Fact check: Spouse who had six others when we met, on the line and kept them as friends for the validation they gave him, found a new friend and found validation with them, says that flirting isn't wrong and in their estimation they have never cheated only omitted the truth

1. Summary of the results

The situation described represents a clear case of emotional infidelity and micro-cheating, characterized by:

• Maintaining multiple emotional connections for validation ^[1]
• Engaging in flirtatious behavior while claiming it's not wrong ^[2]
• "Omitting the truth" rather than acknowledging the behavior as cheating ^[3]

The behavior described fits the definition of emotional infidelity, which involves forming deep emotional connections outside the primary relationship and sharing intimate thoughts ^[1]. This type of infidelity can be as damaging as physical cheating to relationship trust and intimacy ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Emotional affairs typically begin innocently as friendships before evolving into deeper connections ^[4]
• The behavior described falls under "micro-cheating" - non-sexual but flirtatious behaviors that erode trust in committed relationships ^[2]
• It's possible to engage in infidelity while still loving one's primary partner ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains several concerning elements of manipulation and minimization:

• The spouse's claim that "flirting isn't wrong" and "only omitting the truth" represents classic gaslighting behavior, where cheaters deny reality and manipulate their partner's perception ^[6]
• The rationalization of maintaining these connections as mere "friendship" is a common pattern in emotional affairs ^[7]
• The behavior described often stems from feeling neglected or misunderstood in the primary relationship, though this doesn't justify the actions ^[7]

The spouse's characterization of their behavior demonstrates typical patterns of minimization seen in micro-cheating, where individuals rationalize their actions while downplaying their impact on the relationship ^[3].