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 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

If this is a veiled complaint about my comments re: yr hair, I am sorry Jon.

But also, you've never really been beyond calling girls fatties in both public and private discourse.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Not intentionally Ian.

But they are fat!!!!

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

is it ever considered socially "acceptable" or is it merely socially tolerated?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

They are fat, you are balding, but you still have the societal advantage. So shut up and go to Hooters already.

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

donna otm.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I think these are different kinds of criticism.

I read something that argued laughing at fat people was the last acceptable prejudice because people imagine that weight can be controlled through an effort of will (eat less! exercise more!!) and are condemning the fat person for failing in that.

But surely, no one thinks that baldness can be controlled by self discipline. It's a less serious criticism, a congratulatory mocking: if the only thing people can find to condemn you on is lack of hair, you're doing alright.

Or, what Donna said.

― isadora (isadora), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

and who wouldn't fuck Ben Kingsley?

― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Men can be attractive despite major physical flaws, but women rarely are and if so it is probably only by fetishists.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

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

say, WHAT?

― jimderogatisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

seriously, what world are you living in where fat guys aren't mocked for their weight? and yes, sometimes to their face?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

do attractive major physical flaws include missing several teeth?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun . . .", etc.

― bnw (bnw), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

broken noses apparently are where it's at

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:33 (twenty-one years ago)

do attractive major physical flaws include missing several teeth?

Possibly, but not if you are also a redneck cause that is just so obvious.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:40 (twenty-one years ago)

pegleg

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:41 (twenty-one years ago)

eyepatch?

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:43 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.gothamist.com/images/2003%20oscar%20cooper%20adaptation.jpg

― LITTLE LAMB [Jon Williams] (ex machina), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 05:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Sexxxy.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 3 March 2004 06:00 (twenty-one years ago)