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Original poster

I don't agree with the ad-hominem comments on Sam Smith, India Willoughby et al.

212 replies

TERFCat · 02/03/2023 18:56

Basically as the title says.

I think gender ideology can be robustly criticized without the need for comments on any individual's appearance or dress sense.

If you go to Twitter, a lot of the GC accounts I follow are currently laughing at Sam Smith for his latest magazine cover. I don't like SS, but I do think that they is free to dress how they want. SS shouldn't be body shamed either as they has a perfectly normal body.

Same goes for India. Don't like them, but I don't think their clothes etc should be mocked.

OP posts:
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MrsTerryPratchett · 02/03/2023 21:09

There a back edge with clothes where you skate between 'edgy and cool' and 'fucking ridiculous' and it's a wafer this gap between the two. Yes, being skinny is more likely to have people put you on one side of it. It's true that if Bowie hadn't taken all the cocaine and looked more like the tubby Croydon boy he was meant to be, some of the outfits wouldn't have worn so well.

Harry Styles skates that back edge with total panache. The clown dungarees were over the line but mostly he gets it exactly right, edgy and fun, not stupid and ridiculous.

Sam Smith seems to invariably get it wrong. And it's not just his weight. There's plenty of celebs who carry a little extra and like Harry Styles still manage to look cool.

He can wear what he likes but we're the ones forced to look at it. Like wankers who drive yellow Hummers, they don't actually have to see it drive past.

ReunitedThorns · 02/03/2023 21:01

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PicklesAndTequila · 02/03/2023 21:00

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100% this

LisaPandervump · 02/03/2023 20:52

‘HIS latest magazine cover’
’They is free’

GoodWeatherforDucks · 02/03/2023 20:51

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Scyla · 02/03/2023 20:46

There you go Fran

I don't agree with the ad-hominem comments on Sam Smith, India Willoughby et al.
GromblesofGrimbledon · 02/03/2023 20:43

There's an awful lot of over-intellectualising going on in this thread for what amounts to "man dresses like a complete tube"

Scyla · 02/03/2023 20:42

Fran just needs D on that cap.

SinnerBoy · 02/03/2023 20:42

TERFCat · Today 20:34

Sorry, I should have made it clear that the comments I dislike about Sam Smith are the ones laughing at their fat.

The only picture I really think of is him in the inflatable gimp suit, I hadn't really registered that he's slightly overweight.

CryptoFascistMadameCholet · 02/03/2023 20:41

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In context, beside all the other people featured in this issue of Perfect magazine, Sam Smith actually looks quite sensible:

www.theperfectmagazine.com/shop

I don't agree with the ad-hominem comments on Sam Smith, India Willoughby et al.
WickedSerious · 02/03/2023 20:40

CryptoFascistMadameCholet · 02/03/2023 20:38

Like, I’m neutral about the fat topic and choose not to piss take people for their weight but you gotta see the funny side of being on the cover of an ‘Autonomy’ themed magazine wearing outfits that Sam Smith could never in a million years have gotten into without at least one person doing it up for him, if not two?

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My eyes! My innocent eyes!!

EpicChaos · 02/03/2023 20:39

@TERFCat " Nobody is too fat to wear anything, and SS isn't even fat. "

What? Not even those people that weigh 3/400lbs?

Fladdermus · 02/03/2023 20:38

Bunnyfuller · 02/03/2023 20:30

Love how because SS isn’t born female we can rip into choices and style….such a balanced and inclusive approach. Or is it ok to mock people for being overweight? I’m confused…what can and can’t we take the piss out of without being labelled some kind of -ist or it being ‘internalised misogyny’.

It doesn't matter what your weight is, if you go out trussed up like a burnt bbq chicken you're going to have the piss ripped out of you.

CryptoFascistMadameCholet · 02/03/2023 20:38

TERFCat · 02/03/2023 20:34

Sorry, I should have made it clear that the comments I dislike about Sam Smith are the ones laughing at their fat. In SS's latest magazine cover, many people are implying SS is too fat to be wearing those clothes etc.

Nobody is too fat to wear anything, and SS isn't even fat.

Like, I’m neutral about the fat topic and choose not to piss take people for their weight but you gotta see the funny side of being on the cover of an ‘Autonomy’ themed magazine wearing outfits that Sam Smith could never in a million years have gotten into without at least one person doing it up for him, if not two?

I don't agree with the ad-hominem comments on Sam Smith, India Willoughby et al.
Helleofabore · 02/03/2023 20:38

I think that if you wear clothes to be talked about, that you cannot really complain when people do. I generally don’t comment on appearance, but I also don’t judge others who comment on the clothes of those people who wear those clothes for attention.

ANameChangePresents · 02/03/2023 20:36

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Dressing like a twat is a comment on Sam's behavior. Not a comment on Sam.

'Sam is a twat' would be a comment on Sam. Sam can behave differently and my response changes. Behaviours are events which can be decoupled from the person, should they desist.

Scyla · 02/03/2023 20:35

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Original poster
TERFCat · 02/03/2023 20:34

Sorry, I should have made it clear that the comments I dislike about Sam Smith are the ones laughing at their fat. In SS's latest magazine cover, many people are implying SS is too fat to be wearing those clothes etc.

Nobody is too fat to wear anything, and SS isn't even fat.

OP posts:
ANameChangePresents · 02/03/2023 20:34

Gender Identity isn't a shield for all criticism. If Sam Smith had gravy on Sam's chin, I'd say "Sam's personal hygiene seems lacking", same as I would anyone else. Sam's identity doesn't give Sam a free pass. Or would Sam actually like to be treated BETTER than everyone else?

P.S India is an awful person IMO. And whatever is between India's legs has no bearing on my view. It's what comes out of India's gob that makes the difference.

OzziePopPop · 02/03/2023 20:30

mach2 · 02/03/2023 19:04

If your friend meets you in the pub wearing this:

s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/z3BzmmohVaEhowPtBG.AJg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-02/7746d7d0-abc2-11ed-bf7d-5612a033019b

Do you

A) Compliment them on their Avant Garde dress sense?

B) Pretend not to know them and leg it for the rear exit?

C) Roll on the floor gasping with hysterical laughter?

B after C…

SS is a ‘celeb’, comments on clothing/actions are normal for ‘celebs’ from the public, surely?

Bunnyfuller · 02/03/2023 20:30

Love how because SS isn’t born female we can rip into choices and style….such a balanced and inclusive approach. Or is it ok to mock people for being overweight? I’m confused…what can and can’t we take the piss out of without being labelled some kind of -ist or it being ‘internalised misogyny’.

WickedSerious · 02/03/2023 20:29

mach2 · 02/03/2023 19:04

If your friend meets you in the pub wearing this:

s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/z3BzmmohVaEhowPtBG.AJg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-02/7746d7d0-abc2-11ed-bf7d-5612a033019b

Do you

A) Compliment them on their Avant Garde dress sense?

B) Pretend not to know them and leg it for the rear exit?

C) Roll on the floor gasping with hysterical laughter?

It's C for me,every fucking time.

tobee · 02/03/2023 20:28

willingtolearn · 02/03/2023 19:11

I agree @TERFCat

Individuals have the right to wear what they wish without judgment or personal comments being made that denigrate them. The only limit to this is if the outfit is designed to expose genitalia.

For me this is true whatever their sex, age or physical attributes.

I fear a society that seeks to dictate what individuals wear, using shaming or even modesty laws to achieve this.

But they are allowed to say things that extol them?

GromblesofGrimbledon · 02/03/2023 20:27

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SinnerBoy · 02/03/2023 20:27

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