Snarky comments about weight -- would you respond?

[Grog]

I don't know whether it's a protected human right to call oneself a "cow" or even a "zebra," an "elephant" or a "snake." But it sure helps when everybody takes things lightly. I was called "the fly" a lot in high school because of my HUGE glasses. Having a sense of humour and talking back in as clever a way as I could helped me avoid getting my panties in a twist.

I don't hear remarks about people being fat very often, in fact I can't recall even one instance in recent times. But I usually speak up when I hear something derogatory. It's often plain old simple sexist comments. I try to fire back with some form of clever retort, but I will avoid insulting or humiliating them as much as I can. When hurt, people shut their door and the light cannot shine through. Generally I find it important to express some form of disapproval when I encounter anti-social behaviour. Some people may thrive on social disapproval (teenagers?) but many kids and grownups react to even subtle cues showing them that, no, it's not all right to speak badly of others and make wide generalization.

It's hard though. To find the right retort. To be quirky but polite enough. Sometimes I say nothing and regret it later. There sure are times when I don't notice, too, because I don't struggle with weight/race/etc. and so I'm less sensitive to certain topics, more to others.

A favourite scene in the French movie Amelie: Amelie is watching helplessly as the local grocer publicly insults his clerk, telling him he's a slow thinker. She daydreams that a hidden prompter would whisper the right thing to say in such circumstances. The prompter suggests: "At least you'll never be a vegetable - even artichokes have hearts!" And the assembled crowd bursts out in laughter. [Not sure that would fit my criteria but her revenge moves are hilarious.]

[PamNY]

But I usually speak up when I hear something derogatory. It's often plain old simple sexist comments. I try to fire back with some form of clever retort, but I will avoid insulting or humiliating them as much as I can. When hurt, people shut their door and the light cannot shine through.

That sums up the issue nicely. Things like this were easier when I was younger and it was fun to be brash and self-righteous.

Pam