# Why can't you say fat people are disgusting? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234 "2008-01-20T06:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/1 "2008-01-20T06:15:05Z")
I had thread closed for saying that we should tax fat people because they are disgusting. This was labeled as trolling. Now, it should be mentioned that I also listed other reasons for taxing fat people, but saying that fat people are disgusting is not trolling. It is a widely held opinion. Google combinations of “fat” “people” and “disgusting.” It is a widely held view. It may not be politically correct, but it is not trolling. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/2 "2008-01-20T06:20:43Z")
Of course you can. You just shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/3 "2008-01-20T06:22:19Z")
Here is a [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=452096) to the thread the OP mentioned, which was rightfully closed. You stated an opinion in Great Debates, firstly. Secondly, it is _your_ opinion that “everybody” holds that opinion, not fact. Thirdly, what constitutes unattractively overweight is objective, one person doesn’t mind a mate that is twenty pounds over their optimal weight, while a teenage girl laments the “fat” she has, which is actually her uterine bulge and diets herself to death. In short, you were posting objective opinion as mainstream culture. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/4 "2008-01-20T06:29:53Z")
That also implies that all women can have the perfect weight. There are cysts, PCOS, and other things that make a woman over her ideal weight. Dumbasses, like the OP will never understand this, however, so I am wasting my post. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/5 "2008-01-20T06:31:05Z")
You’re making fun of fat people when you’re only 2 1/2 inches of fun? Are you just mad because they’re having more fun than you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/6 "2008-01-20T06:32:30Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] That also implies that all women can have the perfect weight. There are cysts, PCOS, and other things that make a woman over her ideal weight. Dumbasses, like the OP will never understand this, however, so I am wasting my post. SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] That and other medical conditions in both genders, also. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2008, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/7 "2008-01-20T06:53:33Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] It is a widely held opinion. Google combinations of “fat” “people” and “disgusting.” It is a widely held view. It may not be politically correct, but it is not trolling. [/QUOTE] I typed **two and a half inches of fun moron douchebag** into Google and got over 2,000 hits. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/8 "2008-01-20T06:57:50Z")
I think you have misunderstood the question you are asking. You certainly can say that fat people are disgusting. What you cannot do is say it without revealing that you are an asshole to everyone who hears it. Perhaps you don’t think you are an asshole. But, you’re wrong. You are an asshole. If you were not such an asshole, it would be obvious to you. Take it from the very smart folks here, at the Straight Dope. Everyone, assure the OP that he is, indeed a complete asshole. Tris ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/9 "2008-01-20T07:00:45Z")
Methinks some bonafide assholes would resent that comment, **Tris**. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/10 "2008-01-20T07:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] Everyone, assure the OP that he is, indeed a complete asshole. Tris [/QUOTE] Nope, I think he is a troll. Of course, one can argue trolls _are_ assholes, but I think troll is the more precise word here. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/11 "2008-01-20T07:03:49Z")
A 2 1/2 inch asshole? :dubious: Methinks you’re looking at it from the wrong angle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/12 "2008-01-20T07:05:07Z")
If you were sincere, and not trolling, then congratulations! You’re an asshole! Grow up and and don’t be such a shallow douche. Are you really as dense as your OP implies? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/13 "2008-01-20T07:06:42Z")
Thanks for the link, **Zabali Clawbane** I’m feeling inclined to give **Der Trihs** a couple of days of free pass for his dickishness, just for his contribution to that thread. 😃 'Course, karmically speaking, that still leaves him about a year and a half behind… ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/14 "2008-01-20T07:06:43Z")
I am not really interested in the opinion of posters here. I was posting for a response from administration. But I do have to wonder if I said smokers are disgusting if my thread would have been closed and if people would still be calling me an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/15 "2008-01-20T07:07:06Z")
I meant to further add, that good, [debating](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_argument) [form](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentation_theory) is appreciated in Great Debates. Making such an objective statement, much less one so [bigoted](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry), is not a good [debate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate#Debate_and_argumentation_theory) tactic. It is expected that a person will at least try to follow the form when posting a topic in GD. That explains the “poisoned” comment the moderator made. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/16 "2008-01-20T07:07:54Z")
You will find, if you’re here much longer, which I doubt, that members here don’t take well to wholesale attacks on groups of people. Go away and be a shithead elsewhere. Note that I am referring to you specifically, not to an entire class of people. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/17 "2008-01-20T07:09:40Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] I am not really interested in the opinion of posters here. I was posting for a response from administration. [/QUOTE] Wow, a self-admitted troll!! You don’t see those every day. Most of them have at least _some_ sense. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/18 "2008-01-20T07:09:53Z")
Wait, now he’s a shithead? I thought he was an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/19 "2008-01-20T07:11:48Z")
[QUOTE=Heffalump and Roo] Wow, a self-admitted troll!! You don’t see those every day. Most of them have at least _some_ sense. [/QUOTE] How is that trolling? I want a response on why my thread was closed which is one the things the BBQ Pit is for: > [@](#): > > This is the place for all complaints and other discussion regarding administration of the SDMB. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2008, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234/20 "2008-01-20T07:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] I am not really interested in the opinion of posters here. [/quote] At least the feeling is mutual. [QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] I was posting for a response from administration. [/quote] They’ll probably be along soon, and will probably also tell you that you’re an asshole and a troll. [QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] But I do have to wonder if I said smokers are disgusting if my thread would have been closed and if people would still be calling me an asshole. [/QUOTE] Probably, especially if you offered your opinion in a similarly forum-inappropriate way. While i’m of the opinion that smoking is a disgusting habit, i don’t believe that this makes smokers, as a group, disgusting. Two different things. Do you understand the difference? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-say-fat-people-are-disgusting/434234.md?page=2)