is "fat" a hateful word

[kidzmom3]

I have been on a healthier eating kick lately. It has been 4 weeks since I banned soda from our house. I will let them have 1 if we are at a resteraunt.
When my 9 year old daughter complained to me today that she wanted to drink soda, I said that it is bad for you and we are only having it as a treat now. Why is it bad says she. I gave he reasons why it is bad for you including but not only that too much soda can make you "fat". My DH didn't like that word. Is it wrong to use it? I am overweight, yes I admit it. I do not want my children to have my issues (eating for stress, boredom, sadness), but I don't want to give them any new ones either (anorexia, bulimia, skewed body image). has the word "fat"become a bad word in our culture.

 

[Mermaid02]

When used in a hateful way, yes it is a bad word. I would put more emphasis on dental health and decreasing the amount of sugar in your diet and leave out the "F" word. No need to make kids paranoid about their weight.

 

[AuntieM03]

I use it (and I am). It might be one of those PC things, that if you are fat you can say it, but if you aren't it's considered bad taste.

 

[tlgoblue]

I was going to say that it depends on how it is being used and who is usuing it. But, then when I refere to myself as fat, I do it with a sense of self loathing. I also never refere to anyone I care about as fat. So yea, I would say it is a hateful word.

 

[Miranda Danda]

Fat and skinny are antonyms, right?

I have never thought of skinny as being mean, so I don't know why fat would be mean. Just my opinion.

 

[Blondy876]

In our house we don't use the word but only because my 6 yr old sees it as a bad word. Several kids in her Kindergarten class called her fat last year and that is when she realized that it was a word that could hurt. Instead of telling her that something could make her fat we say that it takes up space that healthy food should be in. I hate tiptoesing around that sort of thing but she really hates the word so we don't use it.

 

[lulugirl]

I don't like the word fat, I don't allow Dd (6) to use it.

 

[Mermaid02]

Fat and skinny are antonyms, right?

I have never thought of skinny as being mean, so I don't know why fat would be mean. Just my opinion.

A lot of people who have a hard time gaining/keeping on weight DO consider "skinny" a mean word. I try not to put much emphasis on a person's physical appearance.

 

[kirbsam]

if you dont like the word fat, have you considered grissle or well marbled?

 

[Miranda Danda]

A lot of people who have a hard time gaining/keeping on weight DO consider "skinny" a mean word. I try not to put much emphasis on a person's physical appearance.

I am probably what most people would consider "skinny". I am 5'8 and weight 115-120 (fluxuates between those two). I eat ALL the time and eat whatever I want. I have wanted to put on weight, but I can't. I do not get offended when people call me skinny. I see it as a way of describing someone (tall, short, fat, skinny, etc.). Its only as bad as the context it is used it. I don't focus on people's appearance AT ALL. Its not important. I just dont think using "fat" or "skinny" is a bad thing (as long as you aren't vicious).

 

[Mermaid02]

if you dont like the word fat, have you considered grissle or well marbled?

Do you mean "Gristle" ?? That's a tough elastic tissue... not fat. Well marbled, I think I could live with that one.

 

[AuntieM03]

if you dont like the word fat, have you considered grissle or well marbled?

From now on I'm well marbled.

 

[Miranda Danda]

if you dont like the word fat, have you considered grissle or well marbled?

Grissle is SUCH a funny word to me. My dad was a judge at a kids' pagaent when he was the Police Chief in the town next to ours. One of the questions was, "What is your favorite food?" and one of the kids said, "GRISSLE!"

 

[goofyforlife]

"Pooh-like" is much safer around here.....

But I do agree that it is a hateful word because adults/children use it to make someone inferior...

 

[Beth76]

You can sugar coat it all you like but "fat" is a bad thing. If it makes you feel better to say you're "pooh sized", whatever. After I had my first baby I was about 30 lbs overweight. I was not obese, but damn it I was fat and I didn't like it. I bought "fat clothes" at Walmart so that I would have incentive to get off my butt and lose the weight.

So, yeah we use the word "fat" in this house. I don't want my kids to grow up with weight issues. But, I have boys. If I had girls I might steer clear of the word "fat" because I wouldn't want it to do harm in the other direction. But, I don't think tha's generally an issue with boys.

I would NEVER allow my boys to call people fat or say anything bad about people. I had NO PROBLEMS telling my son today at the grocery that we couldn't buy donuts because they are unhealthy and make you fat. I'm not trying to cut-down people who are overweight. But, I'm also not going to make it a positive thing in order to be PC.

 

[Mermaid02]

I am probably what most people would consider "skinny". I am 5'8 and weight 115-120 (fluxuates between those two). I eat ALL the time and eat whatever I want. I have wanted to put on weight, but I can't. I do not get offended when people call me skinny. I see it as a way of describing someone (tall, short, fat, skinny, etc.). Its only as bad as the context it is used it. I don't focus on people's appearance AT ALL. Its not important. I just dont think using "fat" or "skinny" is a bad thing (as long as you aren't vicious).

If that's the way you see it- Marvelous! Unfortunately when people say "fat" they generally don't mean it as a compliment, let's put it this way- would you describe anyone to THEIR face as fat?

"That guy I've been trying to fix you up with asked me what you looked like.."

"Really? What did you say??"

"I told him you had nice hair, gorgeous blue eyes... and that you were fat."

 

[Miranda Danda]

You can sugar coat it all you like but "fat" is a bad thing. If it makes you feel better to say you're "pooh sized", whatever. After I had my first baby I was about 30 lbs overweight. I was not obese, but damn it I was fat and I didn't like it. I bought "fat clothes" at Walmart so that I would have incentive to get off my butt and lose the weight.

So, yeah we use the word "fat" in this house. I don't want my kids to grow up with weight issues. But, I have boys. If I had girls I might steer clear of the word "fat" because I wouldn't want it to do harm in the other direction. But, I don't think tha's generally an issue with boys.

I would NEVER allow my boys to call people fat or say anything bad about people. I had NO PROBLEMS telling my son today at the grocery that we couldn't buy donuts because they are unhealthy and make you fat. I'm not trying to cut-down people who are overweight. But, I'm also not going to make it a positive thing in order to be PC.

Well said. I do agree with your points.

 

[ashjohnson80]

about the "skinny" word. One of my best friends is very thin (and I think she's very beautiful) but she will cry if someone tells her that she is skinny. She is just as sensitive about being thin as I am about being curvacious.

now about the "fat" word. I don't like it. To me it has a very negative connotation. I think that you shouldn't call someone fat, even if they are just because it's not nice. And if you tell an overweight person that they are fat, I'm sure that they are aware that they are overweight so what is the point? I just hate to see anyone's feelings hurt.

 

[Miranda Danda]

If that's the way you see it- Marvelous! Unfortunately when people say "fat" they generally don't mean it as a compliment, let's put it this way- would you describe anyone to THEIR face as fat?

"That guy I've been trying to fix you up with asked me what you looked like.."

"Really? What did you say??"

"I told him you had nice hair, gorgeous blue eyes... and that you were fat."

In society today, I feel like it is more attractive to be "thick" than "thin" if that makes sense. I hate rap music, but I think a lot of it comes from that. I don't think being "fat" is bad. You got curves! I would love more curves! Yes, it can be used in a demeaning way though and I do not agree with that. I do not think the word "fat" should be avoided all together though.

 

[Miranda Danda]

about the "skinny" word. One of my best friends is very thin (and I think she's very beautiful) but she will cry if someone tells her that she is skinny. She is just as sensitive about being thin as I am about being curvacious.

now about the "fat" word. I don't like it. To me it has a very negative connotation. I think that you shouldn't call someone fat, even if they are just because it's not nice. And if you tell an overweight person that they are fat, I'm sure that they are aware that they are overweight so what is the point? I just hate to see anyone's feelings hurt.

I am sorry about your friend. I know how it can feel, I have been called skinny all my life. Usually people don't mean it in a hurtful way. They probably think it is a compliment.