*Updated - My wife's sister just told me that I am less intelligent than her husband.

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What should I do...

  • Tell her he's obviously not as intelligent as me because I wouldn't have married a bitch like her.

  • Ignore it like her family does.

  • Try and talk to her constructively and see where the hostility is coming from.

  • Just avoid her whenever possible.


Results are only viewable after voting.

apac

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2003
6,212
0
71
Tell her your dad could beat up her dad. That'll teach her.


Posted from AnandTech Forums Reader for Android
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Since you weren't quick witted enough to have a comeback at the time, I would just pull her aside during the vacation and tell her if she ever acts like a wise and beautiful woman again, that you'll embarrass her in front of the whole family. Then tell her you don't want her near your son b/c you don't want him near stupid people.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,763
6,333
126
Just let it go dude. No good can come from you bringing this back up.

Your Wife is the better looking of the 2. I suspect the Sister has always been trying to compete with your Wife, so now she's attempting to do it through who has the better Husband and why.
 

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
81
Plenty of people smarter than you I assure you, why does it matter to you if she thinks her husband is smarter than you? I mean really of all the things in the world to let bother you, you let what your wife's sister thinks about your intelligence vs her husbands? So what, let her think what she wants and go on. He well may be smarter than you and he may not, does it really matter?

Why are people so easy to offend now days, good god people grow some thicker skin and stop caring so much what other think.
 

nCred

Golden Member
Oct 13, 2003
1,109
114
106
Tell her he's obviously not as intelligent as me because I wouldn't have married a bitch like her.
Let it go Costanza.
 
Last edited:

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,986
3,340
146
If it bothers you it's really your problem not hers. Maybe you feel that you should have gone back to school and gotten more education?

This comment obviously comes out of jelousy, so you are the real winner. The fact that it made you feel bad means something though.
 
Last edited:
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
91
PhD in marketting. Ya, guy is a fricking genious.

It doesn't matter if she is having trouble getting knocked up. her statemnt had nothing to do with it. Why not just say that he must be smart. Probably got castrated so he can divorce her without having kids in the way.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,120
776
126
Tell her: If he's so smart, how come he can't knock your ugly ass up?"
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
After seeing the update. I pretty much called it. She resents her man's beta status. Women instinctively judge a man by their masculinity and ability to impregnate them, they also look at things that provide shelter in our current socioeconomic climate such as job stability and salary, but their instinct draws them towards powerful masculine men. Yes the man with the phd has a nice beard, but her inability to get pregnant has left her filled with resentment towards her choice of mate, and she feels the need to lash out because she is a hateful wise and beautiful woman.
I doubt it's the man's fault. Reproduction is 99% about the woman, so it's probably the SIL's fault. She could be a porn star with no condoms and no birth control and she would still not get pregnant if any part of her is not working.

Now there's a way to compare her against her sister. Maybe even throw out a hint that your kid was an accident. Your wife is so fertile that even birth control couldn't stop her highly effective reproductive system.
Use those exact words. It sounds smarter ;)
 

ChopperDave

Senior member
May 4, 2012
215
0
0
It would be really low to go after her inability to have kids. That's one of those things you think but don't say.

The idea is to remain above her while you put her in her place not come off like the only one in the room capable of being a bigger asshole than she is.
 

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
It would be really low to go after her inability to have kids. That's one of those things you think but don't say.

The idea is to remain above her while you put her in her place not come off like the only one in the room capable of being a bigger asshole than she is.
Well she's already opened the door to "things you think but don't say", the only question is do you want to take the high road or get dirty.

Personally, I just would avoid her as much as possible, people like that aren't worth the effort. If she did something like that again, I wouldn't go for the throat, some of the more subtle comments listed here would work.
 

monk3y

Lifer
Jun 12, 2001
12,699
0
76
OP, what are you doing with your math degree? high school teacher?

I'm a "Biostatistician" by title. I pretty much help Bio/Medical scientists figure out how best to analyze their data then analyze it for them.

Though recently I've been studying for the first actuary test. Thinking of maybe making a career change to that.
 

ChopperDave

Senior member
May 4, 2012
215
0
0
Well she's already opened the door to "things you think but don't say", the only question is do you want to take the high road or get dirty.

The problem is that the settings in question are almost definitely confined to his wife's side of the family. So even if what the two of them say are absolutely equal his will be interpreted as much more mean spirited. He's at a serious disadvantage and can't really go toe to toe with her. Not that I'd advocate that anyway.

He needs to subtly embarrass her and make her feel guilty without coming across as though it was intentional. That's the beauty in the advice previously given about saying something along the lines of "yeah you're probably right. oh well. I'm just a simple guy who enjoys the sweet simple things in life. Like your beautiful elegant sister."

Passive aggressive insult? Check.
Trigger competitive drive towards sister? Check.
Subtly lay out what she'll be up against from now on when she makes these remarks? Check.
Come out with clean hands? Check.