Is it cheating if... *sci-fi edition*

[Zorak]

We've had a couple of threads about whether or not it's cheating to watch porn, visit strip clubs, etc etc. But last night I was watching Minority Report, and there's a part where Tom Cruise visits an establishment that offers customers to experience anything they want in virtual reality. Naturally, this is mainly used for sex. You are there, you move, but nothing is real.

So here's the question; if we lived in the year wondrous year of 2082, and such places existed, would you consider it cheating if your partner sought out virtual sex? Is it merely the next evolution of porn; or does the physicality of it make it something different?

 

[pjbleek]

We've had a couple of threads about whether or not it's cheating to watch porn, visit strip clubs, etc etc. But last night I was watching Minority Report, and there's a part where Tom Cruise visits an establishment that offers customers to experience anything they want in virtual reality. Naturally, this is mainly used for sex. You are there, you move, but nothing is real.

So here's the question; if we lived in the year wondrous year of 2082, and such places existed, would you consider it cheating if your partner sought out virtual sex? Is it merely the next evolution of porn; or does the physicality of it make it something different?

I would be 113!!! Oh my...be lucky if I....oh.... nevermind...

 

[Kyle B]

Is that the movie where the only restaurant left is Taco Bell or some shit?

 

[fuel1316]

noooo! noooo nono dont eat that sandwich!! UGH

 

[HK]

Well that's an interesting thought. On the one hand, I would have said anything that actually involves touching is cheating. So virtual sex would fall under that, even if it wasn't technically real.


But on the other hand... it's not real. It wouldn't be a real girl or a real guy. I assume you wouldn't be forming any emotional attachments, it'd be purely about the sex.


Tricky. I think in the end, even if it wasn't technically real, I'd be wondering why my partner wanted to have virtual sex when they could have sex with me. Jerking off without me is different, that's just loving yourself :cool but to go out of your way to find someone else to have sex with, even if they don't technically exist, seems like a step too far.

 

[Zorak]

Well that's an interesting thought. On the one hand, I would have said anything that actually involves touching is cheating. So virtual sex would fall under that, even if it wasn't technically real.


But on the other hand... it's not real. It wouldn't be a real girl or a real guy. I assume you wouldn't be forming any emotional attachments, it'd be purely about the sex.


Tricky. I think in the end, even if it wasn't technically real, I'd be wondering why my partner wanted to have virtual sex when they could have sex with me. Jerking off without me is different, that's just loving yourself :cool but to go out of your way to find someone else to have sex with, even if they don't technically exist, seems like a step too far.

I agree with that. But maybe we only touch ourselves because of technological constraints... The philosoraptor will ponder that one for me.

 

[Mercury]

Wow! That is a really good question!

I would think that psychologically speaking ... it probably would be considered "cheating."

Here is what would enter my mind if my wife were to go to a holographic porn simulator ... "What's wrong with me?" I bet that would be a pretty common thought to cross the mind.

While it would be awesome to have such an invention ... I could see it as being a real issue with society.

I wonder if population would decrease with such things being available, easily, world-wide?

 

[HK]

It'd be an amazing thing to try in the right circumstances. If you weren't in a relationship and wanted to experiment, it'd be a far safer way to go about it than hooking up with someone on Craigslist


Like if you wanted to try something with the same sex, or with multiple partners. No risk of disease, no risk of pregnancy, and no hurt feelings or complications afterwards.

 

[Mercury]

It'd be an amazing thing to try in the right circumstances. If you weren't in a relationship and wanted to experiment, it'd be a far safer way to go about it than hooking up with someone on Craigslist


Like if you wanted to try something with the same sex, or with multiple partners. No risk of disease, no risk of pregnancy, and no hurt feelings or complications afterwards.

Yeah really.

... now where did I place that Angelina Jolie program?

 

[HK]

I wonder how celebrities would feel about people having sex with 'them'?

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

What a dreadfully sad idea. It's bad enough that we spend so much time imitating conversation on the internet instead of actually talking to people.'Virtual sex' would be cheating....on yourself.

 

[Mercury]

I wonder how celebrities would feel about people having sex with 'them'?

I wonder too ... I bet if there were such programs, they would probably get some sort of royalties so they might not mind LOL.

... Being somewhat of a Trekkie ... I remember an Episode of DS9 in which some of the female crew were being depicted in a "romantic program" and that they were pretty upset by it. hehe.

 

[HK]

It's bad enough that we spend so much time imitating conversation on the internet instead of actually talking to people.

You mean this conversation isn't real?

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

You mean this conversation isn't real?

It's real, but incomplete. I'm making no effort with body language, with clothing, with attention span.....

If a good conversation is a well cooked steak, the best post on the internet will only ever be a picture of a well cooked steak.

 

[Zorak]

It's real, but incomplete. I'm making no effort with body language, with clothing, with attention span.....

If a good conversation is a well cooked steak, the best post on the internet will only ever be a picture of a well cooked steak.

You are right in highlighting the difference between oral and written communication, but I think you undervalue the written. While there are factors, such as body language, that go into oral communication that are missed out in written communication; similarly the written word has elements that cannot be expressed in words. It certainly has a number of advantages.

 

[36gamer]

It's real, but incomplete. I'm making no effort with body language, with clothing, with attention span.....

If a good conversation is a well cooked steak, the best post on the internet will only ever be a picture of a well cooked steak.

A better analogy would be a very meaty juicy steak with some boss A1 sauce compared to a small wimpy steak with much less flavor. A picture of steak doesn't get it's goal accomplished at all, feeding your body and pleasing your mouth. Written communication still gets it's goal accomplished ( to a lesser extent of the verbal form no doubt , communicating with others.

Oh and yes I think it would definitely be cheating. It's still the same thing as having sex with another woman (or male), just easier. You are still deciding that your partner isn't satisfying enough and trying to go to another person (real or not) to be satisfied.