'Jog a little, you look [...] sad': Professor makes fun of student's appearance in front of her peers, she immediately calls him out

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 9, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Professors sometimes need to be taken down a peg. Some of them walk around wielding unbridled power just because they have PhDs and a group of eager students trying to impress them. Some of them get a little high on their own intellectual supply and aren't the nicest kinds of people to be around. But it's hard as a student to call out your teacher. The inherent power structures are so strong that you often don't feel like you get the right to criticize them. After all, though, you are an adult and they are a fallible individual. Even if they don't make you feel like that is true, it is true.

Another thing that supposedly smart people sometimes do is dole out insults in the guise of intellectual language. They hit you with so much jargon that you don't realize you're being roasted. But that doesn't make it hurt any less.

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  • 01

    AITA for telling one of my professors that how I look and my body weight is none of his concern?

    Hello, its been a couple of days since this incident. Basically few students were attending this professors class as its a side subject. We were 6 people there, 3 from different course. In a random discussion he started talking about appearances and how it affects someones
    via u/reveriex_
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10502825472
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • One student encountered a professor like that, who used his relative power to insult his students. While he thought he could get away with it unchecked, the student he insulted had something else in mind. But she wasn't sure if she ultimately did the right thing. Read on for the details and see what you think.

  • 03
    personality as well. It was all okay until he started pointing out each of us and talked about how we looked. For everyone he said "you're okay..nothing wrong" "you're absolutely fine" ..but when it was me. He said "oh you're...ok. jog a little..you look
    via u/reveriex_
  • 04
    depressing and sad" It was awkward. Everything i interacted with this professor, i have been nothing but cheerful and respectful towards him. What he said felt humiliating. I am pretty overweight and i don't mind criticism. But this was imo uncalled for. Out of anger and
    via u/reveriex_
  • 05
    humiliation i replied with "my looks and body weight doesn't define how i actually am, should not be anyone's or your concern" Even though i said that. I kinda feel terrible and i think i overreacted in this interaction. Idk AITA for talking back to a professor like that?
    via u/reveriex_
  • 06
    Edit: Thankyou everyone for the support and advices. Means a lot to me and i appreciate you all. Im don't feel bad about it anymore and will definitely try my best to report the situation. And few (2- 3)ppl in comments were calling me lazy and having no discipline and to hit gym.. Judging before knowing anyone only based on appearance and how their body are? You are exactly like that professor. You proved my point Thankyou.
    via u/reveriex_
  • 07

    Commenters came to her defense and offered advice.

    saracup59 12h ago NTA. And report the professor. That is wildly inappropriate.
    via u/saracup59
  • 08
    reveriex_ OP • 11h ago Hey, im trying to get it informed to our head of department. I don't know if they are going to think much of it. But I'll try to.
    via u/reveriex_
  • 09
    CSurvivor9 · 12h ago NTA. They were out of line. You're allowed to defend yourself.
    via u/CSurvivor9
  • 10
    mavenmim • 12h ago NTA. He shouldn't be making those comments. He deserved to get some feedback, and you might want to raise it through your school also.
    via u/mavenmim
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    Cheezburger Image 10502825216
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 12
    Honest Housing_.... 12h ago I'm so proud of you, Stranger! You stood up for yourself and put him in his place. Confidence is bet you're going places :) .1
    via u/Honest_Housing_4704
  • 13
    JazzlikeSmile1523 · 12h ago No. Professors occasionally need to be called out. Especially when they're wrong. In one class, we were being taught about scheduling and what was preferential to be given as a deadline. The situation was thus:
    via u/JazzlikeSmile1523
  • 14
    You've got a broken window and put out for multiple quotes from various tradies. One comes back with 'I'm busy, but can have it done by the end of the month' and another comes back with 'I'm busy, but I'll be able to do it for you in at least two weeks.
    via u/JazzlikeSmile1523
  • 15
    The professor tried to tell the class that it is preferable to get the guy that said it would be at least two weeks. I argued against that and when the professor saw that the class was coming around to my position (because I was right) he said that we'll go onto the next thing and come back to it later. We never did.
    via u/JazzlikeSmile1523
  • 16
    CallindraCaress • 12h ago nah u didn't overreact at all like was he even thinking sayin that to a student in front of others?? he crossed a line fr and u were valid af to speak up
    via u/CallindraCaress
  • 17
    Typical_Nebula3... 12h ago NTA I teach at a University. That's so inappropriate that I recommend you report him.
    via u/Typical_Nebula3227
  • 18
    • Sea_Canary6915 · 12h ago No, he needed to be put in his place, he probably was a little embarrassed, but who cares. Kudos for sticking up for yourself!
    via u/Sea_Canary6915
  • 19
    MissIncredulous 12h ago • Sounds like you said exactly what he deserved and set him straight. Well done, NTA.
    via u/MissIncredulous
  • 20
    OldClassroom8349 · 12h ago We had a math professor tell students they had to come to class in "professional" dress. No jeans, sweats, shorts, leggings, etc. Not just for presentations, every class. He said he would dock grades. It was not in the syllabus and there is no dress code at the school. Students reported it. He was ped, but couldn't do anything about it.
    via u/OldClassroom8349
  • 21
    Glower_power • 12h ago LL F that ab ive f of a professor. Professors around their students sometimes act like they're gods, but they're not. They don't know everything, they know alot about one single thing, but can get away with ab ive sh like this
    via u/Glower_power
  • 22
    because students look up to them. I'm enraged for you. The professor had no right to try to humiliate you that way, or comment on your body at all. I'm impressed you were able to say something in the moment, I probably would have cried or laughed it off and regretted it later. Good for you for what you said. Report the professor.
    via u/Glower_power
  • 23
    Careless_Form43... • 12h ago NTA, throw your drink on him next time
    via u/Careless_Form4343
  • 24
    whaticantake · 12h ago NTA a ride response is appropriate in this situation. I am going to suggest that you write an email reporting the incident to the Dean of your college and talk about how uncomfortable the conversation made you. Someone needs to hold them accountable. Also, it will protect you in case the professor tries to retaliate by failing you
    via u/whaticantake
  • 25
    OkOffice3806 · 12h ago . OMG! This reminded me of freshman PE. Everyone was weighed and the weight announced loudly to everyone in the room. It was mortifying then, still is today. It didn't even matter where on the spectrum you landed. It sucked for everybody. REPORT IT!
    via u/OkOffice3806
  • 26
    Alternative-Hope... 12h ago I'm impressed you put his words back on him. Proud of you, in fact. We've put up w this sort of bs far too long
    via u/Alternative-Hope992
  • 27
    Newgirlkat 12h ago • As women, we sadly have it ingrained in our brains to apologize, to not make noise, to not disrespect authority figures. Honey HE is DISRESPECTFUL AF, and if your university has a department and way for
    via u/Newgirlkat
  • 28
    students to complain and be taken seriously you SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE UNIVERSITY. What he did was objectify you, disrespect you and frankly highly inappropriate assumptions. The man is an ah le, not you.
    via u/Newgirlkat
  • 29
    GrapefruitSobe • 11h ago Incredibly inappropriate on the professor's part. I might flag that up the chain of command and definitely post to RateMyProfessor.
    via u/GrapefruitSobe
  • 30
    babybird87 6h ago as a university professor I would never make such a comment..
    via u/babybird87

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