Skepticism

The Elderly, Brides, and Rabies.

An article from Dr. Abigail Zuger on the difficulties in connecting the viewpoints of scientists and the general public is in the New York Times, and yes, you should read it.

Dr. Zuger relates a story about trying to convince her elderly mother to exercise more — her mother balks and points to a friend who exercised constantly and still ended up wasting away in a nursing home. I’d like to think that Skepchick will help bridge that communication gap by presenting science-y info in an interesting and accessible way. Sometimes with nipples involved.

****

So a mere . . . day after I slammed another blogger for writing that women cause divorces by being overly focused on weddings, I see that a large group of women in my very own town gathered together this weekend to prove her right. Yep, it was the annual Filene’s Basement Bridal Event, where hundreds of frothing women storm the discount store to grab a designer dress on the cheap using any means necessary to triumph over the weaker players, a veritable Darwinian struggle that only the toughest, cleverest, most blushing bride will win. People like this (from the Boston Globe):
Freaks.

and this:
More freaks.

I’m trying to put myself in their pointy-toed dyed shoes to understand why women would line up in Downtown Crossing at 4 am just to pay $799 for a dress they’re only going to wear once (they hope). Obviously I don’t really get it, otherwise I wouldn’t have given the above photos the alternate text, “Freaks.” But to be fair, these women might still be sane, rational people. Sane, rational people who have grown up on the idea that to achieve fullfillment, they need to have one day during which the world treats them as princesses, complete with ballgowns and sparkles and lace and fancy cakes. And if they have to fight like rabid mange-ridden dingos to get there, so be it.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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5 Comments

  1. ". . . But to be fair, these women might still be sane, rational people. Sane, rational people who have grown up on the idea that to achieve fullfillment, they need to have one day during which the world treats them as princesses, complete with ballgowns and sparkles and lace and fancy cakes. . . ."

    I can almost understand these women, as no one cares for us men who need to have one day during which the world treats us as princesses. I don't even need the sparkles and lace and fancy cakes, although a ballgown would be nice.

  2. Yeah, I don't get the whole "spend thousands on a dress you'll wear once" thing either. But you already knew that :)

    I *do* understand why the giant weddings make people break up. Our small one is stressing me out big time. It is a pretty good test of how well a couple can get along, though.

  3. My wife and I had a small wedding. We planned the whole thing. I made a 1,000 pecan sandies, we made the rehersal dinner, we spent $99 on the flowers. She bought a $200 dress from Marshal Fields. The brides maids dresses were a white blouse (they supplyed their own) and a cranberry colored skirt. (something they could actually wear to something else – neither us or her friends were wealthy) We found a deal on cakes. We gave our brother in law our camera and 8 rolls of film and said go forth and take pictures. (he is a rocket scientest)

    We had a blast.

    Here it is 25 years later and we are still married to one another.

    My rule for wedding is that the fun at a wedding is inversly proportional to the square of the guest list.

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