Search Results: dating multiple people at a time

My crush seemed as infatuated with me as i was with him. Until a friend told me he's a good kisser and he's had a lot of girlfriends. I don't 100% trust the source but im not gonna ignore it either. So i thought there was no hope and he was a player until i read this article

"Men who date a lot of women usually have bad intentions.

There is a double standard in society when it comes to dating a lot of people. When women embark on an endless journey of dates, society often sympathizes with them, attributing their lack of success to the cliché that there are no decent men out there. The woman is often viewed as the victim who just can't catch a break.

When men engage in the same behavior, the perception is that these men are womanizers, unable commit, flawed or solely out for sex.

Women tend to mentally write these types of men off. This is not always fair.

The reality is that many men date multiple women for the same reasons women date a lot of men. They are looking for "the one." A lot of these perceived players are simply playing the numbers game, hoping to find that special someone as quickly as possible so that they don't have to endlessly date anymore.

While women sometimes assume these men are playboys who are having the time of their lives, in reality, most of these men are exhausted and would love nothing more than to settle down with the right girl. They just have not found the right woman yet and will keep trying until they do."

I've been with my boyfriend for 5 years. Throughout this time, i've caught him cheating on me multiple times. Still, I stayed with him and forgave his behavior. I blamed a lot of it on his alcoholism and dysfunctional family life. He would go through periods of bouts of anger, then depression, then very happy and wanting to do anything to make everyone around him happy. Anyway, 1 1/2 years ago he was sentenced to up to 4 years in prison for an assault (he was drunk and knocked a man out in one hit when he caught him looking through his car). My boyfriend then freaked out and ran off because he has a previous felony (nonviolent) from when he was a teenager. Anyway I promised to stick with him because I love him- he was very depressed before he left because the last time he went to jail his girlfriend at the time (they were together 4 years) cheated on him soon after and started dating even though he got out 3 months later. So he expected me to leave him especially with the sentence that he was given.. Well, he will be finding out in a few months if he will be eligible for early release- this year or next year. And well, I dont have any excuses , yes I was lonely, drunk/high on weed, emotionally unstable (i have clinical depression, adhd, anxiety) but I know none of that stuff is an excuse.. I know the real issue in my promiscuity is one regarding my self esteem/ self worth & wanting people to like me since I was always very shy/awkward and was an ugly duckling who got picked on a lot and didn't know how to deal with all the sudden attention men gave me as well as my first sexual encounter being forceful, ever since then I tend to give in when pressured. I've cheated on him a few times now & I feel disgusted with myself, especially since it hasn't happened just once or with one person. I love him very much & have done a lot for him as far as support emotiobally/mentally, financially, & even risked doing some crazy things to people tha