Please please post this at that other site...
x
but they're born that way! that's what some argue anyway, that they're genetically different.
LOL @ Perseus!!!!
Kiki - my sister was born with tiny little bird bones and is generally about a size 4 - 6. She doesn't diet or do any exercise besides from chasing her 2 daughters around, she's just like that. I - sadly - was not born with tiny little bird bones like her and I have been everything from a size 10 to a size 18.
10 - 12 is where I feel most comfortable (even then I could probably stand to drop a few kgs but who could be bothered?) but when I was a size 18, I had no one to blame but myself - yes, I was born larger then my sister and with a completely different body type (she's long and lean, I'm sort and curvy), but it wasn't something I couldn't control and it was totally my own fault - I chose to eat crap and not exercise.
Being born 'that way' is not a get out of jail free card.
by your definition, i am 'fat', so cheers for that... but so what if i am.
i will agree to say that in some respects the way i am is a choice. for whatever my reasons, i have chosen not to do anything about being fat.
HOWEVER, i do not think that this is a reason for ridicule under any circumstance. since when did making fun of someone over the way they look, REGARDLESS if it is something they can or can't change, become ok?
to say a person 'should just lose weight if they don't want to be riduculed' is not the answer. a person has a right to look however they want, whether that be the clothes they wear, the colour of their hair or the size of their arse.
it's simply not ok to go through life saying things deliberately hurtful - simple as that.
i find your attitude on this topic, and this post quite offensive, in fact.
Perseus, I'll think about it.
Kiki - That excuse doesn't fly with me.
Giggles - Completely agree with you.
Mars - So you're on the lower end of what I said I thought was fat? Are you concerned about that? Do you not consider a size 16 to be fat? Why not? Because it's the "average" size in Australia? I don't agree with that. The average is going up because more and more people are morbidly obese. I'm sorry if my saying a size 16 is fat is offensive to you, but facts are facts. I'm fat too, for my height. If I was taller, I wouldn't be, but I'm not, so I am. But I'm not taking offense about it if someone tells me that I am. I recognise it, and I'm trying to do something about it.
Also, this post is not aimed at those who are happy with their weight, regardless of what it is. It's aimed at those who have poor lifestyle choices, but don't want to do anything about them except whinge about it. If you're happy how you are and don't want to change, then congratulations. But this post wasn't aimed at people like you. Also, I highly doubt if you're merely a size 16, or even 18, that you would have people ridiculing you. And I did say that I don't think fat people should be ridiculed. However, I did say that the general public had a valid reason to be concerned by how the "average" size of the nation is increasing on a yearly basis. That does not mean I am suggesting that ridiculing fat people is ok. Just that the general public has a right to be concerned about it, and that research and programs and whatever needs to be done, should be done in order to get those who are fat and obese the right assistance (if they want it). I don't agree with being PC about this. There was an uproar recently about airlines wanting to charge extra for those who are seriously overweight. Why shouldn't they? And by seriously overweight, I'm not referring to those with just a little bit of extra fat on them. I'm talking about those who couldn't comfortably fit into a normal airplane seat. If they need two seats to themselves, then why shouldn't they pay for both of them? It's not fair on the airline to have to place that person on a plane with an empty seat next to them which they can't sell.
I agree with you - it's not ok to go through life saying things that are deliberately hurtful, and that wasn't the point of this post. My point was that if you are so morbidly obese that some wanker has shouted something offensive at you, instead of just whinging about it, maybe you should have a look at yourself and make some changes to your lifestyle. And if you don't want to and are happy with how you are (and I mean really happy, not just saying you are so people think you're all stoic and whatnot), then good for you. Learn some insults to shout back at the morons. But if you are that obese people are ridiculing you (which wouldn't happen to anyone under a size 20, I wouldn't think), I just think you should be prepared for it, is all. You're going to attract attention at that size, and while I'm not suggesting it's ok for people to shout obsenities and be mean, I think you would need to expect that some fucktards might, and be prepared for it. Just as those choosing a career as a politician must expect they will be called a liar, snake, shark, etc etc. They could go through life taking it personally and being a victim, or they can ignore it and get on with things.
I'm sorry if I offended you, and perhaps I should have been clearer, but I was trying to keep the post short.
Mars - I totally agree with Angelina.
I'd like to add: If you're happy with your size, well, good. But if you, or anyone a lot larger than you (the obese) expect me to support Medicare funding (with my tax dollars) for lap band surgery, don't hold your breath. Go for a jog and stop eating crap. Likewise, stop sooking about being called fat. Are you fat? If so, cop it. No, the comments directed your way should not be aggressive, violent, and your size should not interfere with your human rights, but if someone says, "You're fat and you should lose weight," then I think that's fine.
I have my own problems - I smoke cigarettes, but I'm not going to insist I should be at the top of the lung transplant surgery list if it ever came to that. I also have to cop on the chin the laws changing against me (banning smoking in pubs, for instance... I have to deal with it and cannot complain).
People say to me, "You should quit!" Do I get offended? No! So why should fat people get offended when someone says, "You should lose weight"?
I'm punishing my body with cigarettes because I'm weak-willed and refuse to quit smoking.
Same goes for the fatties.
You are not victims and you are not born that way. Slow metabolism is only one piece of the puzzle... diet and exercise is the bulk of the puzzle.
Everyone has different opinions and views. I am a size 16, although that can vary up or down depending on labels, and my bust is massive, so that can vary things alot!
I dont consider myself fat, but I do see the room for improvement hence why I eat well and go to a gym. Due to certain things I have done in the past have affected my metabolism and I have to fight hard for any weight loss I achieve. Its a long battle but its worth it.
Mostly I have alot of sympathy for fat people, because in alot of cases overeating is caused by conditions like severe depression etc and some people find it very hard to control the depression and hence forth eating.
I do however agree that there are some people who simply are just lazy, and dont care for the ill effects it has on their body and as you said the health system. There are far more important things that need to be treated then obesity, yet it costs us as taxpayers so much. Hardly seems fair!
I can deal with being fat... i look in the mirror every day and can see that i'm fat, i'm not denying it at all, but my point is SO WHAT and how is that anyone else's concern.. i think a very small minority of the people who at one point during their life are ridiculed for being fat are eventually going to go on and claim assistance from medicare. if a person gets to that point due to morbid obesity, then yes, as a society we are obliged to help them with public funding. just as we are obliged to help an alcholic or drug addict.
just because i'm fat i desrve to have obscenities yelled at me out a car window as it drives pass? no, i don't. i deserve to live my life in my body however i goddamn choose.
My point was that if you are so morbidly obese that some wanker has shouted something offensive at you, instead of just whinging about it, maybe you should have a look at yourself and make some changes to your lifestyle.
size 16, 18 or even 20 does not morbidly obese make. people who are this size can change... once you're truly morbidly obese then yes, you are going to need help. and should it come from public funding? damn right is shoulg, because these people are members of society too and that's the way it works.
as for Perseus' comment about being a smoker and therefore never going to get a lung transplant... probably not. but will chemotherapy be available to him when he develops cancer? i imagine it will. will a heart transplant be available to a fattie? probably not... but should they be offered other assistance, yes they should.
i would suggest in most cases, people are not fat just because they're lazy... they're fat due to some other psychological problem. people are entitled to public assitance
where their mental health is concerned, and i think this falls into a similar category.
i accept some of your points in this argement, how a fattie probably shouldn't winge about being fat if they're not going to do anything about - but to suggest they shoud 'brace themselves' if they end up really fat for public ridicule, i reject completely.
How could anyone ever endorse being mean to someone because they are overweight? NOBODY deserves to be yelled at from a car window! This post is crazy!
Frankly, this comment thread about issues of 'health' and 'tax payer's money' is a sham! All I'm reading is a bunch of people justifying their prejudices against overweight people.
Nobody 'endorsed' being mean, Dot. Take a deep breath, make a cuppa and re-read.
No one is saying it's ok to mean, what we are saying is that if you ARE that fat that people are being mean, then perhaps you need to look at your lifestyle.
Mars - I had depression and anxiety and I put on weight. Does that mean that it's ok? Of course it doesn't!
Firstly it sets up a cycle ('Oh, I'm depressed, I'll eat to feel better' then 'Oh, I'm overweight, nevermind - ice-cream suits everyone!', 'Oh, I'm depressed because I'm fat - pass the cheesecake' etc) which can be very hard to break and comfort eating, as a 'solution' to psychological problems is a fairly crap one, I'm sure anyone would agree - all it does is compound the mental health issues with physical health issues and people then blame their depression on being overweight and ill, rather then searching for the true cause.
Weight gain, in that situation is often a good indicator of a mental health problem and those people do deserve help. Once they have a healthy mind, then they can turn to building a healthy body.
In many cases though, this is not the situation - many people simply ARE that lazy. They make poor choices in terms of the food they eat (this may be an education issue), the exercise they do (none) and various other 'bad' (when done to excess) habits, i.e. drinking, smoking, drugs etc.
When those people who do not have a psychological problem (other then a tendency to allow our society into brainwashing them into thinking they really DO need to upgrade their Big Mac Meal Deal to a large) then become obese due to poor choices and when their body then starts to break down sooner then it should, because the body is designed to work under specific conditions, and they then complain about both of those facts, I do think a gentle smack upside the head should be forthcoming.
I also wouldn't be too sure about the minimal demand on the health system, if I were you. Obesity generates $873M in health spending and another $804M in carer costs in Australia alone. That's MY tax money that is helping fund that, so do you still think I (and every other working Australian) don't have a right to be concerned about the obesity epidemic?
(When I say 'you' in these following paragraphs, I refer to all overweight people, not you specifically, Mars)
You, however are affected more then anyone else by being overweight - if you are happy to tire more easily, if you are content to know that as you age, your joints will cause you more problems and pain then a not-overweight persons, if you are ok with the fact that you are also at higher risk of developing heart disease (which kills 1 Australian every 10 mins) and you don't mind that other side effects of being overweight include hair loss, reduced fertility and a higher chance of developing cancer (particularly in women) then go right ahead.
You're also more likely to have depression (CAUSED by being over weight, rather then the depression being the cause of the weight gain)and there is a higher rate of suicide amongst seriously overweight people then people in a healthy weight range.
If you are seriously fine with all of that, then go right ahead and don't change a thing but you are choosing to shorten your life span and you are choosing to burden our health system - and I don't see why I should have to pay for that.
We have created a welfare society where everyone expects handouts and expects the goverment to pay for everything, well it's not the government who pays - it's us. I don't think I should have to pay because people can't be bothered to drag their asses out of the house and do some exercise or make sensible choices regarding their eating.
I don't know your situation - you may have a medical condition that causes you to gain weight, in which case you have my heartfelt sympathy and I hope that your condition improves so that your quality of life will.
If it's not that, then I don't ridicule you for making your choice, because I have faced the same ones, so I know both how hard yet how easy it is to change. I understand your choice and agree that it's yours to make and that you should not be ridculed for it by anyone, but don't expect me to respect it because it's nothing more then slow suicide.
I can't believe you deleted my comment. I thought it was pretty rational - but I guess that doesn't fly here with the brigade of people simply out to justify their own prejudices.
What comment?
Commenting by HaloScan
