I remember when my kids were young there was quite a few days that they would come home in tears because one of the little tykes they played with had said something hurtful.  It could have been almost anything dealing with looks, dress, hair color and hair length, speech, toys, and parents.   The barbs would be teasing and many times done with partners or a whole group.  They would needle enough until my kids couldn’t take it anymore and reacted by running home while crying.
Now don’t get me wrong and think that my kids were the wimps of the neighborhood and the target for anyone that took aim.  There were also times when both my wife and I got visits or phone calls because my children did their own brand of verbal bulling to induce bawling on another neighborhood kid.  I just gave that example to say that kids are brutal when it comes to making someone else feel bad.  They don’t have many filters that stopped them or held them back from letting the insults fly.  You could say they really have no conscience or considered the consequences.   To survive the playground was part of being tough and insults were part of it.
Fast forward into adulthood and the prejudices that were formed during those playground sessions have now been honed into spear like assaults that have turned into sport.  The tongued assassins have taken on many targets and shoot for the insult that makes one cry.  One of the topics that’s high on the list of for this abrasive behavior is taking shots at a person’s weight.  The size of someone brings out the most heinous assaults with not even a thought of the damage it does.
From the “you’re so fat” jokes to over exaggerating the size of a person so that there is an issue for fitting into something or possibility of breaking something for the sheer volume.   The stuff comes from many with no real recourse.  Our society has accepted us as an overweight bunch and those that are overweight or obese get bullied with verbal assaults. Why did the size of a person create such a stigma that individuals are considered less of a person simply because they weigh more than someone else?
If you are from a select group based on color, religious preference, political persuasion or certain country, you know that you can’t be bashed publically without some ramifications.  Why has it become a non issue when it comes to insults for heavy individuals?  I know that I took my fair share of zaps just a few short months ago, but it now seems like it’s been less by dropping some weight.  How about you? Have you been part of this or do you take part in it?
6 Comments until now
I still have hurtful memories of being bullied as a child
Perhaps those times taught me not to be that way to others. The line from “The Last of the Mohicans,” sticks with me:
“Magua would make himself into what twisted him!”
Good lesion there for people and countries, I think.
Very good point Dr. j and being sensitive to others is not a human fault.
I read a book on girls who bully and it was called Odd Girl Out.
Good book. I also witnessed Chris’s daughter being bullied by ostracizing from two of her “best” friends until she would do what they wanted her to do. No name calling, just demands. I told her if she gave in, there would just be more demands.
Of course my sister and I were tormented about being chubsters!
She was Nellie Fat Bellie and I was Janny Fat Fanny.
.-= POD´s last blog ..The Infamous Monterey Bike Trial =-.
I’ve only ever been involved with bullying when I was in junior high, but the girl who bullied me didn’t make any weight comments. I agree, though, that it is horrible the kinds of things that people do and say.
.-= Sagan´s last blog ..A New Addition to the Family =-.
POD – I don’t know if the impact of what harmful things are said can ever be measured for the damage that’s been done. The emotional change that effects the overall person can be there forever.
Sagan – It’s too bad that you experienced this, but hold your head up as what you’ve offered during this year of following your blog is wonderful. Thanks
As an adult, I’m so lucky to be in the sort of sensitive supportive communities where bullying is pretty much unheard of. So I’m always shocked to realize how commonplace it is.
So sad!
.-= Crabby McSlacker´s last blog ..Crabby Gets Juiced =-.