In a month, the name Ashley Madison has been all over the news. It's website designed for individuals seeking to have an affair. These can be extramarital affairs, or people in relationships looking for "discreet encounters". Almost a month ago, the site was hacked and the personal information of 300,000 of it's millions of members was released. The stories in the news focus on the break of privacy that the hack revealed, but I have a bigger problem with the web site itself.
The website's slogan is "Life is short. Have an affair." Um are you kidding me? This is beyond ridiculous. I don't want to live in a world where people think it's o.k. to cheat on their significant others. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe in monogamy. I truly do believe it is entirely possible to dedicate spending your life with one person. If a relationship is having problems, it's only going to be worsened by cheating. That's why communication is key. Talk about your problems, you never know what your significant other is into. Who knows, they might be open to the idea of a "hall pass" or seeing other people outside of your relationship, but you'll never know if unless you talk about it. My biggest issue is that if you feel the need to cheat, just end your relationship. It's not fair to anyone involved to continue it. Ending it could be the best thing that ever happens, it might lead you to a better relationship.
People around the world have been using the hack's database to see if their partners name and information has shown up and sadly for many, they found what they were looking for. Obviously I don't know anything about these people's individual stories or lives, but I think if they thought to look on the database in the first place, they must have had their suspicions. Talking is again so important. If you think your partner is cheating, just confront them. It's easier said than done, but people could have saved themselves a lot of wasted time and hurt.
Even with all of the headlines surrounding this web site, it's still up and running. The CEO did, however resign on Friday in wake of the and news of his several affairs.
