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Finding Questions, Not Answers, in a Poll with Tipsy Husbands
Okay, so it was just two husbands involved in this little experiment, and one of them happened to be mine. There may have been a few glasses of white wine and some cocktails in the mix, but who’s counting? Regardless of the “scientific” control, this highly credible—if entirely anecdotal—research is worth sharing and will hopefully land in a peer-reviewed online journal soon. You might even be reading it right now!
The Questions
The husbands were asked three basic yes or no questions:
- Do you think it was wrong for a parent to spank their child as a form of discipline?
- Should the NFL have acted more decisively regarding the incident involving a player hitting his partner?
- Was it inappropriate for hackers to leak private photos of celebrities like Emma Stone and Margot Robbie?
After a couple of drinks, the responses were a resounding 1) Yes, 2) Yes, and 3) Yes.
The wives, who were the ones doing the questioning, felt pretty good about the answers their husbands gave. But when they probed deeper, things got a bit messy. When asked whether their strong opinions would affect their NFL viewing habits or their participation in fantasy football leagues, the husbands shouted an enthusiastic—and quite loud for a cozy restaurant—“Absolutely not!”
Unexpected Responses
The researchers were taken aback by the responses regarding the photo hacking scandal. Every participant agreed that the women whose pictures were leaked were violated, which was heartening. Yet, when initially asked if they had viewed the photos, only half said, “Yes.” The other half confidently declared, “No,” only to backtrack once pressed, claiming, “I tried but they were already taken down. So, no, I didn’t see them.”
At one point, a researcher challenged that excuse, saying that just clicking on the link was tantamount to condoning the act—probably in a tone a bit too loud for comfort. One husband chuckled and waved it off. Luckily, that husband wasn’t wed to the researcher, which likely helped ease the tension at home. (The other husband, however, responded with, “Dude, you’re the one getting all the flak, but I’m the one who saw the pics!”—which definitely stirred up some drama in my… I mean, the second husband’s… household.)
What Do We Make of These Results?
So what do we make of these results? The numbers suggest that even “good” guys can turn a blind eye to questionable behavior, especially when their fantasy football standings are at stake. But do these findings imply a troubling moral compass? If so, how does that clash with the solid values they supposedly hold, values that were thoroughly evaluated before they settled down and started families? How does one maintain a loving marriage with a generally respectful partner who would never dream of harming another person but seems willing to overlook others’ misdeeds?
Of course, there are other factors at play, like the current performance of the New England Patriots or opinions on the dance scenes in Silver Linings Playbook. Still, researchers are hopeful that with a bit of guidance—like relentless Sunday afternoon discussions, pointed questions such as, “What if that were your daughter—not that it should even matter!”—and gentle reminders of their disappointment, the husbands might learn to express a more appropriate level of outrage and empathy. Or maybe they won’t. More research is definitely needed.
Further Reading
If you’re interested in more insightful content, check out our post on home insemination kits. You can also find great resources on pregnancy and fertility preservation at the Cleveland Clinic.
In summary, while husbands may express strong opinions on moral issues, their actual behaviors can reveal a different story, particularly when their interests are at stake.