This forum has provided a mental sanctuary for me to vent and then realize how not to respond IRL.

This being said: there have been some anonymous users that have give me really great advice. And have been able to "talk me down" when I've needed it. And it's been illuminating to see how other people's personal experiences change perspectives and allow for different responses. It made me realize how small my problems are-- in comparison to infidelity and those who have to deal with it.

Someone reminded me recently about how trust in a relationship is like a a crisp, clean sheet of paper. And that cheating is like crumbling that paper up-- you can never get back to what it was like before, no matter how hard you try. It's not the most perfect analogy but it makes me realize how great my own marriage is.

Sp OP: you make a good point. But this isn't real life here. There is no truth here that is trustworthy. Just remember that.

Anonymous wrote:Count me among those who just feel fortunate to be happily married.

What never ceases to amaze me is how posters married people who turned out to be so awful. Was there no indication that the person - man or woman - had some serious flaws that would make it very likely that the marriage would fail? Was it so disguised or did one not want to face reality until it was too late?

Same. I am thankful beyond measure that I married a normal, drama-free DH and always amazed when people couple up with others with clear red flags and then act surprised when it never works out.

Anonymous wrote:Count me among those who just feel fortunate to be happily married.

What never ceases to amaze me is how posters married people who turned out to be so awful. Was there no indication that the person - man or woman - had some serious flaws that would make it very likely that the marriage would fail? Was it so disguised or did one not want to face reality until it was too late?

Yes but the sex clouded my judgement.

Anonymous wrote:Happiness comes from within, not from someone else anyway. The amount of people that get into relationships just to be in one is insane.

'

Women view being in a relationship as demonstration of desirability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being single is great!!

It doesn’t have to be a temporary phase in your life until you meet your next partner.
It can be a permanent lifestyle choice and that is normal and okay.

Many people enjoy being single and shouldn’t feel guilty about how they feel.

Relationships are nice if they are solid.
But they require maintenance, upkeep & work and for some people...they just want to enjoy their lives and take everything easy.

To each his (or her!) own.

Yet you’re writing this on a relationship forum.

PP Here:

You just proved my point!
Your comment makes it seem like there is something wrong w/being single!

I read this forum for pure entertainment.
And to give advice since I have faced similar issues as a lot of the posters on here too.

If your advice to women who are trying to fix or enter relationships is “stay single, it’s wonderful it’s fantadtic who needs other people”, they’ve already heard that! Women going through life single by choice is no novelty. You all post that on a relationship forum every week.

Go be single. Let people who want something other that what you want figure out how to do what they want.

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad I married a decent woman and not one of the cheating, lying women on this site

Most people don’t know their partner is lying or cheating at first. How do you really know?

This forum makes me glad I'm married to a man who doesn't wish he were single.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Us happy, normal couples don't post on here. We just occasionally pop over here from Recent Topics to see the circus.

+1 I've never posted our marital problems on here. Only provided feedback. Compared to most on here, we don't have that many issues.

This forum makes me glad I found my DH. He's not perfect (I know.. neither am I), but he's pretty awesome compared to some of the men on here.

Same. I've been happily married for almost 30 years. People would be bored to death if I posted about our marriage. No drama. No fighting. Just two people living very happy, but very ordinary lives.

Same

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being single is great!!

It doesn’t have to be a temporary phase in your life until you meet your next partner.
It can be a permanent lifestyle choice and that is normal and okay.

Many people enjoy being single and shouldn’t feel guilty about how they feel.

Relationships are nice if they are solid.
But they require maintenance, upkeep & work and for some people...they just want to enjoy their lives and take everything easy.

To each his (or her!) own.

Yet you’re writing this on a relationship forum.

PP Here:

You just proved my point!
Your comment makes it seem like there is something wrong w/being single!

I read this forum for pure entertainment.
And to give advice since I have faced similar issues as a lot of the posters on here too.

Count me among those who just feel fortunate to be happily married.

What never ceases to amaze me is how posters married people who turned out to be so awful. Was there no indication that the person - man or woman - had some serious flaws that would make it very likely that the marriage would fail? Was it so disguised or did one not want to face reality until it was too late?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I judged life by this website, I'd never have kids, and never vote Democrat. Luckily this is only a small sliver of unhinged population.

+1 who lives their lives by an anonymous forum?

I think sites like this (not specifically this site, but Internet forums and social media in general) have a huge influence on how people perceive each other, mostly for the negative. The recent rise in tribalism and identity politics is probably a direct outgrowth of people socializing less in person and more online.

Anonymous wrote:Us happy, normal couples don't post on here. We just occasionally pop over here from Recent Topics to see the circus.

This. Happily married people have no reason to post because they have no drama. If we went around posting how happy we are in our marriages we'd get flamed for bragging or told we're unrealistic and our marriages really aren't all that happy.

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad I married a decent woman and not one of the cheating, lying women on this site

I'm glad I'm married to a wonderful man and not one of the cheating, lying men on this site.. like the guy who was planning to cheat on his 8mo. pregnant wife.

Anonymous wrote:If I judged life by this website, I'd never have kids, and never vote Democrat. Luckily this is only a small sliver of unhinged population.

+1 who lives their lives by an anonymous forum?

If I judged life by this website, I'd never have kids, and never vote Democrat. Luckily this is only a small sliver of unhinged population.