Cheating Or Not? Racy Texts With Someone Who's Not Your Boyfriend

The age of cell phones and texting has altered the landscape of dating. Invitations to dinner, "I love you"s, and even breakups all happen via text message. In recent times, texting has become the vehicle for another breed of messages - "dirty talk" and overtly sexual comments, also known as "sexting."

There's nothing wrong with sexy texts between partners; in fact, it can help sustain passion in a relationship. But what about if the exchange of R-rated messages happens with someone who isn't your partner? Herein lies the debate. Is sexting with someone who is not your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife considered cheating? Where do we draw the line?

Sexting, as evidenced in Hollywood scandals of the past year, are equivalent to another woman's lipstick on a man's collar, or strange underwear found under a bed or in the backseat of a car. The apparent reason behind Eva Longoria and Tony Parker's divorce is his sexting with Erin Berry, a teammate's wife. Evidence of sexy texts helped to unravel Tiger Woods' string of infidelities last year.

These sexy text messages don't always indicate that someone has engaged in physical infidelities but many people consider the act of sexting itself to be a form of cheating. Simulating sexual activity through text message shows a strong sexual inclination for someone else, a disrespect for your partner, and a betrayal of trust and loyalty.

If you're unsure about where to draw the line with your texting habits, ask yourself a few questions. How would I feel if I discovered that my boyfriend was sending racy texts to another girl? Would I ever let my boyfriend see the sexy texts that I'm sending? What do I get out of sending these messages? Your answers will help give you some clarification.

What do you think? Is sexting another form of cheating?

Photo from Julie Jigsaw on Flickr

Jaclyn Tersigni
		About the author:
		Jaclyn is a 20-something journalism student at Ryerson University. She traded suburbia for the big city two years ago and enjoys navigating life as a single woman in Toronto. She’s a burgeoning foodie, a borderline music snob, a news junkie, and constant explorer of the world.
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