Infidelity

"Physical infidelity is the signal, the notice given, that all fidelities are undermined" - Katherine Anne Porter

My biggest objection to infidelity isn't that I think we should be monogamous, necessarily, it's the fact that it can do so much harm to people. If both partners agree to an open relationship, all well and good - but if one person is faithful and expects the same from their partner, I feel it is wrong to hurt and humiliate them by cheating. There is also the fact to consider that it is often not just the partner who is hurt by infidelity, but also wider circles of family and friends, offspring and sometimes the "other" man or woman, if they have also been lied to.

It is debatable, it seems, as to what constitutes adultery. Personally, I think that cheating does not necessarily have to be physical. Although feeling attracted to other people whilst in a relationship can be innocent (such as crushes on celebrities, for instance), if it turns into love I think this is still being unfaithful, even if there is no physical cheating.

There also seems to be a gender debate, as to whether it is mainly men who cheat (or maybe it is just that more men are caught?). I see it as more a question of personality as to whether someone cheats or not, rather than gender.

Here is an article about female celebrities who have cheated on their partners: http://celebrity.aol.co.uk/2010/02/19/cheating-celeb-women/

And another discussing why women cheat: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-305635/Were-born-stray.html

Perhaps it is the fact that infidelity often entails many aspects of bad behaviour which makes some people so against it. To name a few, it can involve lying, greed, disloyalty, promiscuity and selfishness. However, clearly not everyone feels that it is "being bad" as some companies are prepared to give adulterers credible alibis to pacify their concerned partners: http://www.alibinetwork.com/index.jsp?kid=1d70116481faf00a9ee356752f0d9868baaa6435