Is cuddling cheating?

[Lilcrazyop]

Just curious about what your opinion is on this. Do you consider cuddling cheating and why? I know a lot of people do. Some people think it’s a grey area and some think not at all. For me I wouldn’t necessarily class it as cheating but my husband would so I don’t do it. For me if the cuddling is prolonged for leads to other stuff then yes.

Yes cuddling is cheating. A hug is not in my opinion.

Nope. There's different kinds of cuddling, though. I'm struggling to be specific! We're animals, bodily contact is a form of communication and it's comforting. I do feel it's a little strange to automatically link it with sex. Sometimes it is sex-adjacent - this is where I'm struggling; I know it when I see it!

I think so - I would give my male friends a hug but not cuddle into their body if it was cold or cuddle on the couch - it’s way too familiar

I don’t know that I would classify it as cheating but it definitely implies a level of intimacy that would cross my boundaries.

I’m not a touchy person, there’s a small number of people who I am affectionate with (in a physical contact way) so cuddling with someone means I’m very close to them - my husband would rightly have questions if I was cuddled up with someone. Conversely, because I view cuddling as quite emotionally intimate, I would not be comfortable with my husband cuddling others.

I’m not a touchy person.

That's the difference, isn't it? Physical touch is an issue for some people. I've learned to respect this, but can't say I understand it.

If you have pets, you'll know they cuddle up together and it has nothing to do with sex. We're usually quite pleased when an unfriendly pair of pets start to do this - we say it shows they've learned to trust, and even care for, each other. To me, humans are just the same.

Yes but it's not normal with someone when there could be a sexual relationship.

We hug friends, family, cuddle children and animals. Even Teddy bears. Not the same in my view as what the OP is talking about.
Some things just feel natural and some things just don't.

No. I cuddle my DC, neices and nephews, friends children. I hug friends.
I don't cuddle random men or have i ever associated the word cuddle with sex.

Well cuddling people that either you're attracted to or they're attracted to you...or even maybe a mutual attraction can only end with awkwardness or sex. She's married. She knows the answer to her question really.

Your replies suggest that you can't envisage non-related women & men wanting to cuddle each other, unless at least one of them has a sexual agenda.

I differ. As long as we 'touchy' people are expected to respect others' aversion to touch, shouldn't the others also respect that many of us actually like it?

I hug my friends, both male and female, but a hug is very brief body contact.

Cuddling is prolonged body contact. Cuddling children or pets doesn't count in this context.

Put it this way- the last time I cuddled a male friend on his couch we became lovers. Not straight away, but it's a lead-in.

Not in my relationship it’s not.
I have plenty of male friends. In every single case I have cuddled them/they have cuddled me. Properly cuddled too, not just a brief hug.
Maybe it’s my nature, as I naturally lean towards a more “touchy-feely” relationship with all my friends. Maybe it’s because I have kissed many of my (male and female) friends due to Am-Drams and therefore we have a closer relationship due to onstage flirting than most.
And there’s no sexual feelings whatsoever. Regardless of characters being in love or whatever, I, personally only hold these men dear to me in that they are good friends, not lovers!

Hugs fine.
cuddles (prolonged and close hugs) not.

If you’d not do it in front of your partner or would be upset if they did then that’s a good rule of thumb.

No I'm just keeping it real. I can hug and cuddle up to anyone I love. But when it's not appropriate it feels uncomfortable. Seems weird to be snuggling up to a hunk and it not ending up in sex. Not even me...but them who can't cobtrol themselves. I can only talk about own experiences. But I am fucking stunning so opposite sex non family or Teddy bear related...I know how it might end. And I'm not necessarily comfortable with that. Expecting everyone to be comfortable with what you are comfortable with....is unreasonable. Take some responsibility.

Expecting everyone to be comfortable with what you are comfortable with....is unreasonable.

That's hypocritical, @HarkerandBarker, considering the post you quoted said respect for differences should go both ways. However, I've seen a lot of your posts tonight: you do seem to view yourself as some sort of drooling (🤪) sexpert and irresistible siren. Stands to reason you wouldn't think any man could be physically close to you and not be overcome by raging lust.

My friendships are more about affection than desire.

I greet my close male friends with a hug every time I see them. It would be weird not to. But I wouldn’t hug men I’m not close to, or that I would sleep with in the same way.
There will be differing views but you know the boundaries in your relationship, so don’t break them.

If this is your guyfriend then absolutely it is cheating. You clearly want something to happen with him yet refuse to leave your husband.

In my book, doing anything with anyone of the opposite sex that wouldn’t want your partner to see or know about constitutes as cheating.

Everyone has their own boundaries, but that’s where it is for me. I won’t say something to a man that I wouldn’t want my DH to hear, I won’t send a text to a man that I wouldn’t want my DH to read, I won’t engage in physical contact with a man that I wouldn’t want my DH to see.

Depends on lots of things.

Like how long was the cuddle, was their a reason for the cuddle, what's their relationship.

I hug most of my friends, like a 3 second greeting.

Drunk its maybe been a 10 second hug while were all giggly and reactions are off.

I have cuddled and been cuddled by male, and lesbian friends when; my gran died, my pets died, their partner lost a baby, after a funeral, a marriage failed, their parent died. Maybe for a few mins while one of us cried. Absolutely not a flirty or sexual thing just a comfort one. Longer than a hug.

Would I cuddle them in a snuggly, cheery watching the telly kinda way. Absolutely not that would feel uncomfortable and disrespectful to everyone's partners. And just a bit weird.

Id feel the same about my DP, hug hello or bye is fine. A cuddle because something upsetting has happened to someone he loves fine. (Might be less comfy if it was a "new" friend) but like a casual intimacy lazy cuddle up i wouldnt like

This. Cuddling is an intimate action. A brief hug on meeting or leaving is not.

I think arms around each other for a prolonged period or snuggling into each other signifies a closeness that isn’t appropriate for people in relationships with others. I don’t feel it’s proper cheating in the same way as kissing or sex, but it’s definitely crossing a line.

Truthfully: cheating is getting really blurry now. Cheating to be blunt is sexual intercourse between a married person and someone that is not that persons husband or wife.

The other stuff is open to interpretation. Any sexual act to me would be cheating. "Emotional" stuff etc is crossing boundaries, but not exactly cheating (certainly paving the way for it ). Hugs - no. Cuddling/prolonged, yeh it's boundary crossing again but if that's all it was, I'd say it shows pretty good restraint.

Why don't you leave your husband and get it over with? Then you can chase younger player guy friend all you want in peace.

Or are you worried younger player guyfriend won't support you like your husband does? That he's just feeding you a line and when you're single with a toddler and pets and no job, he's going to be making out with other women again?

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I mean... clearly ok for some people, there are cuddle parties / workshops...

I only cuddle and people who I am/ have been / want to be intimate with. I will cuddle any dog / cat that will let me 😆

Hug no, cuddle in bed/couch et yes

Thanks for all your replies. I don’t think a quick cuddle or cuddling someone who’s upset is cheating. Prolonged cuddles could be boundary crossing. My husband thinks cuddling isn’t appropriate but hugs are ok. I asked him this last weekend. My ex wasn’t ok with me cuddling other men too whereas I didn’t see much of a problem with it but I get it can lead to more things or cross boundaries so no cuddling for me lol