# Are fat jokes are back in style? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 10, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451 "2003-07-10T13:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/41 "2003-07-10T19:09:08Z")
I was making an example out of you, **Avalonian/** , not saying that you were a person who supposed the idea that fat was the last stereotype. I _did_ read your whole post. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/42 "2003-07-10T19:11:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*Ava, I never claimed Coulter’s remark was relevent to the discussion. I never claimed she was stying on-point either. \*\* You also didn’t answer my question… if Coulter wasn’t talking about her bestseller status, and wasn’t trying to insult Clinton, then why make that comment at all? What _was_ she trying to say, if not an insult? On preview… OK, **Necros**. Sorry 'bout that. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/43 "2003-07-10T19:13:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eutactic \* > \*\*What I don’t get is how it’s verboten to crack fat jokes, yet when a fat person tells a skinny one to “eat a cheeseburger!”, that’s perfectly fine. > > I can’t make fun of a chubby actress (say, Kathy Bates), yet it’s OK to accuse Jennifer Connelly of having an eating disorder? How does that make any sense? \*\* It doesn’t make sense. I once had a fat lady come up to me and say, “My God. You are _so_ skinny… you just make me sick. I wish God had given you my body and given me your body!” It was perfectly acceptable for her to do that to me yet if I’d gone up to her and said, “My God. You are _so_ fat… you just make me sick. I’m so glad God didn’t give me your body!” I’d be looked upon as a heartless bitch who was making fun of a fat person! Double standards are everywhere and they’re never going to go away. If the tables were turned and Clinton was asked the same question and her reply was, “I’ve got a 3 to 1 pound advantage over her…” people would laugh and think she was witty. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/44 "2003-07-10T19:17:15Z")
I think I did answer you question, Ava. I’ll repost it, though. > [@](#): > > I’ll admit **Coulter may have been having a little fun at Clinton’s expense** but I’d hardly call it a fat joke. If you’d like another answer, I can provide one. I’d say Coulter was comparing their books competing for first place on the bestsellers list to a boxing match of sorts. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/45 "2003-07-10T19:32:34Z")
Limbaugh may or may not be a serious commentator, but he at least dabbles quite a bit in stuff that’s clearly meant to be humorous, even if it is partisan. Coulter doesn’t have a funny bone in her body, and presents herself as a serious commentator all the time. Coulter also made a comment that basically was along the lines of “Muslims smell bad: at least you could sit on a train with a commie and not gag.” It may have been an attempt at humor, but it simply doesn’t compare to Limbaugh trying to be funny: he does parodies, jokes, he laughs when things are supposed to be jokes etc. When Coulter says things like this, she just stares steely eyed, serious as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/46 "2003-07-10T19:42:05Z")
How many television shows are out there that poke fun at the overweight? Recent shows I can think of off the top of my head include The Simpsons, Absolutely Fabulous, and South Park. I don’t think fat jokes went out of style and I doubt they will any time soon. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/47 "2003-07-10T19:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*I’d say Coulter was comparing their books competing for first place on the bestsellers list to a boxing match of sorts. \*\* So she’s saying Clinton’s book is heavier than hers? Or better? Nope… given Coulter’s rabid hatrid of all things Clintonian, I don’t buy it. As **Apos** suggests, she may have been trying to be funny, but it came out as a flat insult. And saying she was having “a little fun” at Clinton’s expense is pretty mild, don’t you think? It also doesn’t rule out the possibility of an insult. ---
**Author:** ![tomyoung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tomyoung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomyoung)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/48 "2003-07-10T19:49:41Z")
_JuanitaTech wrote_ > [@](#): > > I’d say Coulter was comparing their books competing for first place on the bestsellers list to a boxing match of sorts. Yes, a boxing match in which Clinton wieghed three times as much. So it’s a fat joke that involves boxing. This seems utterly straightforward to me. FWIW, I still don’t get where you’re coming from on this, **JuanitaTech**. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/49 "2003-07-10T19:58:26Z")
Might it be possible that Coulter was taking a relatively good-natured jab at herself and her already-noted lean frame, acknowledging that she has a slight build and thereby defusing any such criticism directed at her…? Whether fat jokes will ever go out of style or not, I’m exceptionally happy to have lost lost over 100 lbs. since last September with the help of bariatric surgery; I can attest to the prejudice against obese people and have seen a difference in the way people treat me now, even though I’m still not at an ideal weight. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/50 "2003-07-10T19:59:48Z")
I’m coming from the position that, while I understand that how someone would find Coulter’s remark insulting, I do not see it as a fat joke. Yes, I do agree that saying Coulter was having a little fun at Clinton’s expense is pretty mild because I see Coulter’s statement as pretty mild. I’m not trying to be argumentative, obtuse or insensitive but I really don’t see what the big deal is. For the record, (and I hate that I am establishing this as I don’t think it’s relevant) I’m neither a Clinton-basher nor a Coulter-supporter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/51 "2003-07-10T20:20:43Z")
"OTOH I heard few liberal complaints about Al Franken’s book title, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot. " I think that you’re missing a vital part of the humor of the title: Franken was making fun of the way that silly, immature comments were passing as political commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/52 "2003-07-10T20:38:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*I’m coming from the position that, while I understand that how someone would find Coulter’s remark insulting, I do not see it as a fat joke. \*\* Fair enough… however, can we at least agree that her comment was inappropriate in that context, since it pretty clearly had the potential to be insulting? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/53 "2003-07-10T21:20:56Z")
I’ll call her remark unfortunate. That’s my final offer! ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/54 "2003-07-10T21:27:27Z")
Deal! _shakes_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/55 "2003-07-10T21:29:30Z")
by **Kiki** : > [@](#): > > It doesn’t make sense. I once had a fat lady come up to me and say, “My God. You are so skinny… you just make me sick. **I wish God had given you my body and given me your body!** ” It was perfectly acceptable for her to do that to me yet if I’d gone up to her and said, “My God. You are so fat… you just make me sick. I’m so glad God didn’t give me your body!” I’d be looked upon as a heartless bitch who was making fun of a fat person! Double standards are everywhere and they’re never going to go away. I noticed that when you switch the tables around in order to make your point, you fail to say "I wish God had given you my skinny body and given me your fat one ". That’s a rather important distinction between the plight of the fat person and the plight of the skinny. Usually when fat people confront skinny folks as you’ve described, they are expressing envy, not disgust. As a skinny person myself, I can’t count the number of times people have joked about my weight, but it has never offended me because I know their teasing is not out to make me feel inferior. “Skinny as a rail” does not equal “fat as a cow” in terms of offensiveness to most people. That’s why this so-called double-standard exists. Tell the truth: Would you really want to live in a society that frowns upon descriptors such as skinny, thin, light, and waif? Talk about PC-ness! I can see why someone would be offended if they were called fat to their face; who exactly aspires to be overweight? But try as I might, I can’t see why anyone would be offended by being called skinny. People actually kill themselves trying to become skinny!! ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/56 "2003-07-11T00:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by you with the face \* > \*\*by **Kiki** : > But try as I might, I can’t see why anyone would be offended by being called skinny. People actually kill themselves trying to become skinny!! \*\* I see your point there, but really skinny folks (those suffering from anorexia) are generally viewed as looking horrible by most of us. And they SHOULD be offended by being called skinny, but due to their disease can’t do so. So you can only take the argument so far (maybe to the supermodel thin level, but I dunno, many of them look just freaky). Oh, the horror of it all. Not knowing the precise spelling of “anorexia”, I do a search using “weight disorders”. And the first offering was a website to buy diet pills. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreaming_of_Maria_Callas)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/57 "2003-07-11T05:28:37Z")
We’ve gone over this in the Pit. People offended at fat jokes (usually themselves overweight) complain about the fact that glandular problems cause obesity and thus it is wrong to mock them. But this is total crap, since other countries don’t have an obesity problem like America. It’s our diet, stupid. (We did have the obese poster who got closer to the truth, but still whined like she was a poor victim, who said she was “addicted” to fattening foods and shouldn’t be expected to have the willpower to overcome overeating). So, as long as the majority of the obese are actually to blame for their obesity, which they should understand is nearly universally sickening in our society, fat jokes can be expected to remain acceptable. UnuMondo ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/58 "2003-07-11T05:41:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UnuMondo \* > **So, as long as the majority of the obese are actually to blame for their obesity, which they should understand is nearly universally sickening in our society, fat jokes can be expected to remain acceptable.** So, by your logic, I can make fun of you for your choice in vehicle, music, movies, significant other, where you live, hair color, fashion, or any choice that you make, and it’s perfectly acceptable? Sorry, doesn’t fly with me… most of the obese people I know take full responsibility for their own choices, far from the “victims” you snidely describe, and though their choices have gotten them where they are, they _certainly_ don’t deserve to be made fun of for it. Nice attitude, **UnuMondo** , but next time why don’t you keep it in the Pit where it belongs. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/59 "2003-07-11T05:42:16Z")
I thought Coulter was talking about Hilary’s big fat book. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451/60 "2003-07-11T05:55:55Z")
**UM:** _So, as long as the majority of the obese are actually to blame for their obesity, which they should understand is nearly universally sickening in our society, fat jokes can be expected to remain acceptable._ Sorry you didn’t get the memo, but actually, no, fat jokes are not acceptable. All forms of mocking other people about their physical appearance are rude. No matter what their condition, no matter whether they’re “to blame for it” or not (and btw, the “blame” issue sounds like a pretty silly criterion anyway: by that token, it would be acceptable to mock smokers with lung cancer about how they look), no matter how many people find the condition “sickening”, it remains a flagrant breach of good manners to make fun of people for their personal appearance. Now, there will always be some rude people who are willing to argue and rationalize about why they shouldn’t have to give up mocking certain categories of people. But for anyone with manners, there is no issue to debate here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fat-jokes-are-back-in-style/187451.md?page=4)