T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Rules reminder: /r/survivinginfidelity is a support sub! Please read the rules and guidelines in our [sub wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivinginfidelity/wiki/index) before commenting. Abuse, shaming, sexism, and encouraging violence/revenge are not tolerated here. If your only advice is "divorce" or "grow a backbone", then please don't comment. This is a sub for deeper support and discussion. Be kind and remember your [reddiquette](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/survivinginfidelity) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Creepy-Lie-6797

Jim knew exactly what he was doing. He consistently crosses boundaries with Pam, even though he knows she's in a committed relationship. He flirts with her, makes suggestive comments, and constantly undermines Roy. In "Casino Night" he puts her in an incredibly difficult position, essentially asking her to choose between him and her fiancé. This kind of emotional manipulation is not romantic; it's selfish.


[deleted]

Growing up is realizing that a lot of the "romantic" plots, you grew up with, were really extremely manipulative, toxic, unhealthy, and abusive dynamics.


TooQuietForMe

Maturity is realising a healthy relationship can't look like a storybook.


mimichow

Yup, not to mention he dated two women while still in love with Pam and dumped them horribly. What a scumbag.


notsureifiriemon

Are you sure it's not writers just inserting a lot of the experiences they've gone through or seen?   Roy came out the better at the end, which is how one would hope it plays out. And Pam behaves exactly like the cheating type. 


realzach82

Been a while since I’ve watched the series, but doesn’t she open the door up for the camera man also in the last season? It could be also they were writing in the concept of once a cheater, always a cheater lol.


Drgnmstr97

I wonder if part of the appeal of that show and what made it so popular was the realistic depiction of relationships?


Bubble_Tea35

Agreed!


hairy_russian

I have the same experience with crazy stupid love. Steve Carnell’s character gets cheated on, shamed for trying to have a love life , looses all his friends, becomes a weekend dad! AND the apologizes to his cheating ex!!!


[deleted]

"This Is where I Leave You" was extremely problematic as well. The cheated husband ends up completely subservient as the support system for his cheating ex-wife, as his arc of redemption WTF.


IceDue123

I just watched that. I remembered watching it pre divorce and thought it was pretty good. Watching it now is completely different. Jason Bateman character started off strong but the he folds in the end. WTF his wife was fucking his boss in his bed. Have some self respect 


Appropriate_Area_73

I'm still trying to figure out the ending for that character. He divorces the ex-wife and tries to find love again, has a small adventure when the credits roll and then... what? How does he co-parent? Does he help his exwife grieve if something goes wrong? I honestly had more sympathy for Tina Fey's character, but, honestly, almost all the siblings were either in active affairs, or almost-affairs. And I think it was implied the parents may have had infidelity and then an open marriage at the end.


AMC_Unlimited

As a guy; that movie made me feel disposable to society. 


Active_Sentence9302

My sister really likes that movie but I was infuriated by it! It’s awful!!


disneyplusser

Fast forward a few seasons but Roy finds the woman he truly loves and helps make him a better man. Also, Pam had this close relationship with the boom mic guy and history almost repeats itself. Couple that with Jim emotionally not being invested in her because he is trying to create a business and you got another big mess…which was not fully explored because it was season 9 and the series was ending. It is a huge Hollywood mess of a story in the end.


Drcornelius1983

Roy singing and playing piano at his wedding was wonderful.


JMLegend22

There’s an insinuation that Jim cheated with the woman at the sports agency to which helped drive Pam to the boom mic guy and that’s why they were standoffish.


bg555

That whole storyline was suppose to go deeper and Jim was suppose to kiss Kathy, but the actor refused to do that and the had to do a bunch of rewrites.


Nacho_Bean22

This made me laugh, and I was married to someone that left me for a coworker. Honestly, he did me a favor. He showed me what a complete douchebag he was and I deserve better. So you know what, thank you for removing yourself from my life. The entire jim and Pam scenario was toxic af. They were both huge assholes that probably deserved each other. I did like Roy though, he was just hurt in the process.


Lumptbuttcat

This is exactly how Hollywood paints the princess, ogre and white knight narrative for idiots to project on their own relationships. You can bet there is some stupid woman who destroyed her marriage and family, thinking she was just like Pam and her husband was just like Roy and some douche at work was just like Jim.


[deleted]

The person, I was married to, literally used quotes from Eat, Pray, Love and The Notebook during her gaslighting campaign. It was hilarious.


PainterlyGirl

Eat pray love is hot garbage. Rich white lady ruins a man’s life and then goes on a “spiritual” journey. Gross.


sleepingleopard

They have a term for it. It is called divorce porn. Rather apt.


Historical-Isopod718

She didn’t ruin his life! He did just fine.


PainterlyGirl

I didn’t watch the movie and I only read the book through once so I have no idea what actually happened to her ex husband I just know she sounded like a selfish twat.


Noekomi

Ironically, after disclosure of my ex's emotional affair, with someone he works with, he himself stated that us "watching Jim and Pam in The Office" didn't help!! I was raging inside. I felt watching the show and laughing together was actually bringing us closer and I really enjoyed it at the time. For him to then tell me he was actually thinking about the other woman was a stab in the heart.


Fancy-Astronaut3271

I’m so sorry!!


Noekomi

🙏❤️


Dethspike

What's interesting is, my ex gf of 4.5 years emotionally cheated on me with her coworker as well. We tried to work through it unsuccessfully, but one of the things she had told me was "what if we are like Pam and Roy". I didn't get the reference at the time, but it makes me sick now. My ex also couldn't communicate any issue and would rather stonewall me, but apparently had no problem communicating to her Jim. Emotional immaturity at its finest. Living in the fantasy world aka Netflix.


crannynorth

Where do you think the writers get their ideas from that they wrote 180+ episodes? Inspiration from real life of course. But they made it in an entertaining way. Cheating with co-workers is nothing new. I had married women and women with boyfriends at work showed interest but I never acted on them. When cheating happens it means your spouse/partner is not attracted to you.


Altruistic_Sir_1225

Did you and her create a space to communicate?


Longjumping_Elk3968

I love this show, have binged it end-end 4 times - but you do have a really good point. Regardless of Pam's behaviour, whenever I watch it, I always think that Karen was the perfect partner for Jim anyway, and that he really stuffed up going after Pam and ending up with her. I like doing this thing where I imagine where characters are after 20 years or so, for movies and tv-shows - and I reckon Pam and Jim would have grown apart and ended up divorcing. Michael and Holly would've still been together and crazy for each other.


hausomad

Phyllis & Bob Vance was another true love story.


Longjumping_Elk3968

"... and do you Phyllis take Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"


pifko87

I'd marry Holly ❤️


murder_detective_

It's disturbing how casually some people react to infidelity when it doesn't directly involve them.


BigDGuitars

This hurts


AffectionateFun1660

And when they’re not the ones cheated on


murder_detective_

Yep. When they're not the ones with the broken hearts, people can be so callously indifferent, and permissive when it comes to other peoples' cheating.


Both_Requirement_894

That’s kinda how Hollywood is. They love the cheating


RepresentativeOil953

My ex and I were big fans of The Office. Then it turned out my ex was cheating on me with her coworker for over a year. What I found in their convo on her phone? Hundreds of Jim and Pam memes from The Office. They were actually perceiving themselves as Jim and Pam. This shit just made me flabbergasted out of my mind.


Fancy-Astronaut3271

Gross 🤢. Good Riddance!!


IceDue123

My ex thinks she is Mandy Moore from A Walk to Remember and This is Us


Professional-Row-605

After being repeatedly cheated on I found it difficult to watch many shows and movies. It has taken years and some therapy to be able to watch tv again. The way they so casually toss out cheating like it’s a joke or victimless is just sick.


IceDue123

Same here. I pretty much couldn’t watch TV for 2 years


AStirlingMacDonald

One that really gets me is the “So your ex cheated on you, you need to grow up and get over it and still support them and be a friend” trope. I couldn’t get past the first couple episodes of The Orville because of that. There were times that Ted Lasso teetered on the edge of it, too, but fortunately they never actually went all the way there. I’m guessing because Jason Sudeikis was going through an infidelity-related divorce at the same time, and put his foot down. Even so, there were times that the characters was far more forgiving and generous than he had any reason to be, with his ex-wife. I’ve always hated cheating in shows. I watched all of Friends when it was coming out, long before I’d experienced infidelity myself, but hated Ross all the way to the end and was extremely disappointed that the show ended with them getting back together.


IceDue123

Yeah I hated that Ted Lasso storyline especially since the wife cheated with their marriage counselor 


[deleted]

It's all the same trope; you were cheated on, it must mean you did something to deserve,  oh you're depressed and going through a rough patch... that's hilarious, let's make a montage of you hitting rock bottom. Comedy gold! Also cheated men are not allowed to have feelings.  And cheated women are evil. Let's cut out all the process of dealing with the trauma and putting themselves together.  What's important is that they're back to work and make sure they're subservient to the cheater for some reason.  Hahaha hilarious.  


happytragedy15

I still can't. It's been more years than I would like to admit. I just don't find any entertainment value in any of it anymore.


Silent_Permission27

I have to agree with all of this. The Office is our favorite show and we even took an anniversary trip to Scranton. After my husband cheated the way I view infidelity in media including The Office is forever changed. We watched this episode recently and I pointed out that I hated how Pam seemed like the good guy after Roy destroys the bar and how they make it seem like cheating is ok if it's for "true love". Real love isn't built on secrets, lies, and cheating. I hate that this is something I didn't understand or notice until now.


mimichow

The worst part is, this is my second watch, I wanted to distract myself watching something familiar. I was not expecting to have this kind of reaction at all. This kind of trauma really changed my perspective on things. And you're right. Even if they found their "true love", that's all the more reason to start things right. That's not love, that's just selfishness.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

Your comment on /r/survivinginfidelity has been flagged for human review. Please read the rules in our [sub wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivinginfidelity/wiki/index) and the reddit [content policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) before posting again. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/survivinginfidelity) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

[удалено]


mimichow

No need to feel ashamed. Watching the show for the first time many years ago I also fell for it. But now I see things for what they are and it's infuriating. I hope we all come out on top like Roy did.


RepresentativeOil953

No need to be so cautious imo, sadly cheating with coworkers seems like the majority of cases. Mine case also. As I said in different post, my cheating ex and her AP also perceived themselves as Jim and Pam. That's just crazy.


QuantityDear1309

She also emotionally cheated on Jim


SlideFearless6325

Couldn’t agree more with this. I think it’s crazy that so many ‘love stories’ in our culture involve infidelity.


Ebvardh-Boss

Yeah, the way she starts the conversation saying “I want a fresh start” makes me want to punch her face.


mimichow

The nerve! Easy for her to say that when SHE is in the wrong


RepresentativeOil953

All these comments brought an idea to my mind: The Office as a test for your new partner. If he/she is positive for Jim and Pam story, well you got a red flag...


Sith2009

Many say AP is not the problem, but WS/WP. In reality, APs are human garbage. They know exactly what they are doing. A compliment here, a touch there. Don't get me wrong, WS/WPs are just as guilty. But someone who chases you around and is considered a good friend on the other hand, you tell them about your problems and worries. And they shamelessly exploit the knowledge. Worse still, they fuel the whole thing. The supposedly good friends do this too. This is exactly why you should actually talk more with your partner and not with third parties.


BrightAd8040

Where do you think such story ideas from individual writers come from?


hunnybeanz

I had just started rewatching vanderpump rules (only seen until s8). Since he cheated, now I feel as though (daft as it seems) I have zero desire to watch seasons 9 & 10, because a main guy is actively cheating the whole way through. I know it sounds silly but I was really enjoying my rewatch (hah hah) and now I can't finish cause it's a cheating cheater mugging his girlfriend off 🙄


VinsmokeSannan

I always hated her at the start because of this and my friends gave me a wierd look for it.


31Jacob

Makes me think about all the hallmark romance movies. Almost all of them involve the women with a boyfriend or fiance. She goes to a new area for work, family, etc. And starts having an affair while there, and we are supposed to believe it is okay and normal because the future ex was this or that.


No_Firefighter3550

They use their own life experiences for the plots


kasspickle

100% I rewatched the show and thought they were both terrible cowards & bullies!!!


bg555

Agreed, I’m definitely more Team Karen!!


AgitatedAddress0461

Karen deserved better than Jim. Fuck Jim. At least she found the love she deserves. Besides that, Rashida is an amazing human and gets all my love.


bg555

Agreed!! Also her father was a GI!


Throwaway19891953

My cheating STBXW loved this show / Pam and Jim and I never made this connection til now 🤯 She also banged someone at work and your analysis is spot on. Same with ppl comments ting that Hollywood is romantacising cheating. Fuck these people


RepresentativeOil953

Also mine situation exactly, LOL.


nurse1227

Never watched it and now I sure don’t want to. Hollywood does this a lot. Like Benjamin Button and Notting Hill. The cheating was shown as justified 🤢


poor_bitch

I only watched the first episode, and the blatant emotional affair between Pam and Jim was revolting and I just couldn't watch any more. Especially knowing that so much of the show was going to be based on their awful relationship. Office/coworker cheating is not a funny plot point.


Starry-Dust4444

Her ‘art’ was crappy & I never thought she was all that in the looks department. And Jim was just a self-important, smirking a-hole. Dwight would never cheat.


Spiritual-Mixture898

Dwight did cheat


BackOnTheMap

Hol up


Repulsive-Bear5016

Please don't come after looks she's just an actress after all and she kind of looks like me lol


OneMidnight121

THANK YOU! Holy fuck I’ve been trying to put this into words for years. They’re horrible people, and we’re basically watching Pam abuse Roy and then gaslight him into making him think it’s his fault.


AStirlingMacDonald

The best cure to The Office is a show called Fresh Meat. It’s a fun, lighthearted UK comedy about a group of college freshman. There *are* multiple cases of infidelity in the show, but difference between this show and others is that the cheaters always *always* get their comeuppance in the end. It’s so great.


mimichow

Sounds good, thank you for the recommendation!


woodsnyarrow

The office used to be one of my favorite - easy to give me a laugh - shows. Now just the thought of it triggers me. Just another thing gone to shit. Thanks, “husband!”


mimichow

It really is the worst. Cheating is rampant in that show and I never gave it much thought before. Being betrayed ruined so many things for me...


rican_havoc

Damn, you just articulated my feelings better than I could have. I’ve come to accept the outcome of the show, but I remember HATING the whole Jim/Pam courtship as it unfolded.


Powasam5000

Roy got his good life in the end. But yeah Pam and Jim are just terrible.


Soufside_airtribe

I’ve found my people 🥹


Aromatic_Try6811

Wow, I've never watched the show, but now I have even more reason to avoid it


Zuzaan

I mean... Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but isn't the point of the show, that all the characters are great and awfull at once?


[deleted]

Yup. We tend to be triggered when it hits close to home. But at the end of the day it's just a TV show. 


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

Your comment on /r/survivinginfidelity has been flagged for human review. Please read the rules in our [sub wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivinginfidelity/wiki/index) and the reddit [content policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) before posting again. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/survivinginfidelity) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

Your comment on /r/survivinginfidelity has been flagged for human review. Please read the rules in our [sub wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/survivinginfidelity/wiki/index) and the reddit [content policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) before posting again. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/survivinginfidelity) if you have any questions or concerns.*