Today, someone "jokingly" said to me: "I'll bet when you were born, they had to tie knots in your legs to make knees". I have always been thinner than I really want to be and I don't really take kindly to these kinds of remarks. If I act insulted, then all I hear are the remarks about how I'm overreacting and I should be glad I'm SO thin...but the truth is, I AM insulted. If people wouldn't comment on someone's obesity right to their face, how do they justify making just as crude of a remark to ME?
2007-02-07 16:58:26 · 14 answers · asked by LolaCorolla 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It makes sense to me; it seems to me that remarks of any kind about appearance contribute to our society's obsession with body image. I recently commented on how thin a friend of mine was, but it wasn't necessarily a compliment -- she was too thin, and I found out that she had recently lost weight from stress over a failed relationship...
2007-02-07 17:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Our society is definitely obsessed with appearance - to the point that people, sometimes even total strangers, now feel it's appropriate to comment to someone who is fat or thin. It's all the same, and it's all exceedingly rude. If it's someone you know very well, and you'd like to ask questions because of a genuine concern for health, go ahead, but otherwise, aquaintances, co-workers and the guy on the street should simply pass by and keep their comments to themselves. It's great to hear someone standing up from the "thin" perspective, because it does seem that there are more people who are thin who are flattered by this attention, although it's just as negative as the attention received by those of us who are overweight.
2007-02-08 09:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by JenV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hear you!!! People can be insulting and not even realize it!! I have always struggled to gain weight and these comments hurt. It is astounding how many people will question your health and eating habits as if you were anorexic or something! I don't think these comments are appropriate..."you should consider yourself lucky to be thin" and "when was the last time you had a real meal?" Lucky? Being too thin can cause health problems!
2007-02-08 01:22:14 · answer #3 · answered by jewels2078 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The people must envy you. Their comment is that of being in a society where obesity is frowned upon, but is the average condition of Americans. Being insulted is to not understand the comment. You are not the target of the hurtful remark, it is all the person who said it. Patience and brotherly kindness is a tremendous step, but you can take it, and improve your life.
2007-02-08 01:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to be thin, but now I'm a chub monster. However, being on both sides of the spectrum, the reason most people can be rude is because they are envious of your slim self. Let's face it, in America, its OK to be thin, and be considered beautiful. However, being overweight is not acceptable, or at least isn't considered beautiful. Sort of consider it like poking fun at the cheerleaders. They are the popular ones, but at the same time, most females who didn't make the squad tell everyone they wouldn't be caught dead as a cheerleader, or even being friends with one. Making fun of fatties is considered rude; acknowledging a slim physique is not, even though being on the receiving end isn't fun.
2007-02-08 01:09:57 · answer #5 · answered by puppyfred 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fact is, my friend, that your natural thinness is a source of envy for most people. The majority of Americans are overweight and yet society tells them they are worthless unless they look like you, and questioning your health is, for them, a chance to give back the abuse they get.
I have struggled with my weight my entire life, and am very happy to be back at a very curvy size 4. Then I see little girls who naturally stay at that size despite what they eat whining about how hard they try to "gain weight", and it heaps insult upon injury. If you know someone who has had their legs amputated, do you invite them out to a dance club? Or an alcoholic to the bar? No: you don't dangle something forbidden in front of someone with a medial condition. That's called being rude.
The fact is that gaining weight is easy for almost every human being on the planet. Wait until you hit thirty and keep eating those Big Macs you mow in order to "maintain your weight" - see how long you stay at that bony size 2.
2007-02-08 03:17:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mysterious Gryphon 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Fat people who talk **** like that really piss me off. I don't talk to people about their bodies, so they shouldn't talk to me about mine either. I'm skinny, I get the jokes all the time. But honestly, at least I'm not fat. I wish I could gain weight, but it's not easy. In fact, it's probably easier fo a fat person to lose 20 pounds than for me to gain 20 pounds.
2007-02-08 02:53:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They dont realize it. When I was younger, I was a toothpick even though I ate normally and some people would ask me if I was anorexic. I was pretty mortified that they were basically asking me if I had a psychological problem!
2007-02-08 07:59:12 · answer #8 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have the same problem. remarks like that make me feel awkward too and it sometimes gets to me. but i try not to take it personally, i like being skinny.
2007-02-08 02:16:45 · answer #9 · answered by VCP 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be glad that you are one of the luckiest person to be thin. If they make fun of you because you're thin, that means they're fat. Just like thin people make fun about fat people. Make fun of them becausse they are fat and your problem's solved. If they won't admit they're fat, why did they make fun of you?
2007-02-08 01:22:05 · answer #10 · answered by BryanB 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋