Given that offence it taken and not given, I think you'd best define "offensive" first. Then decide if you left any room for humor.
IMHO, there is humor in weight, gender and race. The point is, is one trying to amuse or deliberately offend.
Aside form this specific issue, I notice a huge cultural difference between the US and the UK in this. In the UK, we "take the piss". Its what we do. We sort of use it to equalise each other. In the US, it seems different. I am reminded of a situation a UK comedian found himself it. He's in the US, eating out with US friends. A man walks in with a awful wig on. UK bloke instinctively takes the piss out of him. The US lot are not happy. Apparently when a ridiculous looking person walks in people are supposed to be some how supportive of the attempt to better himself. In the UK, its cause for a lot of micky taking.
Back to the case in point, even the subject is not objecting to the humor, she is objecting deliberately nasty comments specifically meant to be nasty. That has nothing what so ever to do with humor.
The line? Well, IMHO, the line is intent. Is the comment meant to be funny or nasty.
Lastly, have to ask, is obesity a specific US sensitivity? Seems from my POV that there is a hell of a lot of excuse making for obesity in the US that does not happen else where. Any suggestion that its the persons own doing, eating badly and not exercising, is stamped on like its some sort of heresy. Where as here its pretty much the accepted reason.
>Lastly, have to ask, is obesity a specific US sensitivity? Seems from my POV that there is a hell of a lot of excuse making for obesity in the US that does not happen else where. Any suggestion that its the persons own doing, eating badly and not exercising, is stamped on like its some sort of heresy. Where as here its pretty much the accepted reason.
Well there are a lot of obese people here. They even get handicap placards at this point, its recognized as a disease etc. They're 1 step short of becoming a protected group.
IMHO, there is humor in weight, gender and race. The point is, is one trying to amuse or deliberately offend.
Aside form this specific issue, I notice a huge cultural difference between the US and the UK in this. In the UK, we "take the piss". Its what we do. We sort of use it to equalise each other. In the US, it seems different. I am reminded of a situation a UK comedian found himself it. He's in the US, eating out with US friends. A man walks in with a awful wig on. UK bloke instinctively takes the piss out of him. The US lot are not happy. Apparently when a ridiculous looking person walks in people are supposed to be some how supportive of the attempt to better himself. In the UK, its cause for a lot of micky taking.
Back to the case in point, even the subject is not objecting to the humor, she is objecting deliberately nasty comments specifically meant to be nasty. That has nothing what so ever to do with humor.
The line? Well, IMHO, the line is intent. Is the comment meant to be funny or nasty.
Lastly, have to ask, is obesity a specific US sensitivity? Seems from my POV that there is a hell of a lot of excuse making for obesity in the US that does not happen else where. Any suggestion that its the persons own doing, eating badly and not exercising, is stamped on like its some sort of heresy. Where as here its pretty much the accepted reason.