Craig

Mark,
You may find an illustration helpful.
My neighbors Bill and Betty Smith are having some troubles. Betty has been deceived into thinking that fruit and vegetables are bad for her health and so for the last year she has not eaten any. She tries to convince Bill also and has become quite dominating about it. She won’t even allow any fruit and vegetables in the house and becomes abusive if she sees Bill eating any.
Bill, however is a nutritionist and knows that fruit and vegetables are very good for ones health. But he doesn’t try and correct Betty. He just goes out each day and buys and eats his own fruit and vegetables.
Recently, Betty has become very ill and has had several trips to hospital. The doctors have diagnosed her illness as a nutritional deficiency from lack of fruit and vegetables. Bill has remained healthy through all of this because his own diet has been quite good.
The doctors have told Betty that she needs to learn about good nutrition, eat fruit and vegetables, and that Bill needs to help her, rather than not saying anything.
The doctors say that “she will get better, if they do the things they have been told.”
I think I am correct in that Dave’s point is that the doctors are saying that this is the encouraging news so go and do it. The doctors are NOT saying that if the husband doesn’t do his bit that there is no way she can get better. (eg Someone else may be able to help).
Mark, you were also saying @ 89 how Cheryl contradicted Dave, but I think Cheryl was saying that Betty was the only one who was sick – Bill was quite healthy.
Both fit perfectly with each other as I see it.
Anyone feel free to let me know if I have misunderstood anything.