Not all people who cheat are the typical "cheaters". Sometimes cheating can be the result of a relationship in a bad condition, and can be a symptom, not the reason for the demise of a relationship.

Although I likely would NOT put up with a cheater, it would be because of knowing ALL THE FREAKIN' EFFORT I had put into the union, having talked, tried to elicit communication, read, refer to experts and friends.... If a person cheated on me and I had done everything in my power to grow the relationship, he'd be gone.

Now, I see all the time about this "once a cheater, always...." crap. And one strike and he/she's out. So, what did my parents have that YOU ALL don't? Were they nuts or stupid to reconcile things? They had love, family, commitment, and they CHOSE to get to the root of the issues that led them BOTH to cheat on each other at one point in their relationship. It wasn't easy; sometimes downright horrid to deal with each other for quite some time. Did they ever do it to each other again? Nope.

Some folks can handle this breach; some cannot. Some CHOOSE to handle it; some choose not. Big difference between those who have no character or backbone and those who do a stupid action once and regret it.