Why is needling some aspects of physical appearance considered socially acceptable?

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To use a PURELY hypothetical example, several female friends of mine think it is perfectly alright to make nasty comments about my slightly thinning hair, but are very offended if anyone makes a weight remark about them. If I was as balding as they are fat, this is what I would look like:

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld/assets/thecast_biopict_george.gif

Also, of course, I am just being whiny. Also, obv. there are gender differences in commenting about appearance; people feel free to rail on me for being skinny but they don't say shit about one of my female friends who could possibly be anorexic. But certainly, overweight males are rarely directly mocked for their weight.

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:22 (twenty-two years ago)

God, I'm stupid! Wrong board!

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, I'm double stupid. Right board! Mod, deleted the second instance of this question :((((

STUPID

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

You really do sometimes remind me of a catnipped out kitten, Jon. Anyway, as you will surely soon see, this is a topic best not discussed round these parts, it is the pink elephant in the corner of the hippie house.

― Allyzay, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:28 (twenty-two years ago)

He's got a point though. Perhaps it's considered more acceptable to laugh at baldness because it's unavoidable, whereas if you laugh at a fat person you're implicitly saying "you lazy lardass, lose some weight!"?

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

One question mark or two ?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

nobody ever died from being bald!

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

sometimes i'm amazed jon is still alive

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

As a balding man, I've learnt to live with the endless jokes and remarks, although I too wonder why it's so socially acceptable to make fun of baldness. I find the remarks don't usually come from women, they come from men with a full head of hair, and it's a form of pulling rank, a way of reminding me who is the more conventionally better looking, younger looking or whatever. I'm not sure it's even conscious half the time, my own brother does it and I know he wouldn't really want to upset me. I also think that mocking male vanity is simply far more acceptable than doing the same for female vanity. If a woman goes grey or starts thinning, no one makes jokes about her dyeing her hair or wearing a wig, but if a man dyes his hair or wears a toupee, it's a huge joke.

― balding man, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey slaphead!

― man with full head of hair, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

YOU BALD BASTARD

― yeah, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/sep02/david091502_big.jpg

bald asshole!

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Rule one: never criticize ANY aspect of a woman's appearance
Rule two: say whatever you want to about a man's appearance as long as you think you can run faster once you pass over the threshold of acceptable ribbing
Rule three: never be sure where the threshold is

― Skottie, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I am balding actually but I have to say the idea of someone screaming "you bald bastard" is fucking hilarious.

GET SOME HAIR ON THAT HEAD YOU IDIOT.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU CLOWN, THAT BALD HEAD IS REFLECTING SOMETHING AWFUL

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

THERE ARE KIDS AROUND BALDY, GET BACK INDOORS.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Curb Your Enthusiasm

― Chris 'The Big Ragu' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

DON'T LOOK AT HIM JOHNNY, THAT AHEM "BALD" MAN IS VERY VERY SICK

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

is anyone else finding this funny

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

yes

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

no, it hurts

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

QED

Ronan, what next. Are you going to start screaming: HEY FAT CHICK, GET INDOORS NOONE WANTS TO FUCK YOU ANYWAY?

― balding man, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

haha

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

ronan has my permission, so long as "indoors" is changed to "strongo's house"

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

and "noone" is changed to strongo

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Tuomas to thread! T. has very definite ideas about fat.

― Skottie, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

God, you are a bald cunt.

-- doom-e (jdlf...), August 7th, 2003

― cool!, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

But certainly, overweight males are rarely directly mocked for their weight.

If by "rarely" you mean "often", I agree.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

*tears of laughter*

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon, why is your bald ass hanging out with fat chicks anyways?!

― dean! (deangulberry), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

keeps him off the street

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Must be a bad street.

― dean! (deangulberry), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon, why is your bald ass hanging out [...]

-- dean! (dea...), March 3rd, 2004. (later) (link)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

(yeah i realized that after i typed it)

― dean! (deangulberry), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Fat chicks are great in a pinch!

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

~~in a pinch~~all the time

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

LOTZ2PINCH

― dean! (deangulberry), Thursday, 4 March 2004 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I think that's really dumb too. But some people are just dumb. They can't help it, they're just too stupid to realise that it hurts your feelings or too stupid to understand how to control themselves or something. I mean, that is what it boils down to basically, isn't it? Or isn't it?

― Amity (Amity), Thursday, 4 March 2004 05:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh I wasn't mocking baldness, I just find the idea of it as being vaguely seedy or wrong pretty fucking funny and also just a little bit true, the idea of natural physical appearance being unsavoury. It's all dumb, god I can't stop laughing at the idea of people who hate bald men, or have a prejudice towards them. YOU CAN TELL A BALD MAN'S IN THE COMMUNITY, HIS EYES ARE CLOSER TOGETHER!!

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 4 March 2004 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan, that's fucking brilliant.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 4 March 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

is it wrong for me to want to see all american colleges nerve gassed?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

no, it is not. Starting w/University of Georgia's basketball team and working your way westward, of course

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Reallllly realllllly fat people should not have to pay more for airline seats even if they take up two or three. It's discrimination. But, and I repeat, but, they should have to sit on YOUR row!

― Skottie, Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

???

― kirsten (kirsten), Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

???
-- kirsten (kickyouintheshin

What, like suddenly it doesn't bother you? After all you said in the previous thread? right.

― Skottie, Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"But, and I repeat, but, they should have to sit on YOUR row!"

I guess I just don't understand who you are referring to here. Also, what previous thread? I am confused.

― kirsten (kirsten), Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Just teasing. sorry.

Unless you're realllllly realllllly fat and sitting on my row.

― Skottie, Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon got laid within the last three posts by the way.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

thank GOD

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Every time you type a word in all caps, Jon gets laid with a kitten.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

REALLY?

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

well, kitties don't deserve that :(

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

It could be a reprehensible kitten.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

careless caps cost kittens.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i am never typing in all caps again

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

TAKE THIS, YOU FUCKING MANX BITCH

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:33 (twenty-two years ago)

can we do an office pool to see how long before jon has his first heart attack/ulcer?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean in relation to yours? ;-)

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

It could be a reprehensible kitten

there's just no such thing :)

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I can try for the heart attack.. with the power of Save Ferris pics!

http://starbulletin.com/98/03/19/features/artb.gif

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

mmmmmm, ska girls with plaid skirts.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

haha gygax i am pretty sure i actually died about two years ago

x-post: OMG WTF LOL

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Watch out Beth of the Gossip!

http://www.csuchico.edu/as/presents/shows/shows_02_saveferris_4.jpg

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

donut bitch i kiss you

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

awww yeah

http://www.leecherry.com/images/live/save-ferris.jpg

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Beth Ditto is my GOD

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

omg she teh fattie suck

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.ause.org/punk/ska-summit-03/monique-powell-01.jpg

HERE I COME, JON... COME TO BIG OL SKA MOMMA!

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

why do you taunt me so?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.popped.com/warped/98/svfr03.jpg

She has a great mouth... and she flaunts it.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/archives/2001/spring/v8n67/v8n67-saveferris.gif

I'll be fair. for all the ones who think the twee asian dude with the fluffy hats is so adowable.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

http://espanol.geocities.com/chile_ska/save_ferris/SFgroupmyboard.jpg

HIS HATS ARE SO FLUFFY AND FUNNY

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.brownbagmag.com/misc/skasummit/SaveFerris.jpg

Ok, we're going to take this down a notch... or a button or slip or whatever you want to call it. ;-)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

FERRIS VS. CLEO FITE

http://www.larisa.com/attic/cs/bigimages/ferris_cleo.jpg

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 4 March 2004 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate you guys!

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Thursday, 4 March 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd hit it!

― chakibär (llamasfur), Thursday, 4 March 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

who is this band? i hope they don't suck

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 4 March 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Hahahaha, go ahead and download something by Save Ferris, ESOJ..I dare you. I'd start with their refreshing cover of Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen".

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 5 March 2004 00:04 (twenty-two years ago)

*the fear*

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 5 March 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

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