With whom will you be more forgiving when it comes to cheating?

@beamsey (425)
Philippines
May 20, 2009 1:58am CST
I was replying to one of the discussions I've already started and I thought of something. When it comes to cheating, with whom will you be more forgiving? A husband or a boyfriend? Will you be more forgiving of your husband because you have a marriage to think about or will the marriage be the reason why you won't be as forgiving? Will you be more forgiving if it was a boyfriend who cheated on you because you both aren't bound by a commitment made in front of God? I'd personally be more forgiving if my husband cheated on me, not that I'm married, mind you. It's just that a marriage is harder to build again from the start. If things can be fixed, then why not?
4 people like this
15 responses
• Lithuania
20 May 09
Honestly, I'd be probably turned on. I just can't see the reason why it should be some kind of taboo. Please someone explain why everyone seem to be so jealous of their partners?
2 people like this
@minnie15 (143)
• United States
22 May 09
I think it depends on how far it went and if there are children involved.
1 person likes this
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
23 May 09
Let's say it was a one-night stand and there are no children involved?
@minnie15 (143)
• United States
26 May 09
If it was a boyfriend, then I would leave and wouldn't look back. A one night stand is cheating. If it were my husband...I may forgive him over time...but they would have to earn my forgiveness. They would have to prove themselves again. They would have to willingly go to counseling. One day we could get to the point when I would forgive him. But it would take a long time. If they did not take actions to earn forgiveness...if they acted like they didn't care...I would try to make it work for a while...and if it didn't and I did decide to leave...at least I tried to make it work before I made the decision to leave.
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
23 May 09
Hello beamsey, I think I will be more forgiving to my husband instead of just a boyfriend. I agree with you that if it's your boyfriend who cheated you, you still can just leave, forgive him and forget the past. But if it's your husband, you need to think about a lot of things in your life especially if you have kids. When you are married, you want it to last forever and you will do everything just to make sure that you have a good marriage life.
1 person likes this
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
23 May 09
Exactly. :) There are so many things to consider when a marriage is involved. If it's a boyfriend, you can just find someone else. But if it's a husband, finding someone else isn't as much of an option especially with kids around. Of course, there is also a deeper level of understanding and connection between a married people than people just in a relationship. Though the hurt felt will definitely be more painful, the capacity to forgive and be healed is also greater especially when the cheating side is truly regretful of the incident.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 May 09
Well lets see I have had both cheat, and I am single now. Believe me I have forgiven and that saying 'once a cheater..." It happens, not all will follow that but I happen to catch those that did. So I can say you can forgive with a whole heart and never bring it up again and not worry and still it can happen. I know it happened to me. I believed him when he said I will NEVER hurt you again like that. Well long story short what is said and what the actions are, are totally two different enities. I have no anger and I actually talk to them still to this day. What they chose to do then was then, today is a different day and I am not their spouse...lol I can say what I want when I want. No I do not bring up the past that is a useless enity in itself. It is What it is. It is better to continue to the future than it is to live in the past.
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
21 May 09
I agree with what you said. Actions said are indeed different from actual actions. I have forgiven a cheater once and I have no regrets. There wasn't any cheating the second time around and we're actually doing great. :)
@tashakau (131)
• Canada
21 May 09
I do not think that there is a difference whether it is a boyfriend or a husband, there should be no cheating, never!
1 person likes this
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
21 May 09
Agreed! There should be a law against cheating. :P There's a law against adultery. But there's no law for cheating if you're not married yet. :P
• United States
20 May 09
I think that I would be more forgivig with my husband because you are married for a reason you are in love with a boyfriend you can just leave him and search for that person that will be there for you no matter what I mean I dont think its really about being married of not more like what the relationship level is If you belive that the person you are with is the love of your life then you are always going to try to work it out no matter what anybody tells you it just human nature
1 person likes this
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
21 May 09
I agree. :) Second chances. I believe that if you see the person as the love of your life, you give that person everyday to prove to you that he/she is indeed that. :) Thanks for your response.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 May 09
Regardless of whatever is the relation of the cheater to me, I think I will be forgiving only to those who are really remorseful. It the cheater is not even showing any sign of remorse then forgiving would perhaps be hard for me whoever he or she is. Now if it is my husband who cheated me, that will definitely hurt me more because of all people it is on him that I have the greatest trust. Anyway, no matter how painful, if he would prove himself to be really remorseful then I'd still forgive.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 May 09
If he cheated when he was just a boyfriend more than likely he'll do it again...If your married and he cheated then If he done it once what makes you think he hasnt done it for a long time and what makes you think he wouldnt do it again. Its a lot of questions on that part however i myself would leave and that would be the end. If you have the nerve to cheat on my once you'll do it again once you think you can get by with it again. Id forgive one day in time but it was deff. be a long time from now.
1 person likes this
@chillpill90 (1936)
20 May 09
neither if i my girlfriend or wife ever cheated on me they would be out! if you cheat on someone it shows a lack of respect for them as if you did respect them you wouldnt have done that as cheating hurts your other half. SO if anyone cheated on me then i would pack all there stuff and get them to pick it up if i was married and it happened i would get a divorce as i wouldnt be able to trust that they woudlnt do it again.
1 person likes this
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
22 May 09
GOOD question! I don't know...if I were married i would ant to try to save my marriage, but it would be way more difficult to forgive because it is my marriage! If it were my boyfriend i would probably forgive him eventually as soon as I started getting over him. But I woudn't try to slavage the relationship either. Sometiemjs it's easier to let them go than it is to forgive them and keep them around.
1 person likes this
@med889 (5941)
20 May 09
If I have come to know that someone has been cheating on me either it is a husband or my boyfriend then I will definitely leave him, this is atleast the reasonable thing I can do, however I will give him time to give me a very good explanation and then i cannot be living with such a man under the same roof, I will constantly think about his affair with the other person and I will make him feel guilty everytime, so better I leave him once for all, maybe I will forgive him later but it will not be so quick, i also need time to think where I was at fault and to see if i can ever forgive him honestly too.
@beamsey (425)
• Philippines
20 May 09
I see your point - about just thinking about what he did and making him feel guilty. But if you ever truly forgive him, will you be able to take him back? Or would forgiveness still not be enough?
• United States
20 May 09
I don't think i could forgive either of them. But I guess if I was to be more forgiving it would be with a boyfriend. Even though you have a relationship with a boyfriend it is not as committed as a marriage. I am one that doesn't forgive easily and even when I do I never forget. I am not sure if I could forgive my husband just because we took a vow to be faithful as for with a boyfriend it is just a verbal agreement. I think in some situations though it might be easier to forgive your husband because you have a life and possibly kids together so you will try to work it out, but I don't agree with cheating and believes there is no real reason as why to do it there for you should not be so easy to forgive.
1 person likes this
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
20 May 09
Cheating is something that I find really hard to forgive. For me there's no difference if he's my boyfriend or my husband. Of course, as time passes, I will eventually forgive him. But that doesn't mean that I will also take him back. There are just some things in life that you cannot undo, and no matter how much I still love him, there's just no way that I'll be able to easily get back the trust that I have lost. This is not to say that there's no chance for us to be back together but only that it would be unlikely unless he does something truly remarkable that touches my heart.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 May 09
I would forgive both, eventually. This does not mean I would keep either one in my life either. With a boyfriend, if he cheats, this is a clear red flag to move on!
1 person likes this
@icesmile (7160)
• Romania
20 May 09
Hi, before to have a commitment in front of God, you have a commitment in front of your mate. In my opinion no matter if is a husband or a boyfriend, who cheated, cheated in all kind of relation. If he will cheated you when is just a boyfriend, will cheated you when will be husband too. so, i don t forgive somebody, who after say to me"i love you"..try to cheated me with other woman. I can forgive everything...mistakes, but never when somebody betray me.
1 person likes this