I wish you insensitive pricks would quit with the fat shaming. The governor is horrible because he

[Ed Suspicious]

is an angry, corrupt, republican. Why are you choosing to make his obesity the characteristic you use to attack him. I've said it before and I'll say it again. When you choose to demean him because he is overweight you are making a value judgment that he is more bad because he is fat than because he is a horrible, corrupt, republican person.

[Earth_First]

1. A recent jury result:

At Thu Jan 9, 2014, 08:41 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

Democrats should be demanding to see Christie's Girth Certificate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024307501

REASON FOR ALERT:This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS:Enough fat shaming/bullying @ DU...

JURY RESULTS:

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Thu Jan 9, 2014, 08:42 PM, and voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Good luck...

[Ed Suspicious]

2. Yeah. It's all kind of depressing. I'm fat and I hate knowing that I'm hated for it.

I'm sick and tired of fat jokes around here. We might hate republicanism, but I thought we were accepting of the obese.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Thu Jan 9, 2014, 08:42 PM, and voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I think this could be a play on "that's a big fat lie." I'm not much on weight jokes, but I'll give poster benefit of doubt. Plus, I just don't like hiding most posts. Let others post putting offenders in their place.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I'll let this one go. The body of the post indicates the joke is about how big a liar he is, not how big he literally is. Considering what juries allow to stand, this is ok.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT and said: Agree with the alerter. There are lots of others like this not getting hidden, but that doesn't make this post right.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Making fun of fat people is a thing here on DU, and seems to be acceptable so I guess this stands.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Why do people serve on juries if they really don't want to do the thing requested?

Juror #2 should select unwilling.

[BlueCaliDem]

78. I agree.

I don't get Juror #2 either.

[Scuba]

95. The entire concept of the DU jury system is lost on Juror # 6.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

139. Actually it is #2 who is prejudicialy biased, not #6.

The jury system is designed to reflect DU community standards: it's in writing that way. Here is the official section entitled "Community Standards": http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards So juror #6 is correct to look to the community to determine the standards.

Juror #2 is prejudicialy biased (pre-judging). The entire concept of the DU jury system is lost on Juror #2.

[Harry Monroe]

157. A juror is supposed to do the "thing requested"?

Oh, now I get how this works. If a prosecutor in a criminal case requests the death penalty, then the jury is supposed to comply with the request. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Jurors don't exist to "do the thing requested". It is unfortunate that they let the post stand, but that's the way juries work sometimes. You don't always get the "thing requested" as an outcome.

[ScreamingMeemie]

158. Ummm...no. "The thing requested" would be to judge the post.

If one does not like to do that, one should not serve on juries. It has nothing to do with the "outcome."

Glad I could clear that up for you.

[Maraya1969]

91. Only ignorant would hate you because you are overweight. I am overweight

and I want to start my sentences to Christi with, "Hey Fat Fuck"

It is an old Jersey saying and I just think it rings nicely when used on him.

Again, I am overweight too. I am having the hardest time losing the weight now. It is very frustrating. I certainly don't judge people by their body weight. But Christie is fair game IMO because he is such a bully.

[BobUp]

100. In charge of DU

should go through each and every thread and post, look for Rush Limpbag posts and hide those that make references to his weight, drug use and sucking on dog turds. After all, are those not insensitive too?

If we can't laugh at others or make fun of others, how can we make light of ourselves?

Go ahead, call me fatso if you want, I won't deny it.

[Ms. Toad]

191. That one makes me mad.

Two of the jurors voted to let it stand explicitly because other juries have let fat jokes stand. Had they voted their conscience, it would have been hidden.

Please - if you are on a jury - make your vote count for what you believe the community standard should be, not about what some other juries have said.

[quinnox]

86. Duers are allowed to vote freely

I would have voted to leave alone too. I think its a funny reference, but then, I do have a sense of humor.

[Whisp]

3. prickette, but thank you anyway for deciding for me

that his weight is why I despise the pig.

[Ed Suspicious]

5. Dude. Girth Certificate? Fat Liar? Come on.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. Like a fat pig?

[Whisp]

9. a thin skinned one.

[Adrahil]

109. SO maybe it's OK to call women we don't like "bitches" or "c***s"...

... because that's not WHY we hate them, and they are just being thin-skinned if they are offended.

[wryter2000]

137. I've seen that here

Mostly, bitches. but the C word has been allowed to stand if the poster is quoting someone else who used the C word.

It sucks. So do fat "jokes."

[aikoaiko]

193. And the jury results are in...

sorry I forgot about this one and I'm posting it now.

At Fri Jan 10, 2014, 01:51 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

SO maybe it's OK to call women we don't like "bitches" or "c***s"...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4309735

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Over the top.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Jan 10, 2014, 02:00 PM, and the Jury voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I'm not sure if the poster is being mocking (It's no more appropriate to call Christie fat than it is okay to call women c**ts and b***hes.) or serious (Because it's okay to call Christie fat, per community standards, then other slanders are equally appropriate and being appalled by them or alerting is hypocritical.). One is appropriate IMO (The first one) and the other very-much isn't. Having no alert history to discern intent from, they get the credit of the doubt. Like runners in baseball, the tie goes to the poster.

In the future, if poster earns a reputation for misogyny or such, that courtesy will not be extended. Short leash.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Whisp is constantly bashing other people for posting or allowing things that she considers offensive -- this poster is merely pointing out her hypocrisy. Leave it.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I think the alerter missed the point.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No, its not over the top given this frank conversation about the hatred that is permitted to stand toward overweight people at DU.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: This is just a continuation of the many discussions on what's appropriate speech and although I see no sarcasm smilie, I see it as that.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[donco]

4. YEH!

he probably has Cooties too.

[HipChick]

6. He does not look healthy..

nothing to do with his weight either...but his pallor is off..he has almost like liver patches on his face..

[shanti]

17. it looks like diabetes to me

discoloration on the face and/or neck is common. JMO though.

[laundry_queen]

50. You cannot always tell by looking at someone

if they are healthy or not...unless they are on death's door. As a kid I always had teachers running up to me asking me if I was going to faint, or if I felt okay because I was so incredibly pale.

When my brother played hockey, there were these 2 dads that always hung out together. One fat, one thin. My parents, who are insanely fat phobic, went on and on about how the fat one was so unhealthy, "He looks like death warmed over. He's going to keel over any day now with a heart attack. Listen to him breathe! He's so out of shape!" Never a word about the skinny dad. Guess who is still alive 28 years later? Guess who died 25 years ago of a heart attack?

We had a morbidly obese neighbor when I was growing up. This guy was great, everyone liked him, super smart accountant, was the mayor for years and years, now runs the chamber for the entire province...my parents couldn't say a nice thing about him. Thought for sure he was going to die, called him disgusting, said he was a slob, loser, etc. I was 4 years old when they talked like that. I'm now 38 and this guy is still actively involved in the community, and hasn't dropped dead yet. He's far more successful than my parents ever were.

You know my mother often says things about my weight and my breathlessness (Um, I have asthma and had a lung infection in the fall I'm still trying to get over) and she tries to couch them in terms of "I'm just concerned about your health." Guess what? Us fat people know exactly what you mean, and it isn't concern. It's not like we're fucking idiots and can't figure out what the risks are.

As for Chris Christie - you can't always tell his pallor on a screen since people on TV wear a lot of make up. Plus, he's losing weight. I'm sure he's being followed closely medically, so not sure why everyone is so 'concerned' about his health. I'm guessing they aren't, really.

[radicalliberal]

59. So what?

Did President Franklin Delano Roosevelt always enjoy good health?

[liberal_at_heart]

62. Thank you! Damn good point!

[radicalliberal]

64. Thank YOU!

I expected to be slammed by someone.

[OwnedByCats]

187. Excellent point

I'm not real pleased about the fat jokes and I'm only about 20lbs overweight and I don't even take it personally. It's like being back in high school and having to watch those seen as "different" get picked on. I just think the weight issue is unimportant and it makes other people feel uncomfortable, especially if they do have a weight problem! People should be recognized for what good or bad they do, no matter their appearance.

I've seen plenty of "healthy" looking, good looking and skinny people that were assholes. It works both ways. Content of character please people, not what they look like. If you want to pick on his character, there is plenty to work with!

[Emelina]

93. How is his heart? Shouldn't he have to release health records if he runs for president?

[CTCharlie]

104. Health?

Being fat does put a strain on your heart but being angry all the time is even more dangerous.

[Adrahil]

106. So if it's his pallor that's off, why all the fat joke? nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. the fat jokes are nonstop! It's so wrong.

[FatBuddy]

10. i'm a fatbuddy

i have no problem with it.

[brewens]

77. Hey! I might be fat, but I'm LAZY! It's the way I roll/s! LOL n/t

[brewens]

81. He's making us look bad really. We're supposed to be jolly! I try and live up to that. n/t

[ProgressSaves]

12. Yep.

Christie's weight has nothing to do with his behavior.

I question how sincere these so-called liberals about other things when they're so disparaging toward the overweight and obese.

[loyalsister]

13. Accepting and reveling in bigotry

among people who reject it in other contexts is perplexing and really really sad. Thanks for acknowledging.

[radicalliberal]

63. You're absolutely right!

It's nothing less than outright bigotry. (By the way, I'm not speaking out of self-interest. I'm not fat. I even work out at a health club.) What hypocrisy!

[lisby]

122. Agreed.

I have bullied and tormented almost my entire life for being heavy. I know how much it hurts and the scars it leaves. Stop with the hating. Condemn Christie for his words and deeds and not for his weight. To all of you who want to give this a pass:

[oldandhappy]

14. I've not seen the fat stuff.

I have noticed that he seems to have lost some weight. Guess he will lose a lot more in the coming days. Facing reality can be hard on the appetite.

[Iggo]

15. Calling DUers pricks will probably gt the job done!

[Ed Suspicious]

16. At this point I suspect nothing will get the job done. Obese people are subhuman and that's a-ok.

[ProgressSaves]

18. They rationalize it in their small minds by telling themselves only conservatives over-indulge. nt

[Katashi_itto]

102. Wow. Generalize much?

[Cha]

23. Yeah, sounds like "prick" shaming to me.

Btw, I assiduously stay away from anything regarding Christie's weight.. it has absolutely nothing to do with his bully-pity party-thug mentality.. might as well add liar to that, too.

[radicalliberal]

58. Please read the OP carefully.

Ed is not calling all DU members pricks. He's referring only to those who enjoy ridiculing fat people. If you don't happen to belong to the second category, you have no reason to object to Ed's OP. "If the shoe fits, wear it."

[Iggo]

72. Where did I say "all"?

[BuddhaGirl]

19. Fat shaming is one of the reasons that DU sucks, sometimes

it's bigoted and not indicative of being progressive.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. Gay shaming is cool too, as long as you're shaming "the right people". n/t

[Niceguy1]

105. overall bigotry is overlooked here

If it is the right person.

[bettyellen]

142. way too true. and the same people have been advocating pushing discussions of sexism and

privilege off of GD. there is a concerted effort here to make this a Libertarian paradise- where crule jokes are tolerated much more than serious discussion.

[goldent]

185. Tribal behavior. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. It's all about hating the right people. If you hate the right people, what you say about them is

something everyone who might be offended should grit their teeth and eat, no matter what it is.

Say what you want about the right people... and no matter how bigoted it may be, it's all good.

[radicalliberal]

66. Excellent post!

[Demo_Chris]

90. Well said. nt

[Logical]

22. Many DUers think "FAT" is a funny work. Disgusting. n-t

[dgauss]

24. It's a logical blind spot.

Ask people on this site if it's ok to ridicule someone based on their weight and it would be a near unanimous no.

But if some one is despised, it is ok to ridicule them based on their weight, even though it is irrelevant to why they are despised. Justified by the idea that they deserve any ridicule they receive, I suppose. That seems inconsistent to me.

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. it is kind of insensitive - to say the least

[jberryhill]

49. I would never characterize a prick as insensitive

[lostincalifornia]

26. Those that have to resort to physical insults are quite shallow if they have to resort to that

[Curmudgeoness]

28. I agree with you.

There are a lot of reasons to judge Christie harshly, but to make it all about his weight is shameful.

[RebelOne]

125. Ditto. I am not overweight,

but it is wrong to criticize or make fun of those who are.

[efhmc]

29. I have repeatedly asked that folks here not use negative physical

references to respond to people with whom they have political differences. Many of these comments seem to be about women and their appearance. However weight issues seem to be an equalizing factor. Please speak to the issues and problems without resorting to physical references.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

30. Yeah. . .leave Governor Ship Ballast alone.

I don't think he's horrible because he's fat. I think he's horrible because he's a horrible, corrupt, republican bully. The fact he's fat just makes it a little easier to lampoon him

[Captain Stern]

184. Spellcheck is your friend...It's not 'lampoon'....

....it's 'harpoon'.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

186. Thar he blows. get it in the large blowhole!

[JaneyVee]

31. I agree. Many people are overweight due to medical conditions. Would anyone here

Mock someone in a wheelchair?

[El_Johns]

85. I don't think it matters why they're overweight. I think the general principle is, you don't mock

people for their appearance.

[Neoma]

121. Certain medicines makes you hungry as well.

[Ed Suspicious]

35. You had to go to a sockpuppet to say what you really feel. Nice courage of your convictions.

"When did the world suddenly collectively decide that being obese is an OK thing? Suddenly people who make fun of the obese are 'bigots'.. since when? It has ALWAYS been considered shameful to be obese. He isn't a bad person because he is fat. He's a bad person because he is a bad person, and the fact that he is fat just adds to that characterization. He is the epitomy of a glutton, a greedy, self serving politician both in body and soul."

Shameful gluttons. Wow.

[AAO]

37. 1 and out!

[Ed Suspicious]

33. I know it's probably my own issue, but every time he's in the news I cringe knowing that I'm going

to be reminded of how disgusting, pig-like, lacking in moral fiber, etc. it is seen to be obese. I pray he doesn't make a presidential run just so I don't have to deal with that daily reminder. As an obese person, I pray that wherever I go, I'll be able to fade into the woodwork. It's just so shocking to me that every minority is protected at DU. If I'm of a less common race, I'm protected by the DU herd. If I'm gay or transgender, I'm protected by the DU herd. If I have a speech impediment, autism, adhd, a learning disability, an alcohol problem, a drug addiction, etc, I'm protected by the DU herd. If I'm obese I am reminded of how inadequate I am. I watch the "normally" weighted crowd laughing it up at people because they have weight problems. I see people here recommending fat people find some self control and make better decisions because they are costly to society and failures as human beings. As a fat man I have no quarter at DU - one of the only places on the web where I thought I could be free from the stigma. It fills me with sadness, leading to irritation, ending in rage.

[laundry_queen]

52. I totally agree with every word in your post. nt

[bbgrunt]

67. it's the last acceptable prejudice and it is

gleefully embraced by many who need to feel superior. I quit watching letterman after he couldn't drop the fat thigh jokes about Clinton. I was quite appalled by his insistence on doing this because I thought him quite progressive in other respects.

Every word you said is very heartfelt and true and well stated.

I lived for a couple of years in a country that actually embraced fat people as being higher-class. It was a true education and mind-blowing experience. I came to realize how our cultural stereotypes are generated by advertisers and the need to create impossible goals to make people yearn for an image that they think will make them successful by buying all the consumer crap. It's what our country runs on. They do similar stuff to women in general. (great post a couple of days ago about how ads are designed to keep women away from tekkie stuff)

In any case, those of you who insist your condemnation of weight stems from concerns are about health are full of bs. Take a good look at yourselves. really.

[radicalliberal]

69. I also agree with every word in your OP. Physique has absolutely nothing to do with character.

Let's talk about those who are lacking in moral fiber, shall we? Decades ago I once chanced upon a book about World War II. I came across a very interesting picture of young men who were assembled in military array. Interestingly enough, they were shirtless; so, their bodies above the waist were on display. These young men had great physiques! Muscular, well-developed, there wasn't an ounce of fat on them! These young men were elite soldiers, weren't they? Of course, that must be it! Well, they were members of a sort of elite group, but . . . but . . . but . . .well, I'm afraid they really weren't soldiers in the conventional sense of the word. Uh, they were members of the Nazi S.S. You know, they were the pride of the Third Reich, the ones who were entrusted with the great responsibility of carrying out the "Final Solution" -- the extermination of the Jews, the Gypsies, gays, and other "undesirables." Mass murderers who made history. Uh, concerning those "lacking in moral fiber," I guess physical appearance isn't everything!

But I must say, speaking as a guy who pumps iron at a health club with the desperate intent to build up his physique, their physiques sure looked great!

[Upton]

34. Christie is obese..he weighs something like 400 lbs..

That kind of weight is unhealthy and like it or not, it became an issue once he entered politics..

[tom_kelly]

36. I agree, Ed

And it sort of makes one come across like a republican.

[marble falls]

53. Sounds kinda bigoted saying it the way you did. Because there are no fat Democrats, right?

[cyberswede]

57. I think he meant that those who make fun of someone's weight come across as Republicans.

[tom_kelly]

74. Correct, Cyber. I probably didn't word it the way I was thinking n/t

[Whisp]

75. I guess mileage varies because I always thought people who rag on the President here constantly

sound much more like Republicans...

I guess I have it all wrong.

[jtuck004]

155. No. What makes one come across like a repulican, or just an asshole

irrespective of their party, is the inability to see the difference between criticizing policies vs criticizing the person.

Sometimes that appears to be on purpose, however, because for them winning is more important than the outcome.

[tom_kelly]

175. I was just making a point

that we shouldn't be expecting that type of reaction from folks here on DU and I probably didn't do a very good job of articulating myself. Lets move on.

[jtuck004]

176. Yeah, well, what one "should" expect, and what they find may well be two different thing.

But sure

[mckara]

38. Are You Condemning Everyone in the Pepsi Generation?

The whole culture has been fed with corporate propaganda for so long people don't realize their values are a reflection of a sick society. We're all suppose to look like fashion models after drinking products filled with high fructose corn syrup. We're told to eat garbage food, drive cars that make us look sexy, and get rich because greed is good. You should recognize that our friends making fun of fat people are flawed individuals who don't know they are tools of corporate brainwashing.

[bbgrunt]

68. well said and so true!

[Vashta Nerada]

39. This thread is insensitive to pricks.

[lunasun]

40. I was talking with someone about thier son's (over) weight issues

at school. His son is I have to say big but also bullied. I remember kids like that too.
His dad said he read that fat is one of the last remaining socially acceptable discriminations yes a person can get away with it and is laughed off.
Made me think about big people different

CC likes to act like a "big"shot, so part of it is about his larger than life persona too . He is a bigtime asshole

[liberal_at_heart]

41. because they think his bad policies and behavior justify their own bad behavior.

They will never stop. Fat shaming is an acceptable behavior in our society. The best you can do is trash the threads where this happens or put people on ignore. They're not going to stop.

[Orrex]

42. What's up with the insensitive prick shaming?

Hardy har har.

Yeah, fat jokes are pretty bottom-of-the-barrel, humor-wise.

[Skittles]

43. I absolutely agree

[valerief]

44. Your post makes me suspicious of you. Au revoir! nt

[Ed Suspicious]

45. Are you insinuating that I'm a republican or a Christie supporter?

[seaglass]

94. You are responding to a poster who thinks it's OK to call a political opponent a c*nt so I wouldn't

be too concerned about her opinion.

[Sheldon Cooper]

101. Whoa - really?

Thanks for the tip.

[msongs]

46. recall the good old days when W was referred to as a chimp et al? but that was ok...then nt

[dionysus]

144. but he does look like a chimp. what is that bigoted against, chimpanzees?

[chknltl]

148. Great point imo

I recall all the hate and vitriol that we leveled at President Bush. It leaves me with no answer when this is pointed out to me each time I complain to my Republican supporting friends about the same emanating from their side about President Obama. Perhaps as a society we can someday learn to hate the deed more than the doer.

FWIW I think it a good thing that the 'BIG' DU regularly undergoes introspections such as this, some of which have caused me to re-think my own behavior. Thank you for that DU.

[SCVDem]

47. Is Christie a pompous ass because he is large,

or is it because now he can exact revenge for all the fat jokes he grew up with?

There have been many large people with wonderful personalities. I doubt they were
on the receiving end of the same vitriol Christie gets.

[Tanuki]

92. He would have been a jerk and a belligerent bully regardless of his size

He isn't compensating for "all the fat jokes he grew up with," because this is how he looked earlier in his life:
[img][/img] [img][/img]

[SCVDem]

133. I did not know that!

Thank you for the pics.

I guess we can disregard my first post.

He is just a mean, vindictive douchebag!

[maddiemom]

169. I'm truly surprised; always assumed he was always "heavyset." What we be really enlightening

would be pictures of him as an under-teenage kid. Was he an obese child who fought to get into the shape he was in these pictures, then let go? Or did he, just become a glutton when professionally comfortable? I'd bet the former, having had several friends who fought their weight in their under forty years, then let go.

[DrewFlorida]

48. Those who focus their contempt on someone's physical features rather than their behaviors,.....

tell us more about their own aggressive, abusive nature, than that of their target!

[Whisp]

51. thankyou, Dr. Phil

[radicalliberal]

70. Thank YOU, Ms. Snide! n/t

[Whisp]

71. wot, no pic?

[opiate69]

123. I'll do the honors...

(Kidding... DU needs more and less lately.)

[Whisp]

128. The most interesting woman in the world.

I can speak Russian, in French...
and live vicariously through myself.

[opiate69]

130. I so need to pick up the DVD set of that show..

Would go perfectly between my Fawlty Towers set and Red Dwarf. Lol

[Whisp]

131. I happen to have the most interesting dog in the world...

He can speak Afghan, in Pekinese
and he lives vicariously through me!



woof

[woo me with science]

54. Scanning the threads,

the main culprits and defenders seem to be very familiar and reliable DU purveyors of Third Way bullshit.

Right-wing policies and empathy rarely go together.

But more importantly, I think there is a concerted effort to stir up conflict to distract from this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024306238

[liberal_at_heart]

55. there does seem to be a concerted effort to distract from real issues isn't there?

That's one of the reasons why I trash threads and put people on ignore. I will certainly not forget about the TPP and many other important issues come time to fill out by voting ballot.

[woo me with science]

65. +100000

[Capt. Obvious]

114. This is a ridiculous theory by you

It's actually a concerted effort to distract from Benghazi.

[Marr]

147. AGREED.

It might sound paranoid, but I began to wonder if weren't watching some sort of interference play when the "gender wars" suddenly heated up. Ever since, it's been nothing but one divisive issue after another.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

56. We used to complain about Dubya being an idiot and there were people claiming we were "anti-dumb".

[Ed Suspicious]

160. Are the less intelligent worthy of our derision?

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 06:01 PM - Edit history (1)

[Spitfire of ATJ]

161. Not when you put it THAT way.

[TBF]

60. I have to admit I laughed at the troll

under the bridge pics, but those are funny in many ways. What you are saying is 100% correct - he's a horrible, nasty person and that has nothing to do with weight. Maybe a very small brain, but not weight.

[radicalliberal]

73. "Full Ignore" is such a WONDERFUL feature! :)

I used it against a certain member immediately after I had posted above. That way, I didn't have to read the response I expected to receive from that member.

[chungking34]

76. Well said

Christie could be as skinny as a rail and he'd still be a reprehensible human being.

[RC]

115. Or Christie could be exactly the same psychically, but be a true Liberal and his weight would be

no big deal around here
Why? Because then he would be one of us. A more or less Democrat. But he is not. He is an arrogant, self-centered slime ball. His body size and weight is a part of his bullying personality. And that is why so much is made of his size.

[BlueCaliDem]

79. I agree. Fat-shaming is typical junior high behavior.

And it doesn't belong on DU. It belongs on adolescent sites such as the one Teabaggers and Republicans congregate.

Chris Christie is a dangerous politician who is hurting the working poor and poor. It's that what needs to be highlighted and debated, not his weight.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

80. I don't think so...he is out of the norm - whether it be fat, skinny, short, tall. It is

the most common practice since the beginning of man - to describe people by their
out-of-the-norm characteristics

[Shandris]

82. ...you do realize that that is -literally- where...

...things like racial stereotypes arise from, right? Every single source of discrimination rises from that set of thoughts.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

83. Yes...but that is the way life is. People are all different. The people who

can accept this and accept all human beings are the good people.

[davidpdx]

84. It goes to show how inconsistent juries can be

The four that voted not to hide probably didn't give a flying fig if it was against the rules. There is no accountability really for the way you vote. I've seen at least two posts today (one being the particular one mentioned up thread) about the same thing) neither were hidden.

Makes me want to screw up a few jury votes just for the hell of it to see if I can change the outcome (I'm not saying I would). There are people out there that are doing it.

[Jamaal510]

87. I can understand being chubby, but

Gov. Christie is obese, like you said. He doesn't seem very healthy, as he has breathing problems every time he talks. For the sake of his health, he is just going to have to work harder to lose weight and to have a healthier diet. With very few exceptions, the vast majority of people who are obese are at that size due to not receiving enough exercise and a lack of a healthy diet. Being obese is not necessarily the same as being gay or an ethnic minority, for instance. And as another poster already stated in this thread, by CC entering politics, he had to have known that his weight would be a huge topic.

[pinboy3niner]

88. Christie has lost a lot of weight recently and it's been in the news

He seems to be working at it. You can probably google news reports on his weight loss.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

143. Good, but shows he chose to be fat.

It is praiseworthy that Christie lost weight now, but it only goes to show that he did not choose to lose it earlier (before getting presidential ambitions) hence he chose to get morbidly obese and be morbidly obese earlier.

Since he is a human being we can hope he gets to a healthy weight and applaud him for losing weight and thus setting an example to others.

[MissMillie]

150. He had lap-band surgery

which is, in the weight loss world, last-resort treatment.

And which may indicate that this was not a "choice" at all.

Obesity is a disease with physiological, mental and emotional elements.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

151. You would think a man with Executive ambitions could execute a plan

to deal with his disease much earlier, long before it got to the point of lap-band surgery. I suspect he hadn't really tried as hard or as much as others might have, but wanted a "quick fix" to be effective in time for 2016. I do get your point about the elements, the disease aspect, and that surgery is last resort.

Perhaps he has more ambition than ability?

[radicalliberal]

89. Speaking of being unhealthy, no doubt you put down politicians who smoke or drink too much?

[Jamaal510]

181. Key phrase in your post: "too much"

It has been scientifically-proven that if a person smokes or drinks too much, then they are poisoning their own bodies, and those are not good behaviors for people who want to be healthy.

[LisaLynne]

96. Yes, and people who call him a fat pig are totally just concerned for his health. nt

[Jamaal510]

182. How is this relevant to my comment? nt

[LisaLynne]

190. People who want to mock others for their weight like to immediately turn ...

discussions about why that is wrong into something related to health as though that makes it ok.

In fact, let me make more clear. The OP was about people on a progressive message board mocking someone for their appearance. You brought up his health and how he should have known his weight/appearance would be an issue to be discussed which sounds a lot, to me, like the excuses people make for mocking people out in public for their weight-- they aren't healthy, they should know if they go out looking like that people will stare, etc. It's not what the OP is about but by bringing up health, you make it seem as though you think that's what's being discussed.

[Adrahil]

108. So what if he is obese? Ya know what DOESN'T work on getting people to eat healthy and exercise?

SHAMING!

[Amaril]

134. +1,000,000!!

In fact, it usually has just the opposite result.

[Jamaal510]

183. Wait. What part of my comment was "shaming"?

Last edited Sat Jan 11, 2014, 04:33 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm merely stating the same things that any doctor would tell a person who has weight problems.

[TransitJohn]

97. Replace pricks with cunts in your OP and see how the discourse progresses. eom

n/t

[The Straight Story]

98. True - but male privelege means only those other than males can be bothered by such--and women are

weaker emotionally apparently and need people to white knight them - just don't do so in a benevolent way unless that way is NOT posting stories about women who do bad things (the logic is if you do so you hate women and want only to cast them in a negative light as they are the minority of problem causers in the world - that logic does not apply to other things like gun owners, for example, where it is OK and prudent to define the majority by a tiny minority) , don't use certain words that you can use about men (women don't like vulgar terms), and don't look at them if you find them attractive or acknowledge in any way that you do - it causes fearful reactions so treat them different than you would anyone else (still okay to tell your buddy his new shirt rocks or ask him where he got his hair cut though, again - men should be treated different unless they say they shouldn't be.....aww hell I don't know anymore, just avoid the feminine in any way possible as you probably end up pissing off someone who will spend weeks reading books to better analyze every word you use in a sentence to tell you what a horrid human you are. So, in other words, just carry on and ignore it all).

[bettyellen]

119. said no one here, ever. Jeeze stop making shit up. You embarrass yourself with this crap.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

138. word.

[NuclearDem]

188. For God's sake, one thread, ONE THREAD.

Can we just have one thread where we don't have to deal with this stupid straw man?

For someone who so feverishly denies having an agenda, you seem really eager to post that bullshit every opportunity you get.

[Ed Suspicious]

113. Many women are offended by that word, so as decent people we should try to avoid using the slur.

If there are men offended by the term "prick" I have not heard of them, but "insensitive people" would have worked just as well, albeit in a slightly less aggressive manner. The word choice is very much not the point of the OP and I would be happy to edit that part with my sincerest apologies if people called for that.

[bettyellen]

120. Ed, you are just getting BS pushback from the libertarian wing, who would love to continue to

insult us all with sexist slurs. You'd never here them actually upset about using the words prick or dick- they just want to give a backhanded slam to feminists here. But for future reference "asshole" works for both genders, we all have em, we all know em!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

140. Nonsense.

[TransitJohn]

153. I'm not a libertarian or a men's rights doofus

Just would like to see people be kind to one another.
Try again.

[bettyellen]

154. You may not be- but the original complainant is. Sorry that he is doing a piss poor job

at fighting sexism here. Perhaps you could take him to task for making a shitty joke of the issue?

[BobUp]

99. Why are you choosing to make his obesity the characteristic you use to attack him

because lying fat bastards can't fit into helicopters...

[fadedrose]

103. To say he's a Republican is enough criticism

A lot of stuff has to be proven. We're not Fox.

[treestar]

107. Exactly

A horrible Republican person. The thin ones aren't any better.

[City Lights]

110. Totally agree!

[Orsino]

111. Yes. n/t

[hootinholler]

112. I like a fat prick now and then

As long as it's not attached to a dick.

[CFLDem]

116. If Christie doesn't care about his weight

I'd say it's fair game.

Sorry not buying into the weight rights movement.

[nomorenomore08]

162. I don't even think about it in political terms like that ("weight rights") at all.

I think of it in terms of, why should I give two shits about another person's weight, unless they're someone close to me I'm concerned about? I'm a little on the chunky side myself - though about half the size of Christie at his fattest - but the issue of weight is mostly irrelevant to me. Whereas some people can't seem to leave it alone.

[Ed Suspicious]

168. Weight Rights? No. How about human decency?

[davidthegnome]

117. I don't care that he is overweight.

What I do care about are his policies, the way he has treated people - his responsibility in the suffering and hunger of others. It is much the same way that Limbaugh is frequently mocked, while there may be fat comments, it isn't about them being fat. It's about the fact that they're privileged white bullies who, through their policies, through their wealth, through their power and actions - are directly responsibly for things like cutting food stamps, assistance to the poor - these very same people want to eliminate social security, medicare and Medicaid.

The fact that these men are so overweight indicates that they can certainly afford to feed themselves. Do you expect people who are hungry, with hungry children, not to mock these assholes for being fat? These guys can afford lobster, every single night. Yet at the same time, they don't think their "hard earned" wealth should be taxed in order to feed people. Well, fuck them. I don't care if someone mocks them for being fat. They aren't decent people. They do not deserve your sympathy.

It's not about being fat, it's about the fact that they are absolute shitbag assholes who happen to be fat. I have nothing against people who are fat or overweight, I'm about ten pound heavier than I should be myself. These two though? Anything about them is fair game.

[packman]

118. You're right

I, for one, am not going to lard it over him.

[Auntie Bush]

126. ....

[another_liberal]

124. Is "skinny" also unacceptable?

Will it no longer be allowed to call someone "short," or "tall?" Is noting any of a public figure's physical characteristics now to be considered out-of-bounds.

I'm serious in asking. I would like to know exactly where the new boundaries of political correctness lie. For instance: Will I be chastised for suggesting Clark Gable had big ears, or Jimmy Durante had a big nose?

[Ed Suspicious]

149. So we have a skinny epidemic in this country?

are companies making the cheapest, most palatable food void of needed calories? Are we being inundated with no-fructose corn syrup? Are 2/3 the country underweight and discriminated against because of that? Just to be safe I leave the physical critique out of my political argument.

[another_liberal]

163. Self-censorship?

Be careful or you may soon find many other kinds of criticism must be avoided, "Just to be safe."

[heaven05]

127. +1000

[S.A.M]

129. We are not being, "Weightists"

It is all symbolism. Plus it's tit for tat. For years, right wingers on AM radio have complained on how poor people are fat. This has a subject for ridicule and derisive humorer. It been so petty.
I am sorry, some of us are not morally perfect and can be petty as well as them. That is the folly of so-called political correctness. We are overly concern about everything we utter that when the other side expresses unreasonable rhetoric, we have to always be the adult in the room. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. That is what satirist does. they hold a mirror up to the culprit face and say: This is you!
Day after day on commercial television, you got reality shows, court shows and local new broadcasts depicting working class people and poor people as degenerate criminals. So in the case of Gov.Christy, right wingers are not psychically, intellectually, economically, morally superior to any other people. That is why we make fun of them anyway we can. Yeah...it's wrong...but you got to admit, when a homophone Gert's caught having a gay affair, it's pretty funny.

[LongTomH]

132. K&R for truth

[Babel_17]

135. We do it because there are no good Democrats who are overweight

Also because we never get upset when the other side makes snide remarks about the appearance of female Democrats. We never use that as evidence of the shallowness and lack of an argument from that side.

There's just no down side to doing it. We are the party of perfect physical and mental specimens.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

136. Look to your own sexist insensitivities, maybe? (joking and not joking)

You resort to condemning penises to make your point because you can't do so with civil language. So be it.

Yes it's a joke to turn your post around and reflect it on you because you use the word "prick", but really, people do need to think about the words that they use so casually if they want others to think about the words they use.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

141. Should we call him Corpus Christie ...

... because of the 91 year old corpse his bridge jam is associated with?

[Babel_17]

145. Regarding "prick"

Yeah, using that as an insult can be iffy imo. I've thought about this before as I've used that derogatory term in describing people and groups in other forums.

I tell myself it's not a sexist term for the following reason. Anyone can innocently engage in behavior that might have people muttering "prick" because of it.

If I was managing a traffic detour and I had to tell people they couldn't go where they wanted to go it's not because I'm a prick. I didn't get off on it.

If I got off on it, if I enjoyed discomforting people by use of my power, I'd be a prick.

So imo the term "prick" has an aspect of "getting off" to it. I think it derives from a person commingling their individual power with their sexual vigor. Acting like a prick is like flaunting ones erection or otherwise strutting.

Women can be that way but an aroused woman is not as obvious as an aroused man, conventionally speaking.

Which reminds me,

Chet: Lady, I wanna get to the bottom of this. ASAFP.

Lisa: Oh, so do I.

Chet: But first I'd like to... butter your muffin.

Lisa: Why do you have to be such a wanker?

Chet: Because I get off on it!

NSFW (swearing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fgPFXXhzBCE#t=101

Substitute "prick" for "wanker".

[klook]

152. I think instead of "prick" we should say

"Penis-American."

[rhett o rick]

146. IMO most Americans have been raised in a bully culture. It exists and is tolerated everywhere.

Bullying people because of their weight is one of the few remaining, socially acceptable means for bullying. Jay Leno makes fat jokes every night.

[TexasBushwhacker]

164. And Jay Leno isn't exactly thin

He's not obese, but men can hide a lot under a well tailored, buttoned jacket.

[rhett o rick]

178. Well, when he makes his jokes he doesnt exclude himself. nm

[jtuck004]

156. Another way to say what you said...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017168756

[KamaAina]

159. Is Huckabee any less loathsome now that he's lost a lot of weight?

I didn't think so.

[TexasBushwhacker]

165. I agree we shouldn't, but wait until primary season for 2016

You're talking about a party known for dirty tricks against its own members. Remember the smears GW Bush's campaign was responsible for against John McCain? That he fathered a black child out of wedlock? That his wife was a drug addict?

[hopemountain]

166. the thing about narcissist bullies

is they will use anything to intimidate others - including their smarts, position, size or physical strength - whatever works to get their own way and manipulate others to do whatever it is the bully wants others to do for him.

however, blaming someone's meaness totally on their size is wrong when applied to every fat person. yet, for some "large" persons, size and strength may be the only way an individual feels they can wield power over others.

i am not particularly "slim", nor a narcissist - but i do not hesitate to call christie a big fat bully because this is exactly what he is. i suspect his weight loss has been a bit "upsetting" to his sense of himself. therefore, he is exaggerating his sense of control by other means such as lying, vindictive thinking, etc.

[maddiemom]

167. I totally agree. However, I can't help but be bemused that Christy definintely has to be

the heaviest person in MANY years to reach his level in government (since Taft, maybe?). Being a bit pudgy, like Newt, is not comparable. Our culture is such these days that appearing in shape and working at it has become part of the political picture. The N.J. governor is undeniably jumbo, but felt compelled to make sure the public knew he was "working out" when learning of his "scandal." I'm not a resident of N.J. (although I worked there summers in college), and no supporter of any Republican in the past forty years. Christy, however, is a bit unusual these days. Probably "toast," but it seems possibly an early effort by the REAL Republican PTB to begin paving the way for ??? Jebby???

[grahamhgreen]

170. Big kick!

[backscatter712]

171. You're right. We shouldn't bring Jabba's weight into this.

After Bridge-gazi, he'll get fed to the Rancor without us having to demean ourselves.

[MrModerate]

172. Disagree.

His health is an issue because he's seeking higher office (which is not to say that the voters of New Jersey shouldn't also be concerned with his health). Remember, one of the things that made Sarah Palin such an appalling choice for VP was concerns about John McCain's health, and the tendency for the presidency to age people at a much faster rate than would otherwise be the case.

And Christie isn't just overweight. He's (lap-band surgery notwithstanding) morbidly obese. He will, without question, die sooner and respond to stress less successfully than a healthier person. That's the fact of the matter.

And let's also be real about the rock star side of politics. Christie is unappealing for a whole host of substantive reasons and also a number of more trivial ones. And one of those is that his weight sends the message that his character is questionable. Is this a horrible thing for people to think? That because you're overweight you must be deficient in character?

Yes it's horrible. It's also what people feel. It's why politicians and actors alike have personal trainers and try to maintain about 80% of their healthy weight at all times.

There are also archetypal associations with overweight people — especially with nasty people like Christie — that make them seem greedy, uncaring, taking more than their fair share, etc., etc., etc.

These factors may be unfair and intensely aggravating but they are nevertheless true.

(Full disclosure: I personally am about 15 pounds over my ideal weight, which puts me on the borderline for morbid obesity.)

[Ed Suspicious]

173. True that people hold those stereotypes or true that overweight people are typically greedy,

uncaring, taking more than they deserve, etc?


"There are also archetypal associations with overweight people — especially with nasty people like Christie — that make them seem greedy, uncaring, taking more than their fair share, etc., etc., etc.

These factors may be unfair and intensely aggravating but they are nevertheless true."

[MrModerate]

174. I believe my context was crystal clear . . .

Many people believe (or perhaps more accurately "feel&quot such things, and ignoring those feelings leads to unexpected outcomes.

[laundry_queen]

180. The health claim is ridiculous

smokers have a significantly higher risk of death and shortened lifespans and I don't see anyone complaining about Obama's higher chance of dying as disqualifying him for the presidency. And yes, he's since quit, but he had a rough time quitting, and still smoked off and on after his election, and the risks of having been a smoker don't go away overnight, although they do improve. This health thing is nothing but a roundabout way of complaining about Christie's weight.

[MrModerate]

192. And Obama concealed his smoking habit to the degree possible . . .

for the reasons I cited.

The 'health thing' is exactly about Christies weight, and it's not roundabout at all. That was my point.

[NoOneMan]

177. I agree. Its bad taste. Its obvious. Its boring. I've heard it for years. Move on to the issues.

Bill Maher can't do a show without a Christie fat joke. Its ridiculous, but he's a dick and we all know that by now. I guess everyone just want to be a dick

[lindysalsagal]

179. IMHO he gets the obese references as retaliation for his arrogance and self-superiority complex

It's sort of expected when someone as nasty an mean as this guy gets it right back.

Honestly, how does he really come off so superior when he can't even handle his own health?

His over indulgence in food is a metaphor for his self-indulgent tendencies.

I really don't think people dislike others simply due to their size. I don't believe that.

Look how unpopular Anne Coulter is- people hate her and she's so thin, sh doesn't even look human. That also mirrors her inhumanity.

H's getting bullied because that's what he his, and it's all on tape.

I hope he is the GOP candidate: The video will be quite entertaining.

[Nevernose]

189. We should demean him for who he is and not what he looks like

I agree.

Besides the fact that they're crass and hurtful, they're too easy. We can do better than fat jokes, people, and we can do better.