[jobrahms]

You overlook the fact that making effort (and most importantly following through) gets you sex. Happy wife = happy life. It's not beneath you to try to make your partner happy. And if she responds the way you're implying - I'm sorry, something is probably wrong with her.

[loewenskind]

>Happy wife = happy life

I hate this phrase, it's the battle cry of those who do whatever their wife says and laugh with their buddies about how whipped they are. Marriage is a balancing act. Of course you have to change and give in where appropriate but if you do everything she says she wants you will lower her opinion of you (as it should, since you're a coward).

[khafra]

I encourage you to marry. If you find a good wife, you will be happy. If not, you will become a philosopher.

-- Socrates

[jobrahms]

Happy wife = happy life only works if your wife thinks "Happy husband = happy life". The premise of the phrase, for me, is that you're actually married to the right person.

But way to read too far into a silly little phrase and call me a coward, Mr. Anonymous Internet Man.

[loewenskind]

Looks like you're getting a bit defensive for some reason. I was using "you" as a generic pronoun (I could have said "one would be" instead but that's more wordy and is IMO less clear).

[Afton]

I think you're reading the parent wrong. They're not calling you a coward, they're classifying"[anyone who does] everything she says she wants" as cowards.

[yummyfajitas]

You overlook the fact that making effort (and most importantly following through) gets you sex

Not in my experience.

As for your "happy wife = happy life" theory, I'd strongly suggest running very fast away from women who implement this theory. You don't want people in your life who will drag you down to their level.

if she responds the way you're implying - I'm sorry, something is probably wrong with her.

In that case, something is probably wrong with most women.

[jobrahms]

As I responded above, happy wife = happy life has more to do with how you think about and treat your wife than being subservient to her. As long as you've found the right person that has your best interests in mind, I don't see how it's a bad thing to show her you love her by doing things for her.

It is known that in general, women respond most to emotional stimulation and men respond to sex. When my wife asks me to do something, she's really asking me to show her that I love her. And when she gets that feeling, she's very receptive to the idea of sex. Win-win, as they say.

[yummyfajitas]

The entire premise of "happy wife = happy life" is that your wife is making you happy. This premise is false. A wife can marginally increase your happiness, or make you less unhappy, but happiness is fundamentally something you need to create for yourself.

However, many people fake the "happy me = happy you" by making you unhappy. That is often within their power to do. Then they give you respite when you do what they want. If you don't know better, you might mistake this for happiness. From what I've seen, this is how "happy wife = happy life" (or in it's more honest form, "if momma aint happy, nobody ain't happy") is usually implemented.

When my wife asks me to do something, she's really asking me to show her that I love her. And when she gets that feeling, she's very receptive to the idea of sex. Win-win, as they say.

It might be a win-win for you, but many people dislike trading labor/money/etc for sex (even when the trade is implicit). Personally, I prefer sex which is freely given for the sole purpose of mutual pleasure.