This comment is by Jon D. on the post “CNN Columnist Emails GMP to Clarify Male Stupidity.”
I agree that men in positions of power and notoriety are playing with fire when they have an affair, and it is pretty stupid to take that risk considering what is at stake; their credibility, their jobs, and their money.
To what extent do these men get caught in such scandals because the women involved can’t keep it secret? Even using the threat of exposing the affair for personal gain?
We’ve seen the likes of Larry Flynt offering women hundreds of thousands in payoffs to provide proof of an illicit affair with any number of politicians, famous actors or athletes. What would stop some woman from cashing in on something like that when she begins to get that feeling like she’s being used and wants some retribution?
Another thing, power is an aphrodisiac, and often the men in positions of power find more opportunity to have an affair because women are drawn to them. I think this makes these men have a sense of entitlement, like this is just one of the perks of the job, and they think nothing of it, or the lives they are harming. That casual attitude towards the affair can also make women more likely to speak out.
I think that it is much less likely that a woman gets caught in a similar situation because a man is less likely to tell.
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photo: jdhancock / flickr