Instagram Engages in Fat Shaming

Instagram user Samm Newmann posted a selfie to her account, only to have it subsequently suspended. The reason: She's obese. As Instagram does not have its own moderators, it relies on users to flag posts which violate its terms of use, according to which obscene and visually offensive content is prohibited. Because of this, though there exists a plethora of such selfies posted by slimmer women on Instagram, they're rarely flagged, because users like the bodies of such women. What are your thoughts on this?

That girl should be ashamed of herself, first of all. I can't find any reason why an obese girl would need to post photos of herself in underwear on instagram. It's embarrassing and repulsive. She talks about "facing bullying", but posting semi-nude pictures isn't necessarily tackling the issue. It seems like she knew this would cause controversy and ultimately lead to a ban, so she did it intentionally with that in mind. So, she actually achieved what she set out to do then.

Reporting her picture may not have been the right thing when similar pictures of slimmer women go unreported. However, it is slightly disturbing in my opinion that the fat pride movement is encouraging some people who are overweight not to even attempt to exercise or eat better. Before somebody says it isn't my body, it becomes my business when their inability to exercise self-control causes health insurance costs to go up.

Title is misleading, and while I am against verbal of abuse of others, being overweight is a health issue and should not be encouraged.

The title is not misleading; it's provocative.

My thoughts on this story are in line with this guy's.

Oh I get it. You post a video on youtube regarding your opinion on the matter and THEN make a GS thread about it. Shameless self promotion at its finest!

What? How is this self-promotion if I'm not the person in the video? Also, this thread is, in and of itself, a productive discussion.

So how'd that rage quit work out for you BRHD?

Emil isn't blu ray though

How do we know this?

He actually admitted that he was blu ray in a moment of absentmindedness.

@dave123321:

So he admitted that he was BRHD, but he's not BRHD. I'm confused.

@dave123321 said:

You should see someone about this. Obviously you are putting out bad vibes and are not ware of what you are doing. Do you have any gaps in memory when you look back on what you did over the day?

Take video of your interactions with people. You may be making odd faces and are unaware of it. Or maybe involuntarily screaming things without being aware of it.

Emil_fontz said:

I'm not putting out any bad vibes. People are prejudiced. Plain and simple. There are stereotypes out there about people like me and I can't help that people heed them when they see me. You've all seen me talk in videos at this point, so you know that I don't carry myself negatively. There's nothing I can do about it.

You all can thank me for getting blu to open up

And yet now he denies it. The man is clearly not of sound mind and thus should not be allowed to post. Ban him.

Yeah Emil seems less than present

Just because he's having an identity crisis doesn't mean he should be banned. His threads at least are somewhat topical and open for discussion. The guy can be whoever he wants to be online, as long as he's following the rules of the board, right?

I worry that Emil doesn't know he's the guy in the videos. And do we really want that.

He should set up a camera and record himself watching one of these videos with a mirror next to him so we can see the expression of his face as his whole world crumbles.

You guys are pathetic. All you do is obsess over me, BluRayHiDef (duh! It's me). It's as if I've become a meme of some sort. Just shut up about me already and discuss the topic at hand.

Why? Im mean really, why? Im a female but I never understood why some girls think they can do things like this and think the world will give them a high five for embarrassing themselves in public. Its the same when a female thinks she can walk around with no shirt and bra on and expect men not to stare at them and respect them.. Sure you can take pictures of yourself and use them for your own personal use but once you share them with the world dont cry if you get negative backlash. Instagram was trying to save her from the trolling and bulling that was coming her way. People aren't even nice in real life, but on the internet they are down right evil since they are behind a screen.

Also, there is nothing to be proud about being obese, its like saying I love having diabetes, a stroke and and heart attack. not saying she needs to be a stick figure but im not going to give her a thumbs up for being unhealthy.

I can't see the video but people should be kind is my thought.

Unhealtyness should be worked on to address it since it's a issue.

People don't have to be fucking assholes about it though.

Unhealthiness

As I said above, what good can possibly come from posting a semi-nude selfie on a social media website for all to view and comment on? Even if she were thin, there's still no need for this behavior.

You do realise that her account got reinstated and Instagram apologised to her for wrongly blocking her content, right?

Also, I like your idea. We'll make you into a meme. Thanks for suggesting it ;)

Well you made a lot of shit topics then threw a tantrum and quit when people called you out on it, but apparently were too pathetic to hold to quitting.

Emil, respond to my post

He had one chance to leave with some dignity left, but he Blu it... (I'm so funny! >_>)

@SaintLeonidas: Sir, have you just Barkley'd me?

Being barkleyed means you've made it

@SaintLeonidas: Uncivilised, you say?

@SaintLeonidas: That's it, you've done it now!

People can be dicks when hiding behind an anonymous account.

Fat shaming is bad, but let's not pretend that being fat is in any way healthy. People will judge you if you are fat, the only way to stop that is to lose weight and try to lead a more healthy lifestyle.

Good. That should encourage them to get off their asses and exercise. It's not healthy to be overweight, there should be no pride in it.

Overweight being the keyword. You don't need to be slim as a twig but dammit, keep your body in check.

Be kind. Encourage health. Treat people like a human being.

My motto

I think that your suggestion should be broader. You should have typed 'Treat people like sapient beings,' as sapience should be the determiner in regard to whether a person should be treated with respect or not, and not species. For all we know, there could be sapient alien races out there.

I wish wish wish gs let tablet users post fucking pictures

"Instagram does not have its own moderators, it relies on users to flag posts which violate its terms of use, according to which obscene and visually offensive content is prohibited" - seems like a policy that could easily be abused. "Obscene and visually offensive content" is kind of vague and users would no doubt interpret that in a variety of ways.

I don't think users should flag the photo just because she is heavy.

Would not hit.

Now, as I have said before: if she wanna be heavy good for her but if she is going to put herself out there inthat kind of platform she shouldn't be naive about what some people might say. The internet can be vicious.