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Sally Bergensen is the CEO of Oiselle, a Seattle-based athletic apparel company by women, for women. She recently took to Twitter to share a body-shaming story from her childhood that, despite taking place when she was just a twelve-year-old teenage girl, is clearly something she's never forgotten.

"Keep eating like that, and you're going to be a butterball," her father had said to her, and now she's encouraging other women to share their experiences of being body image shamed by using the hashtag #TheySaid. And as you can see below, many women were quick to come forward with their own stories of friends, family, and sometimes total strangers making hurtful comments about their body type, size, or being way off the line of beauty standards. The hashtag has even spawned a sister hashtag called #SheReplied, which people are using to share ways to respond to the next person who says something unpleasant about the female body. Scroll down to see some of the responses to uncalled for public shaming so far.

More info: Twitter

#1

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Renáta Dezsőfi
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they should say 'for the girls water for the boys water too'... why do people poison their kids at such a young age? no wonder why they are getting bigger if their parents are supporting an unhealthy lifestyle..

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#2

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Stille20
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh, I'm so sorry. I have when people think saying you lost weight is a compliment. It doesn't take into account why the weight loss has happened. Also, it's none of your business what my scale says.

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#3

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Brigitte
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The worst body-shaming comments come from relatives; they feel like it's ok because they're family.

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#4

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Hans
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such coaches should loose the job. I remember also a school sports teacher who would exclude a boy from ball games because he was too fat. Way to make sure people will not find fun in sports!

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#6

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Sierra Hall
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keep it up! People are ridiculous. They should never shame someone for trying to be active and healthy!

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#7

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ItsPam Duh
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sorry. I am on antidepressants that have caused weight gain and I have experienced such negative feed back. People can be cruel.

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#8

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Lara B.
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Body shaming from a different perspective. After a nasty break-up in December i started suffering from depression and just stopped eating. I was down to 44kg in no time and people kept telling me how awful i looked. I knew that it looked terrible, but no need to keep f*cking telling me that all the time. That really hurts. Now I am getting better each day :)

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#9

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Mimis Nachbarin
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since when do boys not want fat girls?!? Maybe not all of them, but still a lot of them. Your mom would be surprised...

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#10

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Marceline
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking beautiful with a swimsuit doesn't have to do with a girls/womans weight or body shape! It has to do with self-confidence, and feeling comfortable for who you are! You look amazingly beautiful!! P.S.:Great choise of swimsuit!

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#14

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Anastasia B
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing happened to me... I was 15 and it was my aunt. I never wanted to be a model anyway but why say such a mean thing?

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#16

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Aunt Messy
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get that nonsense from time to time. Guess what? I'm 54. I plan on doing whatever I want for the rest of my life and I need muscle and bone mass to do it.

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#17

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Stille20
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and that was the last time Nan came over for dinner... I hope

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#21

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Pol Macqueron
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes no sense: at 13 yo, she's responsible for you and moreover she's supposed to be supporting you and love you no matter what

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#23

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Lara B.
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't believe how horrible some moms are!! Reading these posts makes me really angry and sad. Love my mom more than ever after seeing this...

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#24

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Flora Polvado
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, I would kind of expect this from a thoughtless jerk of a teen sibling, it's the parents that make me see red!

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#25

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Rhân
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, some doctors should change their job. I really don't get it. Okay, if someone really has an unhealthy body, especially as a doctor you should be honest and help your patient. But this argumentation makes no sense and is just rude. Also if mental issues aren't your field of work, you should be careful with words. (Not only because weight gain could be a side effect of depression)

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#27

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Valentina
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"ex" it the key word here. Getting rid of toxic people in one's environment is the best way "to loose weight"

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#28

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M O'Connell
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a girl in college who was a power-lifter. If you didn't know that, an a*****e would assume she was overweight. I think she was about 240lbs of muscle.

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#31

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Lakia Hawkins
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG sooo sad, reminds me of when I was 13 and my friend told me guys that date fat girls only date them for 1 thing...yes and she was supposed to be my best friend, funny thing was I wasn't even fat at the time as I look back at pics I looked great, sometime a persons motives can be jealousy as well.

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#32

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Lakia Hawkins
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That has to be the most horrible thing someone could say to their child :-(

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#33

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Sherlock Holmes
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A three year old?? A three year old NEEDS some chub - they're growing very quickly! A skinny toddler is a sick toddler most of the time!

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#35

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Yasmin Piontek
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would he look at 10 y/o girls' thighs in soccer shorts, huh? But srsly, such a jerk

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#36

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Smoofy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DUDE SHE IS GROWING A HUMAN PERSON IN HER UTERUS. SHE WILL GAIN WEIGHT. WHO GIVES A S**T ABOUT THE SHORTS!?

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#38

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#39

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jo_shortland
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could never out on weight before I had my daughter and used to get a lot of comments too which are very hurtful "you are too bony" "Ooo careful you might snap a leg" but it's not your fault

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#40

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Leoninus Fate
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is so sad, My brother does this to our sister, she has the same problems but diff background as me, our brother lost tons of weight after getting all his med problems fixed, we haven't, our sister has the opposite of me {im under, she's over} and our brother calls her whale, bakery, fat, chub chub, and other words, she's 28 and 200 pounds, he is 24 and weighs 160 pounds with me at 29 at 120 pounds, our brother even got on tv for losing his wight.....{i guess pm or message me if you want that link}

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#42

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Mimis Nachbarin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry, but this is the most idiotic, wrong, mean and simply absurdest thing I ever heard a mother saying to her daughter. Seriously.

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#43

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Kim Lorton
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, like someone pointed out so accurately above this post, they are supposed to be taking care of you! So, if they think this, and all those other nasty thoughts, why not say these things instead... let's all take a walk after dinner, it's such a nice night! Hey let's go to the beach and play frisbee before the sunset! You know, daughter, I've put on some weight. I think I need a walk, would you take one with me and keep me company? We could walk the dog together, how about that?

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#44

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Wombat34
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's she supposed to do about her boob size? Anyway, this is horseshit. No guys care about boob size. They're all good!

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#45

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Bag Of Donuts
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this one. The sister of my ex boyfriend told him I looked better when I've been a bit skinnier and with Make up.

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#46

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Queen Bee
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so awful how people are treating such young kids : (

#47

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Lila Pratt
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have very big calves too. I didn't mind until someone pointed out that I looked like a weight lifter. It made me feel bad about it for a while then I decided to just love them just the way they are. They make me look strong, they have a nice shape, and they make me win races! Too bad for the skinny jeans!

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#48

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maya P.K
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think you are def already pretty.ive never seen you before but i can just tell.

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#50

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Kim Lorton
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for you! That's an intense workout and takes stamina and strength!

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#51

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Victor Vakaras
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Foot size? wtf. What a weird thing to insult. "Thanks! I'll work on reducing the size of my feet!"

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#52

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Michelle Lee
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom always commented on how thin she was as a teen Vs her daughters. We all developed eating disorders. I personally chose recovery after 20 yrs of starving and purging. I can only hope this new generation of parents can focus more on health than being thin.

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#53

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Smoofy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had this problem. I remember my grandma used to make comments on how small I was, call me "skinny butt". I hated it. Still do.

#54

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ChellyMabelle
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had pizza for dinner during holidays. I wanted another piece. "Are you fat pig going to eat another one? I guess you're not" My Dad, I was 12. #TheySaid

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#55

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Manuela Simon
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My great-grandma (visiting us once in 5 years) to me, 9 years old in a nice-meant voice "Oh, you have quite "ladylike" big thighs!" This was the first time someone commented on my body the way that I thought "I am obviously not right the way I am". It was nice meant, really, but it was like "you are fat and disgusting" and many people continued to say such "nice" stuff to me until I became what they formed me. And now I have to work hard to get rid of this useless ballast (the overweight as well as the bad sentences in my head and my bad self-perception). Why can´t people just be a little bit nicer to each other?

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#56

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Lakia Hawkins
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will share the same thing I shared on the with the other girl who's friend was a b***h. This reminds me of when I was 13 and my friend told me guys that date fat girls only date them for 1 thing...yes and she was supposed to be my best friend, funny thing was I wasn't even fat at the time as I look back at pics I looked great, sometime a persons motives can be jealousy as well.

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#59

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Lakia Hawkins
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an aunt who used to say this to me when I was a kid, but she called most people fat so I paid her no mind, she was just a bitter lady

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#61

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Olga Śmiełowska
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is that body shaming? How could they know you have problems with eating?

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#62

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floating_delight
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My heart goes out to you. I am a fat woman (and just to make this clear, I AM fat and I AM confident in myself and my body and since I defeated anorexia, I actually kinda LIKE being fat), married to a lean, tall, skinny guy. When I met him years ago, he went through terrible depression and he was sickly skinny, starved and malnourished. With help and thanks to his insatiable appetite, I managed to put a few kilos on him, now he's just "normal" skinny, but healthy-looking. He's eating insane amounts, he just has awesome metabolism, unlike me, and it breaks my heart that he now honestly think he's fat and he's trying to restrict himself and lose weight. I spend time every day to tell him that he is beautiful and that even is he did become fat, I'd still find him a total hottie as long as I see him happy and confident in himself, because body-shaming is a terrible thing that has nothing to do with one's gender.

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#63

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Kim Lorton
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put gramma in the back of the church, and after the wedding ask her, could you see ok gramma? I know your eyesight is bad!

#64

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#65

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#66

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#68

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#71

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Ashley Charboneau
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"So sad to hear about that foot the couldn't remove from your mouth" lol

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#73

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Hoparduc Snowpanther
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is horrible going to a party for fun and ending up being fatshamed it starts with the same letter but still people you can hurt others feelings also why are people judging when the person they judge looks like Aphrodite compared to them?

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#75

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Hoparduc Snowpanther
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why didn't you knock him out? A simple uppercut and that b***h learns his lesson

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#78

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Silent Skeleton
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents do this all the time. Even when I got a small plate on purpose, and only got about an eighth of a regular serving of dinner... it honestly feels horrible

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#79

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#81

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#82

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#84

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