Would this bother you?

[autumnpalm]

I was sitting in lecture today (it's a history class) and right now we are covering the 16th century, in particular the rule of Henry VIII. As the professor was describing Henry's later years, he began to focus on his weight issues and obesity. In describing Henry's appearance, he used the term "revoltingly overweight". I realize that Henry actually was morbidly obese and his weigh caused significant health problems for him, but the using the word "revoltingly" just rubbed me the wrong way. I am not overweight myself but the usage of that word still bothered me. I don't think anyone's weight or appearance should ever be described as "revolting".

In chatting with a few people after lecture, I asked if any of them had noticed and nobody had any issue with it. Of course, it was only a small group of people, but I was still surprised that nobody had taken notice. Was I overreacting? I'm actually not usually the sort of person to be particularly sensitive about weight issues!

Would this bother you? Am I overreacting?

I would never email the professor about it or bring it up, just something I'm curious about!

 

[pearlieq]

Hmm. I suppose the professor could have chosen better words. Then again, I associate "corpulent" with Henry VIII, which isn't exactly flattering either.

Maybe the professor unconsciouly chose that term because some of the more distateful issues that came with his weight and probable diabetes. He was supposed to have had a chronic sore on his leg that required daily attention. With the medical care and hygiene standards of the day, I suppose Henry probably was fairly revolting near the end.

Or maybe he was talking about the standard of Henry's day? I'm sure obesity like Henry's was quite uncommon and maybe it was considered especially abhorrent back then whereas we're (a tiny bit) more tolerant today.

 

[redlight]

Or maybe he was talking about the standard of Henry's day? I'm sure obesity like Henry's was quite uncommon and maybe it was considered especially abhorrent back then whereas we're (a tiny bit) more tolerant today.

Wasn't it considered to be almost desirable to be corpulent back then?

 

[pearlieq]

Wasn't it considered to be almost desirable to be corpulent back then?

I think there could have been a tipping point (no pun intended...).

There was the pleasantly plump that was a status symbol--I can afford plenty of food and I don't have to do manual labor--but Henry was quite obese. At his largest his waist was reportedly 54 inches, which would make him about a 3X or even 4X today.

I don't know exactly what the standard of his day was, but that might have been obese enough to be unappealing back then. Just a theory...

 

[AKLBeauty]

Yes, you are overreacting.

 

[SkcMom]

I think it's was really rude. Maybe your professor has a problem with really over-weight people. I don't think you are over reacting at all.

 

[ontariomonkey]

I'll admit that I don't know alot about history, but were most of his subjects malnourished at that time? If so, it would be revolting for him to be obese when the common man was starving. Just a theory. Your teacher probably just finds fat people gross or something.

 

[RadioNate]

Yes, you are overreacting.

I agree. I don't think I would have even noticed the term.

By most accounts there was a lot about Henry VIII at the end of his life that wasn't pleasant.

 

[FireDancer]

Eh, it's just a word. I don't get so bent out of shape over simple words. I wouldn't have noticed. There are people in the world that are revoltingly overweight, perhaps Henry was one of them, perhaps not. I don't like the word police, they are as bad as the PC-police.

 

[eeyore kelly]

Professors try to put an image in your head, that way you have a visual picture of flat notes. In the grand scheme of things, is this the hill you want to die on?

 

[ProgressCity]

It wouldn't have bothered me but I don't think you're weird or a quack or anything for being bothered by it . Sometimes things can just rub you the wrong way.

He may have chosen the word "revolting" because that's pretty much how at least one (Catherine Howard) of his wives felt about him. He was obese in large part because of the sore on his leg that never managed to heal and according to accounts it stuck really bad and he had horrible boils . Perhaps the term "revolting" came to the professor's mind because he was thinking about his entire appearance even though he was just referencing his weight.

In general though I try to not over think what people say considering most people barely think about what they're going to say before they open their mouth

 

[Avalon_toon]

I don't think you are over-reacting, profs should be aware of how their words could be offensive (and I'm a prof, so I include myself in this statement.) I was a history major in my undergraduate days who specialized in the times of Henry VIII/Elizabeth I, and I can't remember a single prof ever dwelling on or even mentioning the issue of Henry's weight - there's no need, a picture is worth a thousand words, after all. I wonder why he felt the need to elaborate on this, with such judgement-charged language?

 

[NHdisneylover]

I wouldn't have even noticed the comment.

 

[just4today]

I would much rather have a professor use a questionable word than spend 15 minutes discussing his or her political views to a captive audience. That seems to be common these days.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No it would not bother me since I do not dwell on details like that. Perhaps he could have left the word out, however nothing to get worked up about.
He did get his opinion of Henry VIII across.

 

[My sister's princess]

I read the book the Boleyn Inheritance not too long ago, and according to that book, when the second Ann met him, she was revolted by his appearance.


Anyone else here watch the Tudors? I am a season behind, he just met Ann when she came in from Germany, and I must say the king is still a VERY good looking man,then again I don't think I want to see him get old and hefty!

 

[NMAmy]

Anyone else here watch the Tudors? I am a season behind, he just met Ann when she came in from Germany, and I must say the king is still a VERY good looking man,then again I don't think I want to see him get old and hefty!

It's on Showtime. He'll stay hunky and adorable. Who wants to watch an old, overweight guy have relations?

And, no, I wouldn't have been bothered. By all accounts I've read, Henry was revolting in his later years.

 

[My sister's princess]

It's on Showtime. He'll stay hunky and adorable. Who wants to watch an old, overweight guy have relations?

So true lol. I watch on a Canadian Chanel we get up here, and they are one season behind Showtime so the episode I have on DVR from this weekend is the last episode of Season 3.

 

[DMickey28]

I don't think it would bother me. There are some people, like myself that take care of themselves and are overweight. There are others that are overweight that don't shower, don't wash their hair and generally don't take care of themselves. If he fell into that category then, yes, he would be revolting regardless of weight. YKWIM?

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Yep, over reacting. Not that big of a deal.