# Is obesity a banned topic?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obesity-a-banned-topic/224976>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [January 17, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obesity-a-banned-topic/224976 "2004-01-17T19:45:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [January 17, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obesity-a-banned-topic/224976/1 "2004-01-17T19:45:37Z")

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I’ve heard in a land, far, far away, that “fat” topics are being automatically locked. Is this true? We cannot discuss obesity on the Straight Dope anymore?

This would be terrible, since obesity is such a pervasive condition in this country, and there is such rampant ignorance about it, it seems a ripe subject for the SD to address from time to time.

The reasoning is supposedly that all threads involving obesity automtically turn into a train wreck…but that would seem to only apply to the Pit, not GD.

So…what’s the word?

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**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obesity-a-banned-topic/224976/2 "2004-01-17T20:18:31Z")

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No, it’s not a banned topic. I (and I believe most other staff members) WILL keep a close eye on threads about obesity, because those threads have a tendency to turn into trainwrecks. But I won’t automatically close a thread on obesity like I would on, say, advice on how to circumvent copyright protection on a game disc.

Now, it’s true that a FAT BASHING thread will automatically be closed, but I don’t think that this is what you’re asking about. I will also close just about all sorts of bashing threads, except for the ones which bash idjits. As far as I’m concerned, bashing idjits is not only allowed, it’s encouraged.

I know of this “land far, far away” and I have to tell you, I recognize the voice of one of our trolls in many of the “anonymous” posts. Many items which are presented as facts are not true, or are only partially true.