There are many risky elements that will always be associated when dating your friends ex. Whether it’s the right thing to do or not, someone is going to get hurt, and tough decisions will need to be made.

Romance and lust are extremely hard to disperse if two peoples desire to be together are strong and unrelenting. And regardless of who stands in the way, nothing will stop the inevitable connection taking place.

There will always be debate as to whether this is considered an act of betrayal, or simply part and parcel of two people moving on. Is dating your friends ex fair play, because let’s face it, if someone has broken up with their ex, nobody has the right to claim ownership or exclusivity over that person – they are now single, right!

But…is getting together with your friends ex rubbing salt into the wounds, is such a situation as cut and dry as ‘now that person is single, it’s game on!’ When is the timing appropriate for you to go where what was once considered strictly off limits?

Perhaps the answer all lies in the timing of when your friend actually broke up with his/her ex. Allowing some time for wounds to heal would be a compromise that could see you get the girl (or guy) and still retain your friendship. Good friends are hard to come by, so consider this very carefully before you broach this tricky terrain.

Dating your friends ex has the potential to come between other people who are not directly involved, rather indirectly. The fall out from such a controversial arrangement can have an enormous impact on those closely associated with the former couple.

Do new connections between the ex and your friend have an expiry date? Is your previous association always going to hinder the progress of this new love affair? There are many things to consider other than lust.

Is it acceptable conduct to ask your friends ex out on a date without discussing this with your friend? Is it anyone else’s business but yours? Out of respect of your friendship, divulging such information will see your good character upheld down the track if things go bad.

And by being forthcoming about your intentions, you will not be labeled as sneaky by your mutual friends. It’s important to keep your good name in tact which can easily be done by making the hard decisions to be open and honest. But don’t make the moves on your mates ex straight away, wait a few months, for everybody’s sake.

Be cautious if you become involved in a 3 way love tussle, listen to that little voice in your head before you act in a way that doesn’t try to minimize the impending damage.

Matt Fuller provides article services for TodaysDating. The website offers free online dating sites including local free internet dating services USA . Register, then type in your zipcode to find your match.