Bullshit. The complaints mostly had to do with slovenly and gluttonous behavior.
I realize that many people have no control over their weight and thus should not be flamed for being overweight. The two individuals being called “sluts” here were complaining about the behavior of individuals, not the fact that they were overweight. Yes, they used “fat” as in insult, but it was the actions of the individuals that was being flamed.
I am not slender, the flames did not insult me because I did not identify with the flamee. I may be overweight, but I do not scarf down as many donuts as I can and I don’t lay around doing nothing all day.
Remember people will also jump on you if you call someone a nigger. It’s just that people have got the message and don’t.
At a guess fat-sayers-jumpers-on feel there’s a underlying problem (disgust of fat) a symptom of which is using ‘fat’ as an insult, and haven’t noticed much of a one for, say, stupidity.
The New Pit
OP: “…is a fucking goat-felching, ft, std disgrace to humanity!"
Mod: "Don’t us the f word in the pit!”
Lesse… Please produce evidence that the posters in question are sluts. I’d also like to see where they attacked a single doper in any way.
In both those threads the posters detailed precisely why the target of their rants were not very worthy human beings, and the issue of weight only came up after it became fairly clear that it symptomatic of their greed and self-involvement.
I would never condone mocking someone based solely on a physical characteristic, but I guess in my own [admittedly warped] moral code, once you prove yourself to an arse, some of the precepts of common courtesy need longer apply to you.
Who_Me, I quote **Newton_Meter[/n] in BBJ’s thread, who summed it all up quite well:
She went out of her way in the thread to use the fact that the guy was fat as an insult. If you use the fact that somebody is fat is an insult you are saying that being fat is something worth insulting. If you say that being fat is something worth insulting, you insult all fat people. Actually you do more than insult them - you perpetuate an atmosphere in which fat is something to insult. It’s the exact same argument that we always have around this place about people using “fag” as an insult.
Because, Gary, “stupid” is a subjective measure. Nobody has ever been able to quantify intelligence in any meaningful way. Gazza was able at a glance to analyse a complex and rapidly evolving situation involving 22 men and then, without looking again, play just the right pass at just the right moment to break the game up. That clearly involves a very developed level of a certain kind of intelligence. And yet academically and communicatively he was clearly as thick as two short planks.
People aren’t going to self-identify as “stupid” - it’s too vague and, ultimately, meaningless. Calling someone “stupid” is not going to cause aggravation to millions of harmless individuals. People aren’t going to kill themselves throwing up stupidity.
Not to mention the fact that if someone is simply being stupid then that is worthy of insult. Merely being fat is not.
To call my attention over here, but you’ve gotta spell it right for it to work.
I’m willing to admit that I can be oversensitive at times. Ok, fuck that, I can be a downright asshole and prick. And I don’t really think BottledBlondJeanie actually holds as malice as I attribute to her. But dammit, there’s a fine line between insulting those who deserve to be royally insulted and insulting those who don’t deserve insult.
That’s part of the art of bitching and moaning. Jeanie failed to execute this important manuever. I give BBJ a 2.7 due to the unfocused nature of her rant.
First, there are a number of measures of intelligence, just as there are a number of measures of fatness. And when someone calls another person “fatty”, do you honestly think they’re referring to an objective scale such as BMI, or just making a subjective criticism?
People do self identify as stupid, and do give themselves a hard time about it. If you don’t believe this, I would suggest you spend a weekend or two assisting at any special needs centre. I’ve seen kids with Down syndrome strip themselves to bits about being stupid.
So, why is being stupid worthy of insult? What is it about being born a bit slow that is more worthy for rebuke than being born with the genetic tendency to gain weight?
Believe me, I throw words like stupid, slut and even fat around when I’m trying to insult someone - but must of us do, without any thought about what we’re actually saying. To then pick on a couple of people for one particular word when we all have done similar is wrong.
Because by and large, the SDMB is largely composed of people who don’t identify as stupid.
And modern lifestyle and diet and the distribution of human metabolism being what it is, those with enough free time to be SDMB regulars will have a significant percentage of those who identify as overweight.
I don’t happen to think that’s a “good” reason, either. I wouldn’t advise holding your breath for it to change, though.
Don’t get paranoid, Gary - this isn’t a personal attack on you, it just happens that you’re raising points that I want to challenge - you seem like a nice bloke to me!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that you can call someone stupid without meaning that they are stupid, so much as acting stupid or doing something stupid. Mr Cazzle is the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life, and yet I’ve called him stupid on one or two occasions when he’s done something without thinking it through - ie, he’s done something stupid.
There’s a difference between "Your idea is stupid"or “Don’t be stupid” and “You’re stupid”.
Redboss wrote a msterful OP that should go down in SDMB Blister The Paint off the Walls Rants Hall of Fame.
I hold two mutually contradictory points of view:
**A: Picking on people for their weight is petty and mean.
**B:Obesity is a health problem that needs to be combated.
So, on the one hand, some jerk who says, “Fat people are ugly, eww!” needs to be slapped down because it’s both hateful and untrue. In the “bear” community, having ample proportions is an asset and it’s the thin guys who don’t get laid (making for some sad little “otters.”) Some of the nicest people here are heavy and kinda sexy, too. Naming no names, but there are at least a couple of straight, heavy DC/MD/VA Dopers who are positively yummy!
On the other hand, obesity is a common health problem that leads to diabetes, cancer, and heart problems. I encourage people to lay off processed foods, eat their tuna and veggies, and get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week. Living healthily is a good thing.
Being obese is a health problem, not a moral failing. It does not reflect on your character or your will power. It’s something to work on, but we all have areas in our lives that need improvement.
As a somewhat fat person, and a former slut, it’s awfully hard to figure out where I stand on this thread.
I opened the “have a another piece of pie” thread thinking I was going to have to paddle someone’s butt for weight comments, but then I saw what the OP was really about.
But Redboss has a point–it’s just not a very kind thing to throw around as a descriptor. My flabby ass, ample bosom, and wide padded hips thank you for your consideration.
