Fat - So?

She didn't get a ticket, she was "ticked off." This version of the story explains it a little differently: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051014/od_nm/fat_dc I like the quote for her in there: "I could have said lardy, porky or podgy. But I wouldn't dare use those words." Wouldn't dare use them...just probably yelled them at the car as it drove away though. Honestly though, I think what they are doing is a nice gesture. A lot of people are offended by being called fat, whether they should be or not. If they are trying to be considerate of that and have their reports say "of a heavy build," then I think it's a good thing. At least they're considering we might have feelings. -gasp-

Whoops! I fixed the original post.

Well, HOPEFULLY she was reprimanded not because she used the word "fat" but because of her intentions in calling someone that. Presumably (and I'm presuming this because it seems to be a common enough thing) she is using the word fat to describe someone in an effort to belittle, offend and hurt them. I agree that the word fat should just be seen as a descriptor - she shouldn't be reprimanded for using that word, but instead be reprimanded for what are her clearly offensive intentions behind it. Sorry I can't word this better, I'm tired :(

I'm with Midkn ytOwl. I agree that "fat" shouldn't be an insulting term, but the fact is that the vast majority of people in the UK would feel insulted to be labelled as such, whether we like it or not. If the police are being considerate by recommended that she use a not-considered-insulting word because they are aware that fat people have feelings, then that's good in my book. Fixing the whole insulting aura around the word "fat" is a whole other issue.

I have only recently been able to use the word fat without flinching a bit inside. Having the word fat/fatass spat at me with such hatred in my own childhood (by my fat mother, no less) has given me an extremely negative connotation of it. It was only with the help of online and real life resources that I have come to know intellectually that fat is not a swear. It still feels like an insult to me somtimes. On the one hand, fat should not have a negative connotation. On the other, it will have such a connotation if people continue to use the word with intent to insult.

Well, to be honest, I find "fat" extremely insulting. Especially because I am average weight, yet I had that word frequently applied to me by bullies in high school. So it dredges up a ton of bad memories for me, and frankly, if someone did call me that, I would probably get extremely mad at them.

She wasn't calling the woman fat to her face. She was asked to describe the woman for her police statement and was told she can't use that kind of language. It's one thing when people scream the word "fat" at me as an insult, quite another if someone is describing me to another party and I'm not even present.

It's easy for us to say "just use fat what's the big deal?" when most/many of us have either, or are in the process of, adopted/adopting the word as a neutral descriptor. It remains, however, to the world outside, a pretty nasty insult. So, no, it's not political correctly and I think that the police did the right thing. One "metric" on deciding how to call a group is how the groups wants to be called themselves. As a group, I'd say most fat people would rather be described using euphemisms (heavy built, stocky, my fave, fluffy, fruity etc etc etc etc). I may disagree and call myself fat but until fat people stop seeing the word as an insult, this was the correct -and rather sensitive, if you ask me- thing for the police to do.

Gah. Forgot to close my italics there. Mea culpa.

Wednes summed up my thoughts perfectly. All my life I have heard the word fat used viciously against me, while those who wanted to be kind to me resorted to all sorts of linguistic gimmicks not to use it. I had real trouble to begin to use it neutrally, as a descriptor, as Paul said in the post. I won't hide I still struggle with it. I think it will be a long road before all fat people shed all the awful associations they have with the word fat and re-own it, but one we should nevertheless walk. Having this place to share feelings and thoughts does make it easier.

"Heavily built" isn't even a euphemism. It's an accurate, neutral way to describe a fat or large person. I use descriptors like that all the time in everyday speech when talking about other people: "A large build," "a big man/woman," etc. Most people would be insulted by being called "fat" and I find that euphemisms such as "fluffy" or "Rubanesque" sound silly in most situations. I won't use "fat" except to describe myself or someone else I know is into size acceptance. Most polite people will avoid mentioning size at all, which can be problematic in cases where it's a striking physical characteristic (or when identifying another driver). For example, "You may have seen her around. She's a pretty, dark haired women, late twenties, with a very large build." I agree with what other people have said. Until "fat" stops being an insult, other words will be better for providing a neutral description.

At the same time, it sounds like the Manchester police went overboard... (in the same situation, I'd have been using some REALLY choice words to describe the driver.)

This is a tough mess. It's one thing when a little kid says, "that person is fat" and a parent overreacts. My instinct, at least, is to point out, "The kid is right. I AM fat. It's not an insult. You're thin. I'm fat." On the other hand, many adults use "fat" in a bad way. To them it means "lazy," "slob," "stupid," and/or a host of other things. On the third hand, some people have just used it because, well, I am fat. Like the (very tall) woman who said to me, "I never think of you as short, maybe it's because you're so fat." I am short. I am fat. She is tall. There was nothing rude in any of this. On the fourth hand [holy mutants, batman! :-P], I'd much rather be called fat than most of the other things. I find "fluffy" downright offensive ["fluffy" is what you name your pet!]. And for what it's worth, I also find the term "Super Sized" to be rather obnoxious, too. I understand the point of the term -- and I fit into it, no pun intended -- but for crying out loud, the term has been long since taken over by A Certain Fast Food Chain and I am not available with fries and a Coke!

Mixed emotions on this, but I am in the "call me fat" camp. At least I think I am. I understand that the police were actually trying to protect the sensibilities of people, specifically fat people; and perhaps they don't feel fat is a legal enough term and want something that is free of negative connotations. Fat is a word that fat people are trying to reclaim, and not all words like this are successfully reintroduced into the mainstream lexicon. I have friends who might refer to themselves as fags and dykes, but that wouldn't be an accepted term in most circles. I, however, feel that the word fat isn't quite in the same group as that, more like being called gay vs. homosexual. The gay people I know do not want to be called homosexual, just like I don't want to be called obese by people around me. I bet the woman making the report could have gotten away with obese, however, as it is supposedly just descriptive of a medical condtion. Ultimately, I am personally offended when people consider the term fat offensive, not to be spoken; the taboo on the word goes hand and hand with the idea that it isn't appropriate to speak of someone's failings or shortcomings. I can't tell you how many times I've referred to myself as fat only to have someone say, "Oh, you aren't fat, why would you say such a thing about yourself?" When I say, "Please, call me fat" the response is, "I wouldn't refer to my friends in that way because I don't say such (ugly, mean, horrible) things about them." So it's OK to be the fat person and we won't talk about such impolite things, but you should take your second class citizenship and like it. No thanks.

I use the word fat regularly. In the beginning to condition myself not to flinch whenever I heard it applied to me; now, to enjoy watching other people flinch when I apply it to me. And then to hear them rush to my defense: "you shouldn't say that about yourself!" or "you're not fat!" (Excuse me, 300 lbs is fat, ok?) That being said, I don't always use it in reference to other people. They aren't as evolved as I am, lol. I'll say somebody's a "big girl" or "healthy" or "nice and big" (in an admittedly salacious way) or "thick" or any other euphemisms that name fat as a positive thing. Never heard the term "fluffy" used for a fat person before. It makes me think of lemon meringue pie or pudding or big, teased hair. Fluffy. Hehe.

Is it EVER a good thing to have the government reprimanding people for the language they use? Doesn't anyone else see the danger inherent in this practice?

Fluffy? In my family that's the word for fart -- as in "Oh, gawd, did you just release a fluffy? I'm moving over to the futon!"

The only time I've liked the word fluffy is at my grandmother's house. She has this little plaque that says, "Ewe's not fat, ewe's fluffy!" with a couple of sheep painted on it. I just think it's cute. Otherwise, I kind of get the impression that fluffy somehow means I'm soft and unconditioned, like it would be ok for me to be large if I were hard and toned, but I'm not so I'm "fluffy".