The Worst of Two Bad Choices

Dear Bitter Single Guy: I have been dating my girlfriend for about a year. I think things are good between us. But although I've never cheated on her, I'm finding it harder and harder to resist when a beautiful girl comes on to me. So I limit the places where that might happen: no bars, clubs, etc. The thought of a new girl excites me. Should I call it quits and move on, or keep resisting till I fail? I don't want to hurt her. – My Wandering Eyes

Dear MWE: The Bitter Single Guy enjoys when his readers come to a decision on their own, then just look to the BSG for validation or scolding.  Before he scolds however (you saw it coming, you know it), let’s review your actual question, shall we MWE?

You ask two questions and make one conditional statement.  This is just like high school math, so follow along: the condition is that you don’t want to hurt her. Unlikely at this point, but let’s see what we have to work with. The BSG notices that the two options you’re entertaining are ‘call it quits’ and ‘keep resisting until you fail’.  Interesting that there is no option for trying to do right by your girlfriend; what’s that about MWE? 

You knew this answer when you wrote to the BSG…isolating yourself from other humans in order to avoid temptation is pretty ineffective as a long-term solution.  You need to, as gently as possible, dump your sweet girlfriend so you’re only a minor schmuck.  Waiting until you get caught philandering will qualify you as a major schmuck and that’s tough to recover from.