If you’ve met a guy and he is already in a relationship but still flirts with you, that’s a red flag. Flirting is not harmless because it can easily evolve into something else. If you’re doing it with someone who is not available, you risk getting into a sticky situation.
As a third party, you are responsible for your actions and you shouldn’t get involved with a guy who’s already with someone else. Reciprocating their flirtatious energy and leaning into it is not fair for anyone involved. He shouldn’t be putting you in that position, to begin with.
The one thing you’re not responsible for is his actions and his lack of respect or commitment to his relationship. Even so, you shouldn’t get involved in any way. If he wants to make a mess, he can make it on his own. Today, we will discuss 6 reasons why guys flirt when they are already in relationships so you understand why it’s an issue and why you shouldn’t encourage it.
Why do guys flirt when they are in a relationship?
1- He is a cheater:
If he’s already in a relationship and he’s flirting with you, it might be because he’s a cheater and he’s looking for his next affair or “side” victim. This is the kind of guy who doesn’t want to leave his partner because he feels safe in the relationship, but he enjoys being with other people behind his partner’s back.
If you don’t know it yet cheaters are usually also liars, hypocrites, and many other negative and toxic traits. So you really don’t want to get involved with someone like that. Check this article out later on what cheating says about the person who engages in it.
This guy doesn’t respect his relationship and he wants to have his cake and eat it too. Unless you want to be the other woman, we suggest you steer clear of men like this. Once they know they don’t have a chance with you, they’ll start flirting with someone else and that will confirm your suspicions.
2- He is a liar:
Guys that flirt when they are already in relationships don’t come right out and say they are in relationships. They will act single, so they’re lying to you and to their partner, at the same time. Is this the kind of man you want in your life?
It’s impossible to be with someone you know is a liar and still trust them. He may tell you he’ll leave his girlfriend, but if he didn’t do that before pursuing you, how can you be sure he’ll do it now?
3- He doesn’t care about his current relationship:
Another common reason why guys flirt when they are already in relationships is that they don’t care about whether they lose it or not. In other words, they are over the relationship but haven’t broken up with their partner yet.
However, this is extremely irresponsible and immature. When you’re over a relationship for whatever reason, you should do the right thing and end things so you can both move on. If he’s moving on while still in a relationship, it doesn’t speak highly about the kind of person he is.
4- He likes attention:
Let’s be honest, flirting is a lot of fun and it’s nice to feel wanted. The attention you get out of it feels really good, so he might be flirting just for fun. Men love an ego boost, so that might be all there is to it.
However, it doesn’t always mean they’re disrespecting their relationship and their partner. Maybe their partner is in on it too and they have some kind of agreement where flirting is not out of bounds.
Remember that every couple is free to set their own boundaries in their relationship away from what’s conventional or traditional. However, even if this is agreed upon in their couple you don’t know that for sure unless his partner told you, so it’s best to steer clear.
5- He wants a backup:
There are certain men out there who always need a backup in case their current relationship goes wrong. That’s because they are not as committed as they think they are. They need the thrill of the chase, so they go out and flirt.
However, you deserve a lot better than that. If someone is flirting with you, it should be because they’re truly interested, not because they’re looking for someone “just in case.” That’s not you.
Check this article out on why you should never accept the bare minimum when dating or in relationships. So if someone wants to pursue you, they have to meet the high standards you set for yourself, be sure about wanting you, and put their all into it.
6- He is mischievous:
Some men are mischievous like that. They enjoy the thrill of doing something they know is wrong. It doesn’t make any logical sense, but sometimes it can be a lot of fun to do something you know you’re not supposed to.
Though you can relate to that to a certain extent, it’s important to not cross the limit. You can have fun flirting, but if you feel like it may lead to something else, you should reel it back and keep your distance.
Conclusion:
The bottom line today is that flirting with a guy who’s already taken can be fun, but it’s not worth the trouble. There are many different reasons why they might do it, but at the end of the day, they’re being disrespectful and you should be the bigger person.
If they can’t help themselves, you can. It’s a lot better to flirt with someone you know you can be with!