A couple of points to refute:
We choose our own spouse, but... sometimes people turn out NOT to be who they are advertising themselves to be. And, people change. Sure, you may be in love now, but 15 years down the line, who knows?
Second: The concept of "adultery" is a cultural artifact of the Christian ideal of marriage. Think outside your little moral sandbox for a moment and try to mentally embrace what I had said about an alternative arrangement. Forget your learned concept of morality and try to look at something that addresses human nature.
I have no problem with people who choose open relationships as long as BOTH people are aware of what's going on and agree to it.I do wonder though if those who cheat in
relationships were exclusivity was the deal though do so because they feel confident that their
partner will remain faithful no matter what.Do you think that the idea of what you give will effect
what you will be given back would give people pause?I mean you cheat and you get rewarded by your partner remaining faithful?
(snipped out a lot of cruft)
I have found that when approaching relationships, the lies and deceit are much worse than the actual extracurricular sexual activity. When going into it knowing that both you and your partner are free to see other people, it becomes an entirely new experience, and it can be quite good.
I think people cheat because they are missing something in their current relationship. Exactly what that is will probably vary from person to person, but I'm guessing that for most it's the element of "spice". For others, it's the thrill of doing something illicit, and for most of the rest it's probably to get some emotional contact that they are missing in their everyday life.
I'm with you, though, GB, on the point where double standards are not acceptable.