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The new voyeurism extends beyond mere curiosity and nearly forces us to contemplate our own happiness by comparing ourselves to others.
Yes, there’s a basic voyeurism at play here – which is no surprise as the entire Internet seems to be built on it. But this voyeurism runs far deeper than your basic porn site, celebrity gossip site, or user-generated forum (like this one). The new voyeurism extends beyond mere curiosity and nearly forces us to contemplate our own happiness by comparing ourselves to others.
“Vantage Capital Partners” – wow, sounds like that guy probably makes more than I do.
“Cherry Hills, NJ” – wow, I guess he’s got a nicer house, too.
Then you click on the photos, and start browsing through – is he/she married? If so, is his/spouse attractive? Are their kids attractive? Do they look happy together? What’s their relationship status?
And while I’m not actively or passively looking for anyone, as an experienced online dater, I can see how very easy it is to tell yourself stories – pure fictional stories – based on what you can infer from a limited portrait of someone else’s life.
If you’re dissatisfied and lonely in your relationship, the pull of your high school crush – who appears to be newly divorced on Facebook – may be the very impetus you need to test the waters of infidelity.
You remember the connection you had, you write a few ambiguous, then flirtatious emails, then, the next thing you know, you’re embroiled in an emotional email affair based on projection, need and fantasy. Cue Mark Sanford’s music.
The problem, as I see it, is twofold.
First, there’s the immediate accessibility to everyone you’ve ever met. In the past, you had a thing for someone, they disappeared from your life forever. You might have a “what if” lingering in your mind, but it was impractical to act on it. These days, every “what if” can be answered with a “let’s see”. If I want to find my sixth grade girlfriend in Florida, I can do just that – and know a lot more about her than I know about some stranger on JDate.
The second problem is the falseness of the medium. We make two faulty assumptions on Facebook: that other people are happier than we are, and that if we only connected with those idealized people, we would be happy, too. Of course, reality tells us a different tale, but to someone who is dissatisfied in life and love, it seems like a dreamy goal.
We make two faulty assumptions on Facebook: that other people are happier than we are, and that if we only connected with those idealized people, we would be happy, too.
Finally, the acceptability of the medium makes it ubiquitous, and, therefore, dangerous. It’s not chat rooms, it’s not Ashley Madison, it’s not singles bars – it’s connecting with old friends! You can see what an alibi – and slippery slope – that can become.
I’m as addicted to Facebook as anyone, but I’ve gotta tell you, in five years, I think it’ll be the biggest source of infidelity that man has ever known.
Discuss.
K Jason Krafsky says
You make a great point on people making assumptions based off short, edited pieces of information and photos. I co-wrote two articles with my wife related to Facebook being a threat to marriages and what couples can do to improve their marriage with FB . Thanks for your contribution to the discussion on FB and relationships.
FrogPrincess says
I disagree with Evan. But only because I think it will take a lot less time than 5 years.
.-= FrogPrincess´s last blog ..The Good, The Bad, and the Prosecco =-.
starthrower68 says
I took my relationship status off my profile, as I’m not on FB to find a date or hook-up or any such thing. I’m on there plugging my radio show, though I do keep in touch with old classmates and friends. It may be cynicism – healthy or no – but I have serious doubts I’m going to run across Mr. Right on Facebook. I made the mistake of thinking I had on MySpace and I’m now cured of that notion. It’s amazing, on MySpace, I still get propositioned and I have nothing on my profile there that says I’m there for dating, etc. Of course its mostly the oversees internet scammers but evidently, the wrong things are being inferred from my MySpace profile.
Steve says
Its not about Mr. Right, but about Mr. Toxic but Tempting Diversion
Eathan says
I think social media of various forms create a certain comfort and builds relationships that can become unhealthy for your relationship. I’ll admit that I’ve surfed FB for some of the same reasons you mentioned Evan… but I’m sure others do it and take it further than just being curious. I think FB is the latest craze the internet has created. It used to AOL chat rooms in the 90’s.. Myspace a few years ago. Cheating hearts will find a way.
.-= Eathan´s last blog ..When Swirl Goes Bad =-.
Steve says
You aren’t that surgeon dude who can fight like a martial artist are you?
Sorry, too much Lost 🙂
Ava says
Evan brings up some interesting points on the nature of our online addiction. It’s not just FB, it’s online dating, too. Even when you’re dating someone from an internet dating site, it’s become common for people to keep their profiles open, and to continue to browse. It’s the continual access to other people, to someone different, new, or even something or someone lingering from our past, but whatever it is, maybe, just maybe, it’s BETTER than what we’ve already got. Makes me think of another post of Evan’s about keeping doors/options open, and how seductive that has become.
Steve says
Evan, Cherry Hill New Jersey? That is where I grew up. I feel sorry for your FB friend for living there. It is a Kafkaesque suburban hell.
Curly Girl says
I made a similar observation and then didn’t post it. Just goes to show you how powerful illusion is, if the fantasy of Cherry Hill is inciting envy.
Steve says
All;
In the experience of my life some of the most dysfunctional families took the best photographs. Don’t take FB pages as an accurate portrayal of anyone’s life.
Katherine says
Hey Ev – this is a great article! The thing that I want to point out – is that Facebook is not the source or infidelity. I made the same statement a few years back at the dawn of Online Dating. I said = I think that Online Dating will create as many divorces, as it does connections. It is just the nature of the extent of exposure and tracking that technology offers. In reality, it isn’t Match.com, or Facebook. People just have more opportunity to act on temptation more quickly. Indeed a paradigm shift for our generation, but when you watch how the 18-24 crowd are interacting nowadays, online and off, it really isn’t so strange for them. They are inherently less monogamous, open to more people and relationships, and as a mom, it does concern me. It seems a trend that relationships as we know are becoming transient and disposable. Its the long-tail effect, but instead of marketing, its being applied to relationships. Interesting and frightening at the same time.
Jonsi says
One reason we are less monogamous and open to more people and relationships is because we’ve seen our parents divorce so greatly (compared to their parents), so why rush to find something permanent? Two educated, career oriented people are unlikely to stay in the same geographic location in their 20’s to early 30’s, let alone stay there together. I don’t think our relationships are less meaningful or valuable; they are only disposable in the sense they are not congruent with other goals. I don’t find compelling arguments for relationships to be anything but transient at that age, and I think it is healthy.
Steve says
Somebody spending a lot of time on the phone “just catching up” with an ex-husband is highly visible and suspicious. The phone numbers and length of calls also show up on the phone bill.
URLs to facebook pages also show up in a browser history on your computer and the pages will be in the browser cache. However, most people don’t know to look at these things and it isn’t obvious like a strange number on a phone bill.
Peter says
Many of my FB friends also talk about the bad stuff going on in their life.
I don’t know, I guess if you want to stray, FB and the internet may make it easier. But people have been cheating for generations, so I wouldn’t put too much blame on the internet.
Andy says
Wow, this blog could not have been more dead balls on!!! I was just thinking about this subject the other day and it does worry me because i have found myself sabatoging relationships due to the “what if” factor.
Recently i was dating this woman that i first met in person…i know, a switch from what has become the status quo…online dating. The thing is, in person she was really funny, good to hang around and we got along really well but i wasn’t really attracted to her and was not thinking about dating her…until!!! Then she made me a friend on facebook. Well she does have a really nice smile and she is exceptionally adept at posting pics that make her look very attractive. So based on that, i did ask her out and started to date her. Well needless to say it didn’t last long especially when we arrived at the sex stage. I just was not sexually attracted to her and that ruined the relationship. yeah i know…this leads to another blog but we’ll save that for later. To me there does have to be a certain amount of attraction or else it just will not work. So for me, the “facebook effect” worked in reverse. Now i can see how it would influence people who otherwise would not be looking. As a member on FB it is my responsibility to present myself in the best possible fashion. I want everyone to know how happy and successful i am even though i might not be. Kind of makes you think how insecure we all really are!!!
Curly Girl says
Dead balls on? Hmm. Not sure about this as an expression….
Jennifer says
LOL…that struck me too
Kristyn - with a Y says
Its an industry expression
Steve says
Evan, I couldn’t agree more. Facebook and the online dating sites IMO will cause more marriage and relationship breakups than in the past. This is caused by what I call “The Kid in The Candy Store” syndrome . . . those that are never satisfied with their choice. They fear that they will miss someone better if they stop searching to concentrate on getting to know just one person. So they start seeing someone, even commit to dating exclusively but continue to look on-line just in case.
It reminds me of that joke where the women are in the Man Store. First floor, guys that are nice, but the salesman tells them that the men get better and better as you go upstairs. The only rule is that you can’t go back to a floor once you leave it. These guys are nice, but why wouldn’t you want even better? So they hop into the elevator. Second floor, the guys are nice and gorgeous. But it could be even better, so they tell the salesman they want to go up to the next floor. Third floor, they are nice, gorgeous and can cook. But how great would they be on the next floor? Fourth floor, they are nice, gorgeous, can cook and are good with kids. The women decide to go up to even better men. Fifth floor, they are nice, gorgeous, can cook, are good with kids and make truckloads of money. How great can the sixth floor be! The elevator doors open onto the empty roof. The salesman cries out “See! You women are never satisfied!” **
**CAVEAT: This applies to men just as much as to women.
Steve1 says
Evan…I couldn’t agree with you more. Facebook and the daying sites will IMO bring more divorces and relationship breakups than ever before. It’s what I call “The Kid in The Candy Store” syndrome . . . those that are never satisfied with their choice. They fear that they will miss someone better if they stop searching to concentrate on getting to know just one person. So they start seeing someone, even commit to dating exclusively but continue to look on-line just in case.
It reminds me of that joke where the women are in the Man Store. First floor, guys that are nice, but the salesman tells them that the men get better and better as you go upstairs. The only rule is that you can’t go back to a floor once you leave it. These guys are nice, but why wouldn’t you want even better? So they hop into the elevator. Second floor, the guys are nice and gorgeous. But it could be even better, so they tell the salesman they want to go up to the next floor. Third floor, they are nice, gorgeous and can cook. But how great would they be on the next floor? Fourth floor, they are nice, gorgeous, can cook and are good with kids. The women decide to go up to even better men. Fifth floor, they are nice, gorgeous, can cook, are good with kids and make truckloads of money. How great can the sixth floor be! The elevator doors open onto the empty roof. The salesman cries out “See! You women are never satisfied!”**
**CAVEAT: It also applies to men as well as to women.
Steve1 says
FYI….the Steve with ” The Kid in The Candy Store post is a different Steve than the post before this one.
Mia says
I predict that 5 years from now, facebook will be nothing but a memory because people will be using whatever hot social media outlet is around then.
It’s just one more excuse in a long line of excuses (and makes me think of “Escape: The Pina Colada Song”). People who are unhappy in their relationship with find an outlet. People who want to cheat will do so, whether they use facebook, myspace, email, work environments, local groups, etc. The problem is not facebook, it’s the person.
Mikko Kemppe says
I agree with Mia. I think when people are unhappy in their relationships or within themselves, people find outlets to cheat or waste their energy elsewhere whether that is facebook or a club downtown.
.-= Mikko Kemppe´s last blog ..Are Women Attracted To Muscular Men? The Answer May Surprise You =-.
Michael says
You know what? A weak man will always be a weak man.
The medium changes, but people stay the same. Facebook is easy to blame, but Match.com was just as easy, and dance clubs and business conventions and high school reunions and Vegas trips with the guys before that.
Basically it comes down to the bone in guys’ heads that makes them think they can just mess around with someone while keeping their relationship – or worse, that they’re somehow entitled to stray for reasons real or imagined. Some of us guys have that bone, others don’t.
We can’t treat obesity by outlawing donuts.
.-= Michael´s last blog ..How to Perform 14 Basic Skills, Part 1 =-.
casualencounters.com/blog says
This reminded me that I recently found out through facebook that an ex-girlfriend (one who dumped ME–can you imagine!) is now some hotshot corporate lawyer, busy trotting the globe and pulling in the megabucks. As much as I want to believe that she’s quietly dying on the inside and living a lonely, isolated life of handwringing despair, I suspect that she isn’t.
It is my intention to sue facebook for inflicting this emotional distress. Get in on the action, kids. Let’s make it a class action. AND HIRE MY BITCH EX-GIRLFRIEND TO REPRESENT US. O TEH_IRONY.
.-= casualencounters.com/blog´s last blog ..Weekly Roundup Top 10 Casual Sex Links from Around the Web =-.
Curly Girl says
CasualEncounters, she probably lives in Cherry Hill, NJ. There are corporate lawyers there.
Globetrotting is rather fun, but not as much fun as you would think if you are working while globetrotting. It does play well on FB, though. Which is the most important thing, as we know.
One of my exes is a class action suit lawyer on FB. He wrote a play recently and wanted my opinion. It was not a great play and he thought there was a chance it would make over a million dollars (???!!!!).
Point: Delusion also goes the other way. People with money dream about making art; people who make art dream about making money.
Steve says
There are people who have far more than we got. Not just material things, but experiences and better relationships. What they got doesn’t matter to our happiness. It is we got that does.
I see articles from happiness researchers every few years. The happiest people in the world live in impoverished 3rd world hells. They don’t travel, they don’t have the educations of corporate lawyers, they don’t have houses in Cherry Hill, they don’t have fashionable clothing and sometimes they don’t even have enough to eat.
If my memory serves me correctly what they have that make them happy is adequate resources for subsistence, a strong belief system, a sense of purpose, community, caring people in their lives and health.
Jennifer says
I’ve seen the same articles, Steve. Great point.
Lance says
I know some guys who are very successful meeting and dating women off of social media, particularly myspace and facebook, but I think it’s only a threat in the sense that social media IN GENERAL is giving us why too many choices, too much fragmentation, and too much voyeurism. I wouldn’t lay all the blame at FB, and I don’t know about the #1 threat to fidelity, that’s a bit hyperbolic.
On the flipside, FB is a fantastic tool for prescreening someone. Yes, it’s a little stalkery, but flipping through someone’s candid pics gives you more than enough information to determine if they’re date-worthy. If you can friend your target, it’s far more useful than the profiles and pics on dating sites.
As always, the technology is a double edged sword.
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Obama and Sarkozy Staring At Hot Chick’s Ass =-.
searchingwithin says
I’m one of those that doesn’t use the site for dating, or getting in touch with past encounters, just a few family, and people who’s blogs I read regularly. Although I put the state I live in, there is no city, and there is no relationship status, or other personal information.
The sad thing is, not only is it making it easier to find love on the side, but for people to find it not only in full view of the rest of the world, but also their current partner.
.-= searchingwithin´s last blog ..Balance of Power Among Equals =-.
DateandLunch says
I absolutely agree with you
Kristyn says
I read an article just the other day that theorized the reason why so many marriages fail is because in our society we place high value on 2 conflicting things: marriage/finding a long term relationnship and the importance of pleasing ourselves (self gratification).
vino says
I know Facebook & Myspace are oh so cool, but…
If you feel the need to have such an account, I’m afraid I am not the one for you.
Friends & family know how to get hold of me – they call or text me.
Letting the world know you are painting your nails or fence this afternoon – vain & attention whorish (both men & women).
It all just seems one open window to see if the grass is always greener or to indulge the fantasy of ‘the one that got away.’
Geeze, get some therapy & go do something productive.
starthrower68 says
Vino, throttle back just a little there, fella….
I do a smooth jazz radio show; I’ve got several of the artists who’s music I play on the show on my “friends” list, plus other jocks and stations, particularly that format. It can be a useful networking tool. I agree with you; we don’t need to know everytime somebody opens up a pack of chewing gum. But I do like the networking aspect of it.
vino says
I don’t view FB as a networking tool professionally. For me, things like LinkedIn are where that is done. So I see your point for that, but I look at the FB personal side, which is the bulk of it’s usage, I bet.
Kelly says
I like the point that Evan made about assuming someone else’s life is better. It’s not wise or realistic to base our decision soley on the information we get from Facebook. I certainly think there are people on Facebook who appear that way through their profile, simply because they are one of the many that compare other’s profiles to their own. They’re always striving to “one up” other people on Facebook, and it eventually becomes a competition among Facebook users.
Honey says
Well, facebook use is already down something like over 20% in users younger than 30…everyone’s creeped out that their mom is on there and they’re bailing. Perhaps what you say is true, EMK, with users age 30 and up, though I hardly think FB is *causing* the infidelity.
I met the BF on myspace, he was never that into it….now I have his password because he put me in charge of updating his profile and responding to the (increasingly rare as everyone has migrated to FB) e-mails on there. He said that if I wanted to make a FB account for him and do all the logging in/activity that I was welcome to (he has no particular draw to do so). While this would be AWESOME for spying on his exes, I think I have better things to do…
.-= Honey´s last blog ..Obama and Sarkozy Staring At Hot Chick’s Ass =-.
Selena says
FB causing infidelity 5 years from now? Nah. We’re already there and a certain percentage of the population has been there for awhile now.
7 yrs. ago my then partner joined Classmates.com. He was very excited to re-connect with old army buddies and classmates from decades before. What he failed to share with me was that through one of those classmates he reconnected with an old girlfriend he was once engaged to as a young man. And started an affair with her that lasted 6 mos. before I caught on.
I don’t blame CM.com. I blame HIS lack of character. In hindsight I believe he was looking for something “new” while wanting to hang on to our relationship (sex life?). He might have cheated with anyone, and perhaps did before, for all I know. But yeah, these social network sites do make it easier to indulge in “what if…” thinking and go for it. And even easier to lie about what you’re doing.
Athena says
I agree completely. It makes it easier yes but is not causation. I have also checked out potential boyfriends on FB and have been quite turned off. Anybody who posts constantly or posts garbage is a turnoff
Michael says
Being on Facebook, almost all profiles are not readable.
Furthermore, the vast majority of users hide their relationship status, like I do. (I am single.)
Josie says
well, I went on a date with a man from Match, and checked his FB after the date. It said he was in an open relationship. WTF !
Hannah says
Wow Evan,
Is that an accurate picture of YOU?
Nice.
I was looking for a different Evan Katz but got sidetracked.
Just for the record, I’ve seen 2 marriages break up so far over facebook love, and I have seen an apparant real love occur between two friends who didn’t previously know one another.
Good luck everybody.
sayanta says
EMK-
You had a girlfriend in sixth grade? Man, you started early. I was still playing with Barbie dolls then.
Fiona says
Personally, i thought the best thing about FB is that everyone is not as hot as you remembered. Nope, they’re all fat, balding, and strangely enough, fans of Fox News. That’s farmers for ya, I guess. And it’s not even the 10th reunion yet! If everyone is fat and balding now, what happens at the 20th reunion?!?! No way I’d sleep with my 6th grade crush, he’s in prison for armed robbery…but he still has a FB page!
Darren says
Yes you are quite right.
I am a victim of facebook infedelity, my wife not three months ago was caught cheating with a marred man from her school days who was having issues with his wife that was visible from the wall posts.
My relationship WAS solid and HAPPY, then she got her iphone, put facebook on it and within weeks I lost her socially in the evenings. With in a month the she had started inappropriate conversations, via text and chat with two of her male friends from the past and within four months she is planning on wrecking a ten year relationship with four children, for an old flame she would never had ever come into contact if it wasn’t for facebook. Having all those “What ifs” displayed in front of you takes a strong relationship in deed to stop the beginnings of a flirt and flutter. A single crack in your own relationship and you are up against a fantasy, a person who hasn’t whined, or nagged, or complained. But someone either attracted too or was once attracted to your partner and with a free private communication platform.
I am still picking up the pieces still today. My warning is to all spouses, that its not just facebook, its all non-logged private internet chatter where efidelty occurs, but I would blame very much the likes of facebook for dangling temptation in the first place.
Piper says
First gf dumps my guy (pre me)for her drummer – he is devastated.
He dates a few girls we meet get married
5 or so yrs later pre-facebook She tries to hook up with him because drummer is alcoholic
He says no I am married
10 years pass — we divorce
We re-hook up like 2 years later, semi dating again
– FB appears — or we discover it (I liked mySpace)
She contacts him again, they secretly hook up behind my back
Now they are Married.
Then my sister. She is getting divorced for her reconnect
Sorry Nobody is safe… Or I and my bro-in-law just suck
fb hater says
I am with vino, darren, and piper. FB is an evil platform for fantasy and escape and LIES! I have been off it (yes its an addiction) for over a year and I don’t miss it.
JoJOe says
When the cats away the MOUSE will play.
Temptation is as temptation does. The internet is like choosing shampoo these days. Mix a large amount of over choice with an instant medium and a few billion lizard brains and you get a recipe for illusion.
It is interesting to know that while we’re all objectifying our lives to the world, while we’re all seeking out a self worth we’re oblivious to the wall just past the monitor.
Seems the MOUSE is more curious than the cat. Has the internet become our alter ego? Have we stopped taking care of our realities to dwell in a quasi world of “he has, she has” “I have, you don’t” “I need, I want”
Maybe we should sit for a while and spin our chairs around and look at what we have or need or didn’t get done.
Are many of us walking where angles fear to tread?
I love the internet, connection, education, travel, science, blogging.
But for many (understatement) it’s envy, greed and sex.
Some of us prefer the matrix some of us prefer reality. I guess we’ll have a future of dreamers and realitors.
I’ve dated mostly dreamers and yes I found them online. No good.
There is a limit to fantasy and that fantasy usually is the ruin of what could be a perfectly capable human being.
If you’re not focused on becoming “someone” you’ll be looking for “someone”
We’re all capable of debauchery, it’s a choice, like chocolates. Some hang tough by personal virtue. Some develop addictions to disaster.
I had a boyfriend who’s preference was my photo’s rather than my face. Go figure is was a mystery. But I guess he was a dreamer and I was not interested in sleeping all day or for the rest of my physical life for that matter.
I will say imagination is a wonderful thing but use it wisely.
Lets all imagine we have “real” lives say. And make magic there.
How many of us are ready to be told “YOU ARE THE ONE”
laura says
Perhaps Facebook and other social media contribute to infidelity. But above all, infidelity is a choice. A choice made by someone to escape, or avoid, a larger emotional issue, or financial issue, or midlife issue, or self-esteem issue, etc. The research is pretty clear that affairs happen even in good marriages, so clearly the marriage is not at fault. And realizing that it’s not your fault, that it was someone’s choice, is one of the first steps toward personal recovery and healing…whether the marriage ends or mends.
Kathy says
Agree! I think it already is this! I personally know 4 people who have had affairs through Fb connections!
Ursula says
I am sick and at home a lit but in a 30 yr relationship. I trusted my partner to make friends online, and even socialise with them. I made nothing of the fact his relationship status was blank, has friends hidden from my view and little connection online I have 11 friends, mostly relatives and Facebook is banal we used to chuckle. However, I found he had been socialising and some of close friends he went on dates with, he had not even told he had a long term partner at home. These friends knew of the existence of each of our 4 dogs over the years, but he says my existence never came up in conversation in real life. My trust and allowing him to socialise on dates out was totally based on me thinking he had a companion who didn’t view him as single. Recently, he started to lie about where he had been, said he had been for “drinks” with friends, when it had been a female friend who assumed he was available. I caught him out, before it progressed, but he insists it would never have got that far. What is difficult to describe is the betrayal I feel at the emotional connection they had. My partner hardly has time to talk, isn’t listening, on phone/iPad every spare minute or asleep because his nights out were draining him. I was spending weekends in alone whilst he came back from clubbing gigging so to find he had so little time for me, but was dressing up, had taken a lady out on romantic type dates, was talking in a pub for hours, and coming home very late was a betrayal despite him saying nothing had happened. Makes me feel like a paranoid jealous wide. I asked him to change his relationship status, he was irritated commenting all his female friends will definitely stop talking now, but failed to see that making himself look available was dishonest. He put me as a partner, but still I was blocked from seeing friends he had on there (1000 apparently to my 11, only 4 were mutual and known by both of us). Then, 24 hrs later, he told me he’d deleted his Facebook page…. but 24 hrs after that it was reactivated by Messenger. We’re trying to repair the damage, trying to see how a simple thing like hiding your home life can lead to a mess that nearly split us forever. He has yet to delete his lady friends from his contacts, and he has deleted all their texts as part of housekeeping despite the fact he’s kept all mine. Makes me still suspicious. Seems like 20 yrs ago, what was acceptable as a mild transitory flirt could very laughed at by a couple but now with the potential to hook up with anybody whoever gave you the eye more and more of our muddle aged friends are advancing to online affairs with some friends having left their wives and married their online flirty friends. My position is difficult because society has yet to universally Damn a person or define what my partner did as cheating. Turned out that my partner didn’t get far down the line of having a full blown affair but it could so easily happen. And me going sick, I can’t go out to all his social events and keep him busy sexuality so he is always going to wonder about supplementing it clandestinely and I’ll be powerless to stop it.
Evan Marc Katz says
Your power is to leave.
Ursula says
No, I wouldn’t leave. I totally understand why it happened, how frustrating it is to have a longterm sick partner and how he craved sexual attention and flirtation in the absence of our physical closeness during times I was incapacitated. I do believe nothing happened, but am trying to explain how a harmless flirtation is hurtful to someone as we should be emotionally connected and feel close, even during times sex is not possible due to my medical symptoms. But it’s exactly relevant to your article, one half of a partnership is thinking “But I didn’t do anything wrong, it was nothing” while the other half is thinking “Why can’t he talk to me, spend 4 or 5 hours a few times a week sitting having a drink with me” and it’s the resentment of time made and effort of attention given. Going out a was making him fall asleep in front of telly on nights in. Years ago, he might have said something about a mild flirtation at work, going for a drink, and it wouldn’t have bothered me but once it’s online it comes into the home and robs your connection and time there too and is available 24 hrs per day. The alternative is for him to say he’s not getting enough sex to satisfy his need to feel attractive, and despite that being only a small percentage of the relationship, he could throw everything away to chase that part elsewhere. But it’s him hiding it, and the time spent messaging, texting, talking connecting not the act of flirtation that is upsetting and the omission of mentioning I exist because that would have stopped any reciprocal attention he was getting. He has deleted his FB account now, but I’ll always be wary.