Poll-ish Humor, Feb. 17 -- Women/Normal Weight

DOOR 3: WOMEN - NORMAL WEIGHT

This week's poll is based on a photo from last week's chat that some of you found objectionable. Ten participants in the chat wrote in to chastise me for having published it; some found it very hurtful and said they thought less of me for finding humor in it. Two said they would no longer read my columns and chats.

I hope you're all still here. Your reaction bothered me (if you prick me, do I not bleed?) and I'd like to discuss this philosophically via the poll. If you're going to hate me and abandon my work, please stick around at least through this. I take your criticism to heart. I would like to use this forum as a way to seriously discuss what is evidently a painful issue for many, and what may have been a misstep for which I should apologize.

Okay, here is the offending picture.

Before we begin, one serious clarification: Some of you felt I was being disingenuous for claiming that I was publishing it for scientific or epistemological reasons. You are right that I lied about my reasons but you were wrong about disingenuousness. I didn't mean my explanation to be taken seriously. I published the photo because I thought it was a hoot. Still do, but with less certainty.

1. Is this photo funny?

Yes

I'm not sure.

2. Was it a mistake and/or in bad taste for me to publish this photo? Choose the best answer.

Yes, it is wrong and insensitive to make fun of people who are extremely overweight or oddly misshapen.

Yes, simply because finding humor in such a subject is juvenile.

No, it was not a mistake and/or in bad taste because the woman is not identifiable.

No, it was not a mistake and/or in bad taste because she is very oddly shaped and it's natural to find that funny.

3. This question is just for those of you who felt that the picture should NOT have been published. Why do you think I did it? Choose the one best answer.

I am significantly prejudiced against the overweight, and hold them in contempt.

I have an infantile sense of humor.

I have a cruel sense of humor.

I am a hypocrite and an opportunist. I know LOTS of mean readers will like to titter at this crap.

4. This question is just for people who saw nothing wrong with publishing that picture. What was the main reason it was okay?

You couldn't see who the woman was so where's the foul?

Hey, she was shaped oddly. She was not just fat, she was weird.

This country is in an unprecentented epidemic of overeating. We NEED these images to help us calm down and eat better.

It is human to laugh at the expense of others and anyone who claims he does not is a hypocrite.

This week's survey brought to you by S. Freude.