Post: #1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/10...n-off.html

Quote:The spoilers for the hotly anticipated Guardians Of The Galaxy film were spoiled further for me when I saw pictures of the newly buff Chris Pratt. The actor is on the cover of the most recent edition of Entertainment Weekly, looking every inch the leading man, accessorising with cheekbones that could keep the rain off the windscreen of a Ford Transit, and a racoon. And he’s taken his top off, causing people to use expressions like "clean eating", "regime" and "phwoar, you don’t get many of them to the pound".
I am a massive fan of Pratt’s work - specifically, his star turn as the adorably chubby, schlubby Andy Dwyer in the beloved NBC sitcom Parks And Recreation. In the spirit of full disclosure, my admiration for him is not entirely professional, or connected with his excellent acting abilities. I really, really fancy him.

Pratt told Glamour magazine, "I thought for a while I was going to make a career playing the fat friend… but doing Zero Dark Thirty [which required Pratt to lose weight] opened my eyes to the idea that I could be taken more seriously as a leading man character." It’s horrible but heartening to know that to some extent, Hollywood is a land of equality, and that men are under just as much pressure as women to maintain a certain body shape. But Pratt added, "Who knows, maybe [Guardians Of The Galaxy] will be the last movie I’ll be in shape for and then I’ll get fat again. My wife would appreciate it. She likes me fat." I’m with Anna Farris on this one.
I know that my opinion of men’s bodies holds no weight. If I were to tell you that I’d prefer you to be a little more well cushioned, it would be reasonable to tell me to jog on (while you jog off into the distance, in search of kale chips). But if I’m allowed a preference, I prefer a guy without a six-pack.


My favourite activities all involve sitting or lying down, so if I meet a tanned, toned man who appears to spend a lot of time on treadmills and sunbeds, my subconscious screams "INCOMPATIBLE!" Looking at Pratt’s impressive new physique, I want to ask him ‘But when do you find the time to read? Do you ever go for delicious, boozy six-hour dinners, or do you know only eat those weird protein balls they sell in the kiosk at Waitrose? I used to fantasise about weekend-long sexual marathons with you, where we’d only get out of bed to make bacon sandwiches! Now I can’t, because you look like you’d rather be running an actual marathon!"

I suspect my reaction to visibly fit, healthy men is connected with my own vanity - and guilt. I know I’m not as healthy as I ought to be(translation: fat), and I fear that I will be shown up. I want my partner to make me feel beautiful. If I were with someone who was objectively perfect, I’d become even more obsessed with my own flaws. My feelings about Pratt’s transformation makes me suspect that women have become conditioned to be admired, and we’re less comfortable when the aesthetic pressure changes and we’re asked to become admirers. We’re not used to considering male beauty in a context outside our own appearance, which is very sad.

That said, I think there’s something beautiful and compelling about men who are at ease with their bodies. The ones who have managed to balance the need for self preservation with a lust for life. In some ways, a man who takes pride in his appearance can be irresistible. Both George Orwell and Hugh Laurie’s Prince Regent wooed me with their words about the importance of new clothes. But the peacock is powerfully erotic, because of his confidence. James Brown of Sabotage Times wrote brilliantly about the allure of the Southern Comfort man, happy to feel the sun on his leathery skin and not concerned about his gut or greying hair because he is bien dans sa peau. To me, a heavily muscled man looks a little forced. I don’t see joy in their eyes, but effort and anxiety. You don’t wake up with giant biceps, you have to work hard for them. Very muscular men make me wonder who they’re trying to impress. I hope it’s not me, because if so, their efforts are in vain.

If there are many men out there who genuinely adore the gym, and hate carbs, I hope they pay no attention to me and continue to joyfully go about their business. But if there are any guys out there who can’t tell where the sweat stops and the tears start, guys who just want to stop what they’re doing and eat a pizza, but are struggling to look like a leading man in the hope that it gets them the girl, please stop. Everything tastes better than skinny feels, and most of us will love you just the way you are.

And... here are some pics!

Post: #2

Meh, SIF.

Post: #3

Hey congrats, she adjusted her standards down! Shes settling! Rationalizing it as a preference for inferiority but really who knows how much fit guys have ignored her in real life to develop this "preference"

Post: #4

Yeah this is actually better than the fat chick who openly lusts after hawt guys.

Still, you know she'd still be dtf for a six pack man if his interest seemed remotely genuine.

She looks like she'd be solidly bangable if she lost 30+ lbs (maybe more).

Post: #5

(07-23-2014 08:34 PM)Kingsley Davis Wrote:  Meh, SIF.

That's no secret.




And she even spells out she wants a guy that makes her feel pretty in comparison.

But if she truly believes her hamster... all the power to her. Go make some average dude moderately happier for a shorts while. I'll be over here lifting daily and chasing chicks with skinny genes.

Post: #6

The worst thing any guy can do in the long run is hook up with a loser chick.

It cements your pre-selection.

She's working in favor if quality men, thank her for it and move on.

Post: #7

This is every wife trying to fatten up her husband so he doesn't self-improve out her league, except with a fantasy relationship, not a real one. Epic hamstring.

She's also overselling her intelligence as compensation for beauty, because in Female Typist Land, you can never be beautiful and intelligent.

Quote:I want to ask him ‘But when do you find the time to read?

I did a huge chunk of my university reading on a stationary bike or treadmill.

Women can never build anything, only destroy.

Post: #8

Haha Bosch, I like that "female typist" jibe - harks back to the good old days of... Female typists.

Post: #9

Absolutely astounded at ths stupidity of this piece of lard. She obviously has no idea what she is talking about. "Well cushioned", I've heard this so many times. Muscles are not rock hard, they're pretty soft. She obviously (not surprisingly) has no experience with muscular men. Still surprised about the ignorance of these women as well. "When do you read?".. these women seem to believe it takes 6 hours a day in the gym to get that sort of physique. Anything more than a couple of hours is counterproductive.

I work out 6 days a week. I'm the laziest person alive on weekends. She doesn't have her looks going for her AND she's srupid. She probably has to keep any man who comes close to her fat to prevent him from leaving.

Post: #10

Seriously though how does a woman get the opportunity to be a writer for a huge website when all she writes is "I love to sit on my ass and I don't even understand how people can stay fit"?

How does that individual get a job like this? What the fuck. Her writing is terrible and all she does is glorify laziness. Is that what people should do, just sell to the lowest common denominator, then you get to be the new face of the New York Post?

Post: #11

My first thought in reading the title of this thread was 'feminist writer turned off by men who don't want anything to do with her'. But several of you beat me to it.

You also beat me to my second thought, which was 'well, at least we don't have another fat chick pining after guys who don't want to bang them'.

The only thing I can kinda add is that this woman's narcissism is ridiculous, but not surprising. Her basic premise is, people are better off being fat because I'm fat.

Post: #12

(07-23-2014 11:25 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  Seriously though how does a woman get the opportunity to be a writer for a huge website when all she writes is "I love to sit on my ass and I don't even understand how people can stay fit"?

How does that individual get a job like this? What the fuck. Her writing is terrible and all she does is glorify laziness. Is that what people should do, just sell to the lowest common denominator, then you get to be the new face of the New York Post?

It is Gresham's law

Post: #13

I've always thought Victoria's Secret models were a huge turn-off, that's why I've never dated any.

Post: #14

Sour grapes, sour grapes everywhere.

At least she's somewhat honest to herself about her options.

Post: #15

I actually thought the tone was OK. I was expecting some snarky, passive aggressive piece, which it probably would have been if written by an American female. You guys are correct in your analysis though.

Post: #16

Hmm, what do you think would happen if a seriously toned and good looking guy approached her?

Post: #17

Translation from Hamsterese: Cannot get hot guy, cannot hold a hot guy in a LTR, hamster tells me that that guys with more lard are hotter and are less likely to leave my fat ass for more pretty tighter hotter ass.

It is the same kind of rationalization that most chubby chasers have: I love big women (because I tried getting slim ones and I get rejected too often; or I just consider myself not worthy of those hot ones and try for going fat gold).

Post: #18

She is incredibly insecure. She knows full-well these men wouldn't touch her and if she did snag one she would go insane knowing other women are out to get him.

Post: #19

Title of this thread should be "gym toned men think feminist writer is a huge turn off"

Post: #20

This is how "intelligence" is harnessed and nurtured in the modern age: to rationalize failures and disappointments.

Post: #21

Fat/10, WNB.

Post: #22

This thread gave me an extra motivation to lift.

Post: #23

She may be a thoroughly mediocre writer trying to rationalize away her fatness, but I don't think she deserves our ire. At least she is fairly candid and honest that she has low standards, and why she does. I mean, isn't what she is saying essentially right, and something we've been saying around here for a while now? Fat women should be hooking up with fat guys...

This is a step in the right direction from fatass BBW hogs cruising OKCupid for musclebound men. If American women on the whole were as cognizant as this broad, the fatness problem we face would be one mighty step closer to solving itself.

Post: #24

This would be true, except that she delved into the territory of saying "fit people have no time to be interesting" and that you should quit working out if you don't enjoy it. Swoll-shaming, if you will.

Post: #25

Agreed. It is a step in the right direction, but the tone of her post is steeped in bitterness and a snide attitude towards men that are in good shape.

Sure, at least she's accepted that she's fat and her options are thus limited, unlike fat feminists who want to change the beauty standard so that they are seen as attractive. But it's easy to see she's angry about it.