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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think most men would cheat if they knew they’d never be caught?

328 replies

OneMauveMentor · 13/07/2025 18:26

It’s not about love - it’s about opportunity, ego, and lack of consequences. “Good men” are often just men who haven’t had the chance (yet). Loyalty when untested isn’t real loyalty.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 14/07/2025 22:37

EggCustardTartt · 14/07/2025 21:44

Was it peer reviewed?!!

It was a very small study of men from just one college who were given course credits as an incentive for participating. And if you read the article I linked it seems the methodology was pretty dodgy - e.g. the results don't really match the conclusion. Basically clickbait.

1/3 of women would apparently commit murder if they could get away with it and 70% would cheat according to similar studies.

Edited

And then you at what actual men do when there’s a war… not so far fetched.

katedan · 14/07/2025 22:39

NachoChip · 13/07/2025 19:45

I'm amazed that there are responses thinking it's the same for women as men. It just isn't. I don't know if it's biology, social attitudes or a combination but if you think men and women are the same on this issue, you're absolutely kidding yourselves.

Totally disagree with this, just as many women cheat as men but how they perceive it is different, less about animal sex and more about wanting attention and affection.

stayathomer · 14/07/2025 22:41

No I don’t think so (from someone who has a low opinion of men at the mo lol!)

Tidekiln · 14/07/2025 22:43

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/07/2025 22:37

And then you at what actual men do when there’s a war… not so far fetched.

Yes war, that normal everyday activity that men take part in. Very representative of what men want to be doing.

PlainJaneBrain · 14/07/2025 22:46

40weeksmummy · 14/07/2025 22:32

I used to work in very posh 5* hotel. And yes, 99% of "lovely and caring" husbands, fathers, partners ARE CHEATING. We had regular guests who were inviting wife with kids for their "work" stay, then flying back with family and returning after few days to spent time with other women. I used to have one guy on my section (I was a maid) who paid me £200 every time that I would check every single corner and would make sure his wife won't find his mistress underwear, lipstick,etc (he used the same room all the time).

Sorry but calling BS on that. What hotel and where?

SprayWhiteDung · 14/07/2025 22:49

40weeksmummy · 14/07/2025 22:32

I used to work in very posh 5* hotel. And yes, 99% of "lovely and caring" husbands, fathers, partners ARE CHEATING. We had regular guests who were inviting wife with kids for their "work" stay, then flying back with family and returning after few days to spent time with other women. I used to have one guy on my section (I was a maid) who paid me £200 every time that I would check every single corner and would make sure his wife won't find his mistress underwear, lipstick,etc (he used the same room all the time).

So that's 99% of "lovely and caring" husbands, fathers, partners who regularly use hotels for family travel purposes, but who don't arrive and leave with their wives/families.

That's quite a narrow caveat to extrapolate to the whole population in general.

Berlinlover · 14/07/2025 22:52

Sadly yes I believe men are only as faithful as their opportunities.

Tidekiln · 14/07/2025 22:52

40weeksmummy · 14/07/2025 22:32

I used to work in very posh 5* hotel. And yes, 99% of "lovely and caring" husbands, fathers, partners ARE CHEATING. We had regular guests who were inviting wife with kids for their "work" stay, then flying back with family and returning after few days to spent time with other women. I used to have one guy on my section (I was a maid) who paid me £200 every time that I would check every single corner and would make sure his wife won't find his mistress underwear, lipstick,etc (he used the same room all the time).

So surely that guy would have found it easier to just have the wife in the room first and mistress second 🤔 and if that room in the hotel was for his sole use then he must have been pretty A list in which case hardly your average man - if it wasnt just a room for him then surely a rogue item could easily be explained as belonging to the previous guest?

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/07/2025 23:00

Tidekiln · 14/07/2025 22:43

Yes war, that normal everyday activity that men take part in. Very representative of what men want to be doing.

It’s a time without consequences for them, exactly as the OP says. You don’t like the study, you don’t like a RL example. It’s almost like you’re arguing in bad faith.

Tidekiln · 14/07/2025 23:09

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/07/2025 23:00

It’s a time without consequences for them, exactly as the OP says. You don’t like the study, you don’t like a RL example. It’s almost like you’re arguing in bad faith.

What are your thoughts on people observing silence on remembrance day or wearing poppies? Are you disgusted that people are showing respect for a bunch of rapists? If that's what men taking part in war are.

yellowdress34 · 14/07/2025 23:10

Yes. They would.

yellowdress34 · 14/07/2025 23:16

Delatron · 14/07/2025 10:50

You don’t believe any married women cheat?!

3luckystars You should have worked at most of the places I have over the years. There were just as many married women cheating as there were married men - usually with each other.

Everintroverte · 14/07/2025 23:23

100% think that men would cheat if they thought they wouldn't get caught.

CleverButScatty · 14/07/2025 23:28

I am sure many would. But I know I (a woman) would not ever. Not because I would never be tempted. Not because it has never been in offer. Just because I would not. It's wrong. End of. I would be devastated whether or not my partner found out.

So surely if I feel like that, there must be men who do?

I am not saying all, but surely it's the case the some men would not all men would...

Cosycover · 14/07/2025 23:35

Most people I reckon. Not just men. Humans were never meant to be monogamous. We just like to create daft rules for ourselves.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/07/2025 01:16

Tidekiln · 14/07/2025 23:09

What are your thoughts on people observing silence on remembrance day or wearing poppies? Are you disgusted that people are showing respect for a bunch of rapists? If that's what men taking part in war are.

I’ve just spotted that you used the phrase ‘body count’ earlier in the thread. No point arguing with Andrew Tate incel types so I won’t.

To think most men would cheat if they knew they’d never be caught?
HRTQueen · 15/07/2025 01:42

Absolutely

young working in a mainly male environment made me realise how many men would (and how many were)

women (in general) are as causal about sex if we were there would be far more sex workers for women

Tidekiln · 15/07/2025 06:33

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/07/2025 01:16

I’ve just spotted that you used the phrase ‘body count’ earlier in the thread. No point arguing with Andrew Tate incel types so I won’t.

No response then. It's so easy to resort to labels when you cant think of anything else to say.

Tidekiln · 15/07/2025 06:46

HRTQueen · 15/07/2025 01:42

Absolutely

young working in a mainly male environment made me realise how many men would (and how many were)

women (in general) are as causal about sex if we were there would be far more sex workers for women

We dont need to pay for it!

Thepossibility · 15/07/2025 07:20

Thinking on this more. I know myself as a women and the women I know, wouldn't cheat because the guilt would eat us up, even if we knew we wouldn't get caught. We need to do the right thing by everyone to feel ok in ourselves.
But I think men don't cheat because they might lose something valuable to them (comfortable life, family, reputation etc) if they get caught. So if there were no risk of getting caught they absolutely would do it.

Tidekiln · 15/07/2025 07:29

Thepossibility · 15/07/2025 07:20

Thinking on this more. I know myself as a women and the women I know, wouldn't cheat because the guilt would eat us up, even if we knew we wouldn't get caught. We need to do the right thing by everyone to feel ok in ourselves.
But I think men don't cheat because they might lose something valuable to them (comfortable life, family, reputation etc) if they get caught. So if there were no risk of getting caught they absolutely would do it.

So are you saying women are capable of feeling guilt and not men? That men are never capable of doing the right thing?

I don't disagree that probably more men than women cheat but there are still plenty men who dont cheat and plenty women who do. It's the mindset of the person not the sex of the person.

savagedaughter · 15/07/2025 08:02

Most of the men you have been willing to tolerate, perhaps.

I've always wondered who these betraying men are supposed to be fucking if women are so much more moral as a sex - is there just one super busy woman running around shagging all the men, or are the men all shagging one another?

HRTQueen · 15/07/2025 08:06

Tidekiln · 15/07/2025 06:46

We dont need to pay for it!

Edited

Neither do men ….

they choose to buy sex

savagedaughter · 15/07/2025 08:06

Oh, and there is one reason, and just one reason why anyone cheats - it's because they want to.

cheesycheesy · 15/07/2025 08:10

Thepossibility · 15/07/2025 07:20

Thinking on this more. I know myself as a women and the women I know, wouldn't cheat because the guilt would eat us up, even if we knew we wouldn't get caught. We need to do the right thing by everyone to feel ok in ourselves.
But I think men don't cheat because they might lose something valuable to them (comfortable life, family, reputation etc) if they get caught. So if there were no risk of getting caught they absolutely would do it.

Not all women are saints