# Because you have the technology does NOT make it ok to use it, asshole. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 13, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036 "2010-06-13T19:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/81 "2010-06-14T01:35:02Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > –Rand Rover, garden variety asshole. I am always happy to acknowledge self-awareness - it’s the cornerstone for the development of a healthy psyche. So congratulations on a solid beginning, and I wish you the best on your journey of self-dscovery. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/82 "2010-06-14T01:38:04Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > You giggling to yourself, or even nudging your friends and directing their attention, then giggling in a way that doesn’t make it obvious, is not the pinnacle of niceness, but it’s relatively benign, of course, and I think you know that. I think you also know the difference between that and what the person who posted the picture did. > > I take issue with your general position, though, if I understand it correctly. It seems to include the following parts: > > 1. Fat people choose to be fat. > > 2. Because they choose it, it’s ok to be unkind to them. > > 3. Some fat people don’t choose it, they have some underlying biological reason for it, so they don’t deserve to have people be unkind to them about it. > > 4. People with bad taste choose bad taste, so they also deserve mockery and derision. > > 5. People who are wearing clothes that look like crap because they have to for some other reason don’t deserve to be mocked because they can’t help it. > > If we accept without question that all these things are true, (I don’t, but for the moment..) the default position seems clear: the existence of persons who fall into categories described in #3 and #5 preclude indulging in mockery and derision of fat people or people with hideous outfits, because you have absolutely no way of knowing why they are fat or why they are wearing a hideous outfit. And if you consider yourself a decent human being, your belief that more people than not fall into the choose/deserve category makes no difference, since your desire to indulge in mockery and derision does not (among decent people) trump the need to be respectful of people who do not deserve mockery and derision. I have difficulty following your logic. My opinion is a morbidly obese person wearing ridiculous, tight, look-at-me clothing with no other reason than choice, causes me to give that person the reaction he/she is looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/83 "2010-06-14T01:39:31Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > I have difficulty following your logic. My opinion is a morbidly obese person wearing ridiculous, tight, look-at-me clothing with no other reason than choice, causes me to give that person the reaction they are looking for. _ **You don’t know** _ the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/84 "2010-06-14T01:43:08Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > a morbidly obese person wearing ridiculous, tight, look-at-me clothing… causes me to give that person the reaction he/she is looking for. And i gather from this you are saying that such a person is “looking for” the reaction of being laughed at and made fun of? Because you have to know how ridiculous that is. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/85 "2010-06-14T01:43:17Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I wish you the best on your journey of self-dscovery. Right back atcha. The first thing you may want to discover is how many more chins you have than the average non-fatty. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/86 "2010-06-14T01:44:36Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > _ **You don’t know** _ the reason. Oooh, so not only are people not responsible for being a fatty, they aren’t responsible for the clothes they wear. That’s some advanced fatty thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/87 "2010-06-14T01:47:33Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Oooh, so not only are people not responsible for being a fatty, they aren’t responsible for the clothes they wear. That’s some advanced fatty thinking. I love you. Kiss me. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/88 "2010-06-14T01:50:15Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > I have difficulty following your logic. My opinion is a morbidly obese person wearing ridiculous, tight, look-at-me clothing with no other reason than choice, causes me to give that person the reaction he/she is looking for. I have _no_ idea if [this picture](http://poorlydressed.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/129171151390006423.jpg?w=421&h=600) is the one that **Stoid** is outraged over but her OP reminds me of it. Looks like a doctor’s office, the text certainly makes it seem like a cell phone pic, she seems unaware, etc. The time shows that it’s after 10pm so maybe not an office… In this picture I doubt he’d have _taken_ it at all if she didn’t have the shirt on “I’m your upgrade.” Without that bragging shirt I’d say she still should wear her shorts a bit longer and pull her tshirt down to cover that stomach and not sit like she’s ready to give birth. Still, that’s just my opinion and she’s free to do what she likes. I get what you’re saying about the “Juicy” and other types of statement clothing. My sister bought me a tshirt (as a joke) that says “I had a terrible dream that I was a brunette” and I only wear it around the house. To me, if you’re going to wear a shirt that says “I’m your uprgrade” you’re asking yourself to be graded. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/89 "2010-06-14T01:54:07Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > To me, if you’re going to wear a shirt that says “I’m your uprgrade” you’re asking yourself to be graded. Yes, that’s the picture. Evidently it’s pretty widely distributed, since that’s not where I saw it. As for asking to be graded: bullshit. It’s a silly T-shirt, not an invitation to be judged by all and sundry, especially via public posting of a stolen photograph. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/90 "2010-06-14T01:55:23Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > And i gather from this you are saying that such a person is “looking for” the reaction of being laughed at and made fun of? > > Because you have to know how ridiculous that is. You’re right, No one ever seeks attention and doesn’t care whether it’s positive or negative. Nope. No one. You especially would not be familiar with it. However, I think you might have a different point with respect to your OP, and feel like we’re going off to the “fat” tangent. So, we can fuss at each other somewhere else, or here, since it’s your thread. I truly don’t want to hijack. On topic, people like Perez Hilton specialize in making fun of others for what they look like or are wearing. He got that whole “But look at you, you slob” and cleaned up considerably. And companies pay to advertise on his site. What does that mean? ---
**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:** [June 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/91 "2010-06-14T01:56:06Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Yes, that’s the picture. Evidently it’s pretty widely distributed, since that’s not where I saw it. > > As for asking to be graded: bullshit. It’s a silly T-shirt, not an invitation to be judged by all and sundry, especially via public posting of a stolen photograph. Oh bullshit yourself. If a girl with a great body was wearing shorts with her ass hanging out you want to tell me that you wouldn’t think “slut” and laugh if you saw her on a website where someone posted her picture? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/92 "2010-06-14T01:56:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you are suggesting that, as a matter of etiquette, people should refrain from posting someone’s pic w/o permission, well I don’t think you’ll get much argument. Actually, as someone who likes taking photographs, i would make an argument that posting someone’s picture without their permission is not a big deal. I like taking photos in cities, and cities are crowded places. People i don’t know sometimes end up in my pictures. Also, while i don’t often take photos specifically of people, i do sometimes. I’ve never taken a picture of someone specifically to ridicule them, but i have taken pictures of people that i find interesting or unusual in some way or another. They might dress in a peculiar way, or have interesting tattoos or hairstyles. All sorts of stuff. I can empathize with the argument that one should be respectful of other people’s wishes in this regard, but i always come down on the side of, “If you’re out in public, then you’re fair game for the camera.” Edit: This does not, of course, include invasions of personal space like trying to take pictures up women’s skirts. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/93 "2010-06-14T01:56:35Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I love you. Kiss me. I would if I could find your lips. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/94 "2010-06-14T01:58:18Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I have _no_ idea if [this picture](http://poorlydressed.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/129171151390006423.jpg?w=421&h=600) is the one that **Stoid** is outraged over but her OP reminds me of it. Looks like a doctor’s office, the text certainly makes it seem like a cell phone pic, she seems unaware, etc. The time shows that it’s after 10pm so maybe not an office… > > In this picture I doubt he’d have _taken_ it at all if she didn’t have the shirt on “I’m your upgrade.” Without that bragging shirt I’d say she still should wear her shorts a bit longer and pull her tshirt down to cover that stomach and not sit like she’s ready to give birth. Still, that’s just my opinion and she’s free to do what she likes. > > I get what you’re saying about the “Juicy” and other types of statement clothing. My sister bought me a tshirt (as a joke) that says “I had a terrible dream that I was a brunette” and I only wear it around the house. To me, if you’re going to wear a shirt that says “I’m your uprgrade” you’re asking yourself to be graded. Well, she also misspelled “Upgrayedd” (and I’m sure I need not mention the reason for the double Ds). ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/95 "2010-06-14T01:59:20Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Edit: > > This does not, of course, include invasions of personal space like trying to take pictures up women’s skirts. Well you’re just no fun at all. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/96 "2010-06-14T02:01:56Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > You’re right, No one ever seeks attention and doesn’t care whether it’s positive or negative. I’ve never personally encountered anyone seeking negative attention focused on their appearance, no. If I did, I wouldn’t give it to them. Not for them, for me. > [@](#): > > On topic, people like Perez Hilton specialize in making fun of others for what they look like or are wearing. He got that whole “But look at you, you slob” and cleaned up considerably. And companies pay to advertise on his site. What does that mean? It means people are mean and they like to feel better about themselves by finding people to make fun of. Which is not a good thing for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/97 "2010-06-14T02:04:21Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > I have _no_ idea if [this picture](http://poorlydressed.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/129171151390006423.jpg?w=421&h=600) is the one that **Stoid** is outraged over but her OP reminds me of it. I laughed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/98 "2010-06-14T02:05:06Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I would if I could find your lips. Yeah, I’m not too happy about [that](http://www.nouilles.info/sdpix/1307.html), but raging at one’s DNA doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/99 "2010-06-14T02:07:51Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Oh bullshit yourself. If a girl with a great body was wearing shorts with her ass hanging out you want to tell me that you wouldn’t think “slut” and laugh if you saw her on a website where someone posted her picture? Ummm… no. Why would I? What part of it is funny? Her great body? What’s funny about that? I’ve never seen anyone laugh at women with great bodies, that makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036/100 "2010-06-14T02:10:43Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Yeah, I’m not too happy about [that](http://www.nouilles.info/sdpix/1307.html), but raging at one’s DNA doesn’t help. Well, shit. You actually have quite a pretty face there, Stoid. If you’d unfatify yourself, you’d be an attractive woman I’d bet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-you-have-the-technology-does-not-make-it-ok-to-use-it-asshole/543036.md?page=6)