Appended to my previous reply, or rather, what I should have said as well if I hadn't been in a rush:
I find the further level that you elucidated to be really interesting, as that is a common and awful dynamic in our society, but I don't think those of us who are saying we're unsympathetic to the LW are saying "she should shut up about feeling unfulfilled in her marriage" or "it's wrong to want a dog", but instead are saying, "don't spring a dog on someone who doesn't want a dog, we disagree with you that doing so is justified or would have a good outcome." Our lack of sympathy is only concerning that one question.
There is potentially a lot of stuff about gender dynamics, marriage, equality, etc, to be discussed as another thread, but for me, and for several of the commenters here I think, my opinion on this situation only concerns whether or not to get the dog.
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I find the further level that you elucidated to be really interesting, as that is a common and awful dynamic in our society, but I don't think those of us who are saying we're unsympathetic to the LW are saying "she should shut up about feeling unfulfilled in her marriage" or "it's wrong to want a dog", but instead are saying, "don't spring a dog on someone who doesn't want a dog, we disagree with you that doing so is justified or would have a good outcome." Our lack of sympathy is only concerning that one question.
There is potentially a lot of stuff about gender dynamics, marriage, equality, etc, to be discussed as another thread, but for me, and for several of the commenters here I think, my opinion on this situation only concerns whether or not to get the dog.