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Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
Those that are claiming that "fat" is in the same realm of tall, seriously? If someone came into the store and asked where Sarah was, you would think "Sarah is the tall woman behind the counter" and "Sarah is the fat woman behind the counter" are equal in offense?
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Yes, it's a basic descriptor. Do you think some people aren't sensitive about their height? You think "fat" is the only thing people get made fun of for growing up?
Again, purpose.
My point is that any circumstance where you can logically use overweight or plus sized, you can also use fat. If you use fat to intentionally criticise or insult someone, you are going to cause offensive. But that is literally no different than if you use overweight, plus sized, or heavy for the same purpose. You're going to cause offence.
It's a sensitivity thing. People with serious weight and self-esteem issues are going to be offended by it, but honestly, unless they're welcoming you to talk about their weight issues, they're going to get offended regardless of how you bring them up.
Give me an indication of situations where the term "plus sized" or "overweight" is better than fat and why.
If someone is sitting at a bar, and says "look at that plus sized girl over there" in the same tone and context as they would have in your example where they used the term "fat" or "n*gger", are you suddenly going to open up that fist and high five them instead? Judgement is judgement, the words you use aren't the primary qualifier. Guess what? Someone doesn't have to use a particular word for me to recognise judgement and ridicule.
Fat is far closer to tall than it is to the N word or "######ed." So don't balk at "tall" and then pretend fat is anywhere near the language populations who lived through slavery and constant racism or being born with mental disabilities have endured.
There are plenty of people, people who are very fat, a little bit fat, in-between fat, who self identify with "fat." Who say "I'm getting fat!" Or "I'm too fat for that." This happens all the time. It's not rare, and it lends itself directly to my point.
Fat is not inherently offensive. It's the use and the audience that defines it's result. It is, in general, wrong to judge and criticise others for their body or for anything they can't change, but if they invite you into that conversation, fat is no different than overweight or plus sized.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
Dangerously morbidly obese.
In fact "morbidly obese" doesn't carry with it the stereotypical connotations that go with "fat". Similar to "######ed". The insinuation with "######ed" or "fat" is that the reciever is "less than".
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Honestly, I respect your opinion on this topic, but you don't speak for everyone. Fat doesn't insinuate what you believe it to insinuate. That's how you took it. And nobody can change your experience. But just as I consider when the word "fat" is not appropriate, you too should consider when the word "fat" is not a naughty word.
Your experience isn't the same as universal understanding.
EDIT: and to be clear, I hope that last part doesn't come off as flippant or condescending, honestly not intended that way I was just having trouble wording it.