Do manipulations absolve a cheater of any blame?

SonOfMan , VT, 4/4/2023, 9:52PM(390 days ago) @Kammie

Just a quick question. Consider this situation:
- X and Y are together
- M manipulates X
- X cheats on Y with Z or leaves Y for Z because of M's manipulations
- X learns the truth about M's manipulations
- X leaves Z and goes back to Y

Is X a victim or is X a cheater? I know each case has a few differences, but these situations are always similar.

- Last example was Ridge and Taylor. Thomas manipulated him. Thomas was wrong. But does the fact that Thomas manipulated absolve Ridge? Does it justify how he left Brooke and slept with Taylor, and then how he left Taylor at the altar? Does it justify his lies to both women?
- Another example is Liam and Steffy's kiss in Italy. Bill and Deacon manipulated them. Liam thought Hope left him, so he kissed Steffy and kept it secret in his vows. He learnt Hope didn't leave him after all and stayed with her. Do Bill and Deacon's manipulations absolve Liam and Steffy?
- Another example is Hope and Wyatt's lovemaking in Monte-Carlo. Quinn manipulated them. Hope thought her fiancee wasn't coming, so she slept with Wyatt and married him. She learnt Liam was there and later she left Wyatt. Do Quinn's manipulations absolve Hope and Wyatt?

Is this all the manipulator's fault? Or do the cheaters deserve punishment too?

1) Nope.... It does not matter what Thomas did in this case. Sleazy Ridge pretty much cheated on Brooke with Taylor the moment she flew in on her broomstick. He flaunted his floozy in front of his family as well as Brooke's family, while Brooke sat home trying to be supportive of her husbands needs to be with his evil spawns. Then instead of just breaking off things with his wife, the jerk ran off with his floozy and committed adultery with her. (Nothing absolves Ridge of his cheating with either Shauna or Katie before Taylor or Taylor this time around.)

2) It is messy, but I can understand things from Liam's point of view. The thing is Steffy knew what Bill was up to something, so NO it does not absolve Steffy. Liam was stupid to not have faith in Hope.

3) Hope told Liam to meet her at a certain time and if he wasn't there she would consider Liam not wanting to marry her and she would consider them over. Liam never told Hope that he would be there. He did not bother to call her. Any misunderstanding is on Liam. Hope did wait for him to show up, but of course Wyatt was talking her into going with him and not waiting any longer. I guess Hope was supposed to sit there for hours and hours, days and days, months and months, years and decades for Liam to show up before some are satisfied. Remember too, that Hope left Wyatt because he would not protect her from his evil and crazy mother and ended up losing their baby. She did not leave Wyatt for Liam. Liam tried to convince her to, but she did not.

I agree for 1)

For 2) Liam should have called Hope when he saw the breakup note. He sure shouldn't have kissed and professed his love to Steffy. Bill was wrong but it doesn't absolve Liam. At the very least he should have told Hope the truth before the ceremony. The fact that he lied for weeks made things worse. I agree about Steffy, she was no better than Bill at the time. Even when Liam came back to her months later she still didn't tell him she had doubts about Bill's involvment.

For 3) Hope should have contacted Liam. No need to wait for hours. She could have gone back to LA and married Liam in LA. He proposed to her and she said YES, she should have looked for him and broken up with him first if she wanted to move on with Wyatt. I rewatched episode 6883 on Youtube. Hope-Liam never said they would consider it's over if he doesn't come. They agree to get married if he comes and that's it. They never make any additional comments about "what if I don't come". They kiss and Hope walk out. Hope cheated on Liam that day, because they were still together when she slept with Wyatt. Quinn's scheme doesn't absolve her.

I only listed 3 examples here. I know Brooke and Ridge and Hope and Liam have been manipulated countless times but they are still stupid and unreliable people. They can't blame all their mistakes on the manipulators.

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