too sensitive?

kaos16 · November 2013

This morning I decided to have a McDonalds breakfast sandwich at work. I have one every weeks, but tend to eat healthier generally. Long story short, a coworker whose office is next to me walked by my door, stopped and loudly started announcing to everyone around (it was 9 am so the halls were packed, there are 160 people in our office) "Oh my god, Kate is eating McDonalds. Can you believe Kate is eating McDonalds. Kate is so skinny, there is no way she is eating McDonalds."

I ignored her at the moment, so as to not cause a scene, but approached her a bit later when nobody was around and told her that I was offended by her comments. She didn't seem to understand why. I explained that I felt it was akin to if I was overweight and she made an announcement to everyone that she thought I was eating something she didn't approve of. She seemed to get it, I think.

After the fact I was speaking with my husband, who knows her. . . . I was telling him about what she had said, and how I talked to her about it afterwards. He seems to think I was being to sensitive.

What do you think?

ZeroOrchestra · November 2013

My boss used to do that. I was on a strict diet for awhile and when I eventually eased up he would comment. Loudly. I think he even snapped a picture of me about to eat a donut or something once. It was obnoxious but I shrugged it off.

bethsmiles · November 2013

I would've been annoyed but probably just brushed it off. People say stupid things 99% of the time it's not worth giving a second thought to it.

Maggie0829 · November 2013

I never understand why people need to comment on what other people are eating. Who really gives a fuck? I think it has to do more with her insecurities about weight and food then what you are eating.

kaos16 · November 2013

Maggie0829 said:

I never understand why people need to comment on what other people are eating. Who really gives a fuck? I think it has to do more with her insecurities about weight and food then what you are eating.

I imagine you are correct, as she speaks daily about how she is trying to diet and lose weight, down to telling people when she loses an ounce or two. For that same reason, she could very well not see the problem in what she did.

easilyunamused · November 2013

kaos16 said:

Maggie0829 said:

I never understand why people need to comment on what other people are eating. Who really gives a fuck? I think it has to do more with her insecurities about weight and food then what you are eating.

I imagine you are correct, as she speaks daily about how she is trying to diet and lose weight, down to telling people when she loses an ounce or two. For that same reason, she could very well not see the problem in what she did.

I think you did the right thing. No one would walk up to a overweight person and exclaim "Oh my goodness you are eating a cheeseburger, where is your salad"?

Obviously fat shaming is much more abrasive. But most people need to just mind their own business and not talk about other peoples eating habits.

Teddy917 · November 2013

I feel for you. I'm also skinny and whenever people see me eat a large meal, they feel like they have to comment. You're not too sensitive; she's just rude.

Fran1985 · November 2013

I think she was out of line commenting about your weight, but its just not the same as someone commenting on what an overweight person is eating. She she shouldn't be doing it though and I think its good you spoke to her about it.

netskyblue2 · November 2013

I hate people like that. I get that ALL THE TIME. Or rude people, when I say I'm cold, tell me to "go eat a sandwich." I'm thinner than the American average, but I wouldn't say "skinny".

But heaven forbid those people say something rude to a heavyset person regarding what they're eating.

I wouldn't say anything unless it was one person, continuing over and over to the point of harassment. I just figure people are rude. Live with it.

HisGirlFriday13 · November 2013

I don't think you were being too sensitive, at all. That would have pissed me off. I think you handled it well by talking to her about it later, privately, and not calling her a bitch in front of the whole office (which is what I would have been thinking).

I'm also very thin, and I generally eat very healthy, so when I splurge (as I'm going to do tonight, actually) and get something unhealthy, people comment about it. Because I work in news, and we're fairly blunt, I'll basically be like, "STFU, bitches, no comments allowed." and they'll shut up. But that solution doesn't work in industries where people don't routinely shout obscenities at each other.

southernbelle0915 · November 2013

I think for some (stupid) reason, people think that making comments on weight more socially acceptable as long as the person is thin. Unless it's a doctor telling you that you need to do something about your weight because you are under- or over-weight, it's not ok IMO.

I think the spectrum of sensitivity depends on you personally. If you're really offended, I think you should address it with her. For me personally, I'd probably be annoyed, but not enough to seriously address it.

krizzo17 · November 2013

I think the way you dealt with the situation shows that you're not overly sensitive. If you had sat down and cried your eyes out, or gone to HR to report a coworker harassing you, or felt the need to tell everyone in the office that you only eat McDonald's once a week, I'd say you were overreacting. But you handled it in a mature and professional manner, and probably with much more tact than I would have

JCbride2015 · November 2013

It sounds like your coworker was out of line, and you handled it well. I don't think this makes you too sensitive. She was probably trying to give you a roundabout compliment in a way, especially if she is struggling with being overweight.

Fi's family makes comments about my weight all the time. I'm not skinny, but I'm smaller than the average American. They are always commenting no matter what I choose: if I eat something healthy, they are trying to push pasta on me; if I eat the pasta, they comment about how shocked they are. Sometimes you just can't win. You did the right thing, just assume it's based on her own issues and not anything really about you.

too sensitive?

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