Was that in any way relevant to this question? How size phobic and rude.

I agree--grudgingly. I was trying to read it from as many different angles as I could, hoping that maybe Prudie wasn't showing some nasty bias, and, to her credit, she was stating, accurately, that weight is the cause de jour for one spouse to bitch at another about appearance. But, saying "packing on weight like a mule deer" certainly does seem to betray a bias.

The mule deer's probably not too chuffed either.

Tarquin Machismo:

The mule deer's probably not too chuffed either.

Comment of the Day!

I had to create an account just to say that I can't believe the use of the term "bias" and the idea that Prudie is somehow prejudiced against fat people. Come on, we have all seen people who have packed on weight like a mule deer, and it is not attractive! No matter how politically correct we want to be, which I think is getting pretty out of hand, someone packing on the pounds is most likely not going to be improving their appearance by doing so.

This whole "It's ok to be fat--you're still beautiful!" idea that has become rampant these days is ridiculous.

While I wouldn't say 'bias' Prudie did leave me spinning about for a second. I mean, guy writes in about his wife nagging him about his hair color and Prudie jumps to the conclusion that this is happening because the LW is fat. Don't know about anyone else but I assume that if the wife is bothered by her husband's weight she would nag him about his weight, not his hair color. I'm still kind of wondering what the LW's hair color has to do with his weight.

MistPanther:

While I wouldn't say 'bias' Prudie did leave me spinning about for a second. I mean, guy writes in about his wife nagging him about his hair color and Prudie jumps to the conclusion that this is happening because the LW is fat. Don't know about anyone else but I assume that if the wife is bothered by her husband's weight she would nag him about his weight, not his hair color. I'm still kind of wondering what the LW's hair color has to do with his weight.

Prudie said "Most often its because the spouse has put on poundage...". I think she was commenting on the unusualness of the wife's complaint by comparing it with the more common one.

MasonDog:

I had to create an account just to say that I can't believe the use of the term "bias" and the idea that Prudie is somehow prejudiced against fat people. Come on, we have all seen people who have packed on weight like a mule deer, and it is not attractive! No matter how politically correct we want to be, which I think is getting pretty out of hand, someone packing on the pounds is most likely not going to be improving their appearance by doing so.

This whole "It's ok to be fat--you're still beautiful!" idea that has become rampant these days is ridiculous.

...but you bring up some good points. On the one hand, I can see how a person can get stuck with a body type that puts on weight easily. I have the opposite problem, I have to struggle to gain weight. Plus studies have shown that body type is a factor with obesity. However, I don't believe body type is an adequate excuse for allowing one's health and appearance to slide.

Maybe Prudie was trying to illustrate an example of extreme change that might be worthy of criticism (and she did a pretty good job, I think. I've never seen a mule deer but I get the idea.) In contrast with this kind of decline in appearance, the wife's criticism over a few gray hairs is ridiculous, just as complaining about a few extra pounds would be.

Whenever I've seen them they look pretty fit. Ok, so their coats are a little scruffy most of the time, but untidy is not fat.

How about:

Packing on the pounds like a tourist at a buffet table?

Mule deer:

<link>

Reasonably attractive, fit-looking creatures!

Prudie was saying "packed on extra weight equal to a mule deer", right? That is "packed on an extra 200 pounds".

Mule deer are attractive but are not the lightweights of the deer family.

Oh, I think she was being literal there. She's probably never even seen a photo. Not one for subtlety is our Prudie.

How about "packing it on like a pregnant hippo"?

Are we worried that the Mule Deer might be offended? I guess we might injure their self esteem and they could develop an eating disorder.

Nothing more pathetic then watching a Mule Deer binge and purge. Sorry, I don't have a link depicting that, but trust me, it is not a pretty picture.

:0)

"No play, for Mister Gray"

Cute overload had some video of moose playing in the sprinkler. Not at all related but probably better than watching Mule Deer purge.