Friday, October 12, 2007

An ad for adultery

I was breezing through my e-mails when one of the newsletter roundups I receive stopped me cold. The topic: a billboard in Los Angeles that reads: "Life is short, have an affair."

It's an ad for a dating site that caters to married people.

WOW. Uh, aren't you supposed to stop dating after you get married?

To me, this billboard is wrong on so many levels. Oh, I'm not saying the company should be forced to take it down. They paid for it, and it's on them if there's a backlash and they get no business from the ad. But c'mon -- this Web site is trying to make one of the crappiest things a person can do to another seem cool. Can you imagine driving along the freeway with your kid and they ask you about it? Who wants to have that conversation?

Wouldn't it be interesting if someone put up an opposing billboard on the other side of the road? Maybe it could read something like ...

-- Life is short ... why not admit the marriage isn't working and move on?

-- Life is short ... why betray the one you love?

-- Life is short ... especially when you give your spouse HIV after screwing some stranger you met on an adultery Web site.

Readers, would this billboard bug you? Or are you about to go to the site and set up your first date?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This might be shocking except for the fact that it's in LA.

Let's see how long it takes before an aggrieved spouse sues this company because they helped their husband or wife find someone with whom to cheat.

Anonymous said...

There are some professional cheating companies that will 'facilitate' your lies to your spouse. This is sickening, and defeats the purpose of marrige!

Gabriele Pauli stated that marriages should only last 7yrs!

So much for married till death do they part!

Anonymous said...

I love the billboard response suggestions! Here's hoping some eccentric, wealthy person with a sense of humor buys ad space across the street.

RFandy said...

Yes; it really is too bad that the self-centered liberal ideal of anarchy doesn't really work. It's really too bad that people can't go through life without thinking about and acting positively upon their impact on other people. It is really too bad that you and I will never get everything we ever wanted before we die. It is really too bad that like Mother Nature a healthy society must have rules by which people agree to live by - which necessarily means that someone will always feel confined and shorted - someone will have to be told "No". Recognizing this is the difference between liberals and conservatives - between Democrats and Republicans - between those of us who work to better society as a WHOLE and those who work to get whatever they want. Best of luck on all that when Hillary steps into office. This nation is about to pay the piper for all of those lies the liberal media has been hoisting upon us for the last 50 years. Best of luck....

Anonymous said...

It's just wrong. It has nothing to do with what Hillary will do in office. It has more to do with the beliefs of the married couple. Most people get married without spiritual beliefs so why get married in the first place? The same idiots think that going to church on Sunday is believing in God.

Anonymous said...

HSo Republicans don't have affairs? C'mon. Of course they do, frequently with members of their own sex. Foley, Haggard, Gingrich, Hyde, Giuliani, Craig, etc, ad infinitum.

Anonymous said...

That is the most awesome billboard ever. And the fact that you are willing to write a piece about it means it was effective. They will thank you for all the additional free advertising.

Anonymous said...

Some people don't need the billboard to encourage this behavior...they have the internet. My ex-husband was one who became so entrenched in online chatting and sex that he rarely left the computer. I found out and told him to get his clothes and hit the door - not for online sex, though I certainly didn't find that appealling; but because he chose to actually meet some of these people in person for the real encounter. He is now married to one of the sluts he met online and they meet other couples online for sex now - Swingers, they're called. Such a good little baptist boy...don't you think? His parents are holy-rollers but his father was just as bad with his extra-marital affairs. Screw that...literally!

Anonymous said...

Having felt the pain of having a spouse commit adultry, I can see where many others like me would be offended by this billboard promoting this selfish act,as well as helping to achieve some back stabbing spouse to pursue it. I hope someone does sue them for this assistance they are offering. Maybe an attorney can sponser a billboard fo this issue.

Anonymous said...

as someone currently having affair maybe I am biased - there are so many sites where people looking outside their own marriage to find others.

I am sure every single one of us (the adulters) have their reasons and I am sure all can be put down as excuses and justifications but we have our reasons

I love my spouse dearly and would never to loose them but over time our love life has waned and that physical connection is something i need.

i feel guilty from time to time but yet i still feel the urge the need.

ok now flame away

Anonymous said...

The company offering the adultery matchmaking service says they don't condone adultery but only provide a service. Right... A drug dealer doesn't condone drug use...he just provides a service.Just follow the money.
When a couple gets married, they are supposed to put the marriage first and above their own wants and desires. People who have affairs put themselves first instead. Sex between a married couple naturally lessens over time. If you're having an affair to once again have that youthful feeling, then forget about being married. You don't love your spouse; not truly. If you put the marriage first, you couldn't/wouldn't have an affair.

Anonymous said...

You stand before God at the end of your life to defend yourself.....Good luck on that. Your choices matter!

Anonymous said...

no wonder we are called sue happy.... how many people are calling for them to get sued..... afraid your husband/wife might see it and decide to see if the grass is greener......

keep it fun in bed and be respect your SO an stop worring about what others may or may not do.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the Craigslist personals... There are tons and tons of people on there looking for some "NSA" (No Strings Attached)fun. Heck, why pay for an Ashley Madison membership when you can go on there and find someone for free?! *rolls eyes*

Bottom line is there are always consequences for our sins in life. STDs are just one example. The pain and suffering cheaters inflict on their families are indescribable. If one doesn't think he/she can remain faithful to one person for the rest of his/her life, then they shouldn't marry in the first place. This is serious stuff.

Anonymous said...

Alisha, nice ad on there. I didn't know that you liked the bondage thing. Love the pic of the rings!

Anonymous said...

If you're sleeping with your column-partner, does that count as cheating?