On citizen media website Stomp this week, Star Bloggers were asked to give their views on this question: A minister in a neighbouring country has allegedly been involved in a sex scandal involving a student.
Why are men so weak when it comes to matters of the flesh?
Here are one Star Blogger's views:
AFFAIRS and everything scandalous happen ever so often, regardless of one's occupation or social or marital status. It is just human nature to succumb to temptation as most people are deadbeat - they don't make an effort to keep things interesting once they have settled comfortably into a relationship.
In recent years, we have seen a number of scandals involving political figures in various countries - from former female Taiwanese politician Chu Mei-Feng to Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek. Based on these examples alone, it seems that with authority and status come a desire to have the forbidden.
I don't want to put the blame entirely on the men. Yes, even in Singapore. It takes two hands to clap. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is definitely the latest spokesman for this practice but that's pretty stale news.
Why are women so attracted to men with power and status?
It's all because of money. And the reason those men, who have spent their entire lives trying to build a "perfect, healthy, happy" family image so as to fit the criteria of being a political figure or minister, get themselves involved in affairs could be due to any one of these factors:
They married to benefit from business relations. Their wives are like logs in bed. Some cultures and traditions see having more than one woman a symbol of success.
The above are excuses for despicable men. They could be thinking that everything can be "covered up" because no one would dare to expose them.
I would really love to share my thoughts and experience on this openly but I don't want to go to jail because I am a nobody.
So, here's my censored version: Once upon a time, there was a young man who held a high position in society. He was a familiar face at events and people from all walks of life respected him because he had wealth, status and career.
Then, he got my number. SMS-ing started, though it didn't lead to anything sexual or scandalous. He was a family man, but he lied to me, saying that he was not married.
When I found out, I ceased contact with him. I don't think he is aware that I know about his double life.
It's the thrill one can get from doing something that he or she knows the whole world would object to, that makes one go after it with so much enthusiasm. The biggest sins, greed and lust, are in every living person. I have made my mistakes as well.
It is up to the individual to overcome these sins or suffer because of them.
myp@sph.com.sg
The writer is a Star Blogger with Stomp, The Straits Times' social networking and citizen media website. This blog post first appeared on Stomp. Go to www.stomp.com.sg to read what the other Star Bloggers have to say about this issue.
