When Does Digital Flirtation Become Betrayal?
Dating in 2025? It's complicated. Swipe culture, social media gray areas, and the rise of micro-cheating have turned modern romance into a maze. But in the latest episode of The Meat Market podcast, things get real—and refreshingly simple—with guest James, a born-and-raised cowboy from Cave Creek.
James brings the charm of the old school with a dose of straight-up honesty. A true country boy with a background in team roping, he’s quick to call out the “drugstore cowboys” popping up post-Yellowstone fame—the folks wearing the boots but not living the life. “I’m gonna buy me a hat because I got to look pretty cool,” he jokes, mimicking the trend-chasers. His take? Real cowboys don’t just wear the lifestyle—they live it.
And when it comes to dating, James sticks to his roots. Forget DMs—his go-to move is writing his number on a napkin. Yep, an actual pen-and-paper gesture. It’s personal, thoughtful, and, in a sea of phone-swapping, seriously memorable. “It shows effort,” the hosts agree—and in today’s world, that’s rare.
But the episode doesn’t stay lighthearted for long. Enter the topic of micro-cheating—those subtle behaviors that don’t technically cross the line but still leave partners questioning your loyalty. Think: hiding messages, constantly texting an ex, or acting single online. James opens up about a past relationship that ended because of these blurred boundaries—specifically, a girlfriend who couldn’t put her phone down. “Something wasn’t right,” he says. It wasn’t the scrolling—it was what she was scrolling for.
The conversation gets even more real when James shares a situation with a close female friend who’s in a relationship... but maybe not fully in it. They slow dance. They talk about everything. And when asked why she stays with her current partner, her answer is always, “I don’t know.” It's not physical cheating, but it’s clearly emotional entanglement—and that’s the messy gray area that so many couples wrestle with today.
One listener even wrote in to ask, “Is watching porn considered cheating?” The group agrees—it depends. Every couple draws their own lines. But when porn replaces intimacy, or becomes something you hide, it’s time for a real conversation.
What makes James so interesting is the mix of old-fashioned and open-minded. He likes women who care for themselves but keep it natural. His ideal first date? Somewhere low-key, where you can actually talk. “Cool, quiet, nothing too out there,” he says.
This episode of The Meat Market is a reminder that dating might be messy—but talking about it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re ghosting, flirting, or wondering if your partner’s TikTok habits are a red flag, James brings cowboy clarity to a world full of blurred lines.
