I have to say that's some damn tiny type FRESH, I had to increase it to keep from squinting.
I agree with you on the bolded part FRESH, but I get the impression quite a few men think that women don't want to the hear that, or aren't open to it. Personally, wouldn't bother me in the least if someone were to tell me upfront that they weren't interested in an exclusive relationship with me. I just need to know one way or the other, as long as he's honest, we're good.
I do think if you know that you aren't able, or interested in a monogamous relationship, then you'll save yourself and whomever you date a whole lot of stress and drama by just owning up to that early in the relationship, preferably before you get to the sex. I think that really is a conversation that needs to take place before sex, as a lot of people, men and women, make assumptions at that point, so best to lay the cards on the table first. Just my .02 cents.
Personally I've never cheated in a relationship, and I've had opportunities. My mind immediately switches over to completely monogamous when I'm in an exclusive relationship, and I just don't really look at other men. I've run into 2 men in my life that I actually noticed and was attracted to while I was married, 2 men in 20 years to me seems like a small number. But I knew them both as really good friends before they became attractive to me, and they had unique situations that I think probably made them more attractive to me specifically than they would have been had they not been in those situations. Despite that I was very attracted to them, they were willing, and my marriage sucked, I never truly considered cheating, it's just not how I'm made. When I'm in a relationship, there are lines that I just do not cross, no matter how tempting and there are no acceptable excuses that warrant making an exception. That's the standard I hold myself to, but it's not the standard I would hold anyone else to. I think each person has to decide for themselves what feels right for them and go with that. As long as you're honest with yourself, and whomever you're involved with, that's what matters most.
I will say I agree with Tarshi that it's not the sex that hurts, it's the deception. I've been cheated on, and I really couldn't have cared less about him having sex with other women, it was the fact that he blatantly lied to me when I tried to discuss it with him, and he betrayed my trust. I forgave him and tried to maintain the relationship, but I just couldn't get past the lack of trust, and IMO a relationship cannot survive without trust. If he'd confessed to me, or if he'd been honest and admitted it once I caught him instead of trying to convince me I was wrong and crazy, it might have worked, but the lying added to the betrayal was just more than I could deal with. I get that people make mistakes, I get that some men crave variety, I'm a forgiving person... but when I ask you a very specific question which indicates I have direct information to back it up, you better just tell me the truth. Because when you lie and I then have to produce proof to call you on it, you're screwed. You had your chance and you blew it badly. I consider myself to be pretty reasonable and fair, but you need to meet me part way, and lying to me is something I just cannot deal with, and he knew that.