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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent
I personally know nothing about the causes and solutions of obesity and I would hazard a guess that I am representative of wider society. Thus, when someone says the solution is to "eat less" it is certainly thoughtless based on the probability that the person making such remarks knows little about obesity. However, I personally see this as a lack of knowledge and consideration rather than ridicule.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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You mention "blacks", well, centuries of slavery and second class status makes racism against this particular skin colour a very sore point. It means that there are connotations which are far deeper than the spoken word. There is no history of fatism slavery. I imagine it is hurtful but, regardless of size, you are free to live your life in pretty much whichever way you choose - being over-weight/fat/obese is not akin to being a second class citizen in the eyes of wider society. On the other hand, being black (and other skin colours) has historically being deemed to represent second class status in certain parts of the world - including your country and mine. Thus, when you hurl racist insults you are perpetuating the imbalance in society that has existed for centuries. Calling someone fat, even though unpleasant and hurtful, is not wrapped up in a challenge to the right of the person to be considered equal.

No, being fat is not the same as being Black. Being morbidly obese is more akin to being a midget, or deaf, blind, or mentally retarded. it is a medical condition, and until we view morbid obesity this way as a society people that are morbidly obese will be ridiculed, the butt of cruel jokes, discriminated against, and treated like they have no right to exist. I think that people who tell morbidly obese people to "eat less" should be ashamed of themselves, in many cases that is like telling a paralyzed person to "stand up". It is a very complicated condition that those who live this way often feel powerless to stop.

I wish people would grow some compassion.

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Are the obese in the US really treated like they have no right to exist?

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Thus, when someone says the solution is to "eat less" it is certainly thoughtless based on the probability that the person making such remarks knows little about obesity. However, I personally see this as a lack of knowledge and consideration rather than ridicule.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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Are the obese in the US really treated like they have no right to exist?

Yes they are from my perception. It is not PC to attack any other group of people, so it seems all the rabid haters of the world save up their hatred for them. I have known someone that suffered deeply from the stigma of being morbidly obese.

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Thus, when someone says the solution is to "eat less" it is certainly thoughtless based on the probability that the person making such remarks knows little about obesity. However, I personally see this as a lack of knowledge and consideration rather than ridicule.

Just as someone who is homophobic lacks knowledge and a racist lacks knowledge. Most hateful comments come from a place of ignorance, true, in fact most hatred is fear of the unknown. I take that as a cruel, hatefilled statement

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250
Julia, it's certainly "ok" to attack white males in this country, "pc" or not.

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver
Footnote: The irony of this is that the USA ban cheese made of raw milk which means you don't even get to taste the best cheeses in the world while you are putting on weight!

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Julia, it's certainly "ok" to attack white males in this country, "pc" or not.

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Julia, it's awful tough to get a straight answer from you without you going off on a tangent.
Now I've insulted, or "cut people down" people because of their "race?"
Could you explain THAT one?

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Julia, it's awful tough to get a straight answer from you without you going off on a tangent.
Now I've insulted, or "cut people down" people because of their "race?"
Could you explain THAT one?

I will just say that your comments about Mexicans in knife fights is just one that sticks out in my mind, or the comment about people from the ME and women that wear burkas is another one.

But i should not have brought that up, because it is your comments about separate munches for fat people, how women with big boobs make funny sounds, and how they should just eat less that I am really addressing here. Your ignorance about obesity is glaring popeye. I am wondering what kind of reading you have done on the subject? Calling fat people lazy is just inaccurate. There are a couple of people in my family with thyroid problems, my sister has lupus and is constantly battling every pound even though she is not morbidly obese, she is still pretty heavy. Her disease gives her fibro, and her hair falls out. My brother is genetically predisposed to obesity and has lost over 200 lbs, which I am guessing is something you have no conception of how difficult that is. It is a medical condition to be that obese, leading to premature death for those who cannot lose the weight in many cases.

They are doing studies that show that a large percentage of the morbidly obese do not need to eat much to pack on the pounds.. they are trying to research why this is. To assume that someone just is lazy and does not care about themselves is pretty arrogant. Personally I think it is all the shit in our adulterated food and I try to eat organic.

I have not said much to you about this popeye, but when people say cruel things about fat people it feels personal to me because many people in my family are morbidly obese on my mom's side. They are valuable people... and it is like a personal insult everytime someone like you makes ignorant comments about it

You are naturally thin... Good for you! You like thin women, well don't date a fat one then! People have preferences of what they like, no doubt about it. But to infer repeatedly that someone has less value and is lazy because they have this problem is just not accurate.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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Julia, it's certainly "ok" to attack white males in this country, "pc" or not.

I have not attacked white men for being white. I have said things about republican middle aged white men in congress trying to dictate what I do, but you will never hear me attack white men as a whole. My Daddy is a white man, my son is a white male, my brothers are white, my father was white...

I have seen you cut people down based on their race, sexual preference, and especially about their weight. I have seen you post things about fat people that I would not say to a dog.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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Are the obese in the US really treated like they have no right to exist?

Yes they are from my perception. It is not PC to attack any other group of people, so it seems all the rabid haters of the world save up their hatred for them. I have known someone that suffered deeply from the stigma of being morbidly obese.

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Thus, when someone says the solution is to "eat less" it is certainly thoughtless based on the probability that the person making such remarks knows little about obesity. However, I personally see this as a lack of knowledge and consideration rather than ridicule.

Just as someone who is homophobic lacks knowledge and a racist lacks knowledge. Most hateful comments come from a place of ignorance, true, in fact most hatred is fear of the unknown. I take that as a cruel, hatefilled statement

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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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Are the obese in the US really treated like they have no right to exist?

Yes they are from my perception. It is not PC to attack any other group of people, so it seems all the rabid haters of the world save up their hatred for them. I have known someone that suffered deeply from the stigma of being morbidly obese.

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Thus, when someone says the solution is to "eat less" it is certainly thoughtless based on the probability that the person making such remarks knows little about obesity. However, I personally see this as a lack of knowledge and consideration rather than ridicule.

Just as someone who is homophobic lacks knowledge and a racist lacks knowledge. Most hateful comments come from a place of ignorance, true, in fact most hatred is fear of the unknown. I take that as a cruel, hatefilled statement

julia, I have no problem with the core of what you are saying i.e. you see an injustice, you want to speak out. No problem here.

The point I'll throw into the mix is that homophobia and racism have been in the public eye for a long time. An understanding of obesity is just not there. More importantly, gay men/women, and certain races, have been subjected to the worst kind of human stigma. From a British point of view, I've never heard of anyone being killed based on their weight but gay bashing and race murders have happened.

I agree in the sense that hurling insults based on someone's weight is not on. Having said this, in perspective, it is not on a par with the shitty end of prejudice i.e. racism and homophobia.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

Obese people also are discriminated against for employment.

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ORIGINAL: WetHotGoddess


Women especially are very uppity if they have huge tits.  They seem to think it means they are better than everyone else, 
 
 

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You have to be careful about statements like that, because you have to explain exactly what you mean by "discriminated against."  If the job is, say, courier or lifeguard, then, obviously, someone who is obese has less of a chance of landing the job.  Discrimination usually involves considerations like race, sex, sexual orientation, creed, ethnicity, and so on--which are not supposed to have any correlation with someone's ability to perform a job.  Obesity isn't in the same category.  I mean, by the same token, you could say that stupid people are discriminated against in the job market as well.  But I'm not going to march in the streets for them.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

Obese people also are discriminated against for employment.

I remember fat girls being the object of torment in my high school. I knew of one that had been assaulted for her obesity and as a result had to leave school, this was 20 years ago, but I imagine it still occurs often.

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

Obese people also are discriminated against for employment.

I remember fat girls being the object of torment in my high school. I knew of one that had been assaulted for her obesity and as a result had to leave school, this was 20 years ago, but I imagine it still occurs often.

And Bill Clinton remembered "Black Churches being burned in Arkansas during the 60's."