When

BeachIron

Did the word "skinny" become an insult?

WTF happened to the world that caused people to "insult" others by telling them that they are at a healthy weight? Or are all these posters just being hyper-sensitive?

Oh. Good morning, MFP. Or good afternoon, or good evening, whatever the case may be.

Talk amongst yourselves. I'm out for a beach run.

randomtai

Only on MFP.

harlanJEN

You can call me a skinny *kitten* anytime you wanna.

rml_16

They're being hypersensitive. This goes back to that thread about what "fit" means.

"I'm not skinny, I'm fit!" like it's a terrible thing to be skinny.

That was the point I was trying to make.

JenAndSome

I think it's all the "real women have curves" nonsense that is out there. Some women have curves, some women have less curves and some women can bench press a Buick*. All are still women.

ETA: This may be an over-exaggeration.

TX_Rhon

For some people - EVERYTHING is an insult. It must truly suck to be so sensitive.

Happy Tuesday MFP :drinker: <----im off to get some coffee!

ArroganceInStep

Skinny would be an insult to me because it would only ever apply in a facetious fashion...but that's not what you're talking about.

I think people in general need to sack up and build some damn self confidence. You're happy with your body? Great. Don't cut other people down to make yourself feel superior. You're unhappy with your body? Fine, work on it. Don't cut other people down to make yourself feel less terrible.

And if someone is insulting you, remember that they suck at life and are probably terrible in bed.

hopefaithlove24

Love to be called skinny:)

Tiernan1212

And if someone is insulting you, remember that they suck at life and are probably terrible in bed.

:drinker: This is now my new "sticks and stones..." mantra :laugh:

Tw1zzler

"Skinny" is good, and now I wouldn't mind someone calling me that. (but I'm aiming for "healthy" or "athletic")

But... having been a skinny person most of my life, at the lowest end of 'healthy'. I did get tired of people saying.. "oh you're so skinny!!!" I didn't go around telling people " oh your so fat!" It's another label. I didn't try to be so skinny, I just didn't have much cash and didn't make food a priority.

I agree with Jen... that the 'real women have curves' is kind of nonsense. I am one of those ladies w/ no curves, no matter how much weight I gain. Real women are true to themselves.

ItsCasey

I do think the majority of it has to do with overweight people wanting to be able to accept being overweight. It's easier to do that when you can point at someone who is thinner than you are and say "I just think women look better with more meat on their bones." Whatever.

On the other hand, for someone who has been really overweight (and I have), being told you are "skinny" or some other term that clearly isn't meant as a compliment can screw with your head. When you think you look great and someone else makes a joke about you being anorexic or blowing away or telling you to eat a cheeseburger ... it's like being punched in the stomach. And I'm a very mentally and emotionally stable person. So I can't imagine the number it might do on someone who isn't in a good place.

rml_16

I do think the majority of it has to do with overweight people wanting to be able to accept being overweight. It's easier to do that when you can point at someone who is thinner than you are and say "I just think women look better with more meat on their bones."

I agree with this.

As for the rest, I do think people mean that as a compliment most of the time. They're usually joking around, but rarely do they actually mean you should gain weight. It's a strange way of complimenting, but I think that is generally how it's meant.

UsedToBeHusky

Well "skinny" isn't really associated with a healthy weight anymore.

randomtai

I do think the majority of it has to do with overweight people wanting to be able to accept being overweight. It's easier to do that when you can point at someone who is thinner than you are and say "I just think women look better with more meat on their bones."

I agree with this.

As for the rest, I do think people mean that as a compliment most of the time. They're usually joking around, but rarely do they actually mean you should gain weight. It's a strange way of complimenting, but I think that is generally how it's meant.

All of this. It seems like people are really awkward when discussing weight.

_noob_

I just wanted to respond to the thread title...

Mainebikerchick

Definitely hypersensitive! I'd LOVE to be called skinny, I'd say that's a big compliment after all the hard work I've been doing!

UsedToBeHusky

My daughter is very thin. She hates to be called "skinny".

BeccaBollons

When I was a teenager, I had this friend who used to see skinny like a disease. For example my sister is VERY thin, and Tim would say "she's got Skinny". We definitely saw it as negative to be called skinny. Slim, trim, thin all were fine. Now I like "lean" and "elegant" and my personal favourite "like a baby giraffe". My MIL calls me willowy, which is not three bad.

Comments on people's weight are awkward. We don't walk up to our best friends and say things like- you're looking particularly overweight today! Why make slim people feel awkward too?

shellma00

I am sorry.. but I would take it as a compliment. I haven't been skinny in a very long time!

YouMadBro8281

F@#k you bro I'm not skinny! :bigsmile:

ldrosophila

since humans could make up adjectives it meant the guy wasnt very good at hunting and had a skinny wife and children. Also it has cultural connotation the "fat and rich" countries view it as more positive then countries that are "starving and poor."