|
|
|
Is an online fling the same as a real-life affair?
By: Ask Emily
The technological age has brought endless information to our fingertips. It has also given us access to each other, across the great divide of geography. We are suddenly able to meet people, share photographs, talk in real time, hear each others' voices over the Internet, and even have video chats.
Online dating was inevitable, and now that it's a staple in our society, what has changed? Well, it seems the lines have blurred. There was a time when, if you were having an affair, you knew it. These days, some might argue that a steamy online chat with a relative stranger thousands of miles away has no bearing on a perfectly healthy, monogamous marriage. Of course, the spouses in those marriages might have something different to say about it. (Article Continues Below)
So where is the line? Is it acceptable to talk to someone online just to make a friend? What about flirting? When it turns to sexual subjects, are you still in the clear as long as you keep your pants on? My vote is that there are no clear definitions that work across the board, but if you can't tell your partner about it, that's a good hint that you've crossed a line. If you start with communication, discuss what's OK and what isn't first, and make sure you know what's allowed within the bounds of your relationship, you can have your fun but keep in the clear. (Article Continues Below)
Whether it's online or otherwise, the point here is that every relationship has its own rules and it's up to us to set them for ourselves and with our partners. I don't care if you enjoy cyber sex every night with someone you've never met, as long as your partner doesn't either. - Ask Emily
|
|
