Cheating in our society has become very prevalent.
It’s like the white elephant in the room no one wants to
talk about. It’s nothing new. For as long as monogamous
relationships have been around, infidelity has co-existed.
Technology, more specifically the internet, has become a
double edged sword. It allows us to be more productive, to
communicate online with friends, family, and loved ones who
are near and far. However, it also allows us to communicate
with strangers just as easily. Sometimes this communication
starts out innocent enough, but soon leads to cheating and
infidelity.
Before the internet, those who wanted to cheat
had a tough time communicating with their lover.
The home phone was almost out of the question.
Even today, using a cell phone is risky. Even if
the outbound calls or incoming calls from the cheating
partner are deleted, the cell phone bill will expose
strange names and numbers to your significant
other.
Letters were too dangerous as the written proof of
the infidelity could be discovered too easily.
Meeting at the workplace was too risky; people at work
would know that wasn’t your significant other and could
blow the whistle. Even meeting at a set place and
time was risky because you could get caught by someone
who knew that wasn’t your significant other.
The internet allows those who want to cheat, a more
ample opportunity to do so and not be suspected as
easily. The internet has become commonplace in
almost every home. It is almost a
necessity. Email and internet chat are
practically anonymous. Your significant other could
easily set up an email account which you would have no
knowledge of. There are many places to chat
online.
So, it may appear your significant other is spending
those long, late, nights doing work. However,
they may be chatting with or emailing their
lover. The internet would allow your significant
other to communicate with their lover, and you wouldn’t
even know it. You would just presume they were
online all night because they were working. Meanwhile,
they were typing sweet nothings to their lover, or
setting up the time and place for their next
meeting.
It is important to understand that not everyone who
goes online is chatting to strangers who are potential
lovers, or setting up meetings with their current
lover. If your significant other is up all night
on the computer, chances are, they are doing
work. I wrote this article not to raise paranoia
or fear, but rather to educate. It is important
to realize that the internet may be used to carry on
infidelity or cheating right under your nose, and you
didn’t even suspect it.
If you suspect your significant other may be
cheating, it is important to gather evidence. If
they are doing nothing wrong, and you confront them
with accusations you accomplish nothing. In fact, you
will probably upset or anger them because of your
mistrust. If they are cheating, the evidence will
help when they inevitably deny that anything is going
on.