Why I Think Cheating Sometimes Can Be Justified

I am going to come out and be honest about one thing first: I don't believe cheating is acceptable. No one should be lied to, cheated on, and hurt the way that's done. It's one of the worst gut punches emotionally someone can get, and I don't want that for anyone. But with that being said, love—and life—is very dirty sometimes. And sometimes there just aren't moments when things aren't so black and white. What about the person who's been emotionally starved for years, pleading for love, only to be met with coldness or silence? What about the partner who's been gaslit, manipulated, or belittled every day, yet stays because they've been made to believe they have nowhere else to go? Some are in relationships with people who suck the life out of them, and they're alone—even when sleeping next to someone every night. And in those bad, needy, human times, when someone gives them attention, care, or understanding, it can feel like coming up for air after drowning. It's not sneaky or selfish—it's trying to be alive for a minute.

Yes, people will say to you, "Well if you're so unhappy, just leave," and let me tell you, that would be wonderful. But what if it's not? What if you're in debt? What if kids are involved? What if your partner has threatened you in some way, or threatens to use guilt and threat of fear to hold you back? There are individuals out there who wear their best smiles in public but secretly struggle behind closed doors. In such cases, cheating is not always about lust or disrespect—sometimes it is about escape, validation, or survival. I am not stating that it is right. I am not stating that it is the optimal method to deal with situations. But what I am stating is there are stories and emotions beneath the surface that we don't necessarily witness. It's easy to judge from the outside, but life isn't that way most of the time. So, yeah, maybe I am completely crazy for posting this but this is my opinion. I am simply telling the truth about something that most people are too scared to say: sometimes cheating is brought about by pain, not cruelty.