2008 Woodie Awards
Cheating comes in all forms
Daniel Abraham
Opinion | 4/9/08
No one ever likes to be cheated on. It's not an enjoyable thing to have happen to you. Yet somehow it happens all the time in relationships.
Cheating knows no biases. Every gender, race, religion and culture has it from time to time. But here's the question I want to raise today, who defines what cheating is?
Is it sex? And if so what constitutes as sex? Intercourse only, or other sexual acts? What about kissing? Does it matter where or how? Is a kiss on the lips as bad as one on the cheek or forehead?
But here's where it gets a little tricky. You see people can cheat without ever making physical contact with anyone. We can do it all emotionally. Scary huh?
When someone who has a significant other and still spends quality time with another person they're attracted to, is that considered cheating? The fact that you're tempted and will eventually want to be with that person is almost as devastating to a relationship as actually having sex with someone else. Fantasizing and daydreaming about life, love and happiness with someone other than your boyfriend or girlfriend can't be considered a good thing.
Here's what's so scary about it all though. The significant other that is being emotionally cheated on has no real evidence that it's all taking place. Sure, there might be hints left about what's going on, but without actual physical contact do you even have the right to be upset?
It's definitely not a black and white issue. But I think cheating is wrong no matter how it happens. If you feel awkward telling your significant other the complete truth about what you did or are doing then you're probably cheating. Yes, some things are worse than others but honesty is the best policy. If you feel like you can't be with just one person, you really don't need to be in a relationship and you should be up front about that. If you're in a relationship and you start falling for someone else you're more than likely not truly happy with the one you're in.
Cheating knows no biases. Every gender, race, religion and culture has it from time to time. But here's the question I want to raise today, who defines what cheating is?
Is it sex? And if so what constitutes as sex? Intercourse only, or other sexual acts? What about kissing? Does it matter where or how? Is a kiss on the lips as bad as one on the cheek or forehead?
But here's where it gets a little tricky. You see people can cheat without ever making physical contact with anyone. We can do it all emotionally. Scary huh?
When someone who has a significant other and still spends quality time with another person they're attracted to, is that considered cheating? The fact that you're tempted and will eventually want to be with that person is almost as devastating to a relationship as actually having sex with someone else. Fantasizing and daydreaming about life, love and happiness with someone other than your boyfriend or girlfriend can't be considered a good thing.
Here's what's so scary about it all though. The significant other that is being emotionally cheated on has no real evidence that it's all taking place. Sure, there might be hints left about what's going on, but without actual physical contact do you even have the right to be upset?
It's definitely not a black and white issue. But I think cheating is wrong no matter how it happens. If you feel awkward telling your significant other the complete truth about what you did or are doing then you're probably cheating. Yes, some things are worse than others but honesty is the best policy. If you feel like you can't be with just one person, you really don't need to be in a relationship and you should be up front about that. If you're in a relationship and you start falling for someone else you're more than likely not truly happy with the one you're in.
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