Deborah and Robert should have had an affair

I would think that might be problematic since Robert is Raymond's brother! While Robert may have found Debra attractive and desirable, sometimes it's best to leave things as a fantasy. The reality would have been a disaster. Also, while Debra seemed to have a "soft spot" for Robert, I am not sure she was attracted to him in a romantic way. Finally, as the show was about a tight-knit, albeit dysfunctional family, an affair between Robert and Debra probably would not have gone over well with viewers.

It is a great idea that any episode or plot involving them to having an affair should be scrapped and if you think about it would hurt a lot between both Deborah and Amy and Ray and Robert. And the biggest thing that would be trust.

Or at least so she says

I agree with you, especially, if there are children involved when the affair is uncovered.

You are right about that, that is one thing that messes up families if ban affair happens and it could all depend on who the two people are. And the worst case senerio would be, if one of the two people happened to be a sibling of one of the married couple, and the other person is the best friend of the person of the other one is either currently dating or married to.

Your not the only one, I believe most of us if not all expect for the op has said that an affair between Deborah and Robert is not a good idea

Debra has had, or initiated sex with Ray a good bit. Either he ruined it, or his family interrupted. There's almost 30 examples of Debra being interested in sex.

I am just copying an pasting an old post. Since this topic came up a good bit when the board was more active. I cut off many to keep the post short. If you want the rest of the examples, just ask.

1. In The Power of No, Debra wanted sex 3 nights in a row, and Ray turned her down at every chance. I can understand him wanting to see how it feels to be pursued. But he lost 3 nights of sex all on his own because of it.
2. Then in the episode in season 5, The Sneeze. Debra is dressed sexy, lighting candles and ready for sex, and all Ray can talk about is snot and getting sneezed on.
3. On his birthday, Marie is angry at him. He and Debra are about to have sex, and she praises him not worrying about Marie being mad at him, and how she didn't even give him his birth-minute kiss. So they start kissing, then Ray pulls away and says he can't have sex if Marie hasn't kissed him.
4. In the Wallpaper episode, the wall is put back up after Marie drives through it. Ray closes the curtains and starts kissing Debra. He stops to look at the wallpaper. Debra explains why it's different, then pulls him in to kiss him again. Ray pulls away and starts fixating on the paper.
5. When Ray is upset about Debra having gifts from her ex boyfriends, she tries to calm him down and tells him to come here. Ray says he won't be lured by her sex and storms out.
6. In Frank Paints the House, they start to have sex on Sat. morning, but Frank is right outside of their window, painting already. They Ray says he can't have sex with Frank out there.

So, if he can afford to turn down sex, then he gets enough of it. We just see him turned down because it's a comedy show, and the rejection is funny. And even with good sex, it's just never enough for Ray.

7. Season 1, he accidentally wakes Debra up at midnight. He asks if she wants to play Baker and the Mind Shaft, or something. Debra replies "Ok, but I get to be the baker this time." Just woke up, Ray asks for sex, and she says ok.
8. After Uncle Gus' funeral, Ray asks if she wants to do it. She smiles and says "I might."
9. In Season 8, Fake Party, Ray screws up with Debra's birthday. The next day, they go out and spend time together. Then end up having sex that night.
10. Debra is watching a tape of everyone in Itally. She says she wishes everyone could just hold on the the feeling of enjoying everyday. Ray jokingly says they can go upstairs and enjoy the rest of that day. Denra shrugs and says ok, and takes his hand to go upstairs. But then Frank and Marie drive through the house.

I agree that Ray in real life would have cheated on her. Men don't necessarily cheat because of sex or lack thereof...he would have cheated because she always made him feel like a piece of crap, putting him down all the time, embarrassing him in front of his friends and his family, calling him idiot on a daily basis, assaulting him because he put clothes on TOP of the hamper instead of IN...(at least he didn't toss them on the floor like most men)...whatever his faults were, he was never as mean to her as she was to him. He would have cheated, found someone to have an affair with, and then divorced her.

Hmmm...I just don't see it, even in fantasy. In the episode where they went dancing, I didn't see or feel any type of chemistry that would suggest if she weren't with Ray, that she might be with Robert. She's too controlling, and too much like Joanne. A "ball-stealer", totally not right for him emotionally or romantically...