Living Large in a Thin World - Three Great Comebacks For the Large Person

Are you a large person who has been humiliated inacquaintances are essential for improving quality of
public by rude people? Did you wish you had somelife...the large person's life.
snappy comeback to fire at your tormentor. If you'veThis one tool, self-deprecating humor, has turned
been in that situation this article may be for you.hundreds of potentially harmful situations around.
A Short StoryThree Great Comebacks
I've always been chunky. (Some people might say fat,When someone makes a rude comment don't
but it's my story, and I can tell it any way I want.)respond with rudeness. Use a snippet of humor to turn
Anyway, when I was twelve years old I waspeople around. I'll give you three examples of great
swimming with some of my friends at a local lake.comebacks:
Some sixteen year old boys swam past us, and oneWhen someone says, "You're too fat," you might
of the boys shouted, "Hey Fatso, you should be able torespond with:
swim like a whale."1. "Too fat! Do you know how many calories I have to
I have to admit that suffering from a lack of wordseat every day just to keep this beautiful figure?"
was never a problem for me. On the contrary, I usually2. "That's odd. I only weigh fifty pounds on the moon."
spoke when good sense demanded silence. I shouted3. "I'm not too fat. I'm too short. I'm the perfect weight
to my tormentor, "I may be fat, but you're ugly, youfor a man eight feet ten inches tall."
pimple-faced moron. You'll need sandpaper to cureBonus quips
those zits."I've created lists of events I might attend and have
My friends laughed. Even some of the sixteen year olddeveloped appropriate responses. For example, if a
boys laughed. My tormentor was not so amused. Helarge person attends a graduation and someone
didn't like humiliation any more than I did. He caught memakes rude comments about his size he might
and administered a sound thrashing upon me.respond:
Don't Feel Sorry for Me4."I'm not too large. I believe in excellence. I'm in the
That incident was a turning point for me. After Iupper ten percent of my weight class."
recovered from my knuckle-bumps and bruises I madeIf a large person stands in line to vote on election day
some major realizations. (I call them my knuckle-bumpand someone makes a comment he might say:
epiphanies.)5."I'm not too large. I'm the guy responsible for HUGE
1. Humiliating others never diffuses a hostile situation. ItVOTER turnout."
only escalates the animosity.Conclusion
2. Rude jerks are people too. Regardless of theirSelf-deprecating humor is a gold mine for large people
actions to the contrary they have feelings too. I'vewho apply it effectively. Make a list of your
found that many suffer major stress in their lives.comebacks. Practice them. (Comedians practice their
3. I like making people laugh.routines.) Know them well enough to deliver your
The Problempunchline naturally. The ability to laugh at yourself is a
How can a large person diffuse potentially hostilegreat asset. People like socializing with positive
situations by making people laugh?humorous people.
The Solution - Self-Deprecating Humor (the ability toOne last word
laugh at yourself)If a person continues his rudeness he'll look like a jerk,
If a large person can make people laugh and targetand people will empathize with you. Don't return the
himself as the object of humor he can turn a hostilerudeness under any circumstances. Simply say, "Thank
situation into a friendly situation. Friendly solutions winyou for sharing," and ignore them. You'll show
friends and good acquaintances. Friends and goodcharacter people will admire.