[ecokid]

(Original post by HighestKungFu)
Hate crime should only concern aspects of a person that cannot be changed or controlled by them, e.g. race, gender, disabilities. Being fat is something that can fluctuate, and can also be controlled by the person who is fat.
.

Not entirely true, there are genetic diseases that cause significant weight gain andnot just a predisposition to gain weight e.g. Dercum’s Disease, Lipedema etc. Abuse is derived from ignorance.

What concerns me in this country is how little is done to protect the"disabled" (or those with highly visible genetic conditions) from abuse and discrimination. It's hard enough to live a life that is vastly different from what's considered normal, but to face verbal abuse, people staring and pointing on a daily basis would be, for many people, far more disabling than their actual condition. It's easy to just to tell people to "man up" but for those living on council estates/ deprived areas who are targetted on a daily basis by groups of unemployed deliquents, it can be too much.


The average fat person shouldn't need this law and for that purpose it is silly. However, more needs to be done to treat abuse against disabled people seriously. The government needs to stop wasting time and resources on things that 1) won't be taken seriously 2) will be hard to implement. Instead their resources would be better spent trying to find a way to make individuals more respectful of one another.

Criminalising anti-social behaviour is a cop-out from actually attempting to address the underlying problems.

[Aramiss18]

The more we pander to fat peoples' feelings the more obesity will become a problem. Being fat is not healthy and a woman being size 16 is not normal.

[SeaBadgerOfDoom]

It is rude and mean to go around calling people names but the government shouldn't be regulating our manners.

[member591354]

I am really averse to the whole concept of 'hate crime'. If a white person beats up a black person that could be classed as a hate crime (even if it is not) and the white person could get longer in jail than if the black person beats up a white person. This is assuming that both crimes are of the same severity, of course. The whole naming of 'hate crime' is ludicrous as no crime is done out of love; it is almost always hateful!

[Lorenzo.]

(Original post by dudeydan)
I prefer to call it constructive criticism rather than bullying.

This.
I was one FAT kid, if no one told me, I probably would still be.

Lol, neg for speaking the truth?

[AishaTara]

(Original post by Rascacielos)
I see the logic. In saying that it is criminal to call someone names because of their race, you are essentially putting someone's race on a different level to any other characteristic. When you start picking something like that out as a special feature of a person which mustn't be criticised, you start to do exactly what you're trying to avoid - discriminate.

That said, I can see the other side that it's a bit of a slippery slope. Where does it cease to be wrong to call someone names and become legally acceptable? You'd get to the point where it's illegal to take the mickey out of someone's accent.

Without having to look, I know some people will say "surely it's a good thing to call someone 'fatty' - they are and they need to be reminded to do something about it." Actually, I think a lot of the time that can just make things infinitely worse because the person just retreats into themselves even further and, chances are, eats more. So again, I see the logic.

But maybe name calling based on appearance is not a problem which needs to be addressed by law. I think one of the greatest problems is that a lot of people don't have any kind of moral problem with insulting someone because of their appearance. Bullies often operate to make themselves look better - it might be worthwhile addressing the fact that people often [subconsciously] encourage bullying in this sense by not taking a stand against those who do it or, even worse, laughing when they do.

woop! I see critical thinking terminologies.

[AishaTara]

(Original post by Aramiss18)
The more we pander to fat peoples' feelings the more obesity will become a problem. Being fat is not healthy and a woman being size 16 is not normal.

Exactly, obviously theres an extent to which one should hear it, but it shouldn't be a crime as anyone could go wrong claiming 'X Y Z' called them fat, and there'd be no evidence. Secondly, if I went and called some a 'midget' no one can help being short, why can't that be a crime then? If I called someone spotty or ugly- that can be just as hurtful and you cant control being ugly or spotty so name calling those worlds should be a crime too! Potentially I could say to people 'hey fatty' in another language and tell them I'm saying 'Hi sunshine' who can control that :P

[Aaron_xyz]

(Original post by Norton1)
The Daily Mail is worried. All of their stories are about calling celebrities too fat or too thin.

Lol ironic isn't it, you'd expect the DM readers and writers to be ones going "PC gone mad!!".

[Rascacielos]

(Original post by AishaTara)
woop! I see critical thinking terminologies.

Ah yes. The only thing I learned from Critical Thinking!

[Teabo]

It shouldn't be a hate crime. I was a proper fat teenager, and was 'bullied' a lot for it. It's character building and makes it all the better when the tables turn, and those who called you fat are that themselves, and you're thin.

[Carecup]

I reserve judgement on this, since in all likelihood its the right wing press kicking up a storm about a simple re-definition of the Equalities Act so employers can't turn people down just cause their fat.

Oh and you guys should look up the legal definition of harassment if you think your gonna be thrown in jail for simply calling someone fat once (protip: you won't).

[TheDefiniteArticle]

As somebody who is actually fat, I think this is absolutely absurd. Yes, sometimes it's intended to be offensive, but frankly it's a) easy to deal with if you take it as a joke and b) generally your own stupid fault. I know in my case it's because I eat far too much, and there's no reason why I couldn't lose it.

[Sabertooth]

I disagree with the whole concept of a hate crime but I think if you're going to arrest people for calling someone a racist name then why not arrest them for calling someone fat? Both are clearly intended to hurt the recipient, I see no difference. I don't agree with this idea at all but if you're going to have it for some characteristics you might as well apply it equally. I mean it's not like Britain values free speech.

[MacDaddi]

[Snagprophet]

Why are we treating 'hate crimes' as any different to bullying?

[im so academic]

(Original post by sebastienlewis)
What do you think?

What - it's a crime to tell the truth?

If you're fat, you're ****ing fat.

Appearance is very important. People make those comments to help them realise that actually they need to sort themselves out.

It's for their own benefit.

[Dirac Delta Function]

The real danger is that we become a hyper-sensitive society where every word and intonation gets scrutinised. Everyone needs to just chill the **** out.

[Miss Trololol]

(Original post by Aramiss18)
a woman being size 16 is not normal.

That's not strictly true. The average dress size of women in the UK is size 16. I work in a clothing store and the most common sizes that are sold are sizes 14 & 16 and occasionally some size 12s. I'm always got left over 8s and 10s that usually always end up on reduced sales rack at the end of the season.

Size 16 isn't entire big in itself. My sister wears a size 16 shirt but wears a size 12 jeans because her bust size simply won't fit into a size 10 shirt anymore after having two kids :/ She's five foot 10, so she's no midget either.

Now, if you were staying that size 32 isn't normal than I'd maybe be inclined to agree.

[Jimbo1234]

I think these fat people should be called fat more often rather than being able to hide from the truth. Banning the term will only encourage more fat people to go into denial and keep eating cake.

[NDGAARONDI]

(Original post by HighestKungFu)
Hate crime should only concern aspects of a person that cannot be changed or controlled by them, e.g. race, gender, disabilities. Being fat is something that can fluctuate, and can also be controlled by the person who is fat.

Do you advocate making special criminal provisions for hatred against religion incomprehensible then? Being religious is a lifestyle choice as much as being fat mostly.

(Original post by HighestKungFu)
It is preposterous to propose making calling someone fat a hate crime. Granted I don't agree with verbally abusing someone who is fat (unless it is friendly banter) but to make it an actual crime is wrong.

I agree. Depending on the level of abuse, it is already covered by the criminal law.