No. I am projecting, I admit it. It's quite possible she lost all the weight naturally and is not in an unhealthy state. In that case, I'm wrong to suggest that she should be gaining weight.

The SMG connection is interesting because although I, too, noticed the weight loss from Season 1 to Season 2, it never looked unhealthy to me (well, maybe the last few episodes of Season 6, where I feel like she really hit her lowest weight point, I got a little worried). She just looks like somebody who's naturally very small from head to toe, at the low end of her own personal range. To me, it looks like Lea has dropped below her own natural personal range. She's not built as boyishly as SMG or Natalie Portman (I wish I had a better word for a "boyish" build as I certainly don't think either of those women look unwomanly, but that's all I'm coming up with) and so her current level of thinness looks wrong to me.

Am I right? I don't know. I'm speculating. Maybe I shouldn't, but I can't really help it, at least internally: actors and actresses are positioned as commodities we're supposed to evaluate on a physical level, and I do it.

Sure you can comment, but I think you do so with the realization that when the comment is, "God, she looks too thin," or "Wow, he is so fat," or "Her skin looks horrible!" there are probably at least half a dozen buffistas who look at themselves and wonder what you'd say about them.

The best I've seen SMG look in a long time was with her pregnant belly.

Oh, let me add: normally I frankly don't care quite as much about actresses and their appearance or even, really, their health. Not my business. I'm invested in Lea Michele way beyond the norm because of history - I saw Spring Awakening more than a dozen times on Broadway. It completely changed my life. I spent over a year building and moderating a major Spring Awakening fansite that I still own and administer. I respect Lea Michele for her talent and her commitment to that show, and I "knew" her (not personally, but as much as one can know a favorite actress) long before Glee catapulted her to national fame.

Sure you can comment, but I think you do so with the realization that when the comment is, "God, she looks too thin," or "Wow, he is so fat," or "Her skin looks horrible!" there are probably at least half a dozen buffistas who look at themselves and wonder what you'd say about them.

Isn't this unavoidable? There are all kinds of things people say here that I could find personally offensive. I thought this was a default position.

I think we try to avoid it.

Sure you can comment, but I think you do so with the realization that when the comment is, "God, she looks too thin," or "Wow, he is so fat," or "Her skin looks horrible!" there are probably at least half a dozen buffistas who look at themselves and wonder what you'd say about them.

That's fair. But to some extent, I feel like there's a celebrity factor to consider. If Ryan Reynolds were to let his six-pack go and have some pictures with a bit of a beer belly, I would consider it fair game to say "Wow, Ryan Reynold's doesn't look so good." If everybody on this board said it at the same time, I don't think I'd say "Well, crap, better get to the gym" just because I, too, have not six-pack. Not even a one-pack, actually.

So what are you saying? that there are certain topics off-limits? If so, what is it that we should and should not discuss.

I need to be clear because this was not my understanding of discussion here before.

I'm not sure I'd say off limits, but, speaking for myself, I think proscribing a certain image for women's bodies is unhealthy and unhelpful.

And, with that, I have to go run some terrible errands.

I'm uncomfortable with the discussion today. And I'm trying to think through what is making me uncomfortable. I think it is the twin issues of Gris' initial remark being taken so negatively, which took me aback. I think a comment perhaps was needed, but maybe a bow and arrow, not a nuclear warhead.

Second, I think that respectful dialogue needs to occur in a spot where people don't feel silenced. I am pretty sure that most of us commenting in this thread aren't interested in perpetuating sexism, but sexism has many different representations and to focus on one particular slice ("we cannot comment on women's bodies") may allow for some aspects of sexism not to be commented on at all.

there is power and privilege in feminist movements and a blanket statement of what is acceptable and what isn't, doesn't really fit the multiple perspectives of women's empowerment.