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single17-Feb-2008ethics/moralitykatheleen_000 by votes45461.0%

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Is John behaving in a morally irresponsible way by continuing his relationship with Jessica?

John meets Jessica at a work event. After talking for several hours John asks for her number. A couple days later John calls and asks Jessica if she’d like to go to dinner. He takes her to a nice restaurant, they have pleasant conversation, and the evening goes well. He drives her home and kisses her goodnight. A couple nights later they make plans to get together again. This time they go to a movie and out for drinks and snacks after. At the end of the night Jessica invites John into her home and they become more physical, but she stops him and tells him she is uncomfortable with having sex so soon. They continue to talk for awhile and Jessica asks John many questions about what he wants out of life, where he sees himself in 5 years, and whether he wants to have a family. John lets her know that he wants to make a lot of money at his job and have his freedom and that he does not see himself ever marrying or having a family. He then asks her some questions and finds out she does want to be married some day and have a family. The third time they go out she invites him to spend the night and they sleep together. They continue to go out and sleep together. They enjoy each other’s company and have a fun time when they are together. John has told her he does not want to get married and has joked with her, saying, “I’ll be your boy toy, but I don’t want a serious relationship.” She has told him she hopes to get married and have a family some day and he suspects, although she hasn’t said so, that she continues to hope he will change his mind, even though he has told her he does not want the same things.



VotesAnswer
30No
5Yes

UserComment
Crayons Gold Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier This user is on the site NOW (3 minutes ago)
posted 17-Feb-2008 5:01pm  
He doesn't know where this is going, they might actually get married. Women have persuaded men to do a lot of things.
jettles Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 17-Feb-2008 5:03pm  
no, they are both adults and have both made their thoughts known and he is really the only one of the two who is following his current ideals. jessica is the one who is not following her ideals if she thinks he is going to change. he shouldn't have to be her conscience!!
Biggles Bronze Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 17-Feb-2008 5:25pm  
No, I wouldn't say it was morally irresponsible, but it's not particularly gentlemanly.
JessicaWoman99
posted 17-Feb-2008 5:34pm  
No John he wants nothing to do with me and I hate his manners
JessicaWoman99
(reply to Crayons) posted 17-Feb-2008 5:35pm  
> He doesn't know where this is going, they might actually get married.
> Women have persuaded men to do a lot of things.

No we have called off our marriage and scrapped all plans oh boo hoo
dab Survey Central Gold Subscriber Gold Qualifier
posted 17-Feb-2008 5:42pm  
He's not misleading her so I say, "no". Sounds likely to end with hurt feelings though.
LindaH Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
posted 17-Feb-2008 6:27pm  
No. He's been honest with her, and she chooses to continue the relationship. She's an adult, she'll give up when she feels like it. In the meantime, they are both enjoying the ride.
they Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
posted 17-Feb-2008 6:33pm  
Nope.

She knows what he wants/does not want.
southernyankee Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 17-Feb-2008 7:50pm  
No, other than the fact they work together.
LindaH Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to southernyankee) posted 17-Feb-2008 7:56pm  
What's wrong with co-workers going out? As long as one isn't subordinate, I don't see an issue.
Pomeranian
posted 17-Feb-2008 8:28pm  
The John I know would never date Jessica!
southernyankee Bronze Star Survey Creator
(reply to LindaH) posted 17-Feb-2008 8:30pm  
It can, potentially, if they break up.
LindaH Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to southernyankee) posted 17-Feb-2008 8:40pm  
It's no more likely than two co-workers deciding they don't like working together anymore. I don't see it as something to anticipate and/or worry about.
RGirl
posted 17-Feb-2008 9:14pm  
No. Jessica is a big girl and probably believes she can change his mind at some point down the line. It is her own fault when she gets heart broken because John was up front from the beginning.
kcthedog Survey Central Gold Subscriber
posted 18-Feb-2008 12:01am  
No! Sounds like he put it right out front! Jessica on the other hand, has a big issue about making her own decisions, she is willing to risk her future happiness on someone who admittedly told her that he does not want what she wants, and to cling to a “hope” that John will change is unreasonable and could be considered morally irresponsible.
ausfox
posted 18-Feb-2008 1:43am  
No I don't think so. he has told her where he stands. You could also ask whether she is being responsible, continuing when she knows how John feels.
LJD Gold Qualifier
posted 18-Feb-2008 2:08am  
I think they're both wrong. She's naive, she thinks she'll change him, but doubt it...depends on his age. He is going with her, primarily for sex. This is wrong.
kirst
posted 18-Feb-2008 8:44am  
Not if he is upfront with her about not wanting a serious relationship. FYI: How old are these people/characters?
shrink06
posted 18-Feb-2008 9:00am  
Just because he has been honest with her about his intentions does not mean that he is being responsible about continuing to have a sexual relationship with her. If he suspects that she is hoping he will change his mind, then he either needs to have an explicit conversation with her about this or else end the relationship. A morally responsible person does not choose to pursue their self-interests if they know there is a chance that their behavior is hurtful to others.
bill Survey Central Gold Subscriber Double Gold Star Survey Creator
posted 18-Feb-2008 9:16am  
John has been honest, so I don't find much fault with him.

Jessica is being an idiot, though. She should find someone else, if she really wants a to be married and have a family.

Jessica needs to take some responsibility for her life here. Throughout the story, it sounded like she's just passive about everything.
ScubaScott Survey Qualifier
posted 18-Feb-2008 10:56am  
Nope. He put all of his cards on the table right from the start.
moviesnob
posted 18-Feb-2008 1:26pm  
No, he's not. He's been nothing but completely upfront about what he wants and doesn't want. Jessica is putting herself in for a world of hurt, and John would be wise to back off, as he's just going to bring himself drama if he wontinues with her.

Although he really should just talk to her, she might be fine with just having a fling at the moment and finding someone serious later.
Enheduanna Survey Central Subscriber
posted 18-Feb-2008 7:08pm  
Why not ask if Jessica is behaving in a morally irresponsible way? Why should only one of them be responsible for the decision not to date given their different relationship goals? Both John and Jessica are being up-front about what they want in a relationship. They are both adults and can make their own decisions, and they are both deluding themselves if they expect the other person to change or to be OK with the status quo after a few months. When this blows up in their faces, they should both be able to say that they saw it coming. I find the suggestion that it's only John's responsibility sexist in the extreme; it suggests that poor little Jessica can't help being carried away by her emotions, and big, strong John should be the adult in the situation and save her from her naive dreams.
LindaH Survey Central Gold Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator Survey Qualifier
(reply to shrink06) posted 18-Feb-2008 7:28pm  
A responsible person takes responsibility for their own expectations, especially if no one is misleading them. Jessica's expectations are irresponsible, not John's actions.
If I'm out running errands with a wad of cash, some friend plops theirself in the passenger seat offering to keep me company and I'm upfront that I will NOT buy them anything, am I morally irresponsible for letting them join me knowing full well they still think I might buy them something?
Irene007 Survey Central Subscriber Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 18-Feb-2008 10:05pm  
No, Jessica is just stupid... She has to move on.
Melf Gold Qualifier
posted 19-Feb-2008 7:56am  
Um.
joachim
posted 19-Feb-2008 9:09am  
I guess it depends on the precise definition of "irresponsible". I mostly feel he's done his part by honestly informing her about how he views the relationship. I suppose one could imagine that he's behaving irresponsibly by not preventing her from behaving in a way that's self-destructive, but then you get into all these issues of free will that I think are difficult to work with in real life. Bottom line for me: he's not forcing her to behave in a way that is pleasant and not highly detrimental - so I vote no.
icurok Survey Qualifier
posted 19-Feb-2008 11:16am  
John has repeatedly stated that he doesn't want to settle down or get married or have kids.
Jessica has repeatedly stated that she does want to settle down and get married and have kids
John is continuing to date Jessica because he is happy with the status quo.
Jessica is continuing to date John despite being unhappy with the status quo because she imagines that he will one day change his mind

Conclusion - Jessica is a tool.
cerealkiller Gold Star Survey Creator Gold Qualifier
posted 19-Feb-2008 2:58pm  
No. Jessica is lying to John since Jessica can't have a family unless adoption is an option.

Shouldn't this be a 'hypothetical question'? Can't see any reality in this, sorry...........
justjulie
posted 19-Feb-2008 4:05pm  
no...she is for wanting to change him
Zang
posted 29-Feb-2008 2:28pm  
If anyone is being "morally irresponsible" in this scenario, it would be Jessica.
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