Should cheating be illegal?

Question

Should cheating on your partner be Illegal?
The punishment would be 6 months in prison and for infidelity to go on your records that could publicly be found.
That would be the only punishment or which one would you say is more suitable or would you actually say no to this and why would you not want it?

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Actually, adultery - the legal term for "cheating" - is illegal in many jurisdictions. In the days before "no fault divorce," it was in fact grounds for dissolving a marriage. A marriage license being, at one time, a legally binding contract.

Now, with the advent of "no fault" divorce, a marriage license is the one legal contract that the government will no longer enforce. In that context, in most jurisdictions, adultery remains illegal, though now the enforcement of the law is by default in abeyance.

Fornication is, in certain contexts, also still illegal. See also prostitution, for example.

In all these cases, the laws forbidding these behaviors are still on the books and were never affirmatively erased. In some cases they were superseded by other laws - see again "no fault" divorce - or are simply ignored in terms of the assessment of penalties. Though again, prostitution is more banned than not and adultery can be a mitigating factor in some cases and impact the scope of a divorce settlement.

That said, and this I say having been engaged in some fornication in my reckless youth, there is something to be said for keeping these laws on the books. They exist there as the society's express preference for stable monogamous relationships, these being - as the data show - far better for the children of such relationships and thus a net benefit to the society overall.

The law is not just a codification of norms and rules, but an expression of cultural choices and values. There is then something to be said for keeping laws against adultery and fornication on the books - even if they are not functional, they can be at least expressive.

Regmorus · Accepted Answer

Since almost every married man would have to go to prison 2 or 3 times during their life, which isn't an experience making someone a better person, I would be against it.

Almost all men have biological needs making them tired of one partner. That's why the saying is the good wife knows, when to let her man cheat (or the saying goes somehow alike). Almost all families, including my own, had some "cases", even such families, where it seems to be unthinkable because of very strong attraction and real love. The thing is so long, as it doesn't affect children and family life, that could be the best solution to let a man cheat once in a while. O. c. I'm not stating that there aren't men, who don't cheat at all ever. But statistics known to me show, that indeed almost everyone does.

By the way by women it's different. For them that isn't an uncommon thing to love only one person their whole life and to have sex only with this person.

Daniela1982 · Accepted Answer

It might cut down on it if you make it unpleasant to cheat, like putting them in the Stocks for a week with nothing but bread and water to eat,

and making them stand up and not be able to sit down for 8 hours of the day. If that doesn't stop it nothing will.

anonbrunette99 · Accepted Answer

I think cheating on your wife / husband should have some sort of punishment by law since it is a type of serious process to marry someone in the first place.

Jjpayne · Answer

It's a tempting idea. I would kind of like that. But the grounds of cheating would have to be clear I would say and be firm on sex with another person. And also be careful to have a clause for threesome or agreed upon outside sexual activity. Because sex is a bit different now a days. But it could be agreed upon when signing papers for example. I'm not saying it will stop every one but I think encouraging faithfulness would be a good thing. You both agree at marriage to be faithful and you should stay that way. I understand no situation is perfect with a bad marriage and divorces taking a while but overall I think if someone put some thought into for marriages specifically while it's very very extreme at the same time its kind of refreshing because you both agree on it at the start. And it makes those times where you feel like stepping over the edge of may be just this one time seem not as attactive anymore.

JimmyQ · Answer

Best question I've ever seen on this site and you get a BIG YES.

You should not only be able to toss your cheating spouse in a dumpster and keep all marital possessions, but you should also have the right to take everything that the person they cheated with owns as well.

Marriage is a contract and when people interfere in your marriage, that should be prosecuted and pay for that interference, including incarceration.

genericname85 · Answer

it is. it's called infidelity or adultery and it is illegal because marriage is a contract which in most states and countries would be violated by cheating making you punishable by law and righteously coerced to pay damages to your spouse that will in turn have the right to divorce you.

if you're not married, there's no obligation for someone to stay with you (unless for some reason you have agreed to a written contract), therefore it's not cheating.

chriscdi · Answer

if i was dictator i would force everyone to tattoo loyalty on their skin and if they cheat, they have to peal it off themselves with a pocket knife or they get skinned alive with machetes.

loveslongnails · Answer

Adultery is illegal in the states of North Carolina, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Utah, Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois, Idaho, Kansas, Wisconsin, New York, and South Carolina. It's still considered a misdemeanor in these states.

However, I believe prosecuting it is a waste of time and resources.

respecturelders · Answer

You know this in theory should work but people still commit murders even with the threat of a death penalty or life in prison it would be great if this would work though I think the posting the info about them cheating part is really good and probably would work to some extent.

jamesritchey · Answer

Just because something isn't nice doesn't mean it should be criminal, in my opinion.

AngelLily · Answer

I wouldn't say lock people up for cheating but cheating should definitely be hated/shunned.

mattym11 · Answer

Prisons would be full! Was always told cheats never prosper, how true

Navarro26 · Answer

I've heard some places actually give the option to women to have their partners balls removed for cheating if they choose to. That's harsh lol

DevikaButts95 · Answer

No, that's a ridiculous thing to control and enforce, and in a way, it forces you to be in a relationship with someone when you might not want to be.

worldscolide · Answer

Believe it or not adultery used to be illegal.. I don't think it should be illegal.. But I do think the person that does it should not be able to press charges If their partner retaliate..

Games_ · Answer

Then prison would be cramped and where are we gonna put all those criminals that actually do more horrible crimes

Little_ginger88 · Answer

The problem with cheaters is that it's hard to prove.

Backstage_ · Answer

If the couple have been married then it should be illegal and must be penalised. Infatuation destroys and ruins many couples including their children with all of their happiness, dreams and future..

esotericstory · Answer

In my opinion it should. If someone cheats in a marriage and the other partner files for the divorce, the cheater should no longer be allowed to marry.

NickiB1 · Answer

geez. i agree cheating is wrong but this just seems extreme

Ripper_E · Answer

No that would be stupid. Cheating is something that an be resolved personally.

cavmanier · Answer

If you think prohibition was hard to stop, imagine the courts flooded with cheating cases 😂 Over half your family might be in prison.

WhiteShoulder · Answer

I despise cheating, but... I don't know. What would you do if you found out your friends with benefits had a girlfriend?

Should cheating be illegal?

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