rant: Sears Sucks

People with skinny wives don't have that particular moral dilemma.

Exactly. Every new project should be a calculated risk, pushing the specs and pushing yourself just the right amount into the danger zone.

Nobody's wife _considers_ herself skinny. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

If you're "reasonably" confident that you'll hit it on the first (or even third) try, you're not pushing yourself hard enough! (IMO) A true challenge is one where there is a good chance that you *will* fail -- and need to be extra diligent to ensure that doesn't happen!

E.g., in my current project, I have several *components* (i.e., "small pieces", not even "major subassemblies") that I can't even

For example, a speech synthesizer (How do you know you've implemented it "well enough"? If it speaks everything "correctly"? If it speaks everything in a manner that *someone* would consider normal? If it speaks things in a *recognizable* manner? etc.) and a gesture recognizer (how many gestures can it "get wrong" before it is deemed unacceptable? how long can it take to "recognize" a given gesture?).

If you can't formally define the level of performance to be expected, how can you know that you've *met* that level of performance??

Sort of like "What should a power supply *feel* like? (rough, smooth, etc.)"

The answer to that question is a simple, "Do you want to go out to dinner?" or if that's too common, "How about a vacation in the South of France?".

Certainly, but at least I don't have to commit a mortal sin when I answer the question.

Point not answered.

Did you turn them in to the CC company?

With your hatred of Sears, why on *Earth* do you do business with them. I have no love for them but don't think they're criminal, and I wouldn't do business with them.

You haven't moved the needle.

"At least it takes the focus off your thighs."

Why would anyone want you to *lie* to her? Presumably this is someone you care *something* about! "No, Honey, you look great!" Meanwhile, everyone around her is thinking: "Wow, she sure looks FAT!" (without even the courtesy of the "dress" qualifier!)

Instead, explain what you think about the "outfit" is causing the problem (if, indeed, there is a problem). I suspect she'd rather a *genuine* opinion than a pleasant delusion!

I once asked a friend who's wife was into fashion (designer, etc.) why women wear horizontal stripes as vertical stripes *tend* to be more slimming: "Horizontal stripes accentuate the bustline"!

Sheesh! It must be tough to be a woman! Can't win no matter how you try!! :-/

An experienced husband knows that despite appearances this is a request for reassurance far more than for information. If he loves her, he can provide that reassurance without actual mendacity. You never answer "yes", but if the dress is really unflattering you can say "How about the red one?"

Again, she can see herself in the mirror perfectly well. It's the mental adjustment that the husband can help with.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Exactly. I can't *count* the number of times that (and similar, "confidence challenged") questions were posed.

A *crass* answer is only hurtful. A dishonest answer is equally so: "if I can't trust *you* to give me an honest answer, who *can* I trust?"

A spouse (either gender) shouldn't go "fishing" for flattery from their partner -- and should feel confident that their partner will *volunteer* information without having to be prodded/coerced into giving it (let alone being dishonest!)

People *don't* see themselves "perfectly well". That's the problem! Consider the number of MORBIDLY OBESE people in the world... do they all have BROKEN MIRRORS??

Platitudes just tell your spouse that you're humoring him/her. Answer truthfully (though gently) and explain *what* it is that you see exacerbates/cause the "appearance problem".

This (IME) is also a win because it shows that you are *engaged* in the problem and not just trying to rattle off a simple solution (of which men are so commonly accused!).

SWMBO has no problem letting me know when my attire is "inappropriate" for a function we'll be attending (left to my druthers, I'd wear jeans and T-shirts everywhere! None of the folks who *know* me would be offended or surprised). While I might grumble at the fact that I have to *change* clothes, I am happy that she is watching out for this *for* me -- so I don't have to concern myself with such trifflings.

OTOH, I don't let her "dress me": "No, I don't WANT to wear those shoes, that tie, a sportscoat, etc." And, "I shaved last night, why do I need to shave again this morning??"

I'm sure it'll soon be illegal. A fit athlete on the cover of a magazine is now fat shaming, a whale one cake away from a diabetes and an heart attack in "empowering" "body positive"

-Lasse

You live in a very strange world of your own choosing.

Dunno. SWMBO is slim; I don't "brag" about it...

On Mon, 03 Aug 2015 15:27:33 -0500, John Fields Gave us:

You're two tents!

(actually, I've seen a pic of you which you posted years ago, and I know you're a fairly skinny guy)

Hah, When (if) my wife asks me how she looks, she can expect an honest answer. (I'm mostly indifferent about clothes... She's more likely to ask our "fashionable" daughter.) However if I think she looks particularly sexy in some outfit, I'll be sure to tell her. My reward is then that she will wear it again.

George H.

Relevant cartoon:

--sp