# Thread about overweight fictional heroes—insensitive? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 13, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362 "2021-07-13T02:02:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/1 "2021-07-13T02:02:33Z")
I was inspired by super spy George Smiley in the novels of John LeCarre. I want Dopers to mention others, but figured I better test the idea here, before I post it in Cafe Society. If I’m being ignorant or insensitive, let fly. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/2 "2021-07-13T02:25:27Z")
Did you want a “Hey, let’s name some overweight fictional heroes” thread, or was there something more specific you wanted to discuss? ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/3 "2021-07-13T02:27:27Z")
Jack Aubrey is a fictional naval hero, and needs to lose a few. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/4 "2021-07-13T02:27:56Z")
And there’s Nero Wolfe, too. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/5 "2021-07-13T03:31:01Z")
I’m overweight, and it would not offend me in general. I suppose it’s possible for you to present it in such a way as I would turn away in dismay, but it would have to be pretty bad. It might be interesting to focus on how they succeeded as heroes without physical prowess (or with less of it than usual). ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/6 "2021-07-13T03:50:50Z")
For the George Smiley character, I see his being overweight as an advantage. I’ll say more in the CS forum. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/7 "2021-07-13T03:51:21Z")
Yes, just that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/8 "2021-07-13T04:06:31Z")
Some people got worked up about Fat Thor. But I doubt it was very many. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/9 "2021-07-13T04:22:43Z")
There’s also Mycroft Holmes, and to some extent, Mr Parker Pyne. I also envisage Maigret as being a bit overweight? ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/10 "2021-07-13T06:12:03Z")
Former detective Frank Cannon as portrayed by William Conrad in **Cannon**? TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![HughGoply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hughgoply/32/7834_2.png) [@HughGoply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HughGoply)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/11 "2021-07-14T01:57:44Z")
I think this is as bad as starting a thread with a racial slur in the title. It’s hate speech. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/12 "2021-07-14T02:05:43Z")
Yes, it could be better. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![HughGoply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hughgoply/32/7834_2.png) [@HughGoply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HughGoply)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/13 "2021-07-14T02:08:07Z")
Fictional heroes who are larger-bodied persons. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/14 "2021-07-14T02:10:32Z")
> [@HughGoply](#): > > It’s hate speech Is it though? I’m overweight and not at all offended. In fact, I want to cheer them on. Yes! Go be fat AND successful! What I’m offended by is Hollywood’s way of taking a person who is described as overweight by the writer and casting somebody skinny in the role. Such as “Where the Heart Is” where obese character Lexi Coop is played by Ashley Judd who liked to eat in the role but never showed an ounce of fat. ---
**Author:** ![HughGoply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hughgoply/32/7834_2.png) [@HughGoply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HughGoply)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/15 "2021-07-14T02:13:50Z")
Fat is better than overweight. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/16 "2021-07-14T04:29:41Z")
I’m overweight. I don’t object to the thread or the title. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/17 "2021-07-14T04:51:21Z")
Not so much. Look despite the fact that I do not like BMI, and it is unscientific , it is widely used by medical and health professionals. Thus “overweight” is not hate speech, and I _am_ overweight. “Fat” is not very good and I do not like Obese either, despite the fact that yes, BMI uses it. > [@carnut](#): > > What I’m offended by is Hollywood’s way of taking a person who is described as overweight by the writer and casting somebody skinny in the role. Like the _House with a Clock in it’s Walls._ ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/18 "2021-07-14T05:01:11Z")
> [@HughGoply](#): > > Fat is better than overweight. As a person constantly struggling with my weight (with varying success) and technically obese, I disagree vehemently. “Overweight” is a clinical term determined by BMI. “Fat” is just a slur. (Unless you want to be pedantic and talk about people with extremely large muscle mass who are technically overweight despite having low body fat percentages, but I am pretty sure that’s not an issue in that discussion.) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/19 "2021-07-14T08:23:57Z")
> [@HughGoply](#): > > Fictional heroes who are larger-bodied persons. You mean like Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson? He’s pretty large. > [@HughGoply](#): > > Fat is better than overweight. Call me “overweight” and I’ll say, “Yep”. Call me “fat” and I’ll punch you. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362/20 "2021-07-14T14:55:55Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > As a person constantly struggling with my weight (with varying success) and technically obese, I disagree vehemently. “Overweight” is a clinical term determined by BMI. “Fat” is just a slur. I’ve tried before and failed to find a link to Daniel Pinkwater doing a piece about “the F word”; which I heard once on the radio many years ago, and have regretted ever since not having at least gotten on tape. Pinkwater’s fat. So am I. I’m with the people trying to claim the word as a neutral descriptor. I understand that there are lots of others who disagree with this – it’s controversial. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-about-overweight-fictional-heroes-insensitive/946362.md?page=2)