A Mumsnet user has created a lively debate after claiming that “everybody” is capable of cheating.
“People who are absolutely certain their other halves won’t ever cheat are deluding themselves,” Amberlynn said.
The post has attracted over 400 comments with many Mumsnet users defending their solid relationships.
“I am sure that my husband would never cheat on me,” said one post.
“Just as I am sure he would never hit me. Just as I’m sure he’d never rob me. Because I know him very well and I know how he views things and what his moral boundaries are.”
But the commenter did admit she wasn’t so sure her partner would always love her.
Another said there were two types of people, when it comes to loyalty.
“I think there are people capable of cheating, and those that never ever would. Those in the first group may or may not cheat, those in the second group never would.”
But the post divided Mumsnet users, with some backing up the original statement.
"I agree that given the right circumstances everyone is capable of cheating," said user Bluntness100.
"It doesn't mean they will and I'm also not sure why it puts your teeth on edge that people trust their husbands or wives. But given the right circumstances i.e. Lack of attention or spark at home, or unhappiness at home, happening to meeting someone in the course of their lives who they find attractive and who returns that feeling, having the opportunity, then yep, I do think every one [sic] is capable of it."
Other Mumsnetters shared their experiences of being cheated on, with one saying others were "naive" for trusting their husbands.
"I've been cheated on in the past and worse," she admitted.
Another user, AndYourBirdCanSing, said good people can make "awful" decisions.
"I have been truly shocked by people I know cheating," she said.
"I have seen people finding out who had no idea whatsoever, and would have sworn their partner would never be unfaithful."
"The amount of work related affairs I have witnessed is staggering, often going completely undetected, and conducted by people who I would have thought were the more moral, 'family' types. This is within education as well- not a swanky dinner or work trip in sight."
The Mumsnetter argued that there is "always time" for an affair.
The original poster, Amberlynn, also asked followers: "What constitutes cheating?"
Some responded by saying that cheating was about forming "connections" with others, and it could happen with or without sex.
"We all view cheating differently," another posted.
Top Comments
My best friend is hooking up with a married man and she is absolutely convinced that he'll leave his wife for her and that he won't cheat on her like he did to his wife.
I completely agree with this! It's not saying that anyone WILL just that given the circumstances anyone COULD...
To me cheating is something you would hide from your partner and goes outside of your mutually agreed to relationship boundaries
It would be a pretty silly person who would date someone when they KNOW they would cheat... No one thinks it's going to happen to them but time & time again they're left in shock... That doesn't mean you shouldn't trust your partner, nor does it mean they're a bad person if they do do that - we're all human and sometimes good people do crappy things!
I was part of that "perfect" couple, all of our friends envied how amazing our relationship was, I treated him like a king and he treated me like a queen... yet it still happened! With my best friend no less and EVERYONE was in complete shock that that could happen, to this day I've never received an explanation past "I don't know why"!