That’s a generous interpretation. In some cases it may even be correct. But in some cases it is not.
How is it a generous interpretation? Such putdowns are a straightforward attack on primate self-esteem—your measure of the group’s opinion of you. If it weren’t about approval, it couldn’t be an insult.
Compare, for example, with, “you’re so short, you’ll never get those bananas out of the tree.” That’s not an insult, it’s just a statement of fact.
Such putdowns can’t work by “objectification”, because if you replace the people with objects, it’s no longer inherently insulting. “Your programs are so long, you’ll never fit them in memory.” “Your hut is so unstable, it’ll probably fall down.”
The only way an insult can make sense is if it implies that people who matter (e.g. women) don’t approve of you. “Ha ha, you’re so poor, you’ll never be able to buy a Mercedes” cannot possibly be as insulting, unless by cultural implication this means you will be disapproved of by some group, or there’s a cultural expectation that you can’t be a good mate without a Mercedes. The choice of an opposite sex group of disapprovers is simply chosen to maximize the emotional impact of the intended wound. (i.e., your genes will die out because no one will want you as a mate.)
How is it a generous interpretation? Such putdowns are a straightforward attack on primate self-esteem—your measure of the group’s opinion of you. If it weren’t about approval, it couldn’t be an insult.
Compare, for example, with, “you’re so short, you’ll never get those bananas out of the tree.” That’s not an insult, it’s just a statement of fact.
Such putdowns can’t work by “objectification”, because if you replace the people with objects, it’s no longer inherently insulting. “Your programs are so long, you’ll never fit them in memory.” “Your hut is so unstable, it’ll probably fall down.”
The only way an insult can make sense is if it implies that people who matter (e.g. women) don’t approve of you. “Ha ha, you’re so poor, you’ll never be able to buy a Mercedes” cannot possibly be as insulting, unless by cultural implication this means you will be disapproved of by some group, or there’s a cultural expectation that you can’t be a good mate without a Mercedes. The choice of an opposite sex group of disapprovers is simply chosen to maximize the emotional impact of the intended wound. (i.e., your genes will die out because no one will want you as a mate.)