Following the Trend: Are Online Flings OK?

So, the other day I read this article online about "Online cheating." Of course I thought it was really strange. What do they mean by "online cheating"? Like in games, or is it about music and software piracy, or what? For some reason, it never occurred to me that they were referring to cheating on significant others. It was a very new concept to me, but it made sense.

The article mainly discussed relationships that develop on Second Life, the popular internet game that features a complete virtual life. And if it is truly a "complete" virtual life, then players can meet new people, hang out, share interests, exchange emotions, etc. Well, isn't that how relationships start in real life? Doesn't the road to cheating in real life form when a partner's needs aren't fulfilled by the other, and that partner unconsciously starts to drift away and look for someone else to fulfill those needs? Well, same thing, but online! But in the online case, most people are tricked into thinking that it doesn't really count as cheating. In fact, some people may see that an online relationship/affair may save them from following the same path in real life, where consequences would probably be much greater. But is that really the case? Is online cheating OK? Another question we can ask is: Does it have to be physical to be considered "cheating"?

Let's consider the case of Second Life, as an example of an online hang-out where people mingle. Several people enjoy playing this game for fun, just like they enjoy playing Play Station games or whatever else, and that's OK. But the scary thing is that some people take it much more seriously than that. There are people who abandon their real life for their virtual life. And even more frighteningly alarming, those people are socially active individuals, not loners. I remember an unusual example of such a person: a lady who was almost married. She had been engaged for some time, but her fiance complained about her spending long hours on the computer interacting with strangers on Second Life while completely ignoring him. The whole deal went to pieces when he found out that she had actually been building a relationship with another man, virtually. She said the virtual lover provided her with things she had never seen in the real one. Later on, she flew to meet the former virtual lover to bring their fun into reality. But remember that not everyone is that lucky. Chances are that when the real relationship gets screwed up, there's no turning to the virtual one for back-up.

It doesn't have to be physical. If it takes time from being with a significant other in real life, just simply that, it is considered cheating. Strong relationships require devotion, by all means. I'm not saying that once in a relationship one can do nothing but work to make the relationship perfect, but at least there must be an awareness of the level of contact one makes with others outside that relationship. In real life or online, devotion and loyalty should include actions and thoughts. Just because it's not in real life and no one will probably catch you, doesn't mean it won't ruin your real life, and it certainly should not be acceptable.