College is the time to date and have fun with people. You’re still discovering who you are, and that comes with exploring romantic relationships. Nobody should judge you on how many people you have dated or slept with. We are all young, and it is time to explore dating and sex lives. You can date and have fun, but you should be honest with your partners about the number of partners you have had and are currently with.
The definition of a situationship is “a romantic relationship between two people who do not yet consider themselves a couple but who have more than a friendship.” These types of relationships between people have become so popular in college because they allow people to focus on casual intimacy and commitment while not dealing with long-term relationships.
Again, nothing is wrong with that whatsoever. If you don’t want to commit to a relationship, that’s fine. What’s not fine is not telling someone else you are in a situationship, and you want to or are seeing other people.
On a college campus, disease and infection spread like wildfire. This is due to being in close quarters with people in class, out at bars and in the dorms. Everyone on campus gets sick at some point in time; it is nearly impossible not to get sick, no matter how hard you try. However, when your partner is being dishonest about who they are seeing, it can increase the risk of contracting diseases.
Mononucleosis, or mono, commonly known as “the kissing disease,” is primarily spread through saliva. It can be spread by partners or by strep throat infections, a highly contagious condition caused by bacteria. Both are common infections people can get from anything, but sharing multiple partners and not being honest about it increases their chances of spreading them. Not to mention the multiple sexually transmitted diseases someone could unknowingly spread to a person by not being honest and not using proper protection.
Being honest with your situationship is best for all parties on an emotional level. One person can expect something different from another, causing emotional stress for someone not meeting expectations. If you want something more serious with someone, you need to tell them. Even if you both are content with the state you are in, it needs to be communicated. By doing so, you prevent feeling hurt from the beginning.
“You are the only one I am seeing,” can come off as if you two are exclusive. Lying about it to protect someone's feelings will cause serious damage to trust in general. You may think they are protecting someone's feelings by not telling them about other partners, but you are simply leading them on. Getting a “hey girlie” text is never fun, for anyone, so save the damage and just be honest.
When someone isn’t being honest with their partners, it only harms all parties involved. Not only emotionally, but physical health is a factor that people seemingly don’t consider when taking multiple partners and not notifying the others.
It is OK to have more than one partner, as long as you are being honest about it. Nobody deserves to be lied to and led on, because you are scared to tell someone the truth they deserve.
BedPost is a sex and relationship column that does not reflect the views of The Post.
