Fat shaming is deplorable and this board is littered with it.

[RegularJam]

The people on this board are, for the most part, kind and caring people. Fat shaming is one of the last refuges of fully acceptable abuse across society today.

Zero reason to use weight in a personal attack. This one just seems too simple to have to even say. Don’t try to justify the unjustifiable. Your words aren’t only attacking your target when you go to weight as a descriptor.

Thank you.

[hlthe2b]

1. Yes. Those are not the "surgical strike" insults that the poster presumes. It hurts many.

[RegularJam]

4. That's the term I was looking for to make the point in my last sentence.

Thank you.

[rb15]

84. I support you whole heartedly!

I can't believe fat shaming is still acceptable to this community. It is so wrong and is no different than racism, sexism and homophobia.

This is what Trump does, this is how he gets his power, shaming and humiliating people. Fat Shaming is one of the many tools of the oppressor.

Vax-Shaming seems to be acceptable here as well and it leaves me feeling attacked just because I have health issues for which I must pause and consider before choosing to get vaccinated and risk an adverse reaction. So many others are in this same boat. But we don't have a voice hear on this community. Many assume we are MAGA people. I am most certainly not. I am a woman of color, feminist, and an ally to the LBGTQ community and a daughter of a woman with disabilities. I advocate for myself and for others - all the time. I feel abandoned by Democrats right now. I never thought I would ever be here.

[karynnj]

96. As to vax shaming, no one is speaking against those who should not or cannot get the vaccine

In fact, for vaccinated people,. The two reasons to argue for others to get the vaccine are :

1. To try to end the pandemic

2. To protect everyone who cannot get the vaccine and who might be extremely vulnerable. This is true of the childhood vaccines as well.

As to fat shaming, it used to be such comments were considered rude and inappropriate. They still are, but more people think it ok.

[Ms. Toad]

98. The problem is that many people here disagree as to who "shoud not or cannot" get the vaccine.

So there is a fair amount of shaming of those whose reasons for avoiding, delaying, or selecting a specific vaccine, are not deemed adequate.

As a quick example - when there was a pause to evaluate the J&J risks associated with a rare clotting disorder, there were a whole host of posts that suggested anyone who was concerned about it was being ridiculous because the risk is so low. There are similar posts here now in regard to the potential for Pfizer to cause endocarditis.

A similar thing happened here when I dared suggest that I would wait for the Pfizer vaccine, based on my assessment of the three - then available - vaccines. I was told that I was a fool not to take the first vaccine offered.

Everyone is entitled to (and should) make an informed decision about being vaccinated. The shaming here of anyone who does anything other than simply stick an arm out for a vaccine, any vaccine, unless they have a rationale the attacker deems appropriate, is pervasive.

[Politicub]

163. Pointing out that the majority of anti-vaxers are ignoring

science is not shaming. Pointing out the effects that anti-vaxers are having on the population is not shaming.

Your concern about comorbidities is one that others have. I can understand that. And then there are people who are anti-vax who are simply selfish and self-centered.

There are enough anti-vaxxers to create more Covid public health emergencies and runs on resources. This disease could be controlled through mass vaccination, yet people are forging the vaccine as well as flouting guidance around masking and distancing.

I lost a good friend to Covid, and know of many others who have died. The disease caused the global economy to seize.

I would hope that there is a degree of shame felt by people who are anti-vax for selfish reasons.

[brush]

2. So we have to lay off calling trump a _ _ _, orange turd now?

[Bettie]

8. Just call him an Orange Turd

Or is being fat worse than being excrement?

[RocRizzo55]

17. It's offensive to

Oranges and turds as well.

[brush]

59. Heehee. Now that I agree with.

[RegularJam]

11. No.

You can keep equating being overweight with being a horrible person. It makes no sense, isn’t as targeted as you think it is, but it’s a fully acceptable form of abuse in society. Keep at it.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

13. Folks could be more sensitive at the least ...

I think there's other words that are less inappropriate for a Democratic board ... rotund for example.

If one MUST bring it up, I mean.

I'm not sure why one MUST, but ... at least show a little decorum

[Trueblue1968]

19. How about the word HOG. ??????

[Hugh_Lebowski]

22. I'm going to go with overly rude and hence not politically correct

Porcine would be more polite, and though insulting to pigs, they don't speak 'human' or view the internet, so ...

Another example ... 'ample ass' is more polite (and less prone to hurting others we don't mean to) than 'fat ass'.

Showing a modicum of tact and class is the best course in my esteem.

[brush]

60. Can I take it a little further and go with "prodigious" ass?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

65. I'm going to say yes on the grounds that prodigious is not a word that has inherently negative

connotations.

But full disclosure, buyer beware, as I'm definitely not the resident expert on these types of matters.

Still learning, you see

[Cha]

57. I've called him a Fucking Bloated Treasonous Psycho.

[Ms. Toad]

99. Yes. You do - AND you've already been told it is offensive numerous times.

Fat is not a swear word, so stop treating it as one becuase when you use it as a derrogation, you are informing fat people on this board exactly what you think of them - and might fling at them as an insult but for the fact that you are trying to be polite since those particular fat people have acceptable political views..

[Ms. Toad]

110. I am not defending Trump.

I am defending all of the other people you are hurting when you being fat as a battering ram.

But you know that. You just don't care that you are hurting others when you use that characteristic as an insult.

[femmedem]

127. No. Ms. Toad is in no way defending Trump.

I have no idea how you made that leap.

The issue is using fat or any of its synonyms as an insult, regardless of whom you're insulting. It isn't funny, it isn't clever--and there is no correlation between a person's weight and their kindness or ethics.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Agreed ... there's no need for these pejoratives (nt)

[Bettie]

5. There is an unquestioned belief among many people

that weight is a measure of both worth and morality.

And yes, I'm one of the fatties.

[madaboutharry]

6. You are 100% correct about this.

Body shaming is always wrong.

[MurrayDelph]

76. *ALMOST* always wrong

When the person being shamed has himself (or herself) been guilty of doing so to others, imho, it is fair game to call out the hypocrisy.


(And a say that as a lifelong fat man who has gained back most of his post-bariatric weight loss)

[Ms. Toad]

100. Calling out hypocrisy is not the same as fat shaming.

What is going on here is fat shaming. NOT pointing out hypocrisy. That excuse only comes out when the fat shamer is called on their offensive behavior.

[SoonerPride]

7. Thank you.

I love Friends and I cringe at all the fat shaming in that show.

It has no place on DU.

Even about trump. There is plenty else to attack on that monster besides his appearance.

His Orangeness is fair game.

[Bettie]

10. Being orange is a choice he makes

we've seen him between painting sessions.

His clothing is a choice he makes.

His nastiness and tiny vocabulary are choices he makes.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

14. So we can at least make fun of his McDonalds diet? nt

[Trueblue1968]

20. or that he eats 2038567 Taco Bowls and 9048 pizzas at one sitting???

[SharonClark]

23. But he doesn't do that so saying it makes you

a 1000000% liar or really bad at math.

[Trueblue1968]

55. please don't call me a liar. i am sorry i didn't put SATIRE in my post.

You should have realized I was making a joke.

[Ms. Toad]

103. Still on shaky ground.

Even in the midst of food deserts, McDonald's stores are plentiful. The dollar menu is pretty cheap calories and can fill a belly (as are ramen noodles and other high carb/high calorie food).

Obviously, he has a choice. But many don't have choices they can easily make to avoid unhealthy food.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

104. I understand that argument ...

So ... can I still at least openly hope that the Big Macs and Filet o' Fish take him out?

Is that specific enough to him to be okay, given his choices?

[Ms. Toad]

111. Just don't say it loudly enough that the government comes hunting you down . . .

or you get twitter or facebook banned for wishing death on you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Lots of people love to use oppressive tactics as long as they oppress the right people.

Fatphobia, ableism, oppressive policing practices, other injustices: As long as it hurts someone they don't like, they're willing to use the weapons that hurt their allies just as badly -- and that gain strength against all through continued use. You see it on this board all the time.

[nolabear]

12. Amen, Brother WhiskeyGrinder.

I hate that part of DU, the ease with which people can do the same kind of harm they despise when it doesn’t make them feel superior. Thank goodness I love other parts so much.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Yep, it's a bad surprise every time.

[USALiberal]

79. +1000 nt

[bluewater]

91. Great point! Prison rape jokes come to mind in that regard.

There's nothing funny about rape or our systemically racist prison system.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

124. Excellent point.

[milestogo]

16. Its also way cool on this board to deride someone for their age, incontinence, or dentures.

[rb15]

89. thank you for speaking up for our aging mothers and fathers!

My mom has dentures and incontinence. She feels so much shame as I help her with toileting. I tell her, "It's okay mama, you are peeing and pooping, and that makes me happy because that means you are still alive and I get to have another day to connect with you, to sing, to laugh, and to love!"

Shame on you people for ageism. So stupid, so ignorant. Our elders have so much to teach us and so much love to give. Its the republican agenda to not care for our elders - you standing in alliance with republicans when you do this.

[milestogo]

112. Thanks for your post, and welcome to DU!

[PTWB]

128. It's a tricky subject.

We have ancient politicians - some in their upper 80s or more - who are experiencing obvious signs of aging related issues. Criticizing their decisions to seek re-election isn't ageism, but many who are especially sensitive to ageism take offense.

[renate]

141. That must make her feel so much better and so beloved!

What a sweet thing to say to her!

[crickets]

145. Many hugs to you for a wonderful, loving post. 💖

[USALiberal]

132. +1000! nt

[Croney]

18. What I find even less understandable is the penis-size thing.

Without seeing a person naked, posters say that person has a tiny dick. Why are those comments made? Is dick size a measure of a person's value? Are we supposed to chuckle and wink and agree?

Anyway, sorry to go off on a tangent. I've learned to be more aware of fat-shaming since I've been on DU, so thank you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

27. It's not a tangent. It's all of a piece.

[Dial H For Hero]

32. Mind you, when the subject is gun owners, such comments are all the more prevalent.

[hunter]

43. Are we talking about guns or trucks?

I've played with those, large and small.

And rockets!

Masculine insecurity doesn't have anything to do with dick size, but it may have a lot to do with guns, trucks, rockets, and skyscrapers.

[Deuxcents]

21. I despise 45

I have absolutely not one drop of respect for him. I will agree about calling him a fat mf-er is not the best we can do so I will not do it. He’s got plenty of other attributes that define him.

[efhmc]

29. The twist to this is the amount of fat shaming TFG has done (mostly to women)

through the years. I have sometimes wondered if those comments now thrown back at him even penetrate or if he ever see or hears them. Probably not.

[Maru Kitteh]

87. They do, as evidenced by his many efforts to disguise his girth.

His obsession with camera position and that forward leaning stance were about creating the illusion of a slightly improved figure. His cartoonishly long red tie, enormous shoulder pads and elephant-leg pants are all part of the same effort.

[wryter2000]

86. Thank you

One reason to despise him is his penchant for insulting people because of their appearance. Why should we do it? .

[sarisataka]

24. "Fat" is one of the acceptable slurs

a person can always hide behind saying 'I'm not shaming only stating a fact' or the 'I'm fat too excuse (completely verifiable on an internet forum) Because of the readily available excuses it is easy to use.

Some posters have pointed out other easy ones (all real men are hung like horses so someone we disapprove of is obviously "lacking&quot but there are other subtle slurs.

If you watch carefully you will see sexist, homophobic, ableist, racist and about any other -ist slurs used here daily.

Challenge- the next time a "Karen" picture is posted note what words are used to describe her and what criteria is used to judge her. (Spoiler, likely much of it will not be related to actions for which she should rightly be condemned)

But it's ok because we are the good people.

[Dial H For Hero]

33. The fat shaming I frequently see here is quite disappointing. n/t

[sarisataka]

82. I always find it interesting

How many people will justify what they would never tolerate from the other side. More than a few examples right here.

[Dial H For Hero]

109. Hypocrisy, thy name is...humanity.

[USALiberal]

133. +1000! nt

[Casady1]

25. The reality is as a nation

we are fat and the extra weight that many carry contributes to our health costs in our nation. When you go to Europe we can immediately identify the Americans. Look at pictures of the U.S in the sixties and how much thinner we were as a nation. fat shaming may be bad but as a nation we are terribly overweight.

[RegularJam]

26. Completely off topic.

I hope you are able to recognize it. You went off on your own tangent and it has zero relevance to the op. Seems a bit telling.

[Casady1]

28. I don't think so

I think a lot of people feel sorry for themselves and don't want to admit that they contribute to the problem. Weight is something most of us can control

[Marrah_Goodman]

150. Actually weight is something that is extremely hard for most obese people to control

I would lose 50 or 60 pounds on a diet, then gain it back +15. Over and over until I was over 300 pounds at 5'2. I had surgery and for the first time in my life I wasn't hungry. I have lost 120 pounds and now I can actually excise.

The majority of people with a weight problem, a real problem almost never lose it and keep it off.

[sarisataka]

154. I do not mean to be disrespectful

But you appear to be ignorant of weight management issues

[Casady1]

155. Look at our current population

And a picture from the sixties. Explain to me how as a society we no longer resemble almost every other generation.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

30. Okay but being fat does not mean you're a bad person. A lot of people here talk like it is.

That's what fatphobia is.

[Casady1]

31. Fat doesn't mean you are a bad person

but our weight really contributes to higher medical costs nationwide. Look at us. It is disgraceful.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

34. It's not disgraceful. It just is.

[Casady1]

35. We all want single payer

and we all have a responsibility to be fit. We can make a better argument if we all take care of ourselves.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

38. Lol that we won't get single payer until we're "fit."

Obesity is not an indicator of health, btw.

[NickB79]

53. The "fat-but-fit" hypothesis went out the window years ago

Obesity, maintained over a period of decades, does become an indicator of health, unfortunately.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/health/fat-but-fit-study-scli-intl-wellness/index.html

(CNN)The negative effects of excess body fat on heart health can't be canceled out by maintaining an active lifestyle, according to new research.

Previous studies had suggested that being physically fit could mitigate the negative effects of being overweight on heart health, but this is not the case, according to a new study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), published Thursday.

"One cannot be 'fat but healthy.' This was the first nationwide analysis to show that being regularly active is not likely to eliminate the detrimental health effects of excess body fat," said study author Alejandro Lucia, a professor of exercise physiology at the European University of Madrid.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

88. Could be, and there's research into what we think we know about obesity being wrong.

Last edited Sat Jun 12, 2021, 08:16 AM - Edit history (1)

https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/everything-you-know-about-obesity-is-wrong/

About 40 years ago, Americans started getting much larger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 80 percent of adults and about one-third of children now meet the clinical definition of overweight or obese. More Americans live with “extreme obesity“ than with breast cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and HIV put together.

And the medical community’s primary response to this shift has been to blame fat people for being fat. Obesity, we are told, is a personal failing that strains our health care system, shrinks our GDP and saps our military strength. It is also an excuse to bully fat people in one sentence and then inform them in the next that you are doing it for their own good. That’s why the fear of becoming fat, or staying that way, drives Americans to spend more on dieting every year than we spend on video games or movies. Forty-five percent of adults say they’re preoccupied with their weight some or all of the time—an 11-point rise since 1990. Nearly half of 3- to 6- year old girls say they worry about being fat.

(snip)

The second big lesson the medical establishment has learned and rejected over and over again is that weight and health are not perfect synonyms. Yes, nearly every population-level study finds that fat people have worse cardiovascular health than thin people. But individuals are not averages: Studies have found that anywhere from one-third to three-quarters of people classified as obese are metabolically healthy. They show no signs of elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance or high cholesterol. Meanwhile, about a quarter of non-overweight people are what epidemiologists call “the lean unhealthy.” A 2016 study that followed participants for an average of 19 years found that unfit skinny people were twice as likely to get diabetes as fit fat people. Habits, no matter your size, are what really matter. Dozens of indicators, from vegetable consumption to regular exercise to grip strength, provide a better snapshot of someone’s health than looking at her from across a room.

The terrible irony is that for 60 years, we’ve approached the obesity epidemic like a fad dieter: If we just try the exact same thing one more time, we'll get a different result. And so it’s time for a paradigm shift. We’re not going to become a skinnier country. But we still have a chance to become a healthier one.

[Dial H For Hero]

36. If being fat is "disgraceful" (as you put it) then how does being fat not make one "bad"?

[rb15]

90. uh...no...

The medical system is inherently investing in driving prices up.

[Marrah_Goodman]

151. It is not disgraceful

I am not disgraceful.

[womanofthehills]

48. Back in the 60's very few were overweight

I can’t even remember one overweight person in my high school. None of my relatives or friends were overweight. No friends in college overweight. Now - almost everyone I know could lose some weight. My grandkids are getting chunky. I could definitely lose 20 lbs. I think name calling is a bad thing but we seem to have a big problem in this country. Probably too much fast food and junk food.

[indigovalley]

70. This is true

I am obese and was as a child. I grew up in the 60's and was literally the only fat child at my school. Now, as a teacher and age 63, I look out at my classroom and the majority of students have weight issues.

[beaglelover]

72. And lack of exercise!

[MineralMan]

37. Since I have no idea what post you are talking about, let me say this:

While fat-shaming does happen from time to time on DU, "this board is littered with it" is hardly an accurate statement.

I don't do it. But some are still not aware of the issue. However, most DUers avoid such behavior. I believe you are generalizing from some specific post, but are neglecting to tell us which post you're talking about.

[USALiberal]

39. It's unbelievable how many posters hear attack appearance. Like fuckin grade school shit

[Bluepinky]

41. Is it ok to fat shame someone who is notorious for publicly fat shaming others, especially women?

For instance, someone whose defense against sexual assault of a woman is that “she’s not attractive enough to assault”, someone who freely judges women on their appearances and weight, who has called women “fat pigs”?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. Is it okay to use a racist slur against a racist? Is calling Trump the n-word useful?

[Bluepinky]

52. Oh, but it feels so good to sometimes note that someone has let himself go...

and is looking slovenly and out of shape.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

56. Why?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

73. Also, what about the racial slur?

[Alpeduez21]

68. No. It is not OK. He doesn't read DU (n/t)

[meadowlander]

74. No. That's not how fat-shaming (or sexism or racism or homophobia) work.

The point is that when you say "Trump is fat" what you mean is "Trump is bad" and therefore "fat=bad" and therefore all the other people who are fat are bad. It's not objectionable that you are insulting Trump (and therefore his behaviour prompting it is irrelevant). It's objectionable because you are insulting fat people by implying there is something wrong with being fat.

When you say "Ann Coulter is a bitch" what you mean is "She is a female dog", "female dogs are bad", "females who behave in a certain way (generally and historically 'asserting an opinion') are bad" and therefore all women who have opinions are bad. You are reinforcing historic oppression by tapping into the language of the oppressor. "She deserves it" isn't the point. The point is that we shouldn't reinforce the language of the oppressor in front of other people who are regularly victims of it and who don't "deserve it" - whatever that means.

Nobody "deserves" to be disrespected because of the way they look or how they were born. There's plenty of other things to attack Trump about.

[Ms. Toad]

101. Thank you. n/t

[Happy Hoosier]

80. No.

It’s not. That basically like saying it’s okay to be racist to a racist.

[bucolic_frolic]

42. I'm ambivalent to some degree, so I won't say what's on my mind

but I will say, King Henry VIII was known as corpulent, and an over-eater. It contributed to his health problems. More self-discipline would have extended his life.

And of the two extremes, fat and thin, one is ok but one is not ok?

This is like when they banned the song in Boston that contained the lyrics "short people ain't got no reason to live".

If you're skinny, you eat more. If you're fat you eat less. It's that simple.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

47. Man, if this is what you *would* say, I'd hate to see what you kept to yourself.

[bucolic_frolic]

51. But said carefully, without malice

[Happy Hoosier]

81. WTF?

Is it okay to demean and ridicule fat people because you think it’s good for them?

[Ms. Toad]

102. Educate yoursef - it really isn't that simple. n/t

[Hekate]

44. Absolutely, we should be kind & caring & not ever shame the orange man who has no shame...

[WhiskeyGrinder]

49. If he has no shame, why try to shame him with tactics that only reinforce oppressions?

Oppressions that *do* hurt our friends and allies?

[BigmanPigman]

46. I will continue to insult tRump's weight since he does it to women all the time.

He fat-shamed a Miss Universe winner Ms Machado publicly...

"...like calling women pigs, slobs, and dogs. And one anecdote in particular stood out: Clinton said Trump had called former Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado, who is Latina, “Miss Housekeeping” and “Miss Piggy.”

"After that ordeal, Machado said she struggled for five years with anorexia and bulimia."

https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/9/27/13070924/trump-debate-alicia-machado-miss-universe-miss-piggy-fat-shaming

Do unto others, dude! He isn't doing his "projection" thing with this issue either, he is genuinely an insulting asshole. This is offensive to assholes actually. Sorry regular assholes.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

50. He'll never see your insults. But fat people you'd otherwise think of as allies will.

[Rustyeye77]

54. Wow.

gutsy

[PatSeg]

61. I tend to agree with you

He is an overweight slob who belittles other people's appearance all the time. Of course he isn't a horrible person because he is overweight, but he is an outrageous, nasty hypocrite and deserves to have his insults flung back at him. In my opinion, when it comes to Trump, a lot of basic politically correct rules just do not apply. I think most conscious people realize that when we call Trump "fat", we mean he is a self-indulgent hypocrite.

[yardwork]

136. How do you think overweight people feel?

Look at another example. I'm gay, and I don't like it when "gay" is used as an insult. Would I feel differently if gay was used as an insult against a hypocrite? No, I would not. An attribute of mine is still being used as an insult.

Call Trump a hypocrite.

[PatSeg]

137. I've been overweight

and I did not take it personally when I heard people talk about someone else's weight. As a woman, there are certain slurs I find offensive, but if they are said about a truly horrible person, I don't feel it is a reflection on me as a woman. I am elderly, but I don't react to every "old person" insult. I've been poor, unemployed, on welfare, a single parent, etc., but not everything others say is about me and I react to situations, words, and people on an individual basis.

I do not expect everyone to agree with me and I try to be respectful of other people's feelings, but I also do not like when people dictate that everyone should use certain terminology that they find acceptable, terminology that often changes from year to year. The past few years it has gotten a bit militant and intolerant in PC world. I find it more reasonable to judge people on their intent, not always on their choice of words.

Don't misunderstand me. I rarely ever insult anyone about anything, as I am always looking for the good in people whenever possible. With Trump, however, I don't feel compelled to curb my language, as he is the exception to every rule I live by.

[Happy Hoosier]

83. What kind of weird-ass logic is that?

The message you are sending is that fat people are worthy of ridicule and it is only politeness on you part which causes you to refrain.

[Duppers]

117. I think BMPM is only calling out Trump's hypocrisy.

[BigmanPigman]

121. Yes, I thought that was clear in my reply.

[Duppers]

123. Apparently not, according to...

Post #83.

[Happy Hoosier]

146. Then call out his hypocrisy...

… don’t engage is fat-shaming.

[yardwork]

135. And what impact are your words having on other people?

Think about this. Trump doesn't read DU but thousands of other people do. How do they feel?

It would be one thing to say something directly and privately to Trump. It's another matter to post on a board for thousands of non-Trumps to read.

[Hassler]

58. I believe in one standard applied to all. I don't fat shame

People, but I make an exception for Mango Mussolini. He fat shames others, in particular women, so he doesn't get a pass.

[Jon King]

62. Fat shaming is wrong, but touting exercise and healthy eating is not.

We owned a fitness center for 25 years and many, many people have lived longer lives because of losing weight. Its doable in most cases. So while fat shaming is horrible....acknowledging that being overweight is unhealthy is helpful.

We did a huge disservice by not clearly stating that most who were not very elderly who died of Covid died because they were obese. Congress should have passed a bill giving billions in vouchers to people so they could afford healthy foods. And another bill giving people money to pay for health club memberships once the vaccine was available, and free treadmills to those who rather have that.

We need to accept that this country has a serious obesity problem and help people address it.

[RegularJam]

71. Fat shaming is wrong, but touting exercise and healthy eating is not.

There is zero connection between the two. You aren’t even on the same topic.

I say that respectfully as I don’t believe you mean disrespect.

[Elessar Zappa]

125. Zero connection between weight and healthy lifestyle?

That’s not true. There are a small percentage of people whose genetics preclude them from losing weight. But most cases of obesity are related to bad diet and/or inactivity. I’m 240 lbs and should be 170. It’s because I eat like crap. All this said, I agree that fat shaming is deplorable and should not be used against Trump or anyone else. He has so many other horrible traits that are ripe for mocking.

[Happy Hoosier]

147. People confuse association with causation.

Average blood glucose is a better predictor of health than weight.

[homegirl]

63. It is just

so easy to ridicule Donald Trump for his overweight condition. Sorry, he is the only fatty i have ever ridiculed.

[RegularJam]

69. You just ridiculed all overweight people.

As you sad, it’s easy for you.

[USALiberal]

77. Fatty? Classy! How kind of you! Nt

[homegirl]

130. As a person

who at one time was 30 lbs. overweight I understand it is difficult and demanding to lose weight, i did it in one month and kept the excess weight off.

Perhaps you would be happy if I edit my post to read "overweight" or "obese" instead of "fatty."

How would you describe Donald Trump's weight?

[JohnnyRingo]

94. Just don't make fun of ugly people.

Because I'm butt fuckin' ugly and I'm sensitive.

[Marrah_Goodman]

152. "fatty"?

Take a long walk off a short pier.

[homegirl]

156. Please accept

my sincere apology for offending your sensitive nature.

However, i am inclined to report you for the recommendation you offered that I "take a long walk off a short pier."

[Marrah_Goodman]

158. Whatever.

Off to ignore you go.

[homegirl]

159. Deeply

appreciated, as there will no longer be the risk that I will impose on your sensitive nature.

[Kali]

164. yet you just used the term "fatty" to describe all/many/most overwieght people

so, no he isn't the only one you have ever ridiculed.

[homegirl]

166. Clearly,

there is a protocol as to how one is to refer to overweight persons. Please do the many unknowing a service and post the protocol.

Thank you!

[Kali]

168. it ain't fatties

[johnp3907]

64. I've put a lot of people on ignore over this.

And I just added 5 more from this thread.

[USALiberal]

78. Ahhh.....ok??

[Vinca]

138. I've been on this site since 2004 and I've only put 1 person on ignore. Just because you disagree

with someone's post doesn't mean you should dismiss them completely. The world is never going to agree with you 100% and some people just don't appreciate having their words policed.

[PatSeg]

140. Yes, it is getting really old already

There are people who come to online forums and try to tell other people how they should talk and what words they can and cannot use. Expressing one's opinion about certain words is one thing, but too often I've seen people almost demand that we use the words they find acceptable.

I've also been here since 2004 and I've never put anyone on ignore. I tend to be too sensitive as a rule, but I'm not so thin-skinned that I can't handle differences of opinion. I also have never alerted on anyone.

[Alpeduez21]

66. Donald Trump is not a disgusting human being b/c of his size

He is a despicable individual b/c he is callous, greedy, selfish, narcissistic and mean. If he were skinny all this would still be true about him. One may think the lazy lying steaming pile Hump would have his feelings hurt when called fat. However, he doesn’t read DU

[MissMillie]

67. I imagine I have used the term "big, fat liar" for the Orange One

but honestly I meant to imply that he tells big, fat lies.

I will try to be more precise with my language.

And please don't think I'm being sarcastic when I say thanks for pointing it out. I'm not above some constructive criticism.

[WarGamer]

75. Agreed. And being "Fat" isn't necessarily a "choice".

Mid 50's here... 6'0 and slightly active

Weighed 250-ish start of the year.

Now under 200.

Did it by eating 1300-1400 calories a day.

The "charts" say I can lose weight at 2000 calories a day.

I can NOT.

I lift weights 3x a week and walk 2 miles a day.

It's my DNA, my Western European DNA hoarding body fat and conserving body heat.

No different than being a redhead, having freckles or curly hair. It's DNA.

Fat shaming is disgusting

[PTWB]

129. It sounds like you could lose weight at 2000, but not as quickly.

[WarGamer]

134. That's possible... but it's soooo difficult to stay motivated at 2-3lb/month loss n/t

[homegirl]

160. That's 20 to 30 lbs in less

than a year.

I lost 30 lbs, in 30 days by strict adherence to the Atkins diet, and it stayed off!

Don't give up!

[WarGamer]

161. Atkins works...

But here's my diet psychology.

First I had to STOP the sugar intake dead in it's tracks. No more ice cream or Starbucks pastries, etc...

So I allowed several days of junk food eating in exchange for stopping sweets. I allowed myself to eat pizza or tacos, whatever to break the habit of ice cream, pies, etc... (Yes I know about carbs in both, its irrelevant to my strategy)

When I lost the craving for sweets I cut back calories and allowed myself to eat pretty much whatever I wanted to eat, just low calories.

I supplement with a daily protein shake and multi vits plus D.

58 lb so far... 20 more until I'm "optimal weight"

Biggest mistake people make is changing their whole diet around because VERY FEW people can stick with it.

It NEVER works to be like "Egg whites in the morning with oatmeal, 2 servings fruit..."

Mid day meal, lunch, dinner, snack... 6 servings vegetables.... etc...

What works for ME is just eat what makes you happy as long as it's low calories

Stopped BP meds slowly... now 120/72 watching TV at night... went to ER a year ago with 188/116.

[wryter2000]

85. Weight has nothing to do with what kind of person you are.

Insulting someone because of their weight is lazy and unimaginative. It contributes nothing except to hurt people for no good reason.

[NNadir]

92. Speaking as an obese person...

...I couldn't care less.

That's just me, of course. I once had a subordinate who remarked that I was the fattest vegetarian she ever met.

She didn't go far in the company, but only because she didn't edit other things. My coworkers and I and my boss and his assistant had a good time with it actually. I wasn't offended, but it did say something about who she was.

Of course, I know who I am. If someone calls me a "fathead," sometimes they're right.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

93. I'll keep shaming his hypocrisy.

His weight is obscene, because it's on HIM -- a man who wants to keep poor, hungry people poor and hungry, a man who has no use for non-slender women, but has obviously never missed a meal himself. He's a man whose own foul hypocrisy shames him, and I, as a person with a lifelong weight battle, have NO problem with him being called out for it.

[rb15]

95. Some of the replies here are very ignorant.

I guess I was hoping that because one person spoke up, there would be more self reflection.

I cant believe so many "facts" about the problems with obesity. More fat shaming but add facts to it too? This is such bullying behavior. This is what emotional abusers do. You say, this is shaming, please stop.
they say, "what's wrong with saying someone is fat"
they say, "well, I'm only concerned about your health"
then they say, "you are costing the tax payers too much money because you are fat and cause health problems"

Each person here who has said anything derogatory about fat, should be transparent and post their BMI, and all their bad habits. Are you living a completely clean lifestyle? No smoking, no weed, no sugar, exercise 30 min a day, no excessive spending, no cheating on your partner, no porn? Do you recycle? Do you cook your own food? Do you spend your money wisely? Do you donate your time to your community?

Each person probably doesn't want to be transparent about their "faults" because then it would level the playing field. Because then they would have to look at their own failings and problems. Bullying people about their weight is nothing more than a reflection of ones own insecurities. Watch Trump, its what he does. We have to learn this now to positively direct our energy towards equality and a positive future, Not continue to contribute to this awful bullying. It's juvenile and counter productive.

[johnp3907]

107. There are people here who call Fla. governor Ron DeSantis Rhonda Santis.

Because they feel that calling a man by a woman’s name is an insult. I put those idiots on full ignore.

[crickets]

149. Well said. nt

[Raine]

97. Totally agree ... Even for Trump it's repulsive seeing the word FAT put

before sn insult like "turd, orange etc etc" no point in doing that at all!

[Blue Owl]

106. As some may have noticed, I enjoy referring to tRump as a fat piece of shit

When I say this, my use of the term "fat" is to describe a turd, not a person. Like a giant, bloated, hulking chunk of fecal matter that still clogs your toilet no matter how many times you plunge it. I have no problem shaming a nasty, stinking turd, and I do not consider tRump a human being; he is a thoughtless, cold-hearted, cruel, rancid, self-serving pile of rectal excretion.

I can't think of an actual human being whom I would refer to as a fat piece of shit. That term is reserved for the odious, oversized, maggot-infested, steaming hunk of feces that can only be tRump, and tRump only...

[Skittles]

108. I agree with this assessment

yes indeed

[littlemissmartypants]

113. Welcome to DU, RegularJam!

Congratulations on most probably having a post make it to the Greatest page. I hope you are able to stay a while.

Any kind of body shaming is wrong.

DU doesn't have a premium on the moral high ground, but thanks for the opportunity to see us examine our personal failings.

Be sure to check out and subscribe to, those of our many wonderful groups that may tickle your fancy. It's a great way to make friends.

Stay strong.

❤ pants

[JI7]

114. What if we are fat or have been fat ?

[Hekate]

115. Probably we should keep our mouths shut so we don't inadvertently "shame" someone by accident

Last edited Sat Jun 12, 2021, 03:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Over the years, I’ve made no bones about my own struggles, how I discovered one shocking cause (a medication I was on for fibromyalgia starting at a slender age 40, that flipped a switch in my brain that turned off my lifelong ability to regulate sweets — and how I literally could feel the switch flip back on once the medication cleared my system 50+ pounds later). How I grew up with a mother who just hated herself for her body. How very early in life I decided to have nothing to do with the societal cruelty that reinforced those sad feelings in others.

That kind of thing is called personal insight. It’s not all about me.

During the years I was gaining weight and couldn’t figure out what went wrong, you bet I got shaming from my medical providers, every one of whom had a list of my medications in front of them and not one of whom could be bothered to connect the dots between the “tri-cyclic” and the woman sitting in front of them. It still pisses me off when I recall it — but not once did I confuse myself with Donald Fucking Trump.

I look at each person as a person — my friends of whatever size who are dear to me, and the person Trump is who is a murderous dictator wannabe who is also a piggish slob.

But, this is a nice, divisive thread, isn’t it? The F(at) word must be banned lest someone mistake a comment about an evil orange man as a comment about themselves. The F word must be banned lest someone feel the S(hame) word that is directed toward a sociopath who has no S word at all, is somehow intended toward them personally. No, no it isn’t.

I get a vibe off this thread almost like the “let’s all kick DiFi” thread earlier today: it’s not only not helping, it’s counterproductive.

[PatSeg]

139. Very well said

[Marrah_Goodman]

153. Then you would realize how hurtful and unhelpful that is.

Also, were you just a little overweight or really overweight. There is a difference.

[KentuckyWoman]

116. I am fat.

I once told a doctor in his own waiting room, after he acted like the south end of a horse... .

Yes. I have a fat ass. He is a fat ass. I do battle every day to avoid having to buy bigger dresses. He can give up. They don't make a hat that big.

I walked out of his office my head held high 50 years ago and still proud for it.

My husband had never heard me cuss before then I have gotten rather good at it since..

[Buckeye_Democrat]

118. My public school teachers had strict policies against it...

... even back in the 70's, so it's not like it's a new thing either.

During my "red hair" period in elementary school, my personal observation at that time was that being a "ginger" was the only appearance-shaming that was still acceptable. Even the teachers back then would "join in the fun" and laugh about it. I felt like a big weight was lifted from my shoulders as my hair started turning brown. Went from blonde to red to brown as a child. And yes, I was treated like a prince during the blonde years!

Edit: I was surrounded by mostly German-Americans when I was a kid, so maybe that was a factor?

[alphafemale]

119. trumpety looks like he does because of his gluttony and sloth

He also has Pride - Greed - Lust - Envy and Wrath.
But that's for another day.

I think his spoiled child diet of fast food and his aversion to even moderate exercise (i.e. driving golf carts onto the green) are open subjects for mockery.

[Hekate]

142. The Seven Deadly Sins: he's got them all

When people in past millenia enumerated what they called sins, when it came to the “Seven Deadlies” they were calling out behaviors and psychological traits that were extremely destructive to the self and those around them.

Behold this man, consumed by rage and vanity, lust and greed. He would be pathetic if he were not so dangerous.

[alphafemale]

144. He is spectacularly loathsome.

He has not even a sliver of detectable decency.

[Lemon Lyman]

120. K

&

R

[Duppers]

122. Many fat people have emotional problems.

I was not obese but really overweight some yrs ago. I was angry as hell and kept eating to stuff that anger down. Yes, I knew exactly what was wrong, why I was angry and with whom.

My husband went with me a doctor's appointment and complained to my doc that I was over-eating. My doc told him to stop and never complain about my weight again. I could have hugged her. He never mentioned my weight again!

A yr later I was almost 50lbs lighter. From a size 16 to a size 8/9. I knew what was healthy & what wasn't; it wasn't information I was lacking it was serenity and motivation. Stress played a major role in my weight problem, I think proving, in most cases: Fat shaming doesn't help the person.

But yes, it bothers me to see a rather homogeneous population pretending nothing is wrong with gobbling down tons of greasy, sugar-filled foods, seemingly without a care in the world and acting as if their choice of foods is normal. There are regional norms. Can they all have psychological problems? Probably? Or is it just their regional values? Their ignorance? Go back a couple of generations and I don't think you'd find the same values.

I know some inner city populations don't have access to healthy foods, fresh veggies, etc. But why are these weight problems now so prevalent in middle-class Americans?

This doesn't happen so much in European or Asian countries. Why?

[Hekate]

143. Everywhere on the planet where the "American diet" is adopted, obesity skyrockets...

Our American food products and food-like products have been scientifically engineered in to keep you eating: mouth-feel, crunchability, smoothness, salt, sugar, color, temperature.

It’s proven science. I call it contamination. But there you have it.

[DrToast]

162. " This doesn't happen so much in European or Asian countries"

Are you joking?

Global obesity rates are skyrocketing everywhere, including many European and Asian countries.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_obesity_rate?wprov=sfti1

[dalton99a]

126. So when are you going to ban Trump cartoons?

What's next? Nobody can say Trump is mentally ill because it's insulting to the mentally ill?

[pwb]

131. I don't see it?

That is a personal attack and subject to being alerted on. Any posts like that are judged by our peers. We all decide on these things here. Maybe you will see that in time?

[crickets]

148. For anyone who has ever thought to themselves (or said out loud, thanks so much)

"wow, she's really let herself go" let me clue you in on something you may not realize, something I didn't realize either until it happened. Menopause can be downright mean. I was thin most of my life, only occasionally having to put in extra work to keep things that way. Past a certain point, it's become a losing battle. The change in the way I'm treated isn't just because I'm older. I'm well aware that much of the reason I am invisible until mockworthy is because of my weight. It's unkind and it has little to do with who I am as a person. Someone above said it better than I can, but I'll mention it again: just because you're aiming "fatty" insults at someone you think is a bad person doesn't mean you aren't also hitting others as well. Just a thought.

Thank you for this post, RegularJam.

[BannonsLiver]

157. This thread is really woke.

[Blue_true]

165. I believe that people get so worked up about people like Trump that

they don’t see problems with some of the things that they post describing him. I believe that Trump is one of the most vile people that I have ever witnessed, but there are ways to describe him that doesn’t rely on his weight.

[Goodheart]

167. Is it impolite to describe someone as "fat"?

If so, what's the alternative?

[Kali]

169. it doesn't bother me that much

but the excusing that happens when someone points out the collateral "injury" whenever we ridicule the other side with specifics like gender, appearance, sexual orientation does kind of bother me.

honestly, sometimes the insults are just funny. but I still understand the complaint against them and I personally try not to use language that hurts others when insulting the likes of him.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

170. Why aren't the food companies

Made accountable for all the sugar they put in food, why do they maximize carbs salt and sugar they cram into food. Why are supermarkets not held into account for charging so much for good food while crap food loaded with carbs and sugar are kept so cheap.

It's like they wanna kill the poor and slowly poison people with ridiculous amounts of carbs and sugar and addicting people like any pusher of drugs would..