I was like 'oh caring strangers! Faith in humanity restored!' .... Till I read the last sentence. Sorry OP!

Stop using that phrase.

I think he was just trying to be understanding but it came out wrong. Maybe by saying "I mean, I can see why you would" he meant "I understand why people self-harm" or "it's not your fault". Wild guess. Just giving the stranger the benefit of the doubt as someone who has been on the other end of this too many times.

Yeah, I also read it as the stranger being concerned about OP. Maybe he used to self-harm or knows someone that does and wants to reach out to others. Not everyone is getting the help they need in that situation since it's easier to ignore someone's struggles than it is to help them overcome them. I feel like the dude was just trying to do a good deed :) It's just unfortunate that he mislabeled the situation & insulted OP.

That's brilliant. Illegal, but brilliant.

Just a slight generalization.

Asshole and Prejudice

That would lead to OP getting arrested... Not such a good idea

You may actually need help #4

what the hell?!

Or justifiable assault, even.

Assault with leeches?

It makes me wonder what goes through their heads before they say such asshole-ish things. Do these sorts of people know they're assholes? Do they get enjoyment out of insulting random people on the streets? Or are they just socially awkward to the extreme? I mean, I know everybody has been rude at least some point in life. But it takes a special kind of asshole to say what the guy said in this FML.

why? Its natural and her body.

there's nothing really wedding with stretch marks it's just that a lot of people don't like the appearance of them, OP might be one of those people. I know I am.

You can get stretch marks on your legs from growing up, asshole.

Stretch marks don't mean your overweight.. OP could be really fit but just grew to fast. And the guy can just be saying shit to make OP feel bad. I feel assuming someone is overweight is rude. Maybe you should learn not to be a dick.

The majority of women have at least some stretch marks, regardless of weight. I'm assuming OP is a girl, because I've never heard of guys having strech marks. I'm sure it happens though.

I've never gotten stretch marks during a growth spurt, so I have to ask: Is that variety of stretch marks vertical or horizontal? Stretch marks that I have seen (from weight gain, pregnancy) have been universally vertical, but all the self-harm scars I've seen are horizontal.

Guys get them... My friend had them on his back.. I've had them on my thighs. Girls tend to be targeted though because it means they won't have "perfect" skin. Just another way for the whole cosmetic (hope that's what I mean) industry to make money...

I have stretch marks on my knees.. I don't see how that could possibly be from being overweight. Stretch marks don't mean overweight at all

#9 both you and the guy who stopped Op are dicks! Cutting is a sensitive subject no matter what she was wearing

Whether they are overweight or not, they can wear whatever the **** they want to. I'm guessing OP is female, and believe it or not - not all women dress in order to impress men. I know, crazy right? No. To assume that what someone wears should always be attractive to you is BULLSHIT.

The guy was a dick, no doubt, I even said that. I don't know for sure OP is overweight, and if they're from growth spurts fair enough, but the far more likely explanation is that OP is overweight. As for cutting, I'm well aware it's a sensitive matter, and I'm hoping that the guy was being sarcastic when he asked, knowing full well that the stretch marks weren't scars (given I've never seen stretch marks that could easily be mistaken for cutting scars). If not, it makes him even more of an asshole. As for "dressing to impress men", I don't expect women to do that, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit there and say an overweight women in skimpy clothing isn't kind of gross, and not something I want to see. It's not a sexist thing, overweight men in tight clothing, or with underwear showing is pretty gross as well.

31 - So don't look? I'm sorry, I fail to see how you're making this into something that you have to "deal" with.

You sir, are an asshole!

Shorts in the summer = skimpy? What?

18- I have horizontal stretch marks across my abs which came from rapid weight loss, so no, not all weight based marks are vertical. I'm also not remotely overweight. I wear a medium European sizes.. Small to extra small American. By the same token my scars from self harming in past don't all run horizontal. They run in all directions because I would go into a frantic attack mode and not even be totally aware what I was doing. Also if you have seen both- scars look far different than stretch marks. They are narrower and often raised, where as stretch marks are flat. Don't be so quick to judge people or assume things.

I see older overweight men without shirts when I walk down my street and I just deal with it. Why is it that women who are overweight have to wear a parka in the summer(and op may not even be overweight)? Just a suggestion to the dick who started this.......don't say shit that you're gonna get attacked about because of your ignorance.

@27 I disagree with you strongly on that point I'm afraid. I'm sick of seeing overweight girls wearing denim shorts and crop tops, its disgusting.

He's not saying that the girls disgusting because she's fat. He's saying that he's assuming she's overweight, which is fair in todays society as obesity rates soar, and that she was wearing shorts. He is completely justified in his own right to complain about fat girls in short shorts and crop tops, just as much as fat girls are justified in wearing short shorts and crop tops! Yeah sure, you can do it, but please dont cuz somebody else is gonna have an aneurism for saying what everybody else is thinking. And to the people saying "I have fat people walking shirtless down my street all the time." Buuuulll$#¡%, because fat people typically are less confident then fit, or cut, people and so i would doubt that. Also, youre not bothered by it, maybe, but you definitely dont appreciate it judging by your tone, shading them doing such walking in a negative aspect.

#53 I am sick of seeing orange people but its not going to stop you from tanning is it ?

@31, I'm slightly overweight, so I guess I should stop wearing shorts in 100°+ weather just to please you.

@31 the worst is when overweight people wear little bikinis to the beach

@67 Not it wouldnt because I don't use fake tan, that stuff looks ridiculous. I use Melanotan II, look into it. Technology.

@83 Yeah, I know man it's disgusting, but we have to allow whales to be in their natural habitat.

@87 McDonalds?

@92 *McPoison

I have stretch marks simply from puberty. I have never been overweight. You need a biology lesson.

86- No one gives a **** if you don't use fake tan. You still look like a ****** Oompa Loompa! What's attractive about that?

@ 127: His name is Aesthetic guy; obviously he thinks he's hot shit, so I wouldn't even bother. Someone that is cruel enough to call a human being a 'whale,' doesn't deserve to be spoken to.

#27 you are officially my favorite person. bless you

I don't understand why everyone disliked me....there are other swim suits they can wear its just that they shouldn't wear a bikini. Its just nasty

@ 138... You were disliked because your comments were rude and were putting anyone who is overweight down, especially women. Your negative opinion are the cause of your problems. I'm proud of the people who are confident enough to go out like that all because of people like you.

Quite lovely 138. I squeeze my fat ass into a bikini. I don't have a lot of confidence, but conversely, I don't give two flying ***** what anyone thinks. I'm going to be me. How dare you say that its "nasty." So, people should not get pierced, tattooed, get haircuts or shave their head, wear makeup, dye their hair, wear contacts or any other thing that distinguishes people from one another? You sir/madam are a completely obnoxious tool for saying that someone is gross. Some people can't help their weight, or skin color or anything else. We were all made differently. So, when I am wearing my hot pink bikini on the beach and you see me, either turn your judgmental little head until I pass or prepare to meet my size thirteens...something else that I cannot help or change.

I'm 15, weigh 95 lbs, 5'9, and have stretch marks on my thighs. I'm pretty sure I'm bit overweight I grew 5 inches within 3 months. Not my fault, that's life

Pretty sure I'm not overweight*

I agree

I'm underweight and have stretch marks all over my stomach, inner thighs, and upper arms. Why? Because during middle school, this magical thing called "puberty" happened and I shot up to 5' 11" by high school. And you know what? I don't give a shit, and neither should anyone else. A majority of people have stretch marks somewhere, and they're still beautiful. Whenever I modeled as a teen or whenever I belly dance in public, no one seems to care that I have stretch marks. Good luck finding a girlfriend who doesn't have stretch marks and is willing to put up with your ignorance.

I am 23, 5'9, 136lbs, wear size 4 pants, small tops, size 9.5-10.5 shoes, a D-cup, and I have stretch marks all over my thighs, hips, and breasts. Do you know why? Because five years ago I was diagnosed and hospitalized with severe Crohn's disease. I had to have a major and life-saving surgery that left me with a very noticeable scar from hip to hip, required several blood transfusions, was hooked up to seven IV's at the same time, had 11 inches of my colon removed because a section had burst and was rotting inside of me and was starting to rot and suffocate the surrounding organs, I was bleeding internally, I hadn't eaten solid food in over six months, and I had kidney failure. They were trying to find out what steroid would help me the best and the first one they gave me I had a severe reaction to. It made me swell up and gain almost 100lbs in water weight overnight. Which caused both of my lungs to collapse and put me into a coma. So, you tell me if you could go from being around 85lbs to around 185lbs within a 12-hour period and NOT come out with stretch marks! I also have scars in various places, some visible, some not, from being a past cutter due to the emotional traumas of being emotionally and physically abused by my father, as well as being beaten and violently raped by an ex. Am I ugly because of my scars and stretch marks that I EARNED in my fight for life? Should I be ashamed of myself because I am a survivor? Do you want me to go throughout my entire life hiding away from society because someone might think I'm 'nasty' or 'gross'? HELL NO! I'm damn proud of my battle scars! You are the one who should be ashamed of yourself with your arrogant, self-entitled, and ignorant attitude!

I'm 16 and I have stretch marks on my thighs and calves from playing softball and being the catcher for 3 whole years. It's not from being overweight or pregnancy. Stretch marks are a beautiful thing.

I didn't mean to thumb you down, sorry!:(