[Andrew Kipple] denied complaints that the photos — many of which attract a string of snarky comments from readers — single out people because they are poor or unattractive.

"If you make a bad decision on what you're going to be out in public wearing, that's what we're looking for," he said. "If you're 400 pounds, you shouldn't be wearing nothing but a pink tube top. Even if you shop at Goodwill, wherever you go, the shirts they sell have sleeves and they have your size."

Adam Kipple, who works as a Web designer for a marketing firm, said he and his brother are frequent Wal-Mart shoppers themselves and that, in a way, their site could be boon to the shopping chain.

"People [who send e-mails wanting to take pictures] say, 'I haven't been to Wal-Mart in years, but now I have a reason to go,' " he said.

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1. To start with the most technical? It's the worst business idea ever, since they can never publish the pictures in book form, because they are pictures of people's faces without any releases, and also they will never find a publisher willing to tackle the evil legal force that is The Brand Name of Wal-Mart. Also? That their site claims "any picture submitted must have the full consent of the person(s) in the picture" is one of those hilarious legal lies. It's patently, obviously true that they are not enforcing that policy. Also? "People of Walmart reserves the right to reproduce, distribute, reformat, resize or alter any submitted picture." Reproduce where? In the Great Book of Things That Get People Sued To Death, maybe.

2. I can't shake the feeling that this is viral marketing for something, or a little project to see what Can Be Done On The Internet, but I can't imagine what, or by who? Like, isn't it weird when a website that springs up a fun little thing to do has a long Disclaimer of Warranties? Perhaps one of the proprietors is a third-year law student.

3. So, obviously, but: there's the "Shooting Fish in a Barrel" claim. Seriously, have you been to a chain store anywhere in America recently? "This is purely for entertainment purposes and strictly limited to the outrageously bad / ugly / creepy / crazy shoppers," says their About page. Yeah, well: so is going outside anywhere in the great swath of space between Hell's Kitchen and Eagle Rock. But their photo captions are slightly off, and cruel, in the manner of people who have never written a blog about other people before, or at least have never done so by thinking about other people and how they'd read about themselves.

So I am on the one hand lightly amused by it because, hey, everyone likes a freakshow! Also there is a funny picture on there of a goat wandering a Wal-Mart. And also: DAMN some people wear bad clothes. On the other hand? Something's wrong, or fishy, or just plain queer.

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This week she wrote in the Times about JC Penney coming to Manhattan.

AND herein lies the genius of J. C. Penney: It has made a point of providing clothing for people of all sizes (a strategy, company officials have said, to snatch business from nearby Macy's). To this end, it has the most obese mannequins I have ever seen. They probably need special insulin-based epoxy injections just to make their limbs stay on. It's like a headless wax museum devoted entirely to the cast of "Roseanne."

No matter how many Grand Slam breakfasts you've knocked out of the park, Penney's has a size for you. Ladies will find kicky little numbers that fit no matter how bountiful the good Lord made them.

She apologized. Twice. And deleted one apology. (The second (or third?) apology: "Because of my personal beliefs as a Buddhist, I very much regret that my JC Penney article in the Times caused any wounded feelings whatsoever, particularly to people who already feel they take more than their share of abuse from our very shallow and ridiculous society." WEIRD. Buddhist what?) And unapologized at least once. (Which is the mark of, yes, a CRAZY PERSON.)

She is getting roasted in her own comments at her website: "You truly are a hack and your article makes you sound like a bitter little rich c*nt."

OH AND: "If I had seen what you looked like before I called you a snob, I would have felt pity for you instead. I didn't realize you were so ugly!!"

OH AND! "Maybe JC Penny will do you a kindness and design a Cintra hat for the fall season that helps eliminate the glare off your pasty face and that huge forehead." OH IT GOES ON: "Boo you whore! I mean boo you classist whore!"

And uh... "NO ON E LIKES U. NOW GO EAT A PIZZA AND BARF IT OUT AGAIN BULIMIC HO!"

Oh okay: "And before you go insulting people go and get some surgery. you look like a man."

And my fave: "I will never read the NYT is this is TRIPE they print and try to pass as journalism. I wrote to the editors and the president of NYT telling them the lack of integrity this has brought this paper down too." Oh good, you're never going to read the New York Times again? Good call. Drama queen!

Basically everyone is a nasty person. But guess what? Some of us are fat nasty people, and some of us are thin nasty people. Can't we all get unified by our nastiness and ignore the meaningless question of size on the Internet, where no one knows what we look like, but knows just that we are really awful in general?

And can't we get behind the idea that no one should have to shop at JC Penney, which is fucking disgusting?

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