Ever since the World Wide Web first began there have been online relationships, some of these virtual relationships have turned into real ones. I have a brother-in-law who's wife left him for man she met online several years ago. It's nothing new, but virtual worlds make it even easier to meet people online. The relationships have moved on to the next level and have become even more intimate.

In worlds like Second Life and EverQuest you can start dating people, become virtually engaged and even get virtually married. There are even clubs and houses where you can go and have sex with your virtual partner.

Knowing all this, the question before you is, "Is it adultery to have a virtual relationship with someone when you are married or in a serious relationship?"

Dragonash says, "She does her thing and I do mine. Fun is a priority. If it starts to have an influence on my real life it stops immediately." ~InsideBayArea.com

Rein says, "I really felt like I was with him. But if he did that intentionally with somebody else, it wouldn't be cool." ~InsideBayArea.com

Personally, I don't see a problem with it, unless it starts affecting your real life of course. This is the same response I gave more than a decade ago when people were talking about Internet addiction and flirting with people in chat rooms. It's not real, unless you make it real, some people do. Then it's a problem.

My advice if you want to engage in online relationships is talk to your real life partner about it and see how they feel. Reassure them that's it's just a game and a way to have fun, relieve some tension. If they really object then you have two options. Either don't do it, or be really careful.