugs. How they will cope if they can’t get money from begging or theft because people are staying at home. I wondered if they will turn to even more desperate methods.

Or maybe, when faced with losing loved ones it’s put things like affairs/ infatuation into perspective.

My 18 year old explained last night that sex is one of maslows basic needs

Your son needs to read up on things a bit more.

I imagine a lot of relationships will end.

We’re in a make or break situation, I have been with my boyfriend eleven months. My son came down with a cough when he was staying so he has to isolate with us for 14 days. His housemate has CF, so after Boris’ announcement about vulnerable people my boyfriend can’t go home for 12 weeks as he risks making his housemate ill. I have stocked up on lube, cigarettes and non-alcholic beer.

I’m hugely worried about the homeless, where are they now going to get the little money they are given by the public, where are they going to go for a hot drink etc?

My 18 year old explained last night that sex is one of maslows basic needs

Of course he did, he's 18 and all thought comes from his trousers.

@Buster72’s teenager needs to reread his Maslow.