How do you define 'cheating'? Another one of those freads

Ok, so yes I know there has been billions of these threads before... Just thought I'd bring it up again, cause searchfunctionlexia
But also cause:
Ok, so recently my friend broke up with his girlfriend, because she cheated on him. He was sad, and she's now with the guy she cheated on him with, but he's still had sex with her a few times since (Emotionless sex) Cause he doesn't care anymore, he's just fucking her cause he wants to. I told him not to get emotionally attached, he said he won't due to previous experience.
Which then led me to remember what another friend was saying. They said that they personally don't believe it's cheating if it's not emotional, so emotionless sex is perfectly fine, and not cheating. Which is how she rolls. Her girlfriend doesn't seem to care, either.

Which led me to question, what defines cheating exactly? An emotional engagement? Sex? Anything intimate they should be doing with their partner, not with others?

Taking into account open and polygamous relationships, I'd say that if you're doing something that your partner would not approve of and/or has no clue about, that's cheating. In other words:

-If you're sleeping with other people and your partner knows about it and approves of it, it's open
-If you're sleeping with others and hide it at first, it's cheating, but if the partner approves it later, it's not anymore
-If you're sleeping with others, hide it forever, and know for a fact that the partner would not approve of this, it's DEFINITELY cheating

EDIT: For this situation, it all ultimately depends on what the girl's new boyfriend thinks (the one she was having an affair with). If he doesn't want her fucking other guys, then emotionless or not, it's still cheating to him.

But it makes me wonder, would it still count as cheating if they were flirting heavily at first? Well, more than flirting.. I can't think of a better word/ description..
He did say that for a few weeks before they broke up, the guy was texting her constantly, and at some point sent her a message saying 'you should break up with him and come hang out with me' Or something along those lines. She was also putting more 'love' into her talking to him, than she ever did with him. Would you also consider that emotional bond/ contact/ whatever as cheating?

Yes, I would actually. Like I said, it all depends on the person being cheated on, and whether or not he'd be fine with it, or even knows for that matter.

Fair call

It honestly depends on the parties in a relationship. My roommate is dating two girls. They both know it and both have sex with him and yet don't mind it. He even says it is ok to date and have sex with other people. He only has a problem if he isn't told the truth about it.

There is no "fine line" with cheating and it is defined by each relationship. For example, I wouldn't mind if a girl who was going out with me flirted a bit or even kissed members of the opposite sex. Going past 1st base would be a no-no however and we would at least talk about what our limits are when we get into a relationship. Communication is the key to any relationship.

It's really all about the consent of your partner, if she doesn't want you to have sex with anyone else but you still do, it's cheating. Now if you on the other hand do have her consent then it doesn't count so long as she knows about it.

It all boils down to wether or not you have the consent of your partner and if he/she knows about it.

I believe the term for that is "non-exclusive dating".

I define cheating as doing something intimate whit 3rd party while your current partner dose not know about it.
I think its all about trust and so if your partner breaks said trust by going behind your back its all over.
However if its agreed upon and your partner know about you being intimate whit other party and dose not mind it then its not cheating.

Artcellrox is right, I think. Ultimately it is about loyalty. Personally, I think cheating can be physical or emotional. Cybersexing, sexting, and flirting is cheating in my book. Most women i know agree about that. I usually ask my partner in advance what his idea of cheating is, so we are clear at the outset. Ultimately, I'm looking for a partner. Those things, even though they are not physical, show me that the guy is not very invested in me as a partner and I think it escalates to physical cheating over time. The emotional willingness to cheat shows a moral flexibility I won't accept in a partner. I imagine that your friend's ex's new boyfriend would have the same objections he had about physical cheating. Sounds like she is not ready to commit to anyone.

Emotionless or emotional it's still cheating.
Any sexual act with another person other than your partner without approval is cheating, plain and simple.

Sexual act? So you wouldn't consider making out with another person cheating? As it's not exactly sexual

Haha I guess I didn't word that properly, sorry, I do agree though, making out, kissing, groping, is also cheating.

(Thanks for pointing that out haha, to me making out becomes sexual, same with most groping and such, so I put it in a category altogether, but sometimes kissing isn't sexual, but STILL cheating).

Haha, all good. Was going to say it does become sexual at some stage, but yeah

hmm... how can kissing possibly be not sexual ?

i consider even holding hands sexual on some level, since all this builds some form of emotions inside.

I suppose different minds think different ways. I personally don't see kissing as sexual (let's face it, kissing of parents or siblings or cousins or what not isn't sexual... or you hope it isn't... that'd be hella awkward if it was)
I'd say it gets sexual at a certain point, but kissing in general is not sexual in itself, but there would definitely be a point where it becomes sexual. But it depends on the intentions and the type of kiss, etc.

Look at some countries in Europe--familiar people greet each other by kissing the face three times.

aye im from one of this countries ;D

now days tho this happens very rarely even among relatives, at least where i live this type of greeting is not used among people that are not "family".

Even among family skin contact is actually not used, rather is more of a hug type of thing where you bring faces together.

I only had 2 accounts where very old grandma tried to "lick" my face off ;D

PS: Kiss on cheek vs kiss on lips are two different things, that said i still would not like if my girl would suddenly start kissing some dude on cheek.

I can only speak about my experience only but cheating is just lying about it. If you tell your partner about it before and agree on the terms then it not cheating. I can careless if she/he need another's dick inside or munching one's vag. I quite enjoy watching myself.

Cheating is basically getting something emotional (aside from friendship) and/or sexual from a third party not directly involved in the relationship. Can you have girl friends? Yes. Can you have sex with them? If you can, then your girlfriend is either great or a great slag.

I'm not gonna get into the psychosexual notion than mankind is not a monogamous species. It is likely that we aren't monogamous but when you act on those feelings and your significant other doesn't know about it or doesn't approve, you are cheating.