Wal-Mart Fat Girl Costumes

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

"I'm getting so overweight!" where I respond "Well you're a bit fat, but it's not nearly as bad as you think." and everyone is just fine with it. Again, use fat an insult, and it's going to be insulting, use it as a current state of body, and there's nothing wrong with the word. It's generally not great to talk about someone's physical appearance in front of them without them welcoming you into that conversation.

Or they think you are an a-hole haha. In my personal experience I don't think I've heard someone call another person fat to their face in a non-insulting way.

[Devils'Advocate]

hahaha...knew you would have something to say about this.

You knew that a weight loss blogger, podcast host and public speaker might comment on insulting overweight people? Congratulations!!

https://www.facebook.com/halfthemass

[Chill Cosby]

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?

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.

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".

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.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Or they think you are an a-hole haha.

Hmmmm. This is possible.

Honestly, I've used it without harm, and I've used it and accidentally caused harm, but it's never been less valuable or more offensive than any other term describing weight.

I also don't sit at a bar saying "Look at all those fatties" or go up to someone and randomly say "You're pretty fat." So hopefully Devil's won't be punching me in the face anytime soon.

[Devils'Advocate]

That's actually based on a true story. A friend invited me to a bar with a few players from his hockey team. We were sitting around, having a drink, talking hockey when an overweight woman came in. One of the guys I had just met starting going off "What a moo cow! If I was that fat I'd never leave the house! That's just disgusting. Who wants to see that? Do the world a favour and stay home." I just about clocked the guy. My friend must have seen that I was turning red because he got me out of there and I left. Had I been there a minute longer, I could well have had an assault arrest.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

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.

Yes, the word fat does not have to be offensive...but the fact of the matter is that it is offensive to many people (in fact most people). You can try to neutralize the term for yourself, but you have to consider your audience. If you were to walk up to a stranger and say "You know what? You are fat." Do you think you'd get a positive response? You might want to neutralize it because you don't think it is bad that doesn't mean it is neutralized for the people who hear the word.

If you are telling someone that they are fat, know that you are likely hurting them. You don't know their story...you don't know if they have lost 100 pounds and are proudly wear one of their goal jeans for celebrating their milestone.

This is an interesting article that debates the use of the word "fat" and although I don't agree with some of it I think it is good to discuss:
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/20/is_i...l_someone_fat/

[WhiteTiger]

Interesting topic, to be sure. I am "of the larger variety" myself. I look at the topic and the word 'fat' this way.

I have never, that I can recall, heard the word 'fat' used in any good or positive way when in reference to another person.

Which kinda says all it needs to, right there.

[V]

I have never, that I can recall, heard the word 'fat' used in any good or positive way when in reference to another person.

"Your daughter's so cute with all that baby fat!!"

Bam.

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Interesting topic, to be sure. I am "of the larger variety" myself. I look at the topic and the word 'fat' this way.

I have never, that I can recall, heard the word 'fat' used in any good or positive way when in reference to another person.

Which kinda says all it needs to, right there.

Not the overall person, but if a woman has a fat ass then sign me up!

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by V

"Your daughter's so cute with all that baby fat!!"

Bam.

That's different than fat.

"Your daughter's so cute with all that fat!!" doesn't sound the same, does it?

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by V

"Your daughter's so cute with all that baby fat!!"

Bam.

Except that is a noun and not a descriptor.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Interesting topic, to be sure. I am "of the larger variety" myself. I look at the topic and the word 'fat' this way.

I have never, that I can recall, heard the word 'fat' used in any good or positive way when in reference to another person.

Do you view what 'fat' describes positively? Because if not, then the problem is the meaning, not the word, and any synonyms will carry the same meaning.

[FireFly]

Somewhat related...

Contains NSFW pictures of some beautiful women.

http://aplus.com/a/the-shocking-trut...us-size-models

Interesting, quick read.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

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?

Are you seriously comparing to being tall or short, to being fat?

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.

Wow you are tall! Wow you are fat!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Some of you guys just sound like plain old ###holes who lack the capacity to understand why using "fat" as a pejorative is hurtful.

This is and should be the final word in this discussion.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by SebC

Do you view what 'fat' describes positively? Because if not, then the problem is the meaning, not the word, and any synonyms will carry the same meaning.

Right, so calling someone "Fat" is just as normal as saying to someone, you are "tall"

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Somewhat related...

Contains NSFW pictures of some beautiful women.

http://aplus.com/a/the-shocking-trut...us-size-models

Interesting, quick read.

Ugh, sickly child model look doesn't do much for me, probably because she is a pasty sickly looking child.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I don't agree with this at all.

I think it's subjective to the person hearing it. Part of being human is to learn to accept what/who you are. For some people that are "fat" and whether or not that is by choice they have to find a way to accept that. Part of accepting oneself also means accepting there's people out there that are mean/cruel and would say things to people with connotations and others that might be saying them without. There’s a fine line to walk between being sensitive to others and being just down right sensitive. If you want to change who you are you should do it because you believe that change is the right thing for you. Screw changing because YOU think people think less of you.

Generally people are their own worst enemies. It’s your choice how you react to what someone says. My feelings are generally my own responsibility and how I deal with those feelings is also my responsibility. I wondered about posting the article at all because of the “connotations” of it, but then figured what the heck, I don’t have any issues with the size of people and I’m not posting this to laugh at “fat” people. If someone interprets it that way, so be it, not really my problem.

If I say I'm fat I'm not suggesting I'm a lazy disgusting sloth. And sloths are cute, not disgusting so lets leave them out of this!

Because YOU don't have any issues with the "size" of people, this then means people who hear the term "fat" "fatty" "fatso" should just grow a thicker skin and stop being offended by such terms that describe them as they really are..

Certainly not my problem, just those Fatties that need to get over it and appreciate the fact "I" don't have an issue with the word "fat" so they obviously should not either.

Spoken from a person who has never had weight issues....

[Thor]

Originally Posted by SebC

Do you view what 'fat' describes positively? Because if not, then the problem is the meaning, not the word, and any synonyms will carry the same meaning.

So you then have a use of the word Fat in a positive sense?

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by Thor

Are you seriously comparing to being tall or short, to being fat?

Wow you are tall! Wow you are fat!

Wow you are overweight! Wow you are plus sized!

You're right, not using fat really makes a huge difference to that sentence. I guess it's just fine if I go around exclaiming how "plus sized" someone is.