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Couple Goes To Gender Reveal, Wife Distant After Husband’s Accurate But ‘Insensitive’ Prediction
Woman looks upset sitting in car with man, illustrating tension after guy uses statistics to predict pregnant friend will have a boy

Couple Goes To Gender Reveal, Wife Distant After Husband’s Accurate But ‘Insensitive’ Prediction

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We’ve all been there: someone asks a question they don’t really want the answer to, but then you provide a response based on facts, and they’re even more upset.

Today’s Original Poster (OP) was asked by his wife to guess what their friend would be having as they were en route to her gender reveal party. He gave her a science-based prediction about the baby’s gender, and when he turned out to be right, it caused a problem.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Sometimes we play a little game where we fish for reassurance while pretending we’re open to any answer

    Close-up of a gender reveal cake with pink and blue icing spelling out boy or girl predicting pregnant friend’s baby gender.

    Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    On the way to a friend’s gender reveal, the author’s wife asked him to guess the baby’s sex

    Text excerpt about a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend's baby sex, causing his wife to be upset.

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    Text explaining a guy uses statistics and birth sex ratio to predict his pregnant friend will have a boy.

    Text on a white background: My wife said that given our friends had 2 boys already, there would be more chance of a girl this time.

    Image credit: anon

    Man and woman holding hands inside a car, symbolizing support amid statistics predicting pregnant friend will have a boy.

    Image credits: Alexander Mass / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    He gave a logical answer, saying it was likely to be a boy, and then backed it up with science and facts

    Text excerpt explaining statistics used to predict pregnant friend's baby boy with a 51% chance.

    Text on a white background stating a gender reveal announced the child would be a boy, related to pregnancy and predictions.

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    Text about a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend will have a boy, causing his wife to be upset.

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    Image credit: anon

    Two women in pajamas on a couch, one comforting the other while discussing pregnancy and gender prediction.

    Image credits: cookie_studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    When the baby was revealed to be a boy, both the wife and the expectant mother were visibly disappointed

    Text excerpt about a guy using statistics to predict baby's gender causing his wife to be upset for not being hopeful.

    Text discussing a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend will have a boy, causing his wife to be livid.

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    Text showing a man explaining his reasonable response to questions, relating to predicting pregnant friend will have a boy.

    Man on Reddit asking if he is the asshole after using statistics to predict pregnant friend's baby gender while wife is upset.

    Image credit: anon

    On the drive home, his wife was very upset, feeling his response lacked emotional support, and this left him completely confused

    On the way to a friend’s gender reveal, the OP was asked by his wife to guess the baby’s gender, so he relied on cold, hard statistics: about 105 boys are born for every 100 girls, making it slightly more likely for the baby to be a boy. However, his wife, pointing out that their friends already had two boys, suggested that this time it’s due to be a girl.

    The OP gently shut that down with science, explaining that previous births didn’t really impact the odds of the next. At the party, his prediction was accurate as it was revealed that their friend would be having a third boy.

    The mom-to-be had tried to put on a brave face, but her disappointment was clear, and the OP’s wife also seemed let down by the result. On the way home, his wife confronted him not about the outcome, but about his earlier logic-filled answer.

    She felt he wasn’t being supportive, and that perhaps he should’ve sugarcoated his prediction or just gone along with the hope for a girl. Now, this left him completely confused, especially because he had answered the question innocently, logically, and truthfully.

    Young woman looking upset in a convertible while a man sits beside her, hinting at tension over prediction statistics.

    Image credits: RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Bloom Psychology acknowledges that sex and gender disappointment happen when a baby’s sex doesn’t align with what expectant parents were hoping for, and when the reality doesn’t match that vision, it can lead to disappointment.

    According to Be Calm with Tati, a mental health professional, having expectations is perfectly normal, but problems arise when those expectations become rigid and begin to affect your mood. Since reality doesn’t always match what we hope for, flexibility is essential.

    Tati offers three key tips: first, compare your expectations with reality and factual outcomes; second, be willing to adjust those expectations; and third, lead with compassion, both for yourself and for those around you.

    As All In The Family explains, not every problem requires a solution, especially in emotional situations. For many people, emotions often exist independently of logic and don’t always need to be resolved, just acknowledged and processed, which could be a reason why the OP’s wife was so upset.

    Netizens supported the OP, emphasizing that he simply answered a direct question with logic and honesty. They found his wife’s reaction to be misplaced, suggesting that emotional responses to facts shouldn’t lead to blame, especially when he didn’t announce his thoughts publicly or try to influence anyone’s feelings at the party.

    What do you think about this situation? Should you always give an honest answer, even if it might upset someone? Or is it better to go with what people want to hear? We would love to know your thoughts!

    Netizens were equally confused and maintained he did nothing wrong, as he had simply answered her question

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a guy using statistics to predict his pregnant friend's baby gender, causing tension.

    Reddit comment discussing predictions and expectations about the gender of a pregnant friend's baby boy and reactions to it.

    Comment discussing how statistics can predict a higher chance of having a boy based on previous children's gender.

    Comment discussing a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend's baby gender, causing his wife to be upset.

    Commenter discussing prediction disagreements in a thread about a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend’s baby gender.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a wife's strong reaction to a statistical prediction about a pregnant friend's baby gender.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend will have a boy, wife upset he wasn't hopeful.

    Comment explaining statistics predicting pregnant friend will have a boy, causing wife's upset reaction over lack of hopefulness.

    Screenshot of an online discussion about a guy using statistics to predict a pregnant friend would have a boy, causing conflict.

    Screenshot of an online comment discussing a guy using statistics to predict pregnant friend will have a boy, wife upset.

    Comment from user Eastern_Condition863 advising a wife to emotionally unwind from pregnancy for the sake of her marriage.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a man using statistics to predict pregnant friend will have a boy.

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    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a writer and bookworm (eyes glued to an e-book, more accurately) who happens to have a suspiciously deep knowledge about pop culture. When I'm not writing, I can most likely be found taking yet another online quiz to find out which soda matches my personality.

    Read less »
    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Ifeoluwa Adesina

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a writer and bookworm (eyes glued to an e-book, more accurately) who happens to have a suspiciously deep knowledge about pop culture. When I'm not writing, I can most likely be found taking yet another online quiz to find out which soda matches my personality.

    What do you think ?
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the question."

    Papa
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also "If someone is looking for something to get mad about they can always find something."

    Load More Replies...
    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Why didn't you give me the answer I wanted?"

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dude, your wife is insane and there's no way this was the first time she's pretended to give you an option but punishes you for not choosing how she wanted you to. There is also no way this is the last time, so you have to hold on to knowing you're not the AH. The next opinion she's going after is that one.

    person (i think)
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a comment said, this is probably a proxy argument

    Load More Replies...
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    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the question."

    Papa
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also "If someone is looking for something to get mad about they can always find something."

    Load More Replies...
    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Why didn't you give me the answer I wanted?"

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dude, your wife is insane and there's no way this was the first time she's pretended to give you an option but punishes you for not choosing how she wanted you to. There is also no way this is the last time, so you have to hold on to knowing you're not the AH. The next opinion she's going after is that one.

    person (i think)
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a comment said, this is probably a proxy argument

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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