Really people. Grow the **** up.
I have a theory, the fatter our culture gets the more likely it is that the people within it start reacting like prudish freaks of nature when something not fat, and something beautiful is put before them because they know on some level that the beautiful thing looks better than they ever will. And thus it must be bad.
Some people should have their eyes gouged out. It's the only way to stop them from getting offended at everything.
And it should be done as soon as possible.
I really can't believe our society has taught people that it's okay to be fat and not ashamed of it, but that you should be ashamed of beauty and art. I'm sorry you -should- be ashamed. Get your four hours of tv a night mcdonalds four big mac eating ass off the couch and go make yourself look better.
Way to be priggish, anonymous whiner. These snow sculptures that are modelled after famous works of art will surely destroy your fragile psyche.
Wonder how prudes can bathe/shower what with all that touching of private parts. Must drive them nuts...
Way to be priggish, anonymous whiner. These snow sculptures that are modelled after famous works of art will surely destroy your fragile psyche.
Wonder how prudes can bathe/shower what with all that touching of private parts. Must drive them nuts...
maybe they don't actually touch those parts? Maybe they even shower with their eyes closed!
Bah, why do I bother to understand prudish fleshlings anyways? They won't likely survive the rebellion anyways...
Way to be priggish, anonymous whiner. These snow sculptures that are modelled after famous works of art will surely destroy your fragile psyche.
Wonder how prudes can bathe/shower what with all that touching of private parts. Must drive them nuts...
They don't.
Hence the weird aroma.
*5 miutes later*
Me: I think I have frost bite.
Dr.: Where?
Me: ...
Artwork has been "cleaned up" for centuries.
Not saying it's right, but it's not a terribly modern idea, and really doesn't have anything to do with the physical fitness of those who want to censor people.
I mean, this is dumb, and I think the amount of sexualization in US culture is stupidly high and the irony is only highlighted when someone gets upset about nonsexual nudity ...
But that's another rant for another time. ;)
They are ashamed of their bodies. It doesn't help much that they are taught to be ashamed of -other- bodies too. So not seeing other bodies kind of becomes like a coping mechanism to deal with their own self confidence issues.
I think it is partly to blame.
They are ashamed of their bodies. It doesn't help much that they are taught to be ashamed of -other- bodies too. So not seeing other bodies kind of becomes like a coping mechanism to deal with their own self confidence issues.
*shrug* It may be part of it, but it certainly isn't anything new - people have been taught to be ashamed of their bodies for a long time. And it's certainly not just the fatness aspect.
I think, if you're going to say it's fat people being ashamed of their bodies, then it's society's fault for making them ashamed, rather than accepting (in terms of "this is what you have to work with", rather than "you suck for being fat"), in the first place. But making people feel horrible about themselves is how advertising works, so ...
Yeah, it's deeper than anything so simplistic as "they're just jealous/insecure".
EDIT: For the record, I think what happened was dumb. I do, however, dislike making sweeping generalizations about the physical/mental state of people who have views with which I disagree, and I specifically dislike oversimplification to attack a group of people outright.
... you're blaming fat people for what people have been complaining about for centuries? You do realize that an exposed ankle used to be scandelous, right?
As usual, EE says what I've been trying to say, but better.
Fat people shouldn't be blamed for this one; for the record the complaint was anonymous so the weight of the offender (or rather in this case the easily offended) can not be judged (not that it should). Prudes have a knack for whining no matter what size of pants they wear.
It doesn't matter though, let them be priggish. It'll make them easier to spot during the robotic rebellion. Maybe if you sacrifice them, you'll be exempt from what the rest of humanity will suffer through. No guarantee though...
for the record the complaint was anonymous so the weight of the offender (or rather in this case the easily offended)
I for one am offended by the easily offendedness of this offender. Quid pro quo, we are all offenders.
They didn't even have it in them to identify themselves. As if they were fearing for their lives or something.
You know, that's probably what makes it even more laughably stupid.
They didn't even have it in them to identify themselves. As if they were fearing for their lives or something.
You know, if I was the family, I'd just say it was my child making a prank call and leave it as is.
They didn't even have it in them to identify themselves. As if they were fearing for their lives or something.
... or, that's just how the system works? I don't think you typically get the source of the complaint when it comes to things like public displays, noise violations, and so forth. I mean, I'm not 100% sure, but I think that "anonymous" is just a matter of procedure here.
Personally I'm surprised that they perpetrator didn't come forward after this came out in the news. People are notorious attention whores. Especially when they "succeed" and their "plight" got media attention.
It offends ME that such a work is not displayed for my kids to see. I want them exposed to what's good and beautiful in the world. I bet if Americans lobbied to have the Eiffel Tower dismantled on the grounds that it's a phallic symbol, a whole bunch of Frenchmen would build cannons at its foot to keep it.
Actually, I found it strange that a "counter-complaint" was not made. I mean, if a single anonymous individual can complain about the statue and then have it covered, shouldn't a single, non-anonymous caller be of greater influence?
It offends ME that such a work is not displayed for my kids to see. I want them exposed to what's good and beautiful in the world. I bet if Americans lobbied to have the Eiffel Tower dismantled on the grounds that it's a phallic symbol, a whole bunch of Frenchmen would build cannons at its foot to keep it.
heh. You would think so. I don't know why the police even came out to the house. Or why they didn't simply put the car into reverse and turn around once they actually saw the statue in the lawn.
Perhaps this fop is a regular at the department's charity balls... one of those "you scratch our back and we might scratch yours."
So that tell's you that the Northeast isn't any bit freer when it comes to stupid complaints.
But I assume it is a case where if the owner wanted to, they could have fought it. It just seems that they didn't care enough, which is fine. It probably melted already so the owner probably reasonably didn't think it was worth fighting.
I'm guessing that if I bought a replica of famous nude art, it'd be legal for me to put it in my yard.
I'm guessing that if I bought a replica of famous nude art, it'd be legal for me to put it in my yard.
Sooner or later, probably, but you'd probably end up with a battle on your hands at some point in the first two years. America doesn't really like nude statues in public places, that's for in-doors (or closed courtyard) only.
Someone would simply vandalize the thing.
And not out of prudery.
I find the clothes wearing snow-woman funny myself ;)
I don't think it has that much with being fat, but I know there are a lot of very... anal people (mothers especially) out there, who can't stand anything not meeting their G rated expectations of the world for their children to grow up in.
Not to say all mothers are like that, but I know quite a few.
It was mostly a joke around and even if the elderly were a little shocked, they got the joke and the police never came. no pun intended.
Really depends on your neighborhood, around here people will laugh or in this case take a picture because it's simply awesome. The news around here probably would have been the mother and sons talking on how they managed to make that piece of art.
... you're blaming fat people for what people have been complaining about for centuries? You do realize that an exposed ankle used to be scandelous, right?
That, and the argument itself doesn't make any sense, even without the historical context. Society has apparently taught people it's OK to be fat, and not be ashamed of it like they should, and therefore, fat people want to censor others' bodies as a coping mechanism because they're ashamed of their own bodies and don't want to be reminded of it. That's completely contradictory.
And then there are the posts about how prudes apparently can't shower because it would involve looking at themselves and touching their private parts, all of which would be completely irrelevant if they only wanted to censor beautiful things. Unless of course they're beautiful and therefore want to censor themselves, which would then contradict the alleged motivation. No, it doesn't make sense either way.
It's a sad story, but it's got nothing to do with obesity.
Officer -Looks at mannequin's chest. "Well, that's OK sir. It doesn't seem to be cold so we'll let it slide till they get the bathing suit display ready. Alright?
And then there are the posts about how prudes apparently can't shower because it would involve looking at themselves and touching their private parts, all of which would be completely irrelevant if they only wanted to censor beautiful things. Unless of course they're beautiful and therefore want to censor themselves, which would then contradict the alleged motivation. No, it doesn't make sense either way.
Come now... you weren't taking my ridiculous post that mocks perceived ridiculous behavior (I'm certain priggish individuals don't think it is) seriously were you? It was not intended to make sense; the post was just to poke fun at a behavior that seems way too uptight in my opinion.
Semi-related note:
This event reminded me of a Simpsons episode that had a scene where the priggish folk of Springfield opposed the exhibit of the Statue of David.
I can't help but wonder if the individual complaining about the snow-sculpture also goes around and complains when mannequins don't have clothes on in departments stores. "But... officer... the mannequin is NAKED!"
Officer -Looks at mannequin's chest. "Well, that's OK sir. It doesn't seem to be cold so we'll let it slide till they get the bathing suit display ready. Alright?
Wasn't there some place where mannequins weren't allowed to be displayed naked at night? Yes, the law concerned night-time only.
Come now... you weren't taking my ridiculous post that mocks perceived ridiculous behavior (I'm certain priggish individuals don't think it is) seriously were you? It was not intended to make sense; the post was just to poke fun at a behavior that seems way too uptight in my opinion.
I agree it seems uptight, and I know you were being humorous. But I'm reminded of a guy who wrote a feminist blog, and received dozens of hostile messages for it. He remarked that about half of the messages claimed he only made blog to score with women, while the other half was about him being gay – usually written the by the very same people. Just because you know something isn't a well thought out critique, but more of a "haha you suck" statement, doesn't mean you can't find it funny when it's completely contradictory.
And on a related note, after hearing about how this specific case only happens because it's a beautiful piece of art, I'd really like to see some examples of public nudity that isn't censored in the US. Preferably fat people and nude gay men.
(Mardi Gras in New Orleans). It's semi-rare, but usually unprosecuted. Not sure if it meets the "fat or gay" requirement, though.Mardi Gras is hardly representative of anything aside from Mardi Gras.
What happens during mardi gras stays in mardi gras... no wait it haunts you for the rest of your life. And then you die.
Erato: Bourbon Street, three weeks ago
Searched for Mardi Gras images. Didn't find a single one of people showing their genitals, and only a few of topless women in all shapes and sizes, but usually slimmer than average. Lots of people in outfits covering about as much as a swimming suit. No particular over-abundance of fat people, but a rather large amount of conventionally attractive women compared to average.
These small-minded moralistic busy-bodies need to wake the hell up and cotton on to the fact that there is nothing inherently bad about nudity, nothing shameful about the human body, and that the real world doesn't work the way they were brainwashed into believing it should.
If I were the one who'd built that snow-woman I'd not have covered it up when idiots started complaining, I'd have built an anatomically correct snowman beside right beside it.
These small-minded moralistic busy-bodies need to wake the hell up and cotton on to the fact that there is nothing inherently bad about nudity, nothing shameful about the human body, and that the real world doesn't work the way they were brainwashed into believing it should.
Well, from what I've seen, that idea (that there's nothing bad about nudity or shameful about the human body) is pretty rare. Even people who complain about the snowwoman being taken down, frequently seem to agree that body hair and fat (and probably age and certain disabilities too) are shameful and should be kept out of view.
If I were the one who'd built that snow-woman I'd not have covered it up when idiots started complaining, I'd have built an anatomically correct snowman beside right beside it.
Considering how much controversy there was about Doctor Manhatten (which people didn't even have to see unless they paid for it), that might have gotten you in real trouble. Though I'm curious about what would happen in the creators of the snow woman had objected. From what I've read, it seems the mother didn't want to make a fuss, and just covered it up with no objection.
Thank you, Boraxe, for showing that knee-jerk over-reactions can swing in any direction.
No, you're too kind. Really you deserve the credit for failing to miss the point. It's all about you, EE. :D