Like yes, infidelity is a bad thing. Destructive. Hurtful. You shouldn’t ever be one to do it.
But it seems like Reddit users are uniquely angry about it, in a very strange way.
Comments and discussions read almost like people trying to one-up each other on how much they hate cheaters. Some going as far to suggest that it should be punishable with job loss, incarceration, losing family and friends, etc.
This was a comment I saw today that sums up the vibe –
“I will never understand infidelity, especially not the casual sort. The disrespect shown by cheating is staggering.
That sounds obvious, nobody likes to be cheated on of course, but I mean that I will outright end friendships over it. I will not associate with cheaters, at all. I don’t care about the person’s gender. I don’t care how long I’ve known them. I don’t care if they think they’re reformed, I view it similarly to a history of domestic violence on the ”nah I don’t think I will chat with that person“ scale.
It should never be normalized or excused.
It is abuse.”
Let me be clear, the most vehement anti-cheaters I’ve ever met…turned out to be cheaters.
Life isn’t this black and white. Ending friendships because someone cheated on someone in the past is just bizarre to me.
Do people on this app not grasp how common it is and statistically they know someone who has…?
I get that it’s bad, but. The way Reddit users speak on this topic reads as overcompensating and some sort of declaration of their own superior goodness.
In real life, it’s a lot more grey. Most people you talk to say it’s bad but they won’t go as far as users on here.
I just don’t personally feel that if someone has been unfaithful, they’re an irredeemable garbage human being forever.
Why is Reddit so uniquely angered over this topic?
Comments
It’s not unique. People here do that about tons of stuff.
It just differs by subreddit what the topic is.
If you have the NSFW filter turned off, search cheat and see what you find. Might change your mind.
Reddit is a refuge for bitter people who have been cheated on.
He says, as one of those people.
Never seen that before, but I’m guessing the reason why people hate on it sm is because many cheaters aren’t really sorry. I see posts on here where cheaters just feel bad cuz it ruined their lives but not because they made the other feel bad
Because they’re cheaters
I’ve noticed that too. It’s very strange. My thought is because it is indefensible. Life is gray, as you say, but no one ever actually has to cheat in the other person. At the very minimum a break up text could be sent before the screwing begins. So if you want to base your entire personality over disliking a certain behavior, that’s a pretty safe one.
I think, first of all, it’s the anonymity. You can be yourself here, and people aren’t always kind by nature.
Secondly, I believe that those who react aggressively to such stories have most likely been cheated on in the past. When they see someone else’s experience, it brings back painful memories — emotions resurface, and that’s how their reaction comes out.
But I do agree: life isn’t black and white — it’s much more complicated.
Given how prevalent it seems to be, the main two categories in order of likeliness are straight men who have never been in a monogamous relationship and people who are cheating.
Wait till you hear how much they hate any Landlord