The Ugly Hypocrisy of DU.

[madaboutharry]

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 12:50 PM - Edit history (2)

When the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch asserted that the clothing his company produced should only be worn by thin good looking people, members of DU were collectively insulted and outraged. "Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviatemin/2013/05/13/abercrombie-and-fitch-v-dove-or-how-a-ceo-can-wreck-a-brand-in-1-interview-7-years-ago/

Man, what a creep! There were calls for boycotts and giving AF clothing to homeless shelters.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022817437

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022815980#post56

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022845793

But, when it comes to "Fat Jokes," specifically those aimed at Chris Christie, members here on DU seem to put there sensitivities aside.

One does not need to be overweight to find "Fat Jokes" offensive. But, I do know overweight people, some of whom I care about very much and I have witnessed their pain and humiliation from living in a culture and society that judges their intellect, their competence, their value, and even their hygiene by how much they weigh.

People here at DU like to think of themselves as progressive and tolerant. However, the weak and dysfunctional jury system which consistently allows "Fat Jokes" to stand, proves that even those who see themselves as liberal, progressive and tolerant can participate in the same cruel and bullying behavior we assign to republicans and corporatist.

Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor?

[lostincalifornia]

1. Any person who has to resort to physical appearance insults to make their point is shallow indeed.

That said, these comments, no matter how shallow, are based against a public figure

Is insulting or joking about a persons physical appearance the same as insults about a person's religion, sexual preference, or race?

When does free speech become hate talk?

[madaboutharry]

4. Would it be acceptable to insult and joke about a person's physical appearance

if they were born with dwarfism? What about a person with a port-wine stain (nevus flammeus)? How about people with big noses?

Or is it just "fat" people who are the subject of free speech debates when it comes to insulting physical appearance?

[lostincalifornia]

8. All good points

[snooper2]

32. You've got a LOOOOOOOONG list of DU'ers you better put on that list LOL

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Explains Why He Hates Fat Chicks....

Just about every single post making fun of that losers goofy face-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022815980




Oh wait, there are a lot more, actually just about every thread on that guy folks are making fun of his funky cold medina-

Abercrombie and Fitch: Exclusion is cool
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022817802

How Abercrombie Went From Cool to Creepy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024003744

Abercrombie & Fitch posts ugly sales; stock drops 8%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022903661





This thread was about Hypocrisy right?

[lostincalifornia]

43. I am giving an opinion not making a list. A person who resorts to physical insults against someone

is shallow period

[dionysus]

74. well, he does kind of look like gary busey being possessed by Satan...nt

[nomorenomore08]

85. +1

[QuestForSense]

52. I agree with your point, but it's something we all learn in childhood.

The quickest way to hurt someone's feelings is to make fun of something they can't readily change: their physical appearance, for example. However, most of the folks vilified here are psychopaths who are immune to such insults anyway. You couldn't hurt their feelings with a pitchfork. People will still try -- perhaps that's when it becomes hate talk.

[cheyanne]

62. No, no, no, they are not psychopaths.

Even lower than making fun of physical characteristics is to denigrate your opponents by calling them psychopathic, amoral, like Hitler, etc.

Remember that is what the repugs do: Muslim are all murders, crazy or psychopathic; all liberals are communists.

These people bring down the level of discourse with these slurs, but they are driven by fear, something we can all understand.

Their whole lives they did what they thought was right, worked hard, saved, sent kids to college. The republicans told them that they were the true Americans. Suddenly their world is shattered. But it's very hard to give up beliefs that you've held all your life and that provided you with self respect.

So do you say that the repubs lied to you or do you double-down and stick with the republicans.

This is not apologize for their beliefs but to understand them and try not to follow their example.

We are on the winning side; and their lives are descending into a morass of lies and bigotry supported by the repubs.

[QuestForSense]

69. Here we disagree, I think.

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 08:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Do you not think someone like Glen Beck, or Chris Christie, or Paul Ryan might be psychopathic? One of the biggest dangers these people pose is by going unnoticed. I would not call someone a 'fat' psychopath or a 'pig-nosed' psychopath, or use any other such pejorative adjective, but speaking the truth is not the same thing as name-calling. I'm sorry, but I cannot make much sense of the rest of your reply. But I got the point lostincalifornia was originally making. Thanks.

[The Straight Story]

2. Said it before and will say it again

Some folks don't believe in the principles they espouse - which one can readily see when they apply that same principle to other topics.

Your body your choice? Only on one thing.

Don't judge the majority by the minority like the right wing does with muslims and such - unless you are talking about guns and other things. Then you can take the less than one percent and project all you want to praise.

There are many topics that when you look at them through the lens of purported values people say they hold show up in a rather different light than some expect. So they cherry pick where those values actually matter....like rw christians cherry pick the bible.

Oh, and don't point this out or you are a hater/libertarian/other name calling to distract from argument on the application of their own principles to other topics.

[OmahaBlueDog]

63. ^^ This ^^

..and I don't exclude myself. I'm probably as guilty as anyone here at DU.

[DeSwiss]

93. +1000

[kcr]

3. The same people who make fat jokes

are usually not the same people who are outraged by the business practices of Abercrombie and Fitch. Yes, there is some overlap, but is it enough to warrant leveling accusations of hypocrisy at DU? This is a very diverse place. There are also people who feel there that everything is fair game when it comes to targeting the enemy. At any rate, that is a big brush you're using there.

[crappyjazz]

5. I agree with you, but there is hyprocrisy everywhere and on both "sides".

I stopped posting and reading here several years ago because I couldn't take the hypocrisy.

I got over it for several reasons.

I came to terms with my belief that there is no "good" side. I believe all politicians are just that, politicians. Some are better than others, but I bet I would only need one hand to count those that are actually sincere, beyond reproach and beyond the reach of big money.

I came to terms with my belief that their followers are pretty much the same on both "sides".

Instead of it upsetting me, I just laugh at both sides, especially where there is a scandal brewing.

My advice to you would be to not read those posts that upset you. It's not worth it and you won't change anyone's mind.

Understand that there is generalization and ignorance on both "sides" and just stick to what holds true to you.

Namaste.

[mimi85]

103. Very well said. nt

[lapfog_1]

6. hello

I was either juror #1,#3, or #4.

I read the "joke" completely differently than you did. Fat jokes never entered my mind (i'm overweight).

I read it as "The Hindenburg was a gas bag (I know, Dirigible, not blimp, but that's nit picky) that crashed and burned in New Jersey in 34 seconds. Chris Christie is a New Jersey gas bag that took a little longer to crash and burn".

Now it's been 86 years since the Hindenburg crashed... had it only been a few years (how many? I don't know) I would have objected to the "joke" based on sensitivity to the victims of the Hindenburg disaster. Just as I would object to someone making a joke about Sandy Hook.

OTOH, the funniest thing I've even seen on TV was a Hindenburg "joke", the WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey Drop episode.

In the end, I made the call that this wasn't a reference to his being fat, but a reference to his personality (his is a republican gasbag bully).

Sorry you read it a different way.

[pipi_k]

38. Fair enough...

There are bloviating, self-important flaming gasbags on both sides of the political aisle...


Although your explanation here illustrates the problems that sometimes occur when people don't leave explanations for their jury votes.

Whenever I'm on a jury, I'm always interested in seeing why people voted the way they did.

Anyway, I'm glad you gave a different perspective on a reason not to hide.

[okaawhatever]

50. i too understood the Hindenburg reference to be "going down in flames or failure" not a reference to

his size. It's said the name for the band Led Zeppelin was because Entwistle or Moon said the band would go down like a lead balloon. I think the Hindenburg also represented the failure of Nazi Germany's technology and engineering. The airships were supposed to be the next big thing in aviation and the crash of the Hindenburg changed that.

[oberliner]

7. No hypocrisy involved

DU is not a collective.

There are members who make fat jokes and don't think what the CEO of AF said is a big deal.

There are members who are offended by fat jokes and do think what the CEO of AF said is a big deal.

They are two separate populations that exist within the DU community.

[Orsino]

23. But the same moderation process for all users.

One that enshrines hypocrisy.

[trotsky]

30. The "moderation" process (jury) is ANYTHING but consistent.

I don't think it's hypocrisy so much as wild inconsistency. You pick 6 random DUers, you never know what you're going to get.

[Orsino]

35. Perhaps it should be called inconsistency instead.

I would only add that to the casual visitor, the two are indistinguishable.

[dionysus]

75. a DU jury is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get...

[oberliner]

31. You never know who you'll get on the jury

It seems like there are not uniform approaches regarding how to serve.

[hfojvt]

66. I thought we were an autonomous collective

We tried to start an anarchist community, but people wouldn't follow the rules.

[oberliner]

67. An anarcho-syndicalist commune

Love that video!

[sendero]

9. I'm pretty sure...

.. I have never joined in to this sort of thing here, and I wouldn't even think of making fun of someone's size in real life.

But I think you are way off base. There is a huge difference between talking down a third party on a message board and insulting someone directly.

If you are so sensitive that the mere existence of such comments on a message board gives you the vapors, I don't see how you will survive on any internet message board, this one is more civil than many.

[NCTraveler]

10. Great OP madaboutharry. nt.

[Orrex]

11. Wow--terrific post!

K/R

[BainsBane]

12. I have served on juries that went 6-0 to hide a Christie joke

Use a sexist epithet against a woman though, and it is rarely hidden.

Edit: I agree such jokes are offensive and always vote to hide them. The reason they are offensive is not that I worry about Christie's feelings but they are insulting to all overweight people. The same goes with calling Clarence Thomas an "uncle Tom" or Michelle Bachmann a "b....h" or a "s....t." Those "jokes" insult far more than that one person and should never be acceptable here. Unfortunately, the fact is some people don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. The same people who are outraged about a joke about a member of a group they belong to see nothing wrong with insulting another.

[Eleanors38]

22. As are epithets against gun-owning white men in need of enhancers.

Stock & trade, right?

[dionysus]

76. no, that's accepable on DU...they are all small dicked, dangerous crazy people, i read it here!

[Eleanors38]

90. Yes, the ex-spurts have spoken.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. In terms of the Hindenburg joke, tell me, how thin would Christie have to be for folks to be allowed

to equate him to a Nazi gas bag whose great expectations burst into instant flames over New Jersey?
This joke would apply to him if he was only wafer thin, because he is a fascist gas bag who was seen as harbinger of the future but instead very quickly flamed out over New Jersey. He is analogous of the Hindenburg and would be if he was as thin as his ethics. It would not work if he was Governor of another State, where Hindenburg did not explode into shocking flame. It would not work if he was soft spoken, nor if he was a liberal.
Does his weight mean we can not say he is a Nazi gas bag bursting into flames at the moment of his greatest promise? In New Jersey? He's protected from fascist jokes? Why?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

13. just an observation...

Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor?

There are some here who tell women that very thing. It's often tough to change those minds....

Secondly, I want to note that we mock Mitch McConnell and others for being ugly. I don't usually see much outrage coming to their defense.

Just sayin.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. A fascist gas bag exploding in New Jersey......

To me 'Titanic' is the disaster with 'very large' as an major aspect of the destroyed vessel, Hindenburg's chief elements are Nazi, bad gas, high expectations which crash in flames. In New Jersey.
Do you claim Christie is not a fascist gas bag folks expected to have a strong future but which instead is bursting into flames? In New Jersey?

Honestly, did you know Hindenburg went down in Jersey?

When I saw that, I did not think of Christies girth but his personality, style, politics, geographic location, high goals and swift implosion. Sorry.

[Orsino]

36. This would actually make a damned good Onion story. n/t

[BobUp]

15. Fat people Democrats

like;







Fat people Democrats do not like;





Should people be more PC and sensitive by saying, "overweight" or "obese" ?

Or, should Democrats just attack the person and leave anatomy out of it?
People will make fun of other people, no matter what. Both repugs do it, and so do Democrats. People at RW web sites call Michelle Obama Moo schelle, referring to her as a cow. And what did she do to warrant that kind of talk?

People are taking internet forums too seriously, possibly.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Some aren't fat jokes; some are fat Christie jokes. It's a subtle distinction but operative.

For example, the Hindenburg joke you reference would not make any sense if it were about any other fat person. It only works because Christie is going down in flames from his own hubris. So it's not a "fat joke", it's a fat Christie joke. It may seem a subtle distinction, but it is important and operative.

Likewise, graphics that highlight the hypocrisy of Christie's tax- and service-cutting while he is obviously consuming large quantities of food (and maybe alcohol, does anyone know?) are not "jokes" per se, but satire. Regardless of whatever genetics or conditions a person has, their corpus does not get to be Christie's size without consuming large quantities of calories.

All the same, Christie has lost weight in the last year and that is praise worthy, even if it is for a craven political goal.

One could, as a progressive even, conceive of making a joke or satire that involved Obama's African heritage, but it would be much harder to do so because it would not play into hypocrisy or events in anything like the way Christie's policies and actions have. For example, Obama's drone strikes don't have any connection with his African-ness. A cartoon drawing Obama as an African tribesman throwing drones like spears would simply be racist.

[Adrahil]

26. I appreciate the comment, but if you have to explain such nuances, they aren't being understood. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

27. We're not Republicans; We do nuance. nt

[Adrahil]

28. Again I agree, but I think this one misses the mark. nt.

[davidthegnome]

17. This isn't about DU specifically.

You're talking about a few people, or perhaps even a lot of people, who were making fun of Christie and his weight. However... we have many thousands of members here, to suggest that this is "hypocrisy of DU" is inaccurate at best. You are painting with a broad brush here, whether some of our members are guilty of ugly hypocrisy or not, there's a whole heck of a lot of us that really don't care how fat Christie is and have nothing to say about it.

That being said, I'm not a fan of political correctness for it's own sake. I don't think any of us would tell an African-American, Jewish person, Asian person, Gay person, or disabled person to grow a sense of humor if they were offended by racist or bigoted comments. However, we are talking about Christie here, who is, essentially, a privileged white bully of the sort that, like all republicans, is eager to cut assistance to the poor. This man is growing more heavy while millions of people in this Country do not have enough to eat and can barely feed their children - and food stamps have been cut largely in thanks to politicians like him.

No, I'm not going to take issue with someone making fun of Christie's weight. If it was a decent person, hell yes, I'd be upset. But this is Christie, as far as I'm concerned, the worst things we can say about him will not be bad enough. As far as I am concerned, any insults directed against him are fair game and well deserved - and not nearly as much as he deserves.

Now perhaps this is my own personal hypocrisy, as I would indeed be upset if someone picked on a nice person for being overweight. Still, please keep in mind that this MY hypocrisy, and not that of DU as a whole. There's a big difference.

[weathermanx2005]

54. Best response to this thread :) +1000

[mountain grammy]

58. My hypocrisy too! Well said.

[hopemountain]

96. and, as a fat woman on du

my hypocrisy, too.

[Dorian Gray]

104. I will only say this in response

While I understand your joke, the problem with fat jokes in his case is that he is not the one hurt by the jokes. Other readers here who may be sensitive or unhappy about their weight are the ones reading these jokes. They see that people that they post with and perhaps respect are diminishing CC because of his weight. Not because of his actions. But because of his weight. And this may cause them to be hurt.

I am not calling for banning of this type of talk. Insensitive asses might not care that making fun of Christie's girth might hurt others. That's their right to keep acting like insensitive asses. They've been told why it hurts. If they don't care, then they don't care.

But people are going to speak up.

[99Forever]

108. This fat old white guy agrees.

The crap crooks like Christie and the entire bunch of Teathuglicans do are far more offensive to me than any silly name they might be called.

Grow up people.

[FatBuddy]

18. can we joke about his complexion?

[City Lights]

19. Here's a jury that got it right...

At Fri Jan 10, 2014, 06:44 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Chris Christie on the Narrows (exercise plan wreaks havoc on commuters)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4309648

REASON FOR ALERT:

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

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

please, no more fat jokes on DU - there is enough legit shit on Christie without going low like this

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Jan 10, 2014, 06:52 AM, and the Jury voted 4-2 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT and said: Enough of this juvenile garbage. You know the rightwingers who chortle "Michael Moore is fat lol." Yeah, don't be them. geek tragedy
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: Fat jokes suck.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Lame but OK.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Not that bad. Watched the whole thing. Basically the joke is in the first frame. not raunchy or rude.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: Easy hide. - Agschmid

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

[L0oniX]

49. So if everyone on that jury was over wieght it would have been 6-0 ???

That would say a lot about DU and the jury system. What if all 6 on the jury were anorexic? Of course an all anorexic jury wouldn't ever happen would it. Yea ...that will be the day when we have a problem with Twiggy jokes. As an anorexic I am tired of being called toothpick. I think it is better to focus in on making it unacceptable for any type of insults no mater the race, weight, religion, gender etc. ...except for ninja midgets.

[pipi_k]

20. Why people

don't generally do this:

Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor?

Because they see those conditions as being something a person can't do anything about. IOW, it's not their fault, whereas too many people think that obesity IS the person's fault.

Or being stupid is the person's fault, even though a constant theme around here is, "You can't fix stupid". Well, in some people's minds, stupid is absolutely something that can be fixed...in their minds, a stupid person is willfully choosing to be stupid. Like they choose to be fat.

And even if people don't think fat is a choice, the other rationalization for using weight against someone is that s/he is a Republican. So, that, supposedly, makes it OK.


I'm overweight. So when someone calls a person like Chris Christy a fat slob, it means I'm also a fat slob with no self control.

There's no weaseling out of that one, not even with all the twisted reasons in the world.

And, like someone above pointed out...anyone who can't find something besides physical appearance to use against someone else should be taken as seriously as a circus clown.

[Shandris]

81. Well said pipi.

The sad thing is that it is so very ingrained that few even recognize it when they do it, or understand the message they are (perhaps inadvertently) sending. Just like people who think that if you're poor you've done something wrong; they attach moral consequence to actions/effects that have no standing in morality.

[Orsino]

21. We really should learn to leave the ad hominems to the other parties.

Even if we are no better, deep down, why are we so eager to flaunt our ignorance?

[belltower]

24. many struggle with this one

including me, because it is -- so symbolic -- of a rotting Western culture. The A&F thing (well, holding aside solipsistic anorexia) is different: it reeks of rank exclusivity, and is not comparable. If I were a juror I'm sure I would have voted to remove/ban all such comments, which would surprise my wife who consistently would shoot nasty looks whenever I made any comment about anyone's weight, just as I used to whenever a negative comment was made about tobacco users. Glass houses and all, so I've finally stopped giving a damn about others' weight. It took me 40 years to get to this point though, and I'm glad I've gotten here.

Bottom line one's a sociopath to ridicule innocents however in Christie's case, here's a guy who is the epitome of a "fat cat" whom I tend to loath for obvious reasons.

I do urge DU to reconsider, and vote to equate fat stereotyping with religious/other stereotyping behavior. It's way sophomoric and we should all strive to be better than that -- our "moral ecology" should be to not oppress others when they are doing NOTHING to oppress us.

[wyldwolf]

25. As someone who has altenately been thin and heavy and thin and heavy...

I can say with some authority that bigotry against heavy people is one of the most accepted types in our society. I have seen how I and others have been treated and can compare it to how I was treated when I dropped the pounds.

[WinkyDink]

29. Look, I'm Italian-Irish, overweight, gray-haired, myopic, Catholic. Make all the jokes you want!

Just make'em funny.

The Right objects to criticizing stupid opinions, because of "Freedom of Speech." The Left objects to jokes about everything BUT stupid opinions.

Chaucer would not succeed today.

A summoner was with us in that place,
Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face,
For eczema he had; his eyes were narrow
As hot he was, and lecherous, as a sparrow;
With black and scabby brows and scanty beard;
He had a face that little children feared.
There was no mercury, sulphur, or litharge,
No borax, ceruse, tartar, could discharge,
Nor ointment that could cleanse enough, or bite,
To free him of his boils and pimples white,
Nor of the bosses resting on his cheeks.
Well loved he garlic, onions, aye and leeks,
And drinking of strong wine as red as blood.
Then would he talk and shout as madman would....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,
But lank it hung as does a strike of flax;
In wisps hung down such locks as he'd on head,
And with them he his shoulders overspread;
But thin they dropped, and stringy, one by one.
But as to hood, for sport of it, he'd none,
Though it was packed in wallet all the while.
It seemed to him he went in latest style,
Dishevelled, save for cap, his head all bare.
As shiny eyes he had as has a hare.
He had a fine veronica sewed to cap.
His wallet lay before him in his lap,
Stuffed full of pardons brought from Rome all hot.
A voice he had that bleated like a goat.
No beard had he, nor ever should he have,
For smooth his face as he'd just had a shave;
I think he was a gelding or a mare.....

[JNelson6563]

33. Thank you for this.

I have found this business to be very disappointing.

Julie

[Agnosticsherbet]

34. It is an uggly fact of human nature to demonize and dehumanize the other side in a conflict.

It is an unthinking reflex.

[Capt. Obvious]

37. I missed the fat joke in your alert

What's the difference between the Hindenburg and Chris Christie?


It only took 34 seconds for the Hindenburg to go down in flames.

I'm shocked two people on the jury saw a fat attack like you did.

[tridim]

40. I laugh at funny jokes and don't laugh at unfunny jokes.

Seems like a good compromise in context of the First Amendment.

[WinkyDink]

41. *Thumbs-Up Emoticon*

[NM_Birder]

42. The only two groups of people it is acceptable to make fun of

are Christians and Southerners.

At least from what I've read on DU.

[L0oniX]

46. ...and ninja midgets.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

44. Like these posted in national media?

[L0oniX]

45. This kind of thing is really pissing off the ninja midgets too.

Ok ...so you noticed that DU can be an extension of the school yard for some people. On the other hand 2/3rds of people in the US are over weight and obese so maybe there's a lot more push back than normal. I do notice that many over weight people tend to live in denial and do not like to talk about it. I however will bet that if there were a lot of Twiggy jokes there wouldn't be a problem with that. So yes indeed there may be a hypocrisy problem on DU ...and everywhere else too. Another day ...same shit.

[Vashta Nerada]

47. No one is making fun of obese people. They're making fun of obese Christie.

Huge difference.

[kiva]

72. When you say that fat people, or women (Sarah Palin),

or people of Indian descent (Bobby Jindel) or pretty much any general group can be the target of derision, then you are saying that all of those people are a fair target. Think it's an insult to call Christie fat? Did you think it was funny when the other side made fun of Ted Kennedy's weight?

I'm sorry you don't understand this, but as many here on DU have posted it is the truth.

[Vashta Nerada]

73. Nobody makes fun of Sarah Palin because she's a woman.

They make fun of her because she's stupid. Jindal shouldn't get any flack for his descent because that's something that he cannot control.

However, Christie can control his weight and he chooses not to. If he has no self-control when it comes to his diet, how can he have self-control when it comes to his finger on the button of nukes? Or when it comes to making a decision to go to war?

[kiva]

82. You weren't here in 2008.

People talked about Palin's looks, her clothes, and one post (thankfully hidden) suggested she needed an 11 inch **** to change her attitude.

Was Ted Kennedy able to make decisions even though, according to you, he "lacked self-control"? And if staying slim is an indication of an ability to lead, should we have all been cheering George W. Bush...after all, he did look so shapely after his aircraft landing?

Your last paragraph shows a cruel streak that is at odds with what DU is about, and that is a shame. Multiple people here have said they are overweight, even obese, and you choose to insult them...hopefully either your attitude or your status will change soon.

[Vashta Nerada]

84. Yeah, I was talking about Christie.

I wasn't talking about any other DUer. Way to (intentionally?) misrepresent my post.

Christie is in politics. His weight is fair game, as far as I'm concerned.

[RoccoR5955]

98. So in essence, you are making fun of Palin's mental handicap

If what many are against making fun of people, include the mentally handicapped, Palin should be included.
Things like this make me thing that these people have no sense of humor.

Some of us have learned to lighten up, and take these things in stride, and find funny in each of our differences, and embrace them as well. What is so hard about that?

[George II]

48. I agree 100% - Christie isn't loathed because he's overweight, he's loathed because...

...of his politics and policies. And those politics and policies aren't the result of him being overweight.

Let's just STOP it!!!

[otohara]

51. ANIMALS...Stupid...Idiot....Hack..."the little Serb"

"You know Tom, you must be the thinnest-skinned guy in America…you should really see me when I'm pissed."

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/01/chris-christie-bullying-videos

This is Chris Christie - a rude bully who is rewarded for his name calling.
I have no sympathy for this man anymore.

[olegramps]

56. I am inclined to think he uses his large girth to be threating.

I wonder if he was of slimmer build if he would be so belligerently obnoxious. It is without any doubt that he is a bully. I would like to know what he was like when he was younger.

[otohara]

61. Skinny Can Be Threatening Too

During my midlife crisis I slimmed down and boy did my life change - I was taken aback by how differently I was perceived and admired. It's kinda empowering to go from fat to skinny. I've since gained back some of the poundage and that's okay - I'm going to be 61 next week and being too thin can cause osteoporosis. But it sure was fun wearing a size 6 for all those years.

[DonCoquixote]

55. amen

"Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor? "

Sad note, there is a group here that does repeatedly tell women that, and if you wants examples, go to the Men rights groups, or better, talk to the HOF and they can point them out without you having to wide through the ka ka spewed in said groups.

[NYC_SKP]

57. I'm with you, madaboutharry. I hate that it even needs to be explained to people.

Sad to see the ugly fat jokes, hope it's not a majority view here.

And...

Happy New Year to you!

[Vashta Nerada]

59. My fauxrage is being expended elsewhere.

[NYC_SKP]

60. And, Christie may have been a victim of bullying as a child, if he was particularly overweight.

And he probably was stocky, chubby, etc. So was I.

Bullying is shitty, and being bullied sometimes makes the victim a bully.

No defense of this hateful Republican, but everyone was once a child.

And the ease with which some here mock his physical impairment is discouraging.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. Christie was of average weight well into adulthood.

nt

[The_Commonist]

64. We are a species of contradictions.

We are a species of hypocrites.

I love DU, I think it's the best new aggregator on the internet. Much of the discussion is lively, and I learn something new here everyday. But there is a lot of hypocrisy here. I'm reminded of a conversation with a good liberal friend once, when I mentioned DU. His response? "Oh, you mean the liberal daily two-minutes hate?" It's not only conservatives who see this place that way, and it's not only conservatives who engage in hypocrisy.

I get a chuckle, almost once a day when I see posts like "Fuck those goddamn conservative haters!"
Ummm... really? Wasn't it MLK who said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Don't be a hater if you don't want to be hated.

Sooo... Hypocrisy. I know that I'm a hypocrite, and I do what I can to lessen the amount of hypocrisy in my life. One of my favorite techniques involves drinking coffee.

Dunkin' Donuts is owned by a consortium of companies, including the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital. Carlyle is basically the Bush Crime Family company, and owns several military contractors. It was mine and many other people's opinion that Dubya, 9/11 and the Iraq war all happened basically to enrich Carlyle (and other, related companies like Halliburton). Bain, is of course, Mitt Romney's company. They also own Guitar Center and Staples, (among others) which are companies that I do not patronize even though I'm a musician and use lots of office supplies. I'm a couple of subway stops away from the nearest Guitar Center, and a 7 minute walk from the nearest Staples. When I found out they were owned by Bain, I never stepped foot in them again.

Anyway, every once in a while I will engage in a "Hypocrisy Day." I do this after I've caught myself being totally hypocritical. I'll go to the Dunkin' Donuts around the corner and buy coffee and a donut. Usually I go to the small, local, hipster coffee place right next door, because I like them and their profits stay in the community. But I will occasionally go to Dunkin' when I need a Hypocrisy Day. I don't particularly like or dislike their products, it's not a treat for me and it's not particularly unpleasant either. I'll sit there while the nice, young, low-wage Bengladeshi workers (whom I always tip well) clean the counters and serve other customers. I'll take those 10 minutes or so to think about what other hypocrisies I have committed in my life, and what I can do to eliminate that as much as possible.

I've noticed over the 2 years or so that I've done that, that I am now more able to stop any certain hypocrisy BEFORE I commit it. It makes me more aware and therefore able to stop myself before the fact. I've been eating fewer donuts since I began this technique. It's also made me more aware of hypocrisies that I see in others. For example, I used to enthusiastically engage in snark at the expense of others around here, and I've tried to drop that in my DU communications. Doesn't always work, of course.

And I am often, even daily, amazed at the hypocrisy that I see here. It's sad, really. So I would like to humbly ask everyone here to admit that they are a hypocrite, and try to be aware of their hypocrisies. That way you can work to lessen their effect. You'll certainly never get rid of it all, but maybe you'll stop yourself before you click "Post my reply!" with that Christie Kreme joke.

[lumberjack_jeff]

65. Republicans would end social security, end public healthcare, end public schools

end the safety net, divert all taxes to the military, subvert what remains of a functionally free press and reserve voting to those who have wealth.

We can't tolerate a fat joke?

They're the enemy. This overweight guy says, Chris Christie? Fuck that fat fucking fuck.

[nomorenomore08]

86. You know, I rec'd the OP but I still have to agree with you here.

Generally I don't care for the "fat jokes" about Christie - they're dumb and counterproductive - but perspective is important too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

68. Today's National Media:

[badtoworse]

70. You forgot the other allowable target of stereotypes on DU - rich people.

You're right - DU has its share of hypocrites.

[dionysus]

80. add religious people and gun owners.

[DrDan]

71. prior to joining DU, I thought progressives were tolerant

was I ever wrong

[Capt. Obvious]

77. And I thought they liked cats

[CJCRANE]

79. Something like 98% of DUers were against mocking people's weight

in that poll in another thread.

I think it's funny, all these generalizations about anonymous posters on DU - most of whom do not fit the generalization - and who cannot control what a few other anonymous posters say.

[FSogol]

105. Exactly. And whenever something bad happens to the GOP, someone will show up here saying, "tsk, tsk

you Democrats are terrible people."

or

[kiawah]

83. There's a key problem with your logic

Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor?

No - I don't think most of us would joke about a person's ethnicity, sexual preference or disability. However, none of those are lifestyle choices...

[nomorenomore08]

87. Being overweight isn't always a lifestyle choice either. Some people have metabolic or other health

issues which they can't control, and which contribute to their weight. Now, in Christie's case, he was normal weight well into adulthood, so I suspect his particular weight issues are largely due to overeating. Still cheap and juvenile, though, to mock the guy's weight, when he has plenty of negative characteristics that are far more important in their implications.

[DemocraticWing]

88. Do you choose your weight?

Maybe not necessarily. I have a feeling that diet and exercise habits are definitely (at least partly) shaped by environment, and the type of family a person grows up in may form habits that are difficult to break in adulthood. So if somebody grows up in a family of obese people who eat too much and never exercise...it seems possible they will be like that too.

Can they change that? Sure. Does that reflect on their personality? I don't really think so.

[Dustlawyer]

89. There have always been groups that get constant ridicule, jokes, and outright hatred.

Fat people have been a group where there has been little social penalty to make fun of, but there are still others, short, old, Southern, and of course, lawyers.
I remember going to dinner with a large group of my sister and brother-in-law's friends when I was waiting to see if I had passed the Bar exam. I had been talking with 3 couples at my end of the table when one of the men asked me what I did for a living. His wife replied 1st and said, "Honey, he is what you hate the most in the whole world!" He responded quizzically with, "You are with the IRS?" Wife, "No honey, you hate them more than the IRS!" At this point the Husband slammed his hand down on the table and shot up out of the chair and yelled, "You're an attorney!" The whole restaurant got silent and everyone stared at me. It hit home then that suddenly I had become a pariah just because I had chosen a career where I thought I would be able to help people and enjoy what I was doing. I was not naive enough that I didn't know that attorneys usually end up next to last in the annual polling on the public's esteem (or lack thereof) of various occupations. We are just above used car salesmen, (yea)!
If everyone would just do what their Kindergarden teacher taught them, follow the Golden Rule, "Do unto others what you would have others do unto you!" Anytime you paint people with a broad brush you wrong many, if not all!

[raccoon]

106. What rude people. Someone said a lot of people hate lawyers UNTIL THEY NEED ONE. nt

[Flatpicker]

91. There really is no need

to Criticize Christie for his weight when it's his personality that is the problem.

The man is repulsive, but, it's not because he loves his food.

I'm fat and I approve of this message...

[BobUp]

101. It's one thing to have a personality disorder,

It's another to throw your weight around, oooops, sorry.

[NuclearDem]

92. IOKITAR

It's OK If They Are Republicans, apparently.

[Quixote1818]

94. I agree 100%. nt

[DeSwiss]

95. So it's not just me.....

- K&R

[RoccoR5955]

97. I am of Italian-American descent, and fat.

I tell and get Italian-American, and fat jokes all the time.
I really do not mind them.
I don't even mind the dirty hippie jokes either.
When we can all be the butt of jokes, any of us, because of our background, many of us learn how to lighten up about these differences, and learn to love them.
So I think it's time for some of us to lighten up.
But that's me.

[Live and Learn]

99. I agree but please tell me we are not

going into another 40 day DU, 4000 OP "war" about this. I really can't take anymore!

[AZ Progressive]

100. DUers are still human

What do you expect?

[Live and Learn]

102. Human doesn't mean they can't learn.

When we learn that something we say hurts others, we should refrain from doing it again instead of attempting to justify it.

[Bluenorthwest]

107. About that last paragraph and the celebration of anti gay clerics on DU

You ask:
"Would any of us tell an African-American, A Jewish person, An Asian person, A gay person, or a disabled person who was the butt of someone's insensitive joke to get over themselves and grow a sense of humor? "

This is done on DU constantly, and not just about 'jokes', LGBT people are told that we should be 'patient' when Francis says our families are an attack on God, that we come from the devil. Francis is not joking at all, but DU tells us we have to praise him, we have to watch others squeeze out more praise for a man who openly attacks us and worse, our families.
DUers often have told LGBT people that we 'want a pony' when we seek equal rights, they say we exhibit 'poutrage' when we are not happy to be mistreated.