Dear thurmanter,
As a clinical professional, I would be remiss in my duties if I "told you what to do." Undoubtedly, you are on a website which facilitates commercial sex, so if you ask the men who are TER members, they will most likely tell you that it's OK and that you should do it.
In my not-so-humble opinion, I believe that you are the only person who can and will make this decision, despite the ayes and the nays you may get from your environment. Since we on this board are unfamiliar with you as a person, it is impossible to predict whether or not you will feel guilt. We don't have a family history, we don't have a sexual history - all we have is someone asking "should I or shouldn't I?" Who knows?
Seeing that you have only had sex with one woman, your psychological organization may be different from the majority of men's belief systems or experiences out there. If someone would advise you what to do without having taken a thorough history - family system, life experiences, possible traumas, etc. - it would be quite irresponsible. Yes, who knows what the consequences may be?
As to being a "good husband," that would certainly not be someone who doesn't communicate intimately with his spouse. I'd rather recommend a husband to discuss his sexual preferences IN DETAIL with his wife, wait for a reaction and then begin negotiating a solution. Everything in life is a negotiation, and especially sexual issues within a marriage. OK, so your wife isn't into a threesome? Fine. So you may want to have sex with another person and she doesn't want you to have that? Fine. Then what DOES she want from you? To be "faithful?" To only have sex in one position? What will SHE be willing to contribute to your apparently "unexciting" sex life? She also needs to learn that there's no free lunch. Unless you expand your sexual vocabulary...guess what, your guy may just go off and have sex with someone else! Tough titty! And then again, if your spouse asks you to have sex with the family dog...do you say no? Where are the limits and how are they verbalized? Punitively? Accusatorily? Kindly and with some understanding and patience?
Having powerful, in-depth communication about sexual issues is very difficult, and that's why people enlist the help of a therapist. Rather than jump into something feet first, I would advise you to contact a sex therapist in your area and have a few therapy sessions - with your wife. Sure, your wife may not bend on any of this, but at least both of you will have had an honest opportunity to speak your minds. What you need, more than a yes or no from this board, is to learn how to observe, negotiate and create your own sexual matrix. You can do that with only one woman - if she's willing to evolve right along with you - or you may need to have sex with a zillion chicks before something finally clicks. And of course, everything in between. But what you need more than anything else, is to get to know yourself. Only then will you know what YOUR definition is of a "good husband" and/or a good person.
Go to www.aasect.org and look for a sex counseling professionalin your area,
the Love Goddess
-- Modified on 1/24/2008 7:53:16 PM