Welcome to the
Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum

This is a community where people come in search of marriage related support, answers, or encouragement. Also, information about the Marriage Builders principles can be found in the books available for sale in the Marriage Builders® Bookstore.
If you would like to join our guidance forum, please read the Announcement Forum for instructions, rules, & guidelines.
The members of this community are peers and not professionals. Professional coaching is available by clicking on the link titled Coaching Center at the top of this page.
We trust that you will find the Marriage Builders® Discussion Forum to be a helpful resource for you. We look forward to your participation.
Once you have reviewed all the FAQ, tech support and announcement information, if you still have problems that are not addressed, please e-mail the administrators at mbrestored@gmail.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#2157305 11/12/08 02:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
Does anyone ever feel OP is to blame more than the WS? I know it's easier to be angry at the OP because their is no vested feelings in that person. I read comments about POSOM and know that my FWH is that same man. I read comments about POSOW and it's like preaching to the choir since I'm the BW. What I don't get (well sort of kind of) is the double standard that WW was preyed on by OM or WH was preyed on by OW so there's more blame to OP; OM is a POS but not WW; OW is a POS but not WH...

Do BSs do this to cope because they don't want to see their WS like that and have to hold onto some belief that their WS isn't THAT bad compared to the OP?

Does it bother you when a poster bashes OM as they are effectively talking about your WH and vice versa?


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
K
Member
Member
K Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
I know OM is no more at fault than my W.

Why do I place most of the anger on OM, then?

Because he's not my W.


When I read about "POSOWs", it doesn't bother me at all.

My W was a POSOW. I've called her much worse myself.

In one heated argument, I told her OMW might shoot her in our driveway, and she'd deserve it.


Divorced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,037
P
Member
Member
P Offline
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,037
If OMW came here and started bashing XWW, I would agree with her completely, however I'd remind her that it was HER husband that persued my wife until she was seduced by HIS promises, making her husband a complete POS too.


I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
K
Member
Member
K Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
I've never put any stock in the "who persued who" nonsense.

Unless rape was involved, both parties wanted it.

It doesn't matter who asks first.


Divorced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 674
H
Member
Member
H Offline
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 674
In my stitch, the OW is a mom herself.She told my teenage boys that my WH persued HER!.My point is even if that was true didn't she stop to think that she was puting their father in a bad light? She said it in front of WH as well. It just shows me that she has no brains!! I have been told by someone who had worked with her that she is a flirt and if she had her eyes on my hubbie she would have made a play for him...

I blame them both equally....The fact that the OW is the same age as me and is a mom herself,gives her no excuse for what she did to my family.I would think she had better morals...If she was a 20 -something year old with no children,I would be less angry with her conduct towards my kids.



Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,986
P
Member
Member
P Offline
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,986
Originally Posted by Krazy71
I've never put any stock in the "who persued who" nonsense.

Unless rape was involved, both parties wanted it.

It doesn't matter who asks first.

Yup.


Widowed 11/10/12 after 35 years of marriage
*********************
“In a sense now, I am homeless. For the home, the place of refuge, solitude, love-where my husband lived-no longer exists.” Joyce Carolyn Oates, A Widow's Story
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,819
S
Member
Member
S Offline
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,819
Quote
Do BSs do this to cope because they don't want to see their WS like that and have to hold onto some belief that their WS isn't THAT bad compared to the OP?

Yes.

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,499
N
Member
Member
N Offline
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,499
Raven (t/j for a spell...every time I see your name "That's so Raven" sings through my head......lol)

I have felt the same way you have. It is hard to see the BH's around here talk about POSOM and not think of my husband. It is very hard. BUT when I think about my anger towards COW (know what THAT stands for???) I EMPATHIZE. I have found that those rantings effected me more during the affair and early on in recovery. Now, it doesn't. Because they are speaking from pain of which I know of.

As far as the preying part, I know EXACTLY where you are coming from. I struggled with this as well but I think newly BS'S have to turn to that line of thinking to help them cope. I know I did. But one day we all have to accept that our WS's did what they did no matter WHO was doing the preying. Also, I think a lot of WS like to "spin" the details of how it all started so it doesn't paint them in a bad light. I know that COW'S H had it in his head that my WS did the preying so he could get the "insider" secrets on the industry she was working at... :RollieEyes:. Of course, I have a different opinion.

Anyway, yes, I believe it is part of the BS fog, one that doesn't stay around forever......

I also tend to think that men in general like to hold on to their anger, while us women like to analyze things. We also know intuitively that forgiveness MUST come in order for it not to consume them or cause further damage to the marriage.....

Are far as what to do in regards to the OP, Schoolbus had a fantastic post about that not too long ago....I will try and dig that up....

In my opinion, WH is not a bad person because of this and neither is COW...just very broken people....(now if my HEART can match up with my brain concerning her.... ;))

not2fun



Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 498
H
Member
Member
H Offline
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 498
Originally Posted by Krazy71
I know OM is no more at fault than my W.
Why do I place most of the anger on OM, then?
Because he's not my W.
When I read about "POSOWs", it doesn't bother me at all.
My W was a POSOW. I've called her much worse myself.
In one heated argument, I told her OMW might shoot her in our driveway, and she'd deserve it.

I would actually say my POSWW was more to blame b/c women have more control over the situation. I hope the Former goes along with the WAS. I told my POSWW that I should shoot her and she'd deserve it. She agreed and said she knows she is a POSWW. I place more anger on the OM b/c he acted like my friend and he knew we had kids and that this could destroy a family. I just hope one day he gets what he deserves. My wife has been on the receiving end of much anger that still continues to this day, but I am trying to work through it with her. I don't have to work on it with the OM, I don't have to forgive him, and I could give a $hit what happens to him.


Me: 32 BS DDay: 9/14/08
Slowly coming to the realization that I
am one of those who can't get past it.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
R
Member
Member
R Offline
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
Quote
Do BSs do this to cope because they don't want to see their WS like that and have to hold onto some belief that their WS isn't THAT bad compared to the OP?

I don't think they do it to cope. I tend to think most people "call 'em like they see 'em".

Being more disgusted with OP than with the WS doesn't mean a measuring off of the blame or responsibility to one side or the other. It just means you view one person's actions as more disgusting than the other's. Granted both parties have achieved a certain baseline of disgusting behavior, by the very fact of the A. But, certainly one or the other can go (or could have gone) farther.


Me 43 BH
MT 43 WW
Married 20 years, No Kids, 2 Difficult Cats
D-day July, 2005
4.5 False Recoveries
Me - recovered
The M - recovered
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 133
R
Member
Member
R Offline
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 133
I blame my FWW more. She is the one who made vows to ME. I mean nothign to OM and that's fine because I don;t really know him. But, my FWW vowed to be faithful to me "till death do us part" and she is the on who hurt me.

By the way, she is in total agreement with me and has owned the affair as being her fault entirely. She told me that while OM may have pursued her and taken advantage of her that the decision to have the affair and thus hurt me was entirely her fault.


BH(me)-44
WW - 43
DD20
DS17
DD13
d-day 4/18/08
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,499
N
Member
Member
N Offline
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,499
T/J....

Hey RB...good to see ya around.....hope you are planning on updating us soon. I do think of you and your W often......hope all is well.....

not2fun

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
I have no problem with seeing my FWH for the POSOM he was. Some times I'd rather he had screwed an unmarried woman though because it bugs me that he could spit on another couples vows and family on top of his own. Other days I'm glad she had a BH to kick her [censored].

Originally Posted by not2fun
Raven (t/j for a spell...every time I see your name "That's so Raven" sings through my head......lol)

LOL


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
Originally Posted by rprynne
Granted both parties have achieved a certain baseline of disgusting behavior, by the very fact of the A. But, certainly one or the other can go (or could have gone) farther.

I agree but that can be subjective on what is considered worse. There can always be some way e(ven if the thinking is warped) to rationalize something if we want to.


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 498
H
Member
Member
H Offline
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 498
Originally Posted by Runnerboy65
I blame my FWW more. She is the one who made vows to ME. I mean nothign to OM and that's fine because I don;t really know him. But, my FWW vowed to be faithful to me "till death do us part" and she is the on who hurt me.

i wholeheartedly agree


Me: 32 BS DDay: 9/14/08
Slowly coming to the realization that I
am one of those who can't get past it.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
You can add me to that list of telling FWH that if OWH beat the crap out of him or worse...he'd deserve it. He agreed.


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,037
P
Member
Member
P Offline
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,037
What I want to know is would you interceed if BS came to even the score with your WS?


I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
B
Member
Member
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,108
Originally Posted by Pariah
What I want to know is would you interceed if BS came to even the score with your WS?

I don't think BH would be looking to [censored] me as my H [censored] his wife so not sure how anything else would "even the score" but I'll admit I'm not sure since BH was/is also a hypocritical cheater himself. A few punches might not be so bad but a free for all...probably not. Although I might have to reconsider if BH brought WW to me. stickout


BW - me
exWH - serial cheater
2 awesome kids
Divorced 12/2011




Many a good man has failed because he had a wishbone where his backbone should have been.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
--------Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
K
Member
Member
K Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,880
Originally Posted by Pariah
What I want to know is would you interceed if BS came to even the score with your WS?

I wouldn't, except that I have to live with my W.

So, I'd probably break it up, halfheartedly.


Divorced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
R
Member
Member
R Offline
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
Quote
I agree but that can be subjective on what is considered worse.

I agree. I just tend to take people at their word. If they say they think OP's behavior was more disgusting, I just assume that is what they think, as opposed to thinking they are just saying that in order to cope with things.


Me 43 BH
MT 43 WW
Married 20 years, No Kids, 2 Difficult Cats
D-day July, 2005
4.5 False Recoveries
Me - recovered
The M - recovered
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Fordude 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Search
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 235 guests, and 24 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Countfunkula, mollye14, Pansu, sakyt, George Mixflicke
72,372 Registered Users
Latest Posts
Forum Statistics
Forums67
Topics133,659
Posts2,323,613
Members72,372
Most Online9,682
May 13th, 2026
deneme bonusu
Building Marriages That Last A Lifetime
Copyright © 2025, Marriage Builders, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site Navigation
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0