In Defense of Cheating

Cheating takes on many forms. One thing most everyone can agree on is that cheating is never a good thing. There is a moral attachment to cheating that makes it wrong in all circumstances. It doesn’t matter if you’re cheating on your taxes or an exam. It’s still wrong and cannot be tolerated….right? How about cheating on your spouse or significant other? Is that ever okay? Is there ever a good reason to cheat on someone? Nearly everyone would agree that the answer is no. It’s never acceptable to cheat. Or is it?

Life is not always as black and white as it seems and every relationship is different which is why cheating not only happens but can actually be “okay” in certain circumstances. Let’s be straight up with the reality of life here and admit that certain people have “needs” that should be met in order for them to remain healthy both mentally and physically. While some people may be able to squash those needs they will find another outlet like addiction to make up for what they’re missing. If you’re not getting love or sex from the person you’re with you may end up finding comfort from food, gambling, drugs or alcohol instead and that’s no better than cheating.

Let’s play a “what if” game to see if cheating is as black and white as it appears. What if the love of your life was injured in an accident? Injured in such a way that sex was now impossible. What do you do then? Do you leave or stay? If you stay how long can you continue to have a sexless relationship before you begin to resent that person? What if the person you love more than anything in the world hates sex? You know that they only do it to please you but as the years wander by those occasions become fewer and fewer until you can’t remember the last time you two were together? What now? Do you leave or do you cheat to get what you need? There are no simple answers when you’re in love with someone who cannot fulfill one of your needs especially if that need is sex. Is sex really a reason to destroy an otherwise “perfect” relationship? Could you really leave the person you love because you need more than they can give?

There seem to be a few understandable reasons why some people cheat but we will all still judge them for it. We do this because we are not in their metaphorical shoes. We can’t really grasp their reality because we aren’t living it on a daily basis. I’m not going to advocate cheating for any reason I’m simply pointing out that some people, in some situations, have a reason for doing what they do that transcends the morals other people place upon them. I for one find it more moral to stay with your injured spouse instead of leaving them so if that choice results in a little side action that hurts no one else then so be it.