A barista tells Starbucks corporate that she refuses to use the "Skinny" lingo

A Starbucks barista sent this objection to the "skinny platform" to the corporate bosses. She tells them: "At the risk of being reprimanded for insubordination, I will not be following this new method for calling and marking." The "skinny" drinks debut this week.

My name is xxxxxxx and I currently work at store number xxxx in NY. I am a barista. At the beginning of January, I know that we are to begin using a "Skinny platform" for calling drinks, as well as marking cups. I would like to say that I think this decision is a poor one, and, at the risk of being reprimanded for insubordination, I will not be following this new method for calling and marking. I feel as though there are several flaws that will cause confusion, frustration and, potentially, a waste of product and time for partners, and far worse, alienate both partners and Starbucks customers. I've composed a detailed list of problems that can and, more than likely will, arise from the "Skinny platform.

1) We have been trained since day one to follow a specific method of drink calling/marking. Changing it up now will cause FAR too much confusion. For all stores, high volume stores in particular, this can severely impact speed-of-service, drink quality, customer satisfaction, labor, and product usage. Miscommunication between customers and partners, partners calling drinks and partners making drinks, and partners making drinks calling the drinks to the customers waiting to receive their drinks will inevitably lead to drinks having to be discarded after being made, customers becoming angry and impatient, assuming it is employee incompetence that is behind errors, and partners become frustrated and angry at one another after having customers criticize and yell at them. Customers will not want to come to stores where they have had such negative experiences, and coming into work will become something that partners dread as opposed to look forward to. Furthermore, from a financial perspective, the amount of product wasted could impact profits to the company, and time wasted making and then remaking drinks will affect labor hours at all stores.

2) Customers already find it difficult and confusing to order drinks at Starbucks. After spending the time to remember exactly how to order their favorite drink to make things easier for baristas, and maybe even impress us, to have things changed in such a drastic way can upset customers and make things even more confusing. People have spent so much time trying to figure out just how to order a drink at Starbucks, why change things so dramatically. It also allows for a HUGE margin of error. A "Skinny" drink is a drink made with sugar-free syrup, non-fat milk, and no whipped cream. Unless this is CLEARLY spelled out for customers, people will ask for a "Skinny" drink without really knowing what they're asking for. People may want sugar-free syrup but 2% milk, or non-fat milk but still have the whipped cream, or any number of other combinations that are NOT "Skinny" according to the recipe, but are still modified in a "Skinny" fashion. Moreover, partners who have been with the company for an extended period of time have grown used to the current procedure. We have gone through the process of learning how to call the drinks, and how to listen to customers struggle to ask us for everything they want in their drink, and translate the order into correct format. This change will throw partners off and, once again, lead to frustration and mistakes. Why complicate a system that, for the most part, works?

3) It is politically incorrect. Should we start calling drinks with 2% or whole milk and regular syrups "Fat" or "Obese?" Consider what customers on line waiting for their turn to order their drink will think if they hear the drink before them being called out as "Skinny." It leaves the door open for the next person on line to be offended. Additionally, the word "skinny" itself can have many different interpretations, not all of which are positive. In today's society, the term "skinny" often refers to a person who is considered TOO thin or unhealthy looking. People will not want to order a drink with a name that they associate with an unhealthy appearance.

4) The fact cannot be disputed that in society today, people are just waiting for an opportunity to sue major corporations. Without question, people will be leaping at the opportunity file a lawsuit against the Starbucks Corporation for discrimination. In this country, statistics show that more than two thirds of the population is overweight or obese. Calling a drink "Skinny" could easily be considered a form of size discrimination. This is not exclusive to people who are overweight as a result of their lifestyle or eating habits. There are a number of medical maladies that result in people becoming overweight regardless of eating habits or how they live their lives. Whether the corporation cares to recognize the fact or not, Starbucks is a target by society and there are a lot of people who would love to bring it down. This is just giving them the means to do so. Regardless of whether these people are justified in their claims, it is foolish to believe that people will not use this for their own gains.

5) Aside from customers who do not fit societies standards of "skinny," there are partners that are employed by Starbucks who are "overweight," and it is ridiculous to think otherwise. Imagine going to work for several hours at a time, and hearing the term "skinny" being called out countless times. It will undoubtedly have a negative affect on a person's self-esteem that may already be low from living in a society that is generally not accepting of people who do not fit the mold of a "beautiful" person. It creates an environment that people will not want to be in. It will exacerbate self-image issues that partners of ANY size may have. Why would ANYONE want to go into a store where they will hear potentially hurtful terms called out repeatedly with no regard as to how they may affect people?

I have no doubt that there is no malicious intent with "Skinny" platform. I'm sure that it is intended to make our jobs easier, and maybe show the public that Starbucks has options that can eliminate many of the calories and fat in the drinks we serve. Maybe it is even an attempt to use a different kind of lingo that could be considered hip or exciting. But the problems I have brought up cannot be ignored. They are real, and they will affect every single Starbucks that implements this system. As a company that is a part of the service industry, you are alienating customers and employees, and there will be repercussions. On a deeper level, this in essence goes against every one of our six guiding principles in one way or another.

I am not the only employee of this company who holds this opinion. I have yet to come across a single partner in any store who thinks that this is a good idea. There are several policies Starbucks enforces that I do not necessarily agree with, but this is one that I refuse to adhere to, and I will not let this be something that I complain about to coworkers and do nothing about. I am speaking on behalf of myself, and any partner who shares my beliefs but has decided not to voice their opinion. I love my job. It is a part of my life that brings me joy and makes me feel as though I am making people happy. It is for that reason that I believe this "Skinny" platform is a policy that, if nothing else, should be reconsidered by the company, if not completely eliminated. I will accept any consequences that I may face for not following this policy, but I would hope that it does not come to that.

The "Skinny" platform is not legendary.

I thank you for your time and hope that you will consider all that I have said.

Sincerely,
XXXXX

Comments

[Smitty]

I AM NOT UPSET ABOUT THE NAME. I'm fat and could care less if you call it skinny. If we start changing names just cause 1% of the people get hurt by the name soon nothing will get done... aside from that.

I am just upset a little that we had to come out with a NEW name for a drink we've had for many many years. The sugar-free vanilla non-fat latte.

All this is really doing is SLOWING us down at the call point or reg when we have to ask that person that just said "skinny latte" what kind of syrup they want and get that: blank i have NO idea what you're talking about look i've ordered this drink for years why now is there a problem? kinda look.

Or when someone asks for the sugar-free whatever nonfat and we call it skinny they have to pipe up with "it's sugar-free, don't forget that didn't, you HEAR me i said sugar-free, hey you on bar -- that's sugar-free make sure. excuse me this SHOULD be SUGAR-FREE, you said SKINNY and i CLEARLY asked for SUGAR-FREE. THIS IS SUGAR-FREE RIGHT??!?"

What happens after we get rid of the "Skinny" name? 8 years down the road someone is going to ask for a skinny vanilla latte and then get very upset that the person across the counter has NO idea what they are talking about. It took a few years but people forgot about the Cinnimon Spice Mocha, soon the Marble Mocha Macc will get the same reaction.

I really want some of the higher ups to try and work behind a counter for a few hours every week so they'll REALLY rethink a new drink or new way of doing something. I think they're just so far away from the custumer that they have no idea what joe custumer really wants. They want the best drinks with less crazy names and stop making it harder to order what they want. Set up a menu like a sandwich shop where it's all STEP ONE: size Two: kind of drink. Three: nonfat, soy Four: whip, xhot, carmel on top? something so people don't think we have a secret "in-n-out burger" type menu we're keeping from them.

PS: i love this company and bought a house and a car cause of the sale of my stocks... I just want less bottom line people running it and have Howard bring this company back to a place for people to enjoy coffee and MAKE it a 3rd place, not just talk about it being it.

[John]

Im sure its some fat chick whos offended because God knows fat women hate the word "skinny". Go back 20 years when you could call something anything you wanted and nobody was offended. Are skinny people offended by Del Taco's Fat Taco? I think not.

[Ashley]

...I think people make a big deal out of, well...crap.

People need to stop going out of their way to find offense in everything they possibly can.

I don't like the matter-of-fact tone in the letter. Much of it is her opinion, not fact.

[Puzzled]

I haven't even heard of this site, but I was linked by AOL and thought I'd stop by. I spend most of my waking hours at Starbucks as a Barista, and all I can say is that the anger of this partner is puzzling.

Skinny is a term that I've used in the past while working for a locally owned shop in Salt Lake City. It wasn't invented by Starbucks and it's been American coffee lingo for years, I'm sure.

When calling drinks, it is simply more easy to call "Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte" than "Grande Sugar Free Vanilla Nonfat Latte", as other commenters have said.

I am not going to question the intelligence of Starbucks customers. They are smart, they understand the new platform, and they come to Starbucks for a reason. They were excited to find that Starbucks started making sugar-free Mochas, and that made it all the more easy to explain the skinny platform when I was telling them about a new sugar-free flavor. They are easier to order, and double checking to make sure they wanted sugar free and non-fat doesn't put a damper on the time or experience.

[freda]

I honestly don't see what the issue is here. Actually, yes I do, I just don't agree. It's easier to write "SKCDL" than fill in the syrup box, then milk box, then drink box. We have a different promotion every season, so why would it be so hard to write something differently. I mean, your cerebrum isn't going to give out from thinking and memorizing something new. It's healthy to use your brain. I know the price of every drink and almost all of the pastries; I work at a high-volume drive-thru store so I total up orders as I walk around getting sandwiches and other items. Besides, saying "skinny" is great for the DTB because they don't have to wait for the customer to say "Oh, can I get that sugar-free and nonfat" after they've already made it. I would personally like to thank the person that came up with standardizing the "skinny" because it is total genius(pragmatic, simple, etc).
The notion that customers will be confused about what they're ordering is also ridiculous. Ask any barista what is more confusing and they'll tell you that it's that crazy person that has a thousand modifications that mean nothing, especially when they go in a circle and they end up at the standard drink.
To wrap this rant/comment up, I order almost everything with nonfat milk. I can't tast the difference between that and 2% so I don't see the point of ingesting the extra fat and calories. I don't get confused when I order, and I doubt that many people do if they're not lazy and attentive. If baristas have trouble with learning something new, then they need to find a different job. Working at SBUX isn't about being lazy.

[starbucksjunky]

Bitch and gripe, bitch and gripe. Yet, all the folks here griping about terms ultimately go there to drink coffee.

If you don't like it, don't go to starbucks then!!!! You don't like the term skinny just take your butts to Dunkin' Donuts or fire up the coffee pot at work. But hey.. you can't get it better than at starbucks, huh? Give the company a break.

I will continue to go to Starbucks despite this "skinny" drink. But please, leave my body type out of my coffee!!

[Lizard]

Okay, seriously are we going to get upset about the fact that the drinks are also labeled tall and grande. Coming from a female who is considered very tall and who finds it somewhat embarassing, I might be offened at the person in line in front of me ordering a "tall" drink. I would think that there comes a point where we can't consider the feelings of everyone all of the time, someone is always bound to be offended that is called life, deal with it!

[100% Loyal]

anyone who cant make a simple transition to calliing a drink skinny and has way to many issues with it should quit working at the bucks. it really is not confusing...wow you should get a new job somewhere else. your prolly the kind of partner who cant handle a 3 person "rush" get a new job. all you haters is why starbucks isnt doing well. go work at mcdonalds when it opens their cafes. you are all a bunch of babies who make my job hard.

[Phil Hopper]

Right on

[noname]

OH dear the horror on having to memorize one word "skinny" just to get a cup of coffee. People are so pathetic when they get offended over a word such as skinny. The word skinny is an adjective that describes the type of coffee your ordering, no one is saying anything about your wieght or body type so stop crying about it! Instead of wasting your time complaining, how about doing something well worth your time.

[Jessica]

I also refuse to call drinks using the skinny platform. Everyone else at my store wishes they have the balls to defy it too.
The only one who gives a fuck is this one stickler shift who can't stand the idea of anyone not obeying her every whim.
Basically I am everyone's hero right now! AND MY GATHERING IS GROWING LARGER!!

[excelerator]

I have been ordering sugar-free, non-fat, caramel machiatos for a couple of years. Recently castigated at my regular Starbucks of several years for not ordering it correctly as a "skinny" caramel machiato. The next day at another store they let me have it for ordering it as a skinny, stating the caramel drizzel negates the "skinny" designation. I think I hear MacDonalds calling.

[Bettiegee]

First, I have no problem with the 'skinny' platform. It doesn't bother me one bit. None of the regulars at my store have a problem with it. We explain it and they get it. No big deal.

Second, using the term 'skinny' has never, ever, in my 14 years at the store level, OFFICIALLY meant non-fat. Look it up in the beverage manual.

Third, no barista should be giving ANY customer a hard time about ordering. Ever. Why is Excelerator having someone scold him for ordering wrong? We had this come up at my store the other day. The customer ordered his caramel macchiato as skinny. I simply wanted to make sure he knew that the caramel sauce isn't sugar-free. And also said that I really didn't have a clue if we were supposed to calling said drink skinny or not. I was nice about it, he was nice about it, we all lived happily ever after.

[High on Bold]

Good grief, get a less stressful job, or a boyfriend.

[Raggy]

Your probably fat yourself. Call the milk companies and tell them you're offended by the NON-Fat milk title. Call skinny cow brand ice cream sandwhiches and tell them that your tired of eating ten ice cream sandwhiches in a one sitting because your not a skinny cow, your a fat person

[manic organic]

Fatty Mc. Fat Fat

There should be a skinny caramel macchiato for all the fatties. I know the most glaring reason not to have one is the caramel sauce on top of the drink, but come on! These are the people who truly need all the help they can get, plus they are the high maintenance ones anyway. I'd be thankful if the company can save my sanity by not having to listen to this obnoxious drink for one more day(besides the obvious finding a new job route) decaf triple venti double cupped sugar-free vanilla non-fat extra caramel upside down caramel macchiato. Why make a drink upside down anyway? Customers, evidently, can't tell the difference between arabica and robusta beans. They sure as hell aren't going to taste a difference in an upside down caramel macchiato, especially if the first thing they do after taking their drink is get a straw and stir it up real nice.
(raggy that's hilarious)
rant aborted...

[Phil A. Mignon]

Too....much....free....time....

[jakki]

how about calling it the 'skimmy'?

[Mark]

Small, medium, large. That is all. As the letter said, it is too damn difficult to order at Starbucks. THEY have to train the customers. It should be the other way around. Forget "fat" or "skinny", the bottom line should be customer convienence.

What ever happened to the "short". About 5 years ago the small (short) disappeared and the medium (tall) became the small. Venti (twenty) suddenly made the appearance and everything got more confusing.

Starbusk should focus on improving their coffee and treating the customers correctly.

[chris]

Enough with the compaining. Obviously everyone is offended by one thing or another. What is this lady gonna do now? Oh let me guess, sue? I jus t have one thing to say to her? LET IT GO!! There are more important things in life then getting offended by the name of a F###### coffee!!!

[chris]

and personally Starbucks coffee tastes like crap anyway.I will get my dd "skinny" french vanilla any day.(lf milk and equal)

[David]

What does this woman do for kicks? Edit and revise dictionaries and encyclopedias?

[rz]

Quit complaining. Don't buy their products if you don't like them.

Don't you have anything USEFUL to ramble on and on about???

[rz]

Oh, and by the way, if I ever visit the store that you work at and find that you are not in compliance with ANY company policy, I will not hesitate to bring it to your company's attention.

[elysa]

Kudos to Lesley.

[coggie]

*ATTENTION**** CUSTOMER FEEDBACK**** Medically speaking I need sugar free -the skinny designation encapsulates three modifications that make my life simpler and healthier! Also saves probably 5 seconds of my precious time. Customer says - GOOD!

Everyone (even CEO's as every barista knows) is subject to higher review. If anonymous won't do as employer asks/tells he/she is stealing and should be sumarily dismissed. go to Caribou, or something.

[Benmark]

For crying out loud, Lesley. Change Skinny to Skimpy. That should do it.

[sally]

In today's recession environment, I think you should just be grateful to have a job, especially given the fact that your company is planning on closing approximately 1500 of its worldwide 15,000 stores as a strategic plan for fiscal stability. Get real, the company isn't going to ask your opinion for any names of any food or drinks. That's what the marketing people are there for.

[Susan]

I never knew there were so many lazy baristas out there.

For me, I always worry that a barista will miss the SUGAR-FREE that I ask for or the nonfat. Regular syrup could send me into a diabetic coma. I hadn't dared order anything but black coffee from SB for years because one slip would be bad for my health, but I did order a skinny something the other day and felt more confident that the barista would be aware that I wanted sugar-free syrup, not regular.

If skinny is an insult then pile them on my way, please.

[jad]

the fat chick that wrote this letter is insane. what a stupid thing to get all emotional about. if you can't go to a job everyday just like everyone else and follow simple rules, then i feel very sorry for you. to me you sound like another politically correct organic milk loving hippie. you should probably quit. no... i hope they fire you.

[megan patterson]

hi my name is megan patterson and i just bought a coffee from one of your stores and while i was drinking it i found a bandaid in it!
i am completley disguisted by this and i plan on taking my buisness someplace else from now on!

[barista at drive through]

i like the new platform for one reason. efficiency. people have been ordering "grande nonfat no whip sugar free cinnamon dolce lattes" forever. when someone ordered that in the drive through, it took 8 buttons to put that order in. where as it now takes 1 button to put skinny CD latte in.

[ny barista]

wow folks...really...whatever happened to doing your job. there is a reason that Starbucks has standards in place for the drinks (and for how to mark and bark them), so a customer can go into any store, order a certain way and get the same drink every time.

and if you and other partners at your store are confused by this, ask for help...i'm sure your SM or DM would be more than happy to help you figure it out. it should only take a minute or two...skinny means sugar-free, nonfat, no whip...that's it...any modifiers to that makes it no longer a skinny drink, and it should be called as an other drink would...hope that helps your confusion.

[Amy]

I've beens saying that since day one! I can't believe how insensetive they have been. and we are not living in the damn UK!!! We don't say skinny. I've seen my customers adapting pretty well to calling it that, but i always cringe when I hear that term. I agree with you 100% though. The idea is just plain stupid!

[Fat Barista]

Dear Barista,

STFU. It's just a word. Learn to roll with the punches.

Love,

A fat barista

[CA Barista]

I'm a Barista and Shift at a Starbucks in California...

1. The "Skinny" drinks do confuse the system, I'll admit, but for every customer who thinks it just complicates things, I have 1 who loves the fact that they don't have to say "sugar-free, non fat, no whip" anymore. I think that with every change there are positives and negatives, and we need to use our Green Apron Skills and do the best that we can to serve our customers.

2. However, if you feel that Starbucks (or any company that anyone works for) has made a mistake or should change something, by all means, you should feel free to write to them and voice your opinion. Starbucks is a company that values it's partner's opinions. If you think someone would get fired for voicing their opinion, you obviously no nothing about Starbucks, or what our company stands for. Employees catch things that the CEO's in their offices can't. Do they listen and/or agree with EVERYTHING we say? No, of course not. But at least they have the knowledge. What they do with it is their choice, but no one has the right to complain about what a company is doing if they don't do something to make the company aware of it.

3. The thing that disgusts me the most about this thread is all the "customers" who look down on us and insult us just because we work in a retail job (above minimum wage, thanks very much). Listen up people, if every single person who works in a retail job quit, all of you would be screwed. You need us, so I'd be careful what you say. Starbucks is a great company to work for, especially for someone who is working while going to COLLEGE full time, like me. Yes, Baristas are smart enough to go to school. In fact, almost everyone at my store is also going to school. We don't have this job because we can't get anything better, we work at Starbucks because we love it, the benefits are good, they pay is decent, we love coffee, and the hours are flexible. Any "customer" who insults a Barista should think about how hard we work before they dismiss us so easily.

[dManagerLA]

Mission review is very flawed, but for the record, it does occasionally work!

I had a partners response actually change the safety and security handbook, because his suggestions were so good!

[Michelle]

WOW! how insecure can you get? Really? Hating on Starbucks because it made our jobs easier?

Do you really want to write sugar-free vanilla, nonfat, no-whip, latte every single time? Get a life, and talk about something worth it. JEEZ!

[Tommy]

I recently watched a program on TV stating the publishing of a new book, by a retired partner, being adopted and praised by Starbucks. It expanded on, what we know as being 5 star legendary service, into a thing called "human service".. being a parter for too many years to be proud of (lifer, perhaps..), I've gone through the ropes of wanting to be able to hold onto those moments where I could say to a customer, "actually, sir.. No, I can't blend that in my blender, we only blend frapuccinos in these blenders..." to adopting the just say yes policy to absolutely everything I do! This touches base with the skinny platform but simply following customer direction! They may not know what it is called, but they know what they want! If they have ordered one thing, yet it is not what they had it expected it to be, REMAKE IT! It is in our job description, and mission statement to do so! Confusion has always been a part of the coffee terrain! We are trained, and expected to share our knowledge with our customers, and as we say, "You call it, we make it..!" Adopt the change! I recently took my car in for a tune up, and expected the mechanics to figure out what was wrong with my car! They have been trained to detect certain "symptoms" that could deter a car from running at it's peak.. as a barista, we should be able to read a the customers cues, and ask the questions to find what satisfies the customer best! Take the chance of making a "human connection" and not treating a customer like just another dope in line!

[Lance Scour]

Skim milk is completely dead milk.

1% is anorexic milk.

2% is skinny milk

Whole milk is height/weight proportionate milk.

Half and half is fat milk.

Manufacturing cream/whipping cream is fat ass milk.

There are many fat soluble vitamins in milk. They don't add them all back into the nonfat milk product. From a nutritional perspective reduced fat milk is a terrible thing as you are removing vitamins and thus reducing nutrient density. It may have fewer calories but it is still just junk food.

These "Skinny" drinks have to be named such because "Diet Lattes" sound terrible and would destroy Starbuck's illusion of making quality coffee. Slowly people are waking up to that it's just junk food/fast food.

[Mike]

Interesting - I just got back from Starbucks, where I've ordered "skinny" drinks for a year now. "Skinny" has always meant "lowfat milk" - and that is what the baristas have told me it means. But this time I received a drink with sugar-free syrup - it is terrible. I used to say "lowfat milk" and the workers would say "You mean skinny." Now I'll have to spell everything out to them to avoid confusion. And, I'm throwing this mocha out.

[DaizyB]

I just came back from Starbucks and ordered as I always do a venti, nonfat, no-whipped, mocha. The barista said "A skinny mocha?" and I agreed thinking whatever you want to call it is fine with me. It was undrinkable. I would have sent it back but I was already in my car and running late by the time I took a sip. I don't like the sugar free syrup and would have declined if I'd known what I was ordering. Instead I just had to throw away the drink and Googled the new meaning of "skinny." This was a bad way to start my morning.

[Liz]

Thank you NY Barista, you comment regarding what our skinny platform is, is simple, NF, SF and no Whip! Anything else is not skinny. And if you are unsure what your customer is asking about, especially in this new period of introduction, then connect with your customer, as you should be doing, and clarify!
I have read many of these blogs and opinions and, in out of the MONTH's worth of info, the ONLY blog that upset me,(I'm so over caring about the skinny problem) was from a degrading individual ANON, i believe who said in so many words that we are uneducated, and don't have 'real' jobs. Who are you to say we don't have real jobs? I work over 40 hours a week, College education and truly love what Starbucks does for me and my partners as a company. I may not be on board all the time with what they are doing, but I adjust and enjoy the challenge of change. For you and your 'real' job, what coffee shop are you in typing this? Thank you CA Barista in commenting to how dismissing many people are to us. Many of my partners go to school currently and are working on their degrees. Truly, we are a real job and have real expectations from our partners just as your 'real' boss does. Plus, Who get's up at 4am in some areas, and has a smile on their face, to serve you coffee? I'm sure many of your coworkers would not do that for you at ANY time. Yes it is coffee, it's not brain surgery, but I take pride in what I develop everyday for each customer, and I know I have made a difference in a person's life when all i do is "pour coffee on a cup", as you have written.(For all to see what was written) "You minimum wage drones are hilarious. All you do is pour coffee on a cup. Get over yourselves and instead of worrying about stupid words worry about making your drink somewhat consistent. Better yet, worry about getting an education so you can have a real job. Unless of course, you just love to be called a Barista"
This comment is ignorant, you have no clue about getting to know people. You have implied we don't have any other ambitions or goals and we have to settle for minimum wage positions. Above and beyond the skinny platform and all the opinions, I am happy to have a job and be employeed by the 7th best company of the top 500! Please don't make judgement on my education until you get to know us and our choices in a "minimum wage job".

[kirby]

I cannot believe there is so much discussion over the introduction of a new term. Skinny just means skim. Is there really people out there with so much time on their hands that they get upset over using the term skinny?? Do some people just need something to complain about?

[Pancho]

Are you folks serious? This has to be one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard of - people getting upset about calling a beverage "skinny." You guys need to get your rear-ends out of the coffee shop and find something worthwhile to be upset about. This is just sad. I feel sorry for you people that think this is worth taking the time to comment on. Get over your self-righteous selves and quit trying to be less offensive than everyone else.

[A]

As a 40 pounds overweight person, I am sick of people defending "fat" and trying to be so self-righteous. Why are some so offended by the word skinny? Being overweight is not healthy and not beautiful. I personally don't look at my post-baby "muffin-top" and think it is beautiful, nor to do I think of the pain in my knees when I get up as healthy. While I was never skinny, I was 40 pounds thinner at one time and felt healthier and looked a lot better. It is just a marketing slogan, who cares.

[dennis]

Ok this is to the woman who will not say skinny. I really feel for you that you had to grow up in this era. With the world becoming so politically correct w are slowly turning into a world of weak and afraid people. Remember "honey" this is still a free country and If I want to offend someone I will I don't care what you or anyone else thinks. I'm not going to go out of my way to do it but grow up and get a life "Sweety" I would have fired you on the spot, you are an employee that was hired to do a job if you will not do that job then fire your sorry ass. There are a lot of people out there looking for jobs that would love to be making and getting free cofee. So I hope you like it in the unemplyoment line.

[in shape]

SHUT UP PEOPLE, STOP COMPLAINING AND LOSE WEIGHT.. ITS NOT GOOD FOR YOU, ITS NOT ATTRACTIVE.. face the facts.. i used to be 340 lbs, and I'm down to 250 lbs so far, and much more to go.. A LOT of hard work, but pure diet and exercise..

[SkinnyGuy]

I second Dennis, whole-heartedly. These people complaining are the same fat-asses that go to McDonalds or Jack in the Box 5 times a week, eat 2 value meals, and then wonder why they are shaped like a lumpy baloon. Here's a tip; DON'T STUFF YOUR FACE WITH GREASE, AND MAYBE YOU WON'T BE DRIPPING WITH IT YOURSELVES. I can't stand the fact that obese people have the nerve to blame someone else for their condition, when it is SOLELY the responsiblity of each person to maintain their own health. THE ONLY consolation I will allow is that most food available for lunch and what-not could be healthier, but here's where the argument partially breaks down....YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT YOU EAT. Sure, it may mean more time and effort out of your day, but guess what; its your life, other people have theirs, and it is NOBODY ELSE'S responsiblity to accomodate for someone else's health. If you are offended by the word "skinny,"....GET A DAMN LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!