Comments on: An Interesting Social Experiment

By: peaches

peaches — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:37:08 +0000

speaking to the moms in real situations would probably be useless. a verbally abusive person isnt going to be swayed by a few words from a stranger. kind words to the “brides” is the best that can be done.

By: Kimks

Kimks — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:57:08 +0000

I would probably have stepped up to the mother and said Lay off- its her day, and regardless of the family dynamics you need to bite your tongue and be supportive of your daughter or leave. I am just that way.

When I was trying on my wedding gown, which was a bridesmaids dress that I ordered in Ivory because when I saw it I knew it would work with my great grandmothers antique cathedral length train that my great –great- grandmother had hand tatted the lace for and that my grandmother and mother had both worn on their wedding days. My dress was beautiful, more of a full length suit with a broad neckline and three quarter length sleeve top and a full a-line skirt, styled like a 1950′s Cocktail Suit. The train was able to attach under the collar. Another bride in the shop made a sly comment, that I” was probably too fat to fit into a real wedding Dress.” That comment stung a bit.
I was going to say something when The brides grandmother stepped up to the plate and said “I was wearing a suit similar to this when I married your Grandfather- I’d say this is a real wedding dress, after all, my suit led to 52 years and counting of marital bliss.”

Right on Grandma!

By: Twistie

Twistie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:13:54 +0000

I think it’s pathetic that Ingraham chose to attack Meghan McCain’s figure rather than address her views…and that she continues to fight the battle on that front instead of making a reasoned argument about the issues McCain raised.

Unfortunately, as McCain points out, this sort of attack on the face and figure of the messenger is a frequent response to political questions raised by women. It’s not limited to any political party, either. It’s a classic tactic when faced with an argument one is unable to dissect to instead attack the person who made the argument. When that messenger is a woman, the fastest way to gut her credibility has always been to call her ugly or somehow unfeminine.

By: mini_pixie

mini_pixie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:00:36 +0000

did you guys see this article?
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/meghan-mccain-defends-weight-against-critic/20055?nc

I think it’s disgusting that Ingraham thought she could criticize a thoughtful young person (who is only size 8!) about her weight and get away with it. I do NOT agree with Meghan’s politics, and I haven’t read her column, but I’ve seen her interviewed and it seems to me that she’s a smart enough person and she truly has the best interests of her party at heart. To go after her personally like that is just dumb. If fat people aren’t allowed to have opinions, then what’s up with Rush having so much sway? Dumb Dumb Dumb.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:47:33 +0000

My sister, a very beautiful girl, was quite slim until her early 20s…she met and married her husband who has never known her to be less than a size 20 and he coudn’t care less. But, my father, no skinny minny himself told her once “You used to be so pretty before you gained all that weight”. She called me in absolute breakdown, and could hardly talk, she was crying so hard. My sister is indeed gorgeous, but she is so much more, intelligent, a great mother and wife, my best friend (and I’m sure many more feel that way about her) and she has a great sense of humour.

She said she couldn’t talk to Dad about what he’d said. Well, I sure could! I gave him a lecture and told him to apologize. Naturally, he denied ever having said it. he did apologize though, “because Christine thinks I said something wrong” but my poor sister. Ironically, when I gained weight post-baby, he gave me a lot of money to buy new clothes.

My sister has a tall, slightly overweight 6 year old daughter but my sister and my bil are wonderful with her. I’ve heard sales clerks tell Charlotte that she’s fat and should stop eating sweets. A 6 year old girl! On the other hand, my son, at 5’10″ and 120 pounds is applauded for being so trim. It’s insane…

By: Bree

Bree — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:24:19 +0000

I can’t bring myself to watch those “What Would You Do” shows, but I’m glad those that did speak up didn’t tell the thin bride to gain weight or our own Zaftig Thespian to lose weight.

I don’t know if I personally would comment myself, but if I did, I would tell the mothers that since their fiances love them and didn’t give a hoot about their weight, neither should they. And to tell the brides that maybe the courthouse might look better after this! ;-)

By: Beth C.

Beth C. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:10:47 +0000

The only thing I can think of as to why anyone would tell the one bride to “cut her mom some slack” when she quite obviously didn’t deserve it is the simple fact that as strangers we really have NO IDEA how the family dynamics are working in that situation and while you want to make the girl who’s obviously being very hurt feel better you don’t want to accidentally step on toes or unknowingly tread into dangerous territory. Families are weird, and we all innately know that, so it’s in most of our natures to tread lightly. Add to that that most people hate confrontations and really will avoid them whenever possible and I think you have a situation similar to what was seen.

Anyway, I’m glad there were folks who comforted both brides, regardless of their physical attributes. Sometimes it’s nice to see people at least try to do the good thing even if they don’t know exactly what the best thing to do is.

By: Margo

Margo — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:00:17 +0000

This is really uplifting. I’m conflict-adverse, too, but the other day I was waiting for a ticket attendant at the station and witnessed her being verbally abused by a patron (some d-bag who hadn’t paid his fare, I think, and insisted he was going to be late for a business appointment). I couldn’t help but tell him to have a little respect & treat her like a human being – dude just swore at me and buggered off, but she was very grateful and I ended up feeling better about such a negative situation.

Now – I’m off to tell someone I love that they’re beautiful to me.

By: Twistie

Twistie — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:05:07 +0000

staci, I’m appalled that your family treated you so shabbily! Good on that consultant for supporting you. I’m sure you looked superfantastic in your dream gown.

By: Push-up LaceandCharmeuse Gown

Push-up LaceandCharmeuse Gown — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:22:55 +0000

[...] An Interesting Social Experiment(15 March 2009) What Would You Do is an interesting ABC news feature. Actors perform uncomfortable scenarios in public places to see how witnesses and passersby react… [...]