# Attention whore or social commentator (Obese photographer)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251 "2013-05-13T18:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/81 "2013-05-14T20:32:54Z")
I was just thinking how much more effective this would be as a film project: set up the video camera the same way, and wear a wireless mic on her back somewhere (away from her breathing/swallowing noises), and she could allow us to both see and hear this mockery taking place. (In theory, anyway – I’m not sure how sensitive lav mics are, and you might get more white noise/background noise than intelligible commentary even if you can hear it.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/82 "2013-05-14T20:40:10Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > The cop’s hand is holding it. If you follow the part of her hair back, you can see his wrist. But with the shadow from the hat and the pale background from that building, I can see where you missed it. But it’s definitely the cops hand holding the hat by the back of the brim. I personally don’t see it, just the background clear through. But I guess it’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/83 "2013-05-14T21:38:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I personally don’t see it, just the background clear through. But I guess it’s just me. From left to right over her head: guy in pale blue shirt, white column, cop’s wrist part 1 (pink), cop’s wrist part 2 (pale grayish) ending at what looks like a part line in her hair, something yellow with a vertical gray line in the middle and a bit of purple at the bottom leading to head of guy in white shirt. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/84 "2013-05-14T22:45:57Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I’m obese. > > People look/stare at me when I walk down the street, because I’m different from the norm. Different from the norm? 1/3 of Americans are obese and 3/4 are overweight. At this point what is different from the norm is a trim person. The lady in the OP would have to be far fatter to be of any note to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/85 "2013-05-14T22:49:30Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > From left to right over her head: guy in pale blue shirt, white column, cop’s wrist part 1 (pink), cop’s wrist part 2 (pale grayish) ending at what looks like a part line in her hair, something yellow with a vertical gray line in the middle and a bit of purple at the bottom leading to head of guy in white shirt. I’m sorry, but I’m missing it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/86 "2013-05-14T23:04:27Z")
And I’m honestly not deliberately trying to be obtuse. I’m a photographer, and I can’t quite figure out what’s going on [here](http://www.pawinskiphotography.com/public/cop.jpg). This doesn’t mean that what I see is “correct” and set in stone. But what I see is a clear space above her head where the hat is, including a black line that extends from above the center of the crest/shield on the cop’s hat to below it. I’m not quite understanding where the cop’s hand is supposed to be. Maybe if there’s some motion blur involved or something. That siad, the resolution of the image leaves something to be desired as well. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/87 "2013-05-14T23:50:38Z")
From what I see, that dark pink/brown block of color (with a blue tinge on the right) directly to the right of the slice of white building behind her head under the hat is the cop’s wrist/forearm. The bottom of it connects to the dark shadow on the woman’s head. It is a bit of an optical illusion, but it’s definitely there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/88 "2013-05-15T00:02:15Z")
> [@supergoose](#): > > From what I see, that dark pink/brown block of color (with a blue tinge on the right) directly to the right of the slice of white building behind her head under the hat is the cop’s wrist/forearm. The bottom of it connects to the dark shadow on the woman’s head. > > It is a bit of an optical illusion, but it’s definitely there. Yeah, that’s the only place that looks plausible to me. Weird looking photo. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/89 "2013-05-15T00:14:39Z")
The woman is particularly dumpy looking, but I find it more in her unflattering clothes and pasty skin. If people are staring, its in the same way that they’d stare at any other pigeon-toed albino. A haircut, better posture, flattering clothes, and spending more time outdoors and she wouldn’t stand out nearly as much. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/90 "2013-05-15T00:15:19Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > [From here: [http://www.salon.com/2013/04/23/pictures\_of\_people\_who\_mock\_me](http://www.salon.com/2013/04/23/pictures_of_people_who_mock_me)](From here: [http://www.salon.com/2013/04/23/pictures\_of\_people\_who\_mock\_me/?fark](http://www.salon.com/2013/04/23/pictures_of_people_who_mock_me/?fark)) > > Basically, an obese woman sets up a very “look at me” situation in public whereby she draws attention to herself by having an accomplice train a camera on her. Of course people then glance at her, curious about who is being photographed. :rolleyes: Using the camera’s rapid-fire option, a photo is taken every nanosecond or whatever. > > The woman then pores through the photos looking for any that purport to show any strangers looking at her, or in her direction, with what she perceives as negative or judgmental expressions. This is taken as proof that she is being “mocked” for being fat. > > Finally, she publishes an article headlined "_ **For years, strangers have made fun of me for being fat. But I got my power back – by turning the camera on them"** _ > > Is it just me, or is this an utterly attention-whoring stunt? And how does she “get power back” by convincing herself that “yup, strangers really do stare at me mockingly cuz I’m a fat slob”? 😕 > > BTW, here is her website: [http://haleymorriscafiero.com/](http://haleymorriscafiero.com/) Note that she never includes any photos where people are paying no attention to her. She clearly admits that she cherry-picks only the ones that happen to show people looking in her general direction. some of the photos seem to be just about people looking at her not necessarily with any negative expression, some of them are indeed people showing a negative reaction to her either her weight or her fashion sense. Some of her photos are just about her looking lonely and/or looking at food. I thought this was quite interesting and respect her for exposing herself and her pain so publically to reflect the public attitude towards those of us who are not as attractive as others. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/91 "2013-05-15T00:29:19Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > The woman is particularly dumpy looking, but I find it more in her unflattering clothes and pasty skin. If people are staring, its in the same way that they’d stare at any other pigeon-toed albino. Man, I think this kind of stuff makes her point way better than any of her photos do. using _albino_ as an insult? why would anyone i don’t even **goddamn it** i hate it when art is right ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/92 "2013-05-15T00:35:40Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > But, but, but…according to her, her obesity is totally due to having hypothyriodism, not from eating “fattening food”. Ergo, there is no such thing as a “fattening food” for her, because her fatness has nothing to do with how many calories she eats. > > So why isn’t she “allowed” to have it? 😕 becasue when you are fat, regardless of the reason, complete strangers feel they can comment on what you are eating. they may do this to “normal” people as well but I have not experienced that. “are you going to eat ALL that?” (sandwich and fries). “if you just ate less you would be a pretty girl” " it is such a shame you are so heavy because you woudl be so pretty" and one of my favorites “If I had your body I would get rid of it”. so if you ae eating anything other than a small salad with no dressing, you start feeling like you are being judged whether you are or not. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/93 "2013-05-15T00:42:08Z")
Oh, but I am fat. And I have never had a stranger comment on my eating (or drinking) choices in public. Anyone who might do so is an asshole whose opinion is therefore, by definition, irrelevant. (I am also about six foot tall and tend to be rather jovial, which may make the difference.) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/94 "2013-05-15T00:45:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, that’s the only place that looks plausible to me. Weird looking photo. He’s got a nearly full sleeve of tats on the other arm, so I’m betting the one we can’t see is also heavily tattooed. So it’s harder to see because it’s not a flesh-colored piece of arm. And because the photo resolution is crap. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/95 "2013-05-15T00:50:01Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Oh, but I am fat. And I have never had a stranger comment on my eating (or drinking) choices in public. Anyone who might do so is an asshole whose opinion is therefore, by definition, irrelevant. > > (I am also about six foot tall and tend to be rather jovial, which may make the difference.) It kind of happens to women way more than men, though. ---
**Author:** ![Snow\_Pea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Snow\_Pea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snow_Pea)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/96 "2013-05-15T01:06:13Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > becasue when you are fat, regardless of the reason, A more accurate statement would be “Because a person chooses to eat more calories than they burn off, thus becoming fat, regardless of the reason…” ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/97 "2013-05-15T01:55:27Z")
> [@Tequila\_Party](#): > > Anyway, most of the pictures don’t really seem to have anyone looking at anything, much less with disgust. Sure, there might be three that could be interpreted that way, but like others have said, without context the setup doesn’t translate well. Also, I agree that a person of her size probably wouldn’t even garner much attention in even a health conscience local. She’s just pretty unremarkable in that regard. > > However, if I came across her, I might spare a slightly negative look. Why? She comes across as absolutely miserable, and in several photos, appears to actually sort of be in the way of what others are doing. So, yes, I may very well react to those things, but not at all to her weight. I’d say for her intended purpose with viewers, this experiment was a fail. I agree with this. There might be three pics in that bunch that I’d agree they were looking at her with disgust. If that’s the worst she got out of hundreds (if not thousands) of shots then she’s being fairly ridiculous IMHO. Still, she’s smart. She seems to be a completely unremarkable artist otherwise but she’s got her name out there and some articles and interviews out of it. Something tells me that’s what she was after in all of this. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/98 "2013-05-15T02:18:22Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Man, I think this kind of stuff makes her point way better than any of her photos do. using _albino_ as an insult? why would anyone i don’t even > > **goddamn it** i hate it when art is right Yeah, it’s certainly…interesting…that in this thread we’ve got people saying the passersby in this woman’s photographs aren’t looking at her in a judgmental or disapproving manner and we ALSO have people who feel it’s necessary to list all the reasons why they think she’s a hag. I haven’t even looked at the photos yet, but from reading this thread alone I find it easy to believe that this woman gets nasty looks from strangers in public all the time. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/99 "2013-05-15T02:23:30Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > He’s got a nearly full sleeve of tats on the other arm, so I’m betting the one we can’t see is also heavily tattooed. So it’s harder to see because it’s not a flesh-colored piece of arm. And because the photo resolution is crap. What’s up with that? Yeah, low resolution websites for photographers piss me right off. I mean, I understand (though I don’t do it myself) rezzing down to protect against somebody stealing and printing your photos, but these are really at shit resolution for a photographer’s portfolio. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251/100 "2013-05-15T02:31:44Z")
This is a brilliant project, both as art and as social commentary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-whore-or-social-commentator-obese-photographer/658251.md?page=6)