Life is Short, Have an Affair. That's the tagline for the internet phenomenon, the
Ashley Madison dating site. It's a site meant to facilitate discreet relationships for those who are already in one (married or not) but who are also looking for something more.
Apparently the site has been operational for about 7 yrs and boasts a member list of over 2 and a half million people. I don't know about you, but I was a bit sick to my stomach when I heard about this site. I mean, I understand commercialism and that there's pretty much a market for anything out there, so it really comes as no surprise that someone would come along and try to make some money from this sort of idea, but it sorta upsets me that there are so many willing participants in this.
If you're in a relationship and you're happy, why would you need to go out and seek out something "more"? If you were unhappy in your relationship, why don't you just end it, move on, and find something different? Isn't cheating on your significant other a much more juvenile and desperate way of handling things? Even if there was some sort of short-term benefit (ie. excitement), doesn't the potential long-term detriment outweigh that? (Cue Tiger Woods, for instance. Would you still be able to use the "sexual addiction" thing as an excuse if you used this site?)
Would you use this sort of dating service if you were in a relationship? What do you think of this site?
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Comments (40)
I have blogged about this before. It is quite evident that websites such as these are the result of incomprehensible boredom.
I agree. I wish I could rec it more
I've heard of this site before.... as noted, I get why this has a market ... but it also plays on the rising divorce rate. Sickening, really...
Wow, that's sad.
this makes me sick to my stomach. Do these people even have an ounce of a conscious? Do they realize that whoever their SO is...probably knows wtf is going on because of intuition? This is just sick.
I'm not saying I support these kinds of actions, but life can be complicated and sometimes in some peoples lives, cheating is the better option.
Why is her ass crack so big?
lol, I actually just blogged about it and I didn't even know this was here.
It's morally wrong and legal?
I think that's is entirely 100% fucked up to
encourage something with such a lack or morality and consideration for
people you supposedly love.
I would not use the site, nor do I care if there are people that do. People cheat. It sucks, but you can't control the will of other people.
@Pink_TeaCups@xanga - 'Cause there's a tiny pair of underwear crammed into it.
wow. yeah. hetero marriages are definitely kept sacred, aren't they? shining examples.
@SeeBeeWrite@xanga - LOL.
I am just sick of hearing about every cheater in the celebrity world. Yes! It goes on and it is stupid and I don't agree with it, but I don't need to hear about it 24/7. I think the site is disgusting, and I wish there wasn't one but then that is the dangers of the internet. Not only are there really fabulous things online, but the bad always has to seep into everything eventually!
@roxics@xanga - Good point. I think what you said is important to remember... life is complicated.
You know what would be amusing? If a husband and wife found each other's profiles on a site like that. Wonder if it would bring them closer together or if they would both call each other dirty scumbags for doing the same exact thing...
@AnonymousBlonde@xanga - That's hilarious, but so true. It reminds me of a friend who (no joke) was paired with their sister by eharmony.
As for the original question:
Infidelity is sad, but life is complicated, and sometimes relationships are worthwhile, even cherished, without providing everything a person needs.
roxics@xanga- you should be slapped in the face! and kicked in the ass!!!
There is never any excuse for cheating... Would cheating on a test be okay? NO...
Neither is cheating on your SO okay, in ANY given situation. Numb skull.
What if your a naive old man like me who has always had self-conscious body issues because I have always been very thin, which in turn has caused sexual dysfunction. ONLY very thin women are attractive to me and I do also have an e.d. BECAUSE I am so thin and have fear of rejection. I am nice looking (face wise) but I am small boned and have a low muscle mass but I am wiry strong. My wife is one of the very few that finds extremely thin men attractive and she was extremely thin when we met many years ago. She nurtured me through this and we had a son who is now 30 yrs old. She once weighed about 105 at 5'7" and I still weigh in the 130's at 6'2". She has since then gained what I now weigh and is obese and I can no longer be intimate because of her weight. I realize I am a shallow asshole but she is the ONLY one I have had successful sex with and before I die I always wonder what it would be like to satisfy another woman and would I feel guilt if I did so. The only way I can get 'turned on' is if she is extremely thin...Do you think I am batshit crazy??
@Mugo60@xanga - No sweetie. You DO sound like someone with an Ed though..your feelings towards your wife are understandable..
I would suggest a therapist for it ..it might help to address your ed and with your relationship with your wife.
@Mugo60@xanga - no, you ARE a jerk. admitting you're shallow isn't a great step... the only good thing you can do is lay it aside. and she's not even obese, i dont get it... do you know the definition of obese?
Hilarious. What if you found your partner on this site and tried to meet up with them only to find out? Haha.
never heard of it before until now. I need a lot of attention so I wouldn't be with someone already attached because their attention would be divided and he'd probably disappear for days without communication due to trying to keep the secret from his wife or girlfriend. I'll get too jealous and I don't like to share, so I don't think I'd be in a discreet relationship where I have to compete for the attention. I don't condone cheating but I can sort of see why someone would emotionally cheat. cheating of any type isn't right. who knows if I was unknowingly the other woman. there have been situations where I knew there was something up with the guy because he'd have a ton of excuses and I knew he was lying, so I cut things off with him and found someone new to flirt with because the moment that I find out he is attached, it is a complete turn off because I don't like being lied to and not being top priority.
If I'm in a relationship already, a dating website wouldn't even cross my mind. =/