Together forever? Hardly...

From conversations thus far, the following scenario seems common:

William and Ellen are in a relationship (boyfriend and girlfriend, not just casually dating). Ellen starts to flirt and go out with Edward behind William’s back and eventually leaves William for Edward.

This can go both ways, with the man as the culprit.

It’s not that they break up first and then find someone new. No, it’s finding someone (actively looking, perhaps!) while engaged in a relationship that is supposed to be monogamous. And it doesn’t seem to be a big deal, because everyone does it. And because everyone does it, nobody trusts anyone and might as well be looking for someone better because your partner might be doing the same.

Jealousy seems to be a big thing, then, because of the lack of trust. Near Valentine’s Day there was a case of a man shooting his girlfriend, her female friend who happened to be with her, and himself in a fit of rage over some text messages she’d received from another guy.

I can understand dating more than one person at a time if none of the relationships are yet serious. But once you’re throwing around the term “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” it’s cheating, plain and simple, for you to start dating someone else. Obviously this is known, because it’s being done secretly, behind the back of the other.

The girls in my office didn’t seem to even think it was a big deal. That’s just how it goes.

Unfortunately.