Liz, to answer you question as to why if I talked to a man that I would consider that an emotional affair, quite simple. I was repeatedly told that the only reason a man would waste their time talking to me was to get into my pants. When I walked into that bar, my ex almost proved his point, when I was surrounded by the "sharks". But one stayed, and he also just wanted to have a normal conversation. It changed my opinion of men.(lol)
That incident stays with me, and I will always embrace it. It showed me that everything my ex (then H) said to me and about me, was not true.
I'm also not going to disagree with anyone here about things could be an emotional affair. Or could end that way. I think it's more to do with how you look at things and how you act on things.