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[tigger_lover]

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[alexgriffin74]

I'd say that you need to see how each one affects the "core" or "primary" relationship.

Online friend? You and they talk about things just as you would with a friend IRL. Jobs, money, politics, relationships, gossip, etc. You probably still talk to your primary partner about these things as well.

Online affair? Are you using your online or IRL partner simply for sexual gratification? And, more importantly, is that relationship damaging the primary relationship? Do you have less sex with your IRL partner/spouse because of the online/IRL affair?

Emotional affair? Do you love your affair partner? Are you planning to leave your primary partner for the affair partner? Have the feelings for the affair partner eclipsed or displaced your feelings for your primary partner?

All in all, the "online" is just a modifier. IMO the impacts can be the same.

Is it possible to have a relationship with no physical contact and not have it damage your primary relationship? I believe it is.

 

[cutcrystal899]

Connections I have had on Lit... Two women, at different times. Each had an absent marriage partner. And dead bedroom when home. Both, as I did, wanted lots of common ground and to be able to talk about anything. I was single, relationship partner of 7 years having died Feb 2020. We were able to talk about anything and the amount of common ground was mind blowing. There was chemistry too. So online sexiness also figured. It was life saving all round.

 

[BreedMySow314]

I'd say that you need to see how each one affects the "core" or "primary" relationship.

Online friend? You and they talk about things just as you would with a friend IRL. Jobs, money, politics, relationships, gossip, etc. You probably still talk to your primary partner about these things as well.

Online affair? Are you using your online or IRL partner simply for sexual gratification? And, more importantly, is that relationship damaging the primary relationship? Do you have less sex with your IRL partner/spouse because of the online/IRL affair?

Emotional affair? Do you love your affair partner? Are you planning to leave your primary partner for the affair partner? Have the feelings for the affair partner eclipsed or displaced your feelings for your primary partner?

All in all, the "online" is just a modifier. IMO the impacts can be the same.

Is it possible to have a relationship with no physical contact and not have it damage your primary relationship? I believe it is.

I know i would live to have an online affair and even emotional online affair! I am a married male.