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Should adultery be illegal?

Eos of the Eons

Mad Scientist
Eos of the Eons
Joined
Jul 23, 2003
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http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=158&lid=1113#n14

This question has me stumped. You do sign a contract when you're married. You do vow to be "true" to the one you marry.

What would the punishment be if it were illegal?

I think our court systems have enough criminals to deal with. Actually convicting people of adultery seems rather extreme. There are consequences for adultery already. You may lose your spouse, get an STD, etc.

So why bother making it illegal?

In a way, it would be okay. You do something bad, you get punished. I don't think it would deter people though. Humans are so fickle. What would constitute adultery? Getting some services from hooker? I guess. Is it only a physical thing? Some people feel you can be adulterous just by having a close relationship with someone else.

I figure it would just be a huge pain in the butt if it were made illegal.

Just make it grounds for divorce (isn't it already?).
 
If you're really interested, I am discrete and understanding of your situation.
 
Patrick said:
It's not illegal - just grounds for divorce.


Slut.
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You intended to follow this with a :D or a :p right? Just left it off? You're not really so vile as to insult people with no provocation? (I admit, I provoke :p)
 
Sigh. Hey, did you at least participate in the poll? Now, how to get a debate going?

Um.

Yes, adultery should be illegal because you break a binding contract.

Now, for the punishments. 1st offence, a fine of ten thousand bucks. 2nd, jail time with scary inmates that want to reenact your escapades with you...
 
Eos of the Eons said:
Sigh. Hey, did you at least participate in the poll? Now, how to get a debate going?

Um.

Yes, adultery should be illegal because you break a binding contract.

Now, for the punishments. 1st offence, a fine of ten thousand bucks. 2nd, jail time with scary inmates that want to reenact your escapades with you...
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Why not just have the punishments follow the existing breach of contract rules? Not that I have any idea what those are.

The problem really will be what counts as adultery? Anything that if you did to an unwilling partner would be rape?
 
Fines are unfair. Us rich guys can pay them, and you poor people will have to behave yourselves.
 
Marquis de Carabas said:
Why not just have the punishments follow the existing breach of contract rules? Not that I have any idea what those are.

The problem really will be what counts as adultery? Anything that if you did to an unwilling partner would be rape?
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Hm, don't know breach of contract rules. Is Cleo around here?

Now, wouldn't it be interesting to see somebody try to guage what exactly is adultery in every possible shape and form? Could it be done? What about porn? What if somebody only goes for porn and never touches their spouse again? Is that adultery?
 
Eos of the Eons said:
Hm, don't know breach of contract rules. Is Cleo around here?

Now, wouldn't it be interesting to see somebody try to guage what exactly is adultery in every possible shape and form? Could it be done? What about porn? What if somebody only goes for porn and never touches their spouse again? Is that adultery?
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Guess we'll wait for the breach rules.

If there's to be a law, they have to draw a line somewhere. Personally, I'd laugh myself silly if they put the words "second base" in the law books for adultery. :D

Seriously, though, it'd be tough to define. Plus, can you imagine the husbands who'd cheat in spirit, but be careful not to cross the line, and just say "Hey honey, it ain't adultery!"
 
a_unique_person said:
WTF is that for? Are all republicans like this deep down?
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I'm not a Republican, but I know some, and I can assure you they aren't. Republicofascists, however, are.
 
Eos of the Eons said:
Yes, adultery should be illegal because you break a binding contract.
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Yeah, well illegal in that sense is a matter for civil court, not criminal court.
 
You're discussing this as if it were being considered in a civilized country.

It's Turkey.
The evidence presented in court will likely be a white hot knife on the wife's tongue.

I vote no.

Then again, this law will likely prevent Turkey from joining the E.U.

I vote yes.
 
Eos of the Eons said:
Tomatoes, tomotoes. Civil, criminal. Either way it would be illegal right?
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Um, no. Breaking a contract isn't illegal. There may be penalties specified in the contract or, depending on the state, on the type of contract.

Trying to evade those penalties, however, may be illegal, depending.
 
From the story that the link in the original post leads to:

Turkish women are up in arms about a proposal to criminalize adultery. The ruling Justice and Development Party, which has its roots in an Islamic movement, is proposing to make adultery a crime punishable by up to three years in jail.

"The State Is Entering Our Bedroom," read a headline in last Friday’s issue of the daily newspaper Radikal.

Adultery was illegal in Turkey until 1996, when the nation's highest court ruled that the ban was unconstitutional because it discriminated against women. Under the original law, men were deemed adulterers only if it was proved that they had been involved in a prolonged affair, whereas women could be charged even if they had been unfaithful just once. Under the proposed law, men and women would be prosecuted on equal terms.
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I agree that no state has any business in anyone's bedroom. This does not include rape, incest or child molestation. I mean between consenting adults.

Under the original law, men were deemed adulterers only if it was proved that they had been involved in a prolonged affair, whereas women could be charged even if they had been unfaithful just once.
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Think the new law will be that different even though they say men and women will be prosecuted equally?

edited for clarity...
 
Explain why we need the courts to deal with one more thing?

People have different conceptions of what marriage is...

so my answer is no.
 
I agree that no state has any business in anyone's bedroom.

That's pretty vague ... the state, even in a libertarian state, has the power to enforce contracts. By long common law and practice and statue, adultery is the breaking of the marriage contract, and grounds for divorce. That is the proper state involvement.
 
peptoabysmal said:
You're discussing this as if it were being considered in a civilized country.
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Some civilised countries do have laws that make adultery illegal. In the US, for instance, 24 States have laws against adultery (and ten have laws against premarital sex). The most recent prosecution was in August this year in Virginia, so some people are still willing to use them.
 
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