Censoring fat jokes is a slippery slope

[fried eggs]

Last edited Fri Jan 10, 2014, 03:32 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a given that jokes based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation should not be allowed. But if people are now wanting to draw arbitrary lines in the sand about which changeable traits can and can't be mocked, then every week there will be a new "off limits" topic.

The nature of mocking, jokes, teasing is that it will always touch a nerve of someone who has a similar trait. How do you think people with fake tans feel when Boner is mocked? Or people with strange hair feel when Trump is mocked?

A better debate to have would be whether mocking, teasing, or ridicule of republicans will be allowed on DU. If so, then let people have fun as long as the comments don't cross the line into bigotry. I say this as a person who struggles with my weight.

[NCTraveler]

1. I truly hope you can see the difference between...

fat "jokes" and fake tan jokes. I mean I really really hope you have that depth.

[NYC_SKP]

13. Quite possibly, they don't. I do.

Fake tans, bad makeup, bad hair, are all fashion choices people make.

But, to me, even criticism of these isn't right.

I don't like the mocking, for example, seen in "People of Walmart", many of whom are victims of a corrupt society that depends upon an underclass.

Christie has a weight problem, and that is a medical thing, not a fashion choice.

[NCTraveler]

14. Agree with all of your post. Thanks. nt.

[enlightenment]

16. Exactly.

Mocking is shallow and speaks more (negatively) of the person doing the mocking than the people they mock.

Disclaimer: I have been known to make the "committing fashion suicide" remark on occasion - and I know I'm being catty and mean when I do it.

[NYC_SKP]

17. And, this man may have been a victim of bullying as a child, if he was particularly overweight.

Nobody's even mentioned that angle.

PS, I've made the catty remarks, too. I think it's one thing to laugh a little in private or with a friend about what silly people do.

And it's an entirely different matter to mock a person's physical or even emotional challenges.

[quinnox]

2. *censoring*

and I agree, free speech always trumps these objections.

[NCTraveler]

5. I have yest to see the government crack down on fat "jokes".

There is absolutely no such thing as free speech on du. absolutely none.

[fried eggs]

20. LOL! I really need to take a nap!

[bettyellen]

3. Sensoring? Ha. And people are fine with mocking a person's behavior just fine…..

where'd you get the idea that would be off limits? It;s about mocking a person for their looks, maybe we should have standards that admit what a childish waste of bandwidth that is? Save it for Reddit.

[lame54]

4. No more Family Guy or Simpsons clips

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Go over at cdc and check obesity rates

Then look at Diabetes, then come back and tell me they are funny.

I will tell you this, trash thread now will include any thread making fat jokes. It is what it is, but I don't have to enable them by even reading them. I don't care what good, cogent point is made.

I said the other day that there is plenty we can be critical of Christie without making reference or taking recourse in fat jokes. Adults don't need to make those jokes (that might be hurtful to people struggling with weight issues themselves) to make a point as to how awful he us as a governor.

Have a good day, thread trashed.

[NCTraveler]

8. Simple and to the point. Exactly correct. nt.

[NightWatcher]

7. Can we still make fun of grammar?

[HERVEPA]

28. Please yes.

[L0oniX]

9. Don Rickles would not survive on DU...

...and I really like his act. So what is it that makes what he says funny? It's how he presents it? It's like he is/was always mocking himself while insulting others.

[Initech]

18. Neither would a good 90% of comedians!

[11 Bravo]

23. George Carlin and Richard Pryor wouldn't have lasted for more than a couple of posts.

[kiva]

10. I sense...

that you do not understand why people object to these comments.

[OKNancy]

11. I don't think people are calling for rule-based censoring

just some thoughtfulness. "Think before you write"

[MadrasT]

12. Requesting compassion and thoughtfulness when posting is different from CENSORING. n/t

[pintobean]

15. Fried eggs.

We can use the cooking oil to lubricate the slope. Pretty slick.

[Go Vols]

19. +1

[ProgressSaves]

21. Dehumanization is a slippery slope. nt

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. ^^^THIS^^^

[MissMillie]

22. I would hope that it wouldn't come to censorship

Unless you mean self-censorship.

This is reasonable request from more than a few people who truly find this behavior hurtful.

Is it too much to ask to keep the commraderie here on the boards?

[athena]

24. Weight is not a changeable trait.

The vast majority of people who lose weight by dieting gain it all back. See this article.

Like it or not, our weight is in our genes. Making fun of a person because s/he is fat is no different from making fun of him/her because s/he is short or tall.

I say this, btw, as a person who is not overweight or obese.

[Vashta Nerada]

32. Yeah. Blame the genes.

Surely it has nothing to do with drinking pop instead of water, eating five doughnuts instead of one, or driving around the parking lot for 20 minutes to get a spot close to the door because one is too lazy to walk.

[Brickbat]

25. Help me out here. How fat does a person have to be before it's OK to make fun of his weight?

If he's actively losing weight, but is still too fat, is he fair game for mocking? After all, even if he's in the process of changing, he's still fat. What if I think someone is overweight by my own personal standard, but she's within government norms? Would that be OK?

Also, are you saying that religion is not a changeable trait?

[Brickbat]

27. Also, maybe you wouldn't struggle with your weight if your screen name weren't "fried eggs."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[fried eggs]

30. you seem to be misinformed

It's man made food that's making many of us fat. You can't go wrong sticking with natural foods, such as eggs, that are fried in an all natural oil. If I ate fried eggs more and eliminated man made junk, I wouldn't ever have a weight problem.

[Gravitycollapse]

33. You show a vastly inadequate understanding of the human metabolism.

You think everyone would be skinny as a rail if we all just started "naturally" frying eggs?

[Brickbat]

34. Then maybe you should EAT FRIED EGGS MORE and ELIMINATE MAN-MADE JUNK so you don't have

a weight problem. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Brickbat]

29. Also, what are some of the progressions of this slippery slope you fear sliding down?

[Gravitycollapse]

31. If we were to mock a black Republican for being black, how well would that go over?

Same concept. Just replace black with fat.

Comments mocking Christie for his weight are inherently bigoted, regardless of his or anyone else's political affiliation.

[HereSince1628]

35. Really...next thing you know folks will be wanting protection for the mentally ill!

And even the DU admin admit that this site cannot function without being able to stereotype the mentally ill