"You look gaunt," he said. "Your breasts are smaller."
This from an overweight man whom I friend-zoned after being lovers in the past. He's a boring, lazy lover. Lately he's been angling to be lovers again. No, thank you.
His criticism of my body was hurtful. When I told him I felt hurt, he called me insecure.
Oh, for heaven's sake! All my life, people have criticized me for being too thin. I am beyond sick of it.
Women's and girl's bodies are constantly scrutinized, criticized, evaluated, objectified and rated by guys on a 1-10 scale based on our sexual appeal in their eyes. We are all sick of it.
Your thoughts?
I wonder if he was negging you to try and undermine your confidence... I do not know him, so maybe he is incapable of negging.... but it's a dck thing for him to say... definitely not a way to get back into a woman's bed by insulting her! This strikes me as the verbal equivalent of a little boy pulling a girl's hair because he likes her.
For those that do not know: [healthline.com]
Every woman I see is at least a nine, most a ten. I try not to judge but if one is going to one has to have standards. Actually, I do not think this way, I see beauty every where I look. Just the way it is.
I have been thinking about this statement and would like to add that if one is going to judge someone one first has to live in their shoes for a significant period of time. Most people are doing the best they can with what they have available to them. Remember that if one is going to judge people on their IQ there are the same number of people above and below the center line.
Actually I am sick of seeing un healthy people all around me. And then they don't hesitate to criticize me for what I eat, my knowledge of food/ nutrition, my restraint from living on garbage like a pig in a pen.
You've recognized that body shaming is being reversed.
I'm also not real cool with higher insurance premiums and medical expenses due to people who don't take care of themselves.
Sounds like your ex ended up where most Americans do. It seems like a one way non adventure to being unhealthy for the majority.
Every year, his big belly gets larger. He gets fatter and more out of shape.
@LiterateHiker He is turning it against others.........is that denial?
I didnt grow with friends, or really anybody, that rated bodies. It would be considered wierd and wholly unexpected way to think of a human being. I do find that it is uniquely an American way of thinking.
But that "thinking" is being transferred, especially in India, where young men and women are being hired for very low wages to write massive amounts of junk articles targerted towards western audiences just for the google ad revenue, and there is a wierd cultural osmosis happening there, especially in the way they talk and express themselves and you see how using idiom from a different culture affect their thinking and behavior. It's....interesting.
Spot-on and hilarious. Thank you for posting these cartoons.
FWIW, lean is not gaunt. It is fit, an all-too-uncommon state for too many American's.
Comments on physical appearance are not the way to restart a relationship. He is a moron and probably feeling badly that you don't want to rekindle it with him. And yes, being objectified is uncomfortable and annoying. Sometimes I feel like saying Really, that's all you got? Get a better approach, read a book or the paper and think of something else to say to me.
Your body is what it is, whether someone compliments it or criticizes it. It's the body you live in and a comment changes nothing about it, as it neither makes it better, nor worse.
It sounds like a dig, because there's no reason for it otherwise.... unless he has tourette syndrome?
I recall years ago, after a great day together, a boyfriend told me my hairstyle, that day, made my "huge forehead" look even bigger. Prior to this I'd not considered my forehead, nor had it scrutinized in anyway, so this seemed strange. Even if it were actually true, I couldn't understand why he'd felt the need to comment and was struck by its potentially cruel intention.
My reply created a turning point in our relationship.
"Are you feeling some resentment toward me for some reason? I can't imagine any other reason why you'd feel the need to criticize one of my body parts, and right after such a nice day together. Maybe that's what we should be talking about?"
He was expecting an emotional reaction, and was shocked by my reply. It turned out he HAD been feeling resentful and it was due to his own insecurity.
You've posted about men commenting on your slim figure several times before. These guys seem really insecure themselves, and likely unhappy with their own bodies, and frustrated that they can't stop their aging bellies, hairlines and failing prostate function.
No need to take this personally. Try not to react in such a way that their criticism lands. Instead, have them explain what's behind their comments, even though you probably already know!
Well stated. I try and take the Stoic approach of recognizing that other's words have no meaning other than what I choose. And your "aging bellies...." is spot-on.
Let me guess, he insulted you once it became obvious he wasn't going to get his leg over. The emotional maturity of a 12 year old.
I've been criticized for my body recently, and I find it refreshing. It's been eye-opening to discover that some people actually care. I have the feeling that I deserved to be criticized for a long time, but since I'm perceived as a non-sexual person nobody bothered. Now I have a long road to travel back to a place where someone might value me as sensual being.
First there is nothing wrong with your figure it's beautiful, second criticizing how people look is viscous and mean spirited, third I don't rate women like that pretty or not so much the person behind the figure means so much more . Like I should say much about someone's physique ,I gained weight from several problems including a healing back once I am better I can look better
Thank you.
@LiterateHiker you are welcome and what I said is true