Are you single until you're married?

[AsymptoticFaery]

Originally Posted by cieramc

Personally, I would NEVER date a guy that has a girlfriend and especially not one that is engaged. Obviously, a man can lie and say he is single--but technically you are not single if you are in an exclusive relationship whether it's a boyfriend/girlfriend scenario or an engagement. Why would these women want a man who already made another woman feel secure about their status? How could YOU ever feel secure in a relationship with a man that only believes he is taken if he has exchanged wedding vows? Please, if a guy can't stay faithful during the dating and engagement stage than there is no way he will be faithful during the marriage.

Yes...THIS.

This is the whole point of courtship, dating and cultivating faith and trust in a non-married or engaged relationship. You're building a foundation which most likely lead to marriage. If you can't prove fidelity before marriage, what's the point? Stick to casual dating and stop playing games with people by making up "convenient" rules to cheat.

A person's options are open technically anytime they want them to be because people have free will even if it is hurtful, selfish and disrespectful, but I really hate this ridiculous belief that it's OK to pursue monogamously involved men or women, as long as they aren't married.

I agree that this is a way to justify egos, be selfish and appease a lack of ethics and the same people saying this crap would never feel this way if they were in committed relationships.

[Chowhound]

Some people have the morals of snakes.

Just because you're not married doesn't mean that you are single.

Once you decide to be exclusive, it's over.... no new booty..... goes both ways obviously........

A lot of men pull this shyt, with a woman 5 yrs, but heck, they airn't married, so they're gonna go out to a club and pick up some broad...

But, they're not married right.

Life is simple...... treat others the way you want to be treated.....

One of the things in Christianity that I actually agree with.

[FelixTheCat]

The whole not in a commitment thing because one person may be looking for someone better is a lame excuse. Are these people incapable of really being single and looking for someone that they consider a prize rather than settling? I wouldn't be interested in dating someone with the hopes of something better coming along and wouldn't be interested in being with someone like that either. And don't think that because someone is married that they aren't looking. Half of marriages end and some that don't end involve cheating or better yet, no sex at all. So good luck with thinking that marriage is a safe place because you have that box checked. Your relationship is only safe because of the character of both people in it.

[NotARedneck]

Are you hungry until you've eaten a meal?

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Whyte Byrd

I don't think you're locked into a relationship, as in fully committed, until you're married. Otherwise, why take the last step up to the alter?

Exactly. That's what marriage, the taking of vows means. That's the point the committment really gets made.

Too many people today think going on one date with them means the person is a "cheater" if they ever look at someone else again. Dating is not committment. And the whole point of shacking up is that it isn't committment, there are no vows, no marriage.