BlackMan Time

Archive for December, 2009

The Tiger Woods story has spawned a huge number of discussions about infidelity and the reason why people in relationships cheat. The topic has basically split the sexes with men saying women cheat just as men and women saying men are serial cheaters. It is a veritable battle! Maybe this is why they call relationships between man and woman “battle of the sexes”.

Some people do not need a reason to cheat: they will cheat any time the opportunity arise. The temptations are always going to come and the weak, most humans, will succumb if not be tempted by it.

Relationships that aren’t strong enough or where the foundations are already shaky, are most vulnerable to crumble. It is irrelevant whose fault it is, man or woman because when one unite in marriage or such like it’s no longer two people anymore: it is just a oneness. Thus if one person in this union has strayed then the entire relationship is failing.

It is commonly assumed that love can sustain a relationship and prevent people from straying or looking outside for extra-curricular pleasure.

But human beings come with built-in failings like lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride and vanity which makes them forever susceptible to temptation. Is it any wonder many people remain rather than risk a cheating partner in marriage?

Everybody’s got an opinion on the Tiger Woods story. Women are angry that yet another proof that men are no good has been uncovered and are pouring over evidence that the world’s greatest golfer has apparently been caught cheating on his wife. What you expect from a man called ‘Tiger Wood’, they say…

Men are surprised that Tiger, whose real name is actually Eldrick Tont Woods, has been caught out like that. He was nicknamed “Tiger” after Vuong Dang Phong, a Vietnamese soldier who was a good friend of his father. They’re sad for him (that he got caught) but shoot him an admiring “way to go Tiger!” from the other side of their face. But, is this really the way to go?

The controversy has split the sexes. Among the big debates I’ve heard within the media and happening in the corridors and restaurants of some work places my friends work at, are discussions about why men cheat on their wives or girlfriends. A couple friends have been more forthright and say all men cheat.

Women naturally siding with Tiger’s wife Elin who has remained silent but as an increasing number of women keep popping up to reveal details of their alleged affairs with the world’s most successful athlete, you wonder if their marriage will be strong enough to cope.

Why do you think men cheat on their wives and/or vice versa?