# Body shaming insults should not be allowed here, towards anyone. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 27, 2018, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153 "2018-11-27T12:00:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/81 "2018-11-27T20:30:21Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Because, historically, women have been objectified and marginalized as though their appearance is all that matters. Social _history_ is important in determining what commentary is appropriate, not just the perfect symmetry of abstract concepts. Except here, the Op is talking mostly about a certain well known male politician. In fact, his Op seems more than a bit politically motivated. However, Beefcake and admiring male celebrities is also quite common. Let’s not be sexist. I think allowing comments about either sex of a celebrity is Ok. As long as they are indeed- a celebrity who chose that road. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/82 "2018-11-27T20:39:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, and I think if you took a deep breath and backed away from the thread you’d agree; but when someone is arguing something so ridiculous, there’s precious little chance of using reason to persuade them away from making that argument, so I’ll leave you to it. Since we’re in agreement that comments about a person’s intelligence, even negative ones, should be allowed, I’m not sure why you think we are arguing. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/83 "2018-11-27T20:57:12Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > In between numbers 7 and 8 in the current Rules For All Forums list, I would put something like: > > > [@](#): > > > > 7a Do not use insults or abusive nicknames directed against any person, on the message board or not, that negatively reference the way they look, dress, or otherwise comport themselves. That’s a lot broader than the OP, and if that’s what you want, I don’t agree at all. No fat-shaming is one thing, no comments on off-board people’s _clothing_? Fuck that noise. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/84 "2018-11-27T21:02:14Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yes, that is a good characterization of the OP. I don’t know where you get anger from the OP, it’s certainly not something I get angry about. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/85 "2018-11-27T21:09:34Z")
Ok, after thought and reading through the comments, and even reading my own suggestions about where such a rule would lead, it’s clear to me that we don’t need this rule here, it would be difficult to moderate, and restrain people and comment unnecessarily. I do think we should generally not do it, but then I’d quite like a pony too. Also, one more thing: > [@](#): > > Except here, the Op is talking mostly about a certain well known male politician. In fact, his Op seems more than a bit politically motivated. Not even a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/86 "2018-11-27T21:10:16Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Ok, after thought and reading through the comments, and even reading my own suggestions about where such a rule would lead, it’s clear to me that we don’t need this rule here, it would be difficult to moderate, and restrain people and comment unnecessarily. I do think we should generally not do it, but then I’d quite like a pony too. > > Also, one more thing: > > Not even a little bit. Fair enuf. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/87 "2018-11-27T21:10:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Except here, the Op is talking mostly about a certain well known male politician. How is that responsive to what I said? “Except” what, exactly? You asked why (in certain contexts) it’s unacceptable to talk about a woman’s appearance, when there might be more socially acceptable leeway to talk about a man’s appearance. > [@DrDeth](#): > > In fact, his Op seems more than a bit politically motivated. I know nothing about the OP’s political views, but this assumption seems unwarranted based on what he’s said here. I disagree with OP, but he seems to be raising the issue in good faith as a general principle of discourse. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/88 "2018-11-27T21:21:25Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Ok, after thought and reading through the comments, and even reading my own suggestions about where such a rule would lead, it’s clear to me that we don’t need this rule here, it would be difficult to moderate, and restrain people and comment unnecessarily. Whew! Guess I can unpack my bindle. If this place gets any more bubble-wrapped, it’ll be as much fun as a Puritan colony. Like everyone else, I look fucking stupid in a capotain. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/89 "2018-11-27T21:23:01Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Whew! Guess I can unpack my bindle. > > If this place gets any more bubble-wrapped, it’ll be as much fun as a Puritan colony. Like everyone else, I look fucking stupid in a capotain. I’m getting fed up of all the hat shaming that goes on around here. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/90 "2018-11-27T21:25:03Z")
The more I think about this, the more I think it would be a can of worms to try and enforce. It’s unfortunate that so many posters here think they are being clever by constantly calling certain politicians by names that reflect some aspect of their appearance. But I think the cure would be worse than the disease. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/91 "2018-11-27T21:29:10Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I know nothing about the OP’s political views, but this assumption seems unwarranted based on what he’s said here. I disagree with OP, but he seems to be raising the issue in good faith as a general principle of discourse. Quotes from the Op:_For instance, if there’s a fat politician, you may have a problem with their policies, …Let’s be honest, the problem people have with Trump is not that he has small hands…Trump is probably a bad example (and I am not suggesting this change to protect Trump at all) but for everyone who makes a choice to look like something, there are people who are forced to look like that through no fault of their own - perhaps a spray tan to cover blotchy skin. …If a politician were to go on twitter and announce that they think Mexicans are rapists, I don’t think the correct response is to mock their hair…“The Orangutan In Chief”…I can’t believe Trump has been saying those things about Hillary! His own face is so ugly that when he was born, the midwife slapped his mother!_ In other words, every example of the body shaming he is complaining about was about Trump. Not about any other politician or celebrity. \*Just \*Trump. So it seemed to me he didnt like complaints about Trumps appearance. Now, he has said that isnt his motivation, and so OK, I accept that. But when you give a half dozen examples and they are all about one person, I think a inference is reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/92 "2018-11-27T21:29:18Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The more I think about this, the more I think it would be a can of worms to try and enforce. It’s unfortunate that so many posters here think they are being clever by constantly calling certain politicians by names that reflect some aspect of their appearance. But I think the cure would be worse than the disease. Agreed. I don’t think it would be enforceable, and really have no idea how they could word such a rule in any case. But on the other side I can see why such body shaming comments might and probably do upset a lot of people. In the end I think the ‘don’t be a jerk’ rule is still going to be the catch all to keep the board in line. I’ve noticed mods passing out some…well, not warnings but basically messages to back off…lately for some stuff related to the OP. I think that’s the best that can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/93 "2018-11-27T21:31:09Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I look fucking stupid in a capotain. I guess now I can agree with you, you _do_ look fucking stupid in a capotain. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/94 "2018-11-27T21:35:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But when you give a half dozen examples and they are all about one person, I think a inference is reasonable. But not necessarily the interpretation you gave it. OP could quite reasonably be considering the complaints of various posters who _are_ just pro-Trump, and asking if there really is some reasonable and consistent principle that we should apply in the community. It’s not as though “if you can say this about Trump why can’t I say that about Michelle Obama” or similar hasn’t been a frequently raised issue. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/95 "2018-11-27T21:39:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In other words, every example of the body shaming he is complaining about was about Trump. Not about any other politician or celebrity. \*Just \*Trump. Yeah, fair. As I looked more into it this afternoon, it’s became obvious that the only real current target of this sort of thing _is_ Trump - fat shaming and other body-shaming just doesn’t happen that often on the board, as far as I could tell. > [@](#): > > So it seemed to me he didnt like complaints about Trumps appearance. Well, I don’t. I have no problems with complaints about Trump’s policies, his unprofessionalism or his creepy behaviour towards his daughter. There so much to complain about! But I don’t think body-shaming **anyone** is ok, and it’s certainly not ok to do it just because I don’t like the person. I should have come up with more non-Trump examples though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/96 "2018-11-27T21:50:35Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Yeah, fair… > I should have come up with more non-Trump examples though. I concur, which is why I accepted your explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/97 "2018-11-27T22:34:09Z")
> [@XT](#): > > So…yes. Yah me for parsing your ridiculous antics and getting you to finally actually answer a simple question. Feel free to continue whatever antics you seem to be enjoying. The “ridiculous antics” are the antics he enjoys. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/98 "2018-11-27T22:36:58Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Yeah, fair. As I looked more into it this afternoon, it’s became obvious that the only real current target of this sort of thing _is_ Trump - fat shaming and other body-shaming just doesn’t happen that often on the board, as far as I could tell. Chris Christy. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/99 "2018-11-27T23:12:36Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That’s a lot broader than the OP, and if that’s what you want, I don’t agree at all. No fat-shaming is one thing, no comments on off-board people’s _clothing_? Fuck that noise. Yep. No Best & Worst Dressed lists, no plastic surgery junkies, no Tan Mom, no “My 600Lb Life”, etc. What the hell do people want to ban next? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153/100 "2018-11-27T23:34:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Chris Christy. It’s _Christie._ Why you gotta name shame the man? Reported. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-insults-should-not-be-allowed-here-towards-anyone/825153.md?page=6)