I can definitely relate to what foxyhan said too- the criticism and putdowns from my youth have affected me in a way that I can never forget, but I have been able to move on. Proof of this was when my roommate (thin, blonde and with hoards of guys after her) said that she envied my confidence. I was like WHAT?!?! but then looking at the situation, I could see what she was saying. I am very comfortable with myself and have gained a confidence that I didn't have a few years ago as a young teen. On the other hand, my roommate is very unhappy and so self-conscious of herself- she has a fear of constant rejection and has no love of herself. I have learned from this that thinness does not equal happiness- happiness can only come from within

And in the words of Queen "Big bottom girls you make the rockin' world go 'round"

absolutel true........ i would much rather an average looking woman who was bubbly and confident to a slim beautiful one with no confidence....... and i have made just that switch in the past........ its no fun being with a self obsessed calorie dodger......... i can tell you this from experience........

I gave up dodging calories years ago, I wasn't fast enough and the bastards always found me when I was least expecting it

It's great to see a guy starting a thread like this. I've averaged a size 18 for well over a decade now and (touch wood) have never had any hassle over it. God knows how I'd react if I did as due to my upbringing I have very little confidence regarding either my looks or my personality.

So all I can say is 'thank god for guys who like curves'

I have dated women of all shapes and sizes and unless they are stick thin there are always comments made and I hate it been in several scuffles over it.
I dont care what shape a woman is as long as the personality is there and she gets my jokes and can have a laugh im sold.
But the one thing that really gets me going is the sparkle in a womans eyes the one that says hey im alive.
In My experience women who dont worry about eating a kit kat or how many calories are in their 4 leaf salad have this spark the almost cheeky twinkle that a man could get lost in. Tthe stick thin bitchy women who you see out on the dance floor shaking their arse and tits trying to get the attention of any man they can dont have it..
Whats going to happen to those poor girls when all the drinking and partying has finished and karma turns them into tried up old leather handbags? they will be left on the shelf no man will want to touch them.
But not the rest of you ladies cause you have actually developed personalities, sense of humours, and should be happy with who you are because your the real women that us men want to be with.

In short your not just 2D cutouts.!!!

In short your not just 2D cutouts.!!![/quote]

Well i have to agree with everything you said, especially the part about comments being made if a man has girlfriend bigger that a size 10, i have been there, and trust me i give as good as i get lol i am a bit of 'people watcher' when i go out, and find that most, not all, normally the younger ones, of the 'stick thin' women you commented on, never smile, too worrried incase they get a crease in the amount of make-up they have slapped on, long live sexy natural women, who have a personailty to match & yes who are happy in there own bodies Ann-Marie xx [/quote]

Anne-Marie VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!

Im a people watcher too.. and the comment about the make up is sooo true do they use a trowel to put it on? and they only put that much on to cover the spots and blotchy skin that the makeup gives them..
Not that im against makeup but should be used to enhance the natural beauty or make up for a lack of inner beauty.

your mate obviously has a singular wit.......... does he also wear "comedy" ties/socks? i just bet he's the "i'm crazy me" sort of fella that can be found in many a backwoods booza on a weekday lunchtime having a "steak dinner for a fiver"...... cos in the evening he'll be sitting glued to the box watching re-runs of the fast show on uk gold so he can recant it all word perfect to his "rapt and transfixed" work "mates" the next day as he hovers around the photo-copier..........

actually hes an military armed response copper. But I can see the similarities between backwards boozers, photocipiers and hunting down terrorists wanting to blow up our nuclear arsenal.. but thats a bit off topic dont you think???
maybe back to the topic in hand...

time for a vote?

Who prefers confidence to insecurities?

raises hand

There's something I'd like to bring to your attention Cheekyboy - having professed at great length your admiration for 'fuller-figured women', how do you explain what you said to Polyanna on the 'Salutations to Beardmond' post on the London forum. I quote 'who asked you fatty?'

Now I'll give you the chance to explain yourself but I'm sure you'll be able to see how that doesn't exactly compute with your comments on this particular post. Having read that Beardmond post right through, I have to say also that don't you think there's enough abuse going on in the world without you having that kind of a slanging match?

Your first remarks to Beardmond were unprovoked and really childishly horrible - no doubt you will respond with a comment that you were only having a laugh - well you need to know that it's just not funny. At all. Taking the piss is one thing - I can both give it out and take it, with the brothers I have there's really no other choice!

But I absolutely loathe that kind of destructive and senseless abuse done just for the 'laugh' of it. It completely negates the whole point of communicating on here, which is to make some human connection with each other. What you did/do is the complete opposite.

I'm very interested to see what your response is, also if that response can be made without calling attention to anything personal regarding me!

Good post ... I was beginning to think what the hell is wrong with this guy, on nearly all your posts, you come across as being a very arrogant man, with vitually nothing nice to say.

I didnt realise either that you were the same person who was verbally abusive to Pol

as i explained to the lady herself my position as a defender of curvy women is well known and i meant it to be a.ironic {i.e me not really meaning it} and 2. a joke but i realised it was in poor taste and have sent her a private message to apologise which she replied to so i think she accepted it {my apology}......... one of the drawbacks to having nerve conduction velocities that spiderman would envy and a mind sharper than a very sharp thing is that sometimes i pump it out before "quality control" can intervene.......