Let's stop using the terms "skinny" and "curvy"

G-Max

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May 20, 2006
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I hate these terms. First of all, "curvy" is meaningless. Not just all women, but all humans have curves. We're not made of LEGOs. Secondly, "skinny" is often equated with "bony" or "anorexic", which, of course, is a completely different concept from "healthy, but thin". We all like meat on them bones - some just prefer lean meat.

So, I'd like to propose new replacement terms: "lean", as in "athletic", and... um... I don't know. Any suggestions?
 
No. Next question/demand?
 
No, I like dem curves.
 
I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your tough
'Cause you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
 
Guys, I don't want this thread to get locked. Can we get some more productive conversation going on?
 
I made a genuine argument. (hidden, admittedly)

Everyone is curvy, but the term curvy is relative. If you're insisting on absolute terms, you're going to have to dismiss a whole host of descriptions.
 
Everyone has curves but not everyone is curvy. Everyone has skin but not everyone is skinny. Everyone has bones but not everyone is boney. Everyone has fat but not everyone is fat. Everyone has muscle but not everyone is muscular. Do you propose we all describe people by their precise height, weight, chest size, waist size, and body fat percentage?
 
No, because the meanings of both terms are established well enough as pertaining to women that I'm not creating any confusion.

The problem there is that the terms are biased. I'd like to replace them with unbiased terms.

Everyone has curves but not everyone is curvy. Everyone has skin but not everyone is skinny. Everyone has bones but not everyone is boney. Everyone has fat but not everyone is fat. Everyone has muscle but not everyone is muscular. Do you propose we all describe people by their precise height, weight, chest size, waist size, and body fat percentage?

No, just some relative terms describing body fat percentage, which is what people are actually talking about.
 
This is how political correctness begins. Just out of interest, where did you get the idea of removing these two words? Is there a campaign starting to get rid of them?
 
I got the idea from the Minecraft forums, where someone asked the usual skinny-versus-curvy question and someone else asked "where's the option for lean?", which I seconded.
 
I got the idea from the Minecraft forums, where someone asked the usual skinny-versus-curvy question and someone else asked "where's the option for lean?", which I seconded.

I wasn't aware it was a strict dichotomy between skinny and curvy.

I guess I just do not see what your point is.
 
I wasn't aware it was a strict dichotomy between skinny and curvy.

Although there is no such dichotomy among women's actual body types, there is a very real dichotomy among male preferences, as evidenced by Sir Mix-a-lot's song and a parody thereof (I actually have "I Like Small Butts" on my computer).

My point is that there are not many men who like bony girls, but there are a lot of guys who prefer lean meat, and our preferences should not be misrepresented just so fat chicks can feel better about themselves.
 
I like lean but I would add "slim" to that definition too. So instead of skinny either use "lean" or "slim" - kool?

I can't think of any decent alternative to curvy at the moment but I think we should just keep it.
 
There are cases where these words apply and there I'll use them. But I kinda agree that they're sometimes used to politely convey other meanings ...
 
The problem there is that the terms are biased. I'd like to replace them with unbiased terms.

If someone is fat, and you still want a word to describe that condition, that word will not be any less biased than "fat" itself.

And what exact bias are you talking about, the bias of being accurate?

No, just some relative terms describing body fat percentage, which is what people are actually talking about.

No, people are talking about appearance. Body fat percentages do not always correspond to appearances.
 
This is how political correctness begins.
No it isn't. "Political correctness", to the point it means anything at all, is an attempt to avoid language which is deemed to be offensive or otherwise undesirable. This is G-Max being absurdly literal-minded. The two have nothing to do with each other.
 
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