Is this really necessary?

[Kathyan]

I have just read this in the People and wonder if it is really necessary to mention his weight/size? What this has to do with the story is beyond me. They wouldn't say 11 stone Shayne Ward or 6 stone Kylie would they, so why do it to Rik and other overweight people?

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=flop- idol-s-rik-to-wed-a-goth-fan%26method=full%26o bjectid=20092154%26siteid=93463-name_page.html

[Gromit]

Rik Waller - Who's Rik Waller?

You know, hasn't had a hit record for years - Nope?
His concerts get cancelled through lack of interest - Nope?
His career has been a bit of a flop - Nope?

Big fat bloke who won 'Pop idol' - Ah, looks like Phil Jupitas.

[China Doll]

I quite fancy Phil Jupitas. Not Rik Waller though, has anyone ever noticed his incredibly small head or is that just me?

They might not give the weight of Kylie but they'll say things like 'petite' or 'curvy' for other women etc... it's just lazy journalism and designed to manipulate thought. Nothing too worrying unless you realise that you're starting to think the same way yourself.

[cazzz1975]

its the kind of society we live in now kath

[ruby27]

So do I, Phil Jupitas that is. Never watched pop idol so wouldn't know this Rik

32stone is a bit out of the ordinary isn't it. I know that obesity is on the increase (I am doing my bit since stopping smoking). But, being 11 stone or 6 stone doesn't really make someone stand out like this bloke is going to.

However the press do so like to use physical descriptions that are usually irrelevant. I think they must get a word count and need to fill in for lack of story or literary ability.

[China Doll]

http://www.musicpictures.com/ln_pictures/sysip hus/mpcom/100/TF1007_Rik_WALLER_1.JPG

^^^^ For ruby, see what I mean about his head?

[naomi24]

I think this man was on Pop Idol, but he was also on one of those TV programmes where experts encourage minor celebrities to lose weight. Clearly he's not terribly well-known, so I think his weight is relevant to the article, since if it hadn't been mentioned, the chances are that few would have recognised his name. I know I wouldn't.

[olly8080]

probably because kylie or any other person who hasn't spent a life time stuffing everything they can down their throats look quite nice to the eye not like rik waller who is famous for just being obese,

[naomi24]

China, don't you think his head only looks small because his body is so big?

[China Doll]

Apologies Kathyan but this is not something I've ever discussed before and I'd like to take the opportunity to do.

See, that had occurred to me but there's loads of larger blokes in this world who do not have tiny heads, think Jupitas, Vegas etc... They don't have abnormally small heads. Rik Waller has a tiny head!

[naomi24]

True - but this bloke makes those two look virtually skinny. He is enormous! Vast! His head does look small, and that's the only reason I can think of.

[ruby27]

To continue with the digression

His head does look seriously small. Those you have mentioned and I would also include Robbie Coltraine are large but maybe not so much enormously large, hence there heads remaining in proportion. Not sure you will have to do some more work in this area. CD You were trying to decide what studying to pursue, this is it, this could be original research leading to a Phd

[jno]

meantime, China can rewrite the lexicon of political correctitude. Instead of telling someone 'You look fat', you can now say 'Your head looks small'.

[ruby27]

jno
I love the idea. When doing bitchy gossipy stuff with my girlfriends we can go, oooh hasn't so and so's head got really small. In future I am never going to admit to being overweight, just that my head has shrunk from overeating and lack of exercise

[jno]

personally, I am not overweight, merely undertall.

[China Doll]

jno, loving the 'head is too small' line and shall also be stealing that from you too.

Robbie Coltrain is another one who's quite tasty too but again, no abnormally small head! Is it wrong of me to say that I actually find the very small head on such a large body slightly scary? It looks a bit like one of the aliens trying to hide out as human on Men in Black.

[jno]

'does my head look small in this?' you might say.

[China Doll]

I have quite a big head I'm told.

[Gromit]

Nogginly Challenged

[Goodsoulette]

Phil Jupitas??? Whp handed out the tase bypass pills today. It also pees me off royally that if people arent calling me Miss Jupiter they are calling me Miss Jupitas, neither of which are my surname, its just similar. He's a bit too cockney/mockney for me. The tubby I like is JLC, he is the sex..

The reason they do it, is because he is sooo fat you do actually think, "I wonder how heavy he is".....anyone over a certain weight I think I wonder how big they are.

[China Doll]

That nogginly challenged better not have been aimed in my direction Groms!

Who's JLC... Phil's lovely.