I saw a commercial the other day where a couple were on a date. He was on the phone, or telling her that eating dessert would make her fat and generally insulting or ignoring her. At the end, he got up and told her he had to go and wished her a "Happy Anniversary, honey!".
We get it. They are married...and bored to tears. Cue him walking off and her checking out a cute guy at the bar. Then comes the voice-over, telling is that when divorce isn't an option, you can always cheat - in style.
The biggest of these sites uses a female name as it's brand-name. It's a made-up name, a combination of first and last names that the owners said felt sounded classy and up-market. They claim millions of members and guarantee an affair! If you don't have an affair within a certain amount of time, they'll give you a refund! They say their website provides a "safe and successful platform" for those who wish to seek sex outside their marriage.
Their motto? "Life is short. Have an affair."
This website advertises all over satellite radio and the commercial I saw was on CNN. They also have many a billboard. In other words, it's pretty mainstream.
Their commercials are the opposite of cheap and degrading. Their name and logo is a rather gentile and classy font.
In some ways, the dating site is right. Getting a divorce is not an option for many, especially with the downturn in the economy and the property markets a mess. And the intentions of the members are upfront. They don't want a divorce and are looking for an affair only. No strings attached. No promises to make; no promises to break.
The billboards have sparked outrage, as have some of their commercials. Yet the website is highly successful and unlike most other industries - business is booming!
Tell Us
What's your view of a website that matches married men and women up in order to cheat on their respective spouses? Is this better than trolling bars for extramarital sex or does it all boil down to the same thing - good old-fashioned cheating?
Or is a business like this simply providing a service that's much in demand?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment14 Comments
I am not against internet dating. it may be cheaper than most but the risk factor is also more. You cannot trust a person without actually meeting him/her. Personal thought though.
*Link removed by Moderator*
March 14, 2011 - 1:38amThis Comment
*Link to book for sale has been removed by Moderator, in accordance to Empowher's solicitation policy*.
April 23, 2010 - 10:41amThis Comment
IM a married women and I have found my self at home bored for the last few years and my husband
shows me little attention.
I read alot of negative women commenting on blogs but one of the first thing I noticed when I joined
a married dating site was the large amount of women.
Kristen
(Link to dating site removed by EmpowHer Moderator in accordance with no solicitation policy)
October 29, 2009 - 12:56pmThis Comment
Marriage is between two people who promise to be loyal and love one another.....this is suppose to be sacred and I see love as something that is dying.
August 10, 2009 - 11:16amThis Comment
I think this is a good work to facilitate extra marital affair opportunities to couples who are bored of their marriage life. It exactly not like a cheating your spouse through extra marital affair offered by that website, it is not purely confidential because site owners monitored them. If couples who are in affair also know that they are monitored at some extent would not indulge in any serious affair. In spite of these things they also learn some new communication skills and learn how to handle other personality types. Most importantly they will discuss their real life problems and share things why you are doing extra marital affair. This will also improve their particular relationships at home. Otherwise seek marriage therapists help to save your marriage.
July 23, 2009 - 2:27amThis Comment
It's a sad statement of today's values. There always have been cheaters and always will be. The difference is when something passes from taboo to accepted, then it is yet another step down for our culture. As a culture, we don't value marriage or commitment or parenthood anymore.
May 29, 2009 - 2:58pmThis Comment
Besides Anon above, check out "Soccermom" feedback in this article: http://affairsmadesimple.com/2009/ashley-madison-review-and-results
There are always two sides to every story. My husband went through this period of rejecting me. Although now fixed, alternative solutions did pass through my mind...
I do agree with Susanc that sex outside the marriage may not be a long term solution. If only husbands, and perhaps some wives, gave their spouse the love and physical attention we all need independent of life's other trauma, there would not be a market for such sites...
May 29, 2009 - 2:23pmThis Comment
Thanks for your comment -- I just checked out Soccermom's comment on that site, as well as the other comments there, and it's pretty interesting. I guess people should try just about anything to save a marriage, but I'm wondering what the long-term consequences are of doing something like this.
May 29, 2009 - 2:41pmThis Comment
I understand your views, and those use to be my opinions, until I married a man that never wants to have sex......... you (at least I hope you don't) know what it is like to feel rejected over and over again, and there are a few people who agonize over this, whether to find what they need elsewhere or let the hurt and humiliation of rejection destroy them. I know there are lots of scum out there, but every now and then, some of the people who go to those sites don't want to be there, they have been all but pushed towards it. Just my opinion, and obviously, I am someone who considered doing this, but couldn't go through with it. So thanks for letting me vent here, sorry!
March 21, 2009 - 7:45pmThis Comment
Define "being pushed towards it", my husband refgistered with several dating sites after we were married and used the ascuse that I was working too many hours, at a job that he pushed me into taking. He was also getting on webcam sites and watching girls get off, we ended up in a big argument because he wanted a webcam too, most likely so they could watch him get off too. So yea I do reject him when it comes to sex because I feel he's just using me, it isn't considered "making love" anymore, now it's just lust.
July 31, 2011 - 9:02amThis Comment