Thinking of Having an Affair? There’s a Website for That
If you think Tinder is the only dating site out there, think again. There’s a dating site (or app) for every preference. There’s Grindr for gay men, Brenda for lesbians, Purrsonals for cat lovers, and The Atlasphere for fans of the author Ayn Rand. But did you know there’s also a dating site for people in relationships looking to have extra fun? And it’s available in the Philippines?
Enter Ashley Madison, a Canadian dating website for married people who want “discreet encounters.” Just recently, they launched a Filipino version of the website.
Like other dating sites, you have to input your relationship status, gender preference, height, weight, body type, eye color, and hair color. You can select the type of relationship you’re looking for, whether “something short term,” “something long term,” “cyber affair / erotic chat,” “whatever excites me,” “anything goes,” or “undecided.” After that, you can work on your profile by adding a photo and a description of yourself. Men need to pay P2,199 for the basic package, while women can use it for free.
At Ashley Madison, you can be really specific. You can choose something short-term or long-term
It’s curious that they would even consider opening a market in the Philippines, a deeply religious country. It even has a Filipino translation of its tagline, “Ang buhay ay maikili. Mangaliwa” (Life is short, have an affair). Even more curious is that even if it’s a website dedicated to extramarital affairs, its founder Noel Biderman does not encourage it. His title of “King of Infidelity” is also misleading as he is happily married with two kids. The European communications director and spokesperson, Christoph Kraemer, has been in a long-term relationship for the past eight years.
“Personally, I can’t imagine having an affair right now after eight years,” Kraemer said. “I know that I would be devastated and shocked if I would find out if my partner has one, because I believe that an affair shows that there is something fundamentally missing in the relationship… In our case, if there is something wrong, we would work things out.”
But if they are thinking of having an affair, Ashley Madison provides a safe and discreet platform for interested individuals.
In fact, Kraemer also said that the website saves marriages. According to him, “Many of our members say, ‘I love my spouse but there is something that he cannot give me. So should I forever be unhappy because I feel unfulfilled, because I’m missing that part? Otherwise, my relationship is wonderful.’ They feel that by having that affair, they are happier and they are able to transport that happiness to their partner and make them better as a person.”
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is alarmed. According to executive director of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life Fr. Melvin Castro, the website only exploits those who are already in troubled marriages for profit.
What do you think of the website? Are you #ProAshleyMadison or #AntiAshleyMadison? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Thinking of Having an Affair? There’s a Website for That
