From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: Just a Fat Housewife

27 September 2006

Olymom – at 11:43

Yesterday there was a posting inquiring if another poster was “just a fat housewife” or was someone with some knowledge. I think the most offensive aspect of the posting is the word “just” as if one is one thing and absolutely nothing more. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor had a few years as a housewife — so, I suspect, did Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi. (when men are not being paid salary for their efforts it’s called “a sabbatical” ).

This particular housewife brings a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master’s in Wildlife Science to the table as well as (most importantly!) an interest in H5N1. Let’s not have any more “just” comments, please. Saying Osterholm and Webster are “just scientists” invites derision instead of careful curiosity about what they may have learned in their efforts.

A Domestic Goddess here and damn proud of it!

anonymous – at 11:48

Olymom, the remark was not directed at you and I think you are taking this way too personally. The poster herself even admitted to being “a fat housewife.” Does this really need its own thread.

I would suggest it doesn’t. Let’s talk about bird flu and toughen up a bit around here.

anonymous – at 12:41

That’s okay Olymom. I understand your indignation. Look at it this way, the fat housewives of the world will live a little longer when TSHTF. Them skinny people will be screwed a little bit faster, now won’t they.

Your real point is well taken. Just because you are a housewife (fat or not) doesn’t mean you have nothing to bring to the table. In your case there is quite a lot.

The part that cracked me up is who he/she addressed that comment to in the first place! That was good for a laugh anyway.

Carrey in VA - Fat HouseWife Extraordinaire – at 12:53

I beleive the original poster of the “justa fat housewife” is the same as the “are most preppers female” anon who caused so much trouble there.

Don’t let them get you all riled up.

pogge – at 13:00

I beleive the original poster of the “justa fat housewife” is the same as the “are most preppers female” anon…

Nope.

Blue – at 13:12
 Well you’re not just any old fat house-wife now, are you?

 Do you have an opinion on respiratior’s, and their ability to keep out a virus?
EnoughAlreadyat 13:36

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve given up a career opportunity to do the “fat housewife” job. (The first time I was 22 y.o., with 2 small babies. I was offered college paid for, through masters degree, to train to be a “buyer” for BX’s [military/USAF] across the US.) The toughest job, the most challenging job, and the job with the biggest learning curve… and least respect… has been this housewife job. Screw ‘em. If they cock that condensending stuff, it’s their stupidity and loss. And… I have a college education, on the masters level… still a housewife.

Blue – at 13:43
 Life isn’t just about getting a big house with a big car and a professional career.

 If you’re happy, you’re happy.(Right!)

 It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, ‘cos they’re all just idiots anyway.

 !RESPECT
Medical Maven – at 14:01

Being fat sets you up for metabolic syndrome-high blood pressure, insulin resistance, generalized body inflammation, and the increased likelihood of getting cancer or heart disease, (or both) Those are the only damning aspects of being “Just a Fat Housewife”. If your ideas pass muster, I don’t care if you are a midget from Mars. But eventually that Fat will damage your Heart Health which will impair your Brain Health. And at that point only your family and friends will care what you say.

anonymous – at 14:01

Oi vay with this thread already.

Here’s the post that got Olymom so riled up. Please NOTE that the fat housewife comment below came from Snowhound1 who is a WOMAN who is a HOUSEWIFE. It was not directed at Olymom.

Snowhound1 – at 23:59

Monotreme…I hate to ask. I have been a wikian for what seems like a lifetime now, and somehow, when “Monotreme” posts something, I always read it. Why? Is there something about “Monotreme” that I should be made more aware of? Are you just a fat housewife somewhere, bored with your situation, and posting on the wiki to substantiate a new life that you have made for yourself? I doubt that is true, but for many, maybe they need to “know” who “monotreme” is, might it not be beneficial for the whole?

Snowhound1 – at 00:41, further clarified her position:

Olymon, and anonymous..I was using the reference simply as an a example of what me may all be…behind our pseudonyms. I make no derogatory comments to the individual. I just remember an e-mail I received from someone years ago that said something along the lines of, do you really have a good visual of who sent you that e-mail?… I guess my point was that I have come to the “feeling”, understanding, or whatever you may call it, that Monotreme, is one, if not the most respected, “pseudonyms” on Fluwiki. His/her profile is somewhat limiting into what we can infer about this individual. I personally “love” Monotreme…I was just questioning, why? Is it just a juvenille crush, or is there something beyond the crush? I really couldn’t care less what Monotreme weighs in a weight class. :)

There’s even a smiley face there. Can we let this go now?

MAinVAat 14:08

Didn’t know when I woke up this morning that I would find myself back in the 1950′s! While I have a doctorate, it doesn’t happen to be in science, AND, not only THAT — I was one of the infamous group, small though it is, who sees a possbile timing connection between major solar activity and flu epidemics, which obviously puts me into an even lower class than “fat housewife.” If you can’t tell, I am enraged … and not only for myself but for all the other women on this board who contribute so much. Please do not use that classic male appeasement to get a thicker skin, either. Another “oldie.”

I’m sure Melanie will be so pleased!

anonymous – at 14:13

MAinVA – at 14:08

Please do not use that classic male appeasement to get a thicker skin, either. Another “oldie.”

It is not a classic “male appeasement” and I think Melanie is intelligent enough to see that the above posting by HOUSEWIFE Snowhound1 and the reaction by Olymom was a combination of using a poor example on Snowhound1′s part and an overreaction on Olymom’s part.

It is that and nothing more.

2beans – at 15:31

There, there now.

 (ohoh!)
moeb – at 15:39

scribbles furiously noting who is who and which dame (woman.. wife master of the earth…etc) said what ;-)

anonymous – at 16:03

moeb – at 15:39

How do you say fat housewife down in Mexico? Gordita? : ) LOL.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s the size of the hearts and brains that matter here - Snowhound1 and Olymom both have big ones and they are excellent contibutors both to the wiki.

I hope that comes off sounding right. : )

Scaredy Cat – at 16:11

“Just a fat housewife,” what a dismissive description! As bad as “little old lady,” a condescending phrase I’ve grown to resent as I approach the evolution into one myself.

heddiecalifornia – at 16:13

Actually, I think that I was the first to ‘overreact’ to Snowhounds turn of the phrase “fat housewife .. bored” and sent a badly written reply. She later apologized, didn’t mean to be hurtful, and I would like to apologize from my somewhat extreme response.

I read the response after a rather stressful day of resume revision and job researching, and had my height to weight ratio and lack of current job experience, directly and painfully highlighted in a job interview coaching experience; at the time I was feeling extremely devalued. It didn’t help that the orientation of the presentation was more toward the fellows in the group.

Granted, I freely chose to be available to help for a number of family crisis problems, and it was my choice to deal with stress by gaining weight (putting off exercise and eating the most readily available food) but I am doing something about it now. But actually, weight is a function of genes, social situation, and status that cannot be completely overcome by just the efforts of any one individual. Even Oprah has hired a dietician and personal trainer to help her!

Anyhow, obesity is greatly in the news now, it still seems to be ok to make statements about fat people that would not be allowed to be made about other traits like skin color, culture or national origin, and religion.

When I was working my way through a private college over 30 years ago, on the ‘work-study’ program, I was advised that since the college was having a bit of a finance problem, it had been decided that the portion of my assistance package that was scholarship was going to be replaced with a low cost loan opportunity, as they felt that the money available should be going towards male students, as ‘they will be supporting families’ one day. Well, I did complete, but ended up with a substantial negative dowery it took me 10 years to pay off.

Likewise, recent attitudes about the value and potential and contributions of women seem to be making a swing back to the 1950′s, before we’ve even had a chance to make up the 79% pay gap problem. Note that just yesterday, the Taliban shot and killed an Afghani woman who has been working with the UN on women’s issues of employment, education, and health.

Here in the U.S. Colleges are afraid that the girl/boy ratio is becoming unbalanced, and they want to spend more to make the colleges more attractive to the guys; to many girls, it seems, lowers the prestige of the schools. Likewise, with the cost of education spiraling upwards, many families are choosing not to educate some of the kids --- guess which ones?

If we go back to the theory that ‘girls are “only” going to be “housewives”’ during this next period of economic shortage, uncertainty and unrest, we could well find ourselves uninvested in the very assets we desperately need to survive.

Viva la’ difference. It will take all kinds to make the world go round. And if those who process food more efficiently eat less, there’s more to go around.

Dr Dave – at 16:14

I had the rare, good fortune to spend two years as the primary care-giver (househusband) for our two children, while my wife brought home the bacon. What an amazingly challenging and rewarding time that was. Quite an education, too, I should add. I’ll bet I did more growing up than my kids did during those two years.

Given the high challenge of planning for a pandemic and physically acquiring and storing all those emergency supplies while trying to keep a household together, it would seem to be highly beneficial if there were someone in the home who did not have to report to work elsewhere. Being a homemaker is a full-time job with no days off. Any homemaker who is also doing their part to prep their family for AI is working overtime.

Blue – at 16:25

“Oi vay” : please exlain?

moeb – at 16:33

actually large curvy women are quite popular down here. ah. such women are rated very good

Carrey in VA - Fat HouseWife Extraordinaire – at 16:37

Aren’t we taking this a bit too far? It was just one comment on one thread. As a “fat housewife” with no college experience, and no list of degrees after my name, I’m asking that this thread be closed cause it’s just plain silly.

Visitor – at 16:55

I’m fat with a master’s degree, PHD and a six figure salary and have never been a housewife. I know one thing, fat or not, I couldn’t do a housewife job for all the tea in China. Should a pandemic strike, I would bet that it is the housewives who will keep the family going and will find more strength and resources than the rest of us. Given a choice between some of the ‘high flyers’ that I work with, I know who I would rather have on my side.

Bluebonnet – at 16:56

Reason to smile: Every 7 minutes of every day, someonein an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.

One of life’s mysteries is how a 2 pound box of candy can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn’t all that communicative but I heard from it the other day after I said, “Body, how’d you like to go to the six o’clock class in vigorous toning?” Clear as a bell my body said, “Listen witch… do it and die.”

NS1 – at 17:17

Visitor – at 16:55

I’m fat with a master’s degree, PHD and a six figure salary and have never been a housewife. I know one thing, fat or not, I couldn’t do a housewife job for all the tea in China. Should a pandemic strike, I would bet that it is the housewives who will keep the family going and will find more strength and resources than the rest of us. Given a choice between some of the ‘high flyers’ that I work with, I know who I would rather have on my side.

You’ve made an extremely valuable assessment that many here may have missed . . . the strong connection between the daily work of managing a family (the practice, if you will) and the ability to secure a family’s future in times of difficulty (the game).

My coaches always said, “You play like you practice!”, loudly and repeatedly, when we failed to perform a required drill at full speed with full heart. Coaches aren’t always philosopher/poets, but they are frequently warrior/taskmasters and the master logisticians of the world. So don’t giggle just yet, please.

In PF51, parents in many families will be thrust into the role of the starting lead player in a game for which they have never even practiced. In fact, they don’t even know the general rules of the game because they’ve abdicated responsibility to the daycare provider, the school or the kind grandmother. I use the word, game, euphemistically because we all understand the deadly seriousness of this potential pathogen.

I’ll make a firm prediction, the first that I’ve cared to make on this board in many hundreds of posts.

The families that have a consistent parent at home who knows the children and is supported by the spouse will have attack rates and a CFRs that are at a minimum 25% lower than families that have two parents who work outside the home and spend less than 2 hours per day of face-to-face time with their children. Regardless of economic strength.

In the middle to higher economic groups with a parent at home full-time, I expect the reduction of attack rate and CFR to approach 40%. Resources and will power allow a more powerful solution.

Start calculating and realise that the engineering design and the brute power required to put a pillar in place when a building is falling is more than most projects can bring to bear.

Those families that have the pillar of a full-time parent in place now will be in a much more admirable position if PF51 arrives.

moeb – at 17:26

it’s wise not to mess with the cat lobby….

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 17:30

NS1 – at 17:17 that’s a very good observation & worthy of the great quotes thread! I’m putting your comments there now!

Medical Maven – at 17:36

NS1-You are on the mark with your predictions. Having an orchard of many trees, I always discover after a severe storm which trees are inherently weak and poorly anchored even though superficially they appear as strong, uniform and well-rooted as the others.

One orchardman’s observation-You don’t know a tree until you trim it. And you won’t know your life until you lose a few limbs.

This “tree” knows too much already. I fear knowing more.

NoFluingAroundat 17:36

Here Here, I’ll drink to that!! (BB”S RWFK) Bluebonnet

They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn’t all that communicative but I heard from it the other day after I said, “Body, how’d you like to go to the six o’clock class in vigorous toning?” Clear as a bell my body said, “Listen witch… do it and die.”

NS1 – at 18:06

moeb – at 17:26

it’s wise not to mess with the cat lobby….

You persist?

I’ve enjoyed your posts in the past and almost wonder if you are the same moeb?

NS1 – at 18:08

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 17:30

You are very kind.

My depth of concern on this topic of societal stability has placed a very different set of focusing lenses before my eyes.

Green Mom – at 18:09

Thank you NS1- I’m glad to have a comforting thought here during a time when we are all stressed by the bad bird flu news.

I admit I was a taken aback and irratated by the “fat housewife” comment. Really didn’t expect to find it here, though, as I said, we are all under stress and sometimes unfortunate comments slip out. (Free advice, think twice)

Ive heard it PLENTY of times. I have degrees in the humanities (supposivly irrelevant to the “real world”) and masters work in costume design (frivolous) I have naturally light(ok, fish-belly white) skin and hair (dumb blonde) and hail from Appalachia(Backward and ignorant) I have spent a great deal of time and energy on enviromental issues, working for/with Greenpeace/Sierra Club/NAture Conservancy(nature freak) I’m vegetarian(wierdo) and spend a lot of time on Flu wiki (Nut Job).

But I figure it like this. I and many other housewives have learned/are learning how to nurse flu patients-how to mix up oral rehydration solutions, how to sanitise things properly. Not only are we storing TONS of food away, we are doing it properly,PLUS making sure it’s nutricious AND delicious. Learnng how to purify water/ cook without electricity/ wash without running water and a whole host of other skills. MAny of us are either currently homeschooling our children or plan to do so WTSHTF. NOT ONLY THAT-but how many of us are looking around to our communities, trying to educate/inform our neighbors/ planning the care of children/elderly/less fortunante? NOT ONLY THAT- but we spend our free(?) time boning up on pig pathologies and cytokinic dysregulation (I’m not sure I can even pronounce that, but I sure know what it is!)

 I’m pretty damn proud to be a member of such a group! 
NS1 – at 18:17

Medical Maven – at 17:36

NS1-You are on the mark with your predictions. Having an orchard of many trees, I always discover after a severe storm which trees are inherently weak and poorly anchored even though superficially they appear as strong, uniform and well-rooted as the others.

If only families and people were as straightforward as your trees?

I’ve discovered that we have trained ourselves so well to only look upon the exterior, that we’ve lost many of the tools for examining the interior, even when we can uncover it.

In my community, I’ve focused my efforts and selected a small group of committed, large families and begun building their health in preparation for any upcoming worry.

Olymom – at 18:18

Ok, let’s quit. What’s interesting is “fat” (I’m not fat by American standards but by Filapina or Thai standards, I’m the Jolly Green Giant) — what’s aggravating & got me going was the “just” — it’s demeaning.

No, I don’t need my feathers soothed and no, none of this has anything to do with BF (not all threads do, but this one lacks the charm of the mastiff buying).

I finished “Monster at the door” — an informative history of H5N1 (a bit dramatic in word choice in places — we shall “cower” in our houses) — It does sound like the hous frau with the well stocked pantry will be best prepared (she says smugly and flounces off to Indonesia XIII or whatever we’re up to today).

moeb – at 18:26

speaking of persisting.. this thread is dorkier than anything I ever thought up…

sorry if I’ve blown on the embers.. it’s my nature

MODS please close this thread! – at 18:28

Olymom – at 18:18 “Ok, let’s quit.”

Agreed! This is so not about bird flu. Will some mod please put this thread out of its misery?

moeb – at 18:41

although I thought my comments were pretty mild mannered.. I could care less about the weight of anyone here…. I do like brainy witty types though. I would say that while some are a bit “touchy” about various things, they have valid points.

WE do know that this whole thread was a mistake… written text of this nature often carries that problem with it. We all tend to misconstrue things that we wouldn’t if we were talking person to person.

thank you to those people fat or skinny or in between people who have enlivened my thought process :-)

I imagine I will continue to tread where many dare not

anonymous – at 18:44

Good for you Moeb. I agree.

seacoast – at 18:45

Green Mom 18:09 I am jealous. I have a head full of”theory” and have no idea if any of this is going to work. I made a dinner using some of my supplies and it was AWFUL! as a matter of fact, it is still in the fridge, hard to throw out something that was sort of expensive to make and looks OK but is God Awful to taste.

I don’t think any of my family is going to have to worry about coming out of this fat, so far the stuff stinks!

pogge – at 18:45

I imagine I will continue to tread where many dare not

If you do, you’ll have to continue in a different thread. ;-)

The consensus seems to be that this one has run its course so I’m closing it.

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