Is Duck_Duck Dying?

[Beestie]

Making fun of someone's physical appearance is never in good taste and pretty much means that humor might not be for you.

[Aliantha]

Gee fresh, you really are young aren't you? If you were not, you wouldn't say half the things you do. Seriously. Do some reading. Find out for yourself why people are overweight. It's usually got nothing to do with food addictions and lots to do with other things.

[freshnesschronic]

Sparked my interest. Tell me more, Aliantha.
Media portrayals (shows like Brookhaven Hospital, movies like Supersized) is where I've gotten my view on obesity and it's causes. I'm being serious, tell me what I don't know.

[Aliantha]

I've no idea what Brookhaven Hospital is. I guess we don't get it over here. I have seen Supersized. It's an interesting portrayal of the 'average American', if that's what it is.

Seriously though, do you believe everything you see on tv? You're in college right? You have access to journals and papers which can tell you all sorts of reasons why people are fat.

Of course some people are fat because they're lazy or whatever, but who are you to judge?

[freshnesschronic]

Brookhaven hospital is a hospital for the very obese in Manhattan where the very obese try to recover and rehabilitate their gargantuan eating addictions. These people weigh 350 to 800 pounds. The show explains most of it as eating addiction. It is a TV show.

And your second point, people being lazy, not exercising, that's why I don't have that much sympathy for them. Those people who sue Micky D's for getting their daughters overweight? Ridiculous.

Right now, I'm not in college, summer break. But everything I've learned for the most part is the fault of the obese person. Other than the small percentage who claim genetics.

[Undertoad]

Everything is the fault of everyone, but over time you will learn that the worst faults in people aren't the various and sundry tricky addictions. The worst faults in people are their behaviors towards their fellow human beings.

Most of people's addictive behaviors can be traced back to treatment at the hands of others.

And so you have so far shown yourself to be part of the problem. Don't like fat people? Examine yourself. Have you helped a large person to realize that they have worth and should care about their existence and appearance? Or have you casually abused them, disrespected them to give them the signal that their lack of sense of self-worth is justified? Judged them by the worst example? Put them into a single category? Developed a harsh prejudice by instinct?

What kind of person would do that to someone? I would describe that person's behavior as poor, and immature. I might even guess they were troubled. I would definitely say they are part of the problem.

Look around you, buddy. What you don't realize yet about life is how harsh it can be. The fat ones aren't the people that are going to make trouble for you. The faster you figure it out, the better off you'll be. The better a person you will be.

[piercehawkeye45]

Fresh, I trained my ass off for football in high school and there were people that I trained with that could never lose weight no matter how hard they tried. Some would eat right with that too.

While I do think with enough work almost anyone can lose weight, the work that is involved is just not worth it or other factors can counter that effort.

I do not hate fags. I explained myself already.

But I'm not ok with racial slurs. Are you?

You are okay with homophobic slurs but not racial ones?

[freshnesschronic]

No, I used the word fag in the wrong sense and I apologize. I mean, I can rationalize what I mean in my own head because growing up fag was just a word for idiot or moron, so my own connotation isn't of a put down for a homosexual, I'm sorry if you just mistook it, and I apologize for this air of homophobia I might have around me.

[Ibby]

Yes, yes, I apologize that I might seeeeem homophobic, but I'm not really, I cant help it that I just talk and act like one!

[DanaC]

Everything is the fault of everyone, but over time you will learn that the worst faults in people aren't the various and sundry tricky addictions. The worst faults in people are their behaviors towards their fellow human beings.

Wise words. I really don't see any reason for anyone to be making unpleasant comments about anyone else's race, sexual orientation, or physical appearance. The only possible reason to do so is to cause hurt and offence. Personally I found the 'chinko' type comments quite unpleasant. But I also thought it was cruel to make fun of the kid for her looks. The fact that she's sixteen years old shouldn't stop anyone from calling her out on her assinine comments.....but to focus on her looks is just downright cruel. That shit is bad enough when it's kids in a playground....they don't really know what they're doing and kids are cruel. But here? Adults taking the piss out of a child because of the way she looks? Not pretty to see.

Fresh, what you said about racial slurs was spot on.....but you need to develop a little human empathy. We all have weaknesses and flaws, strengths and talents. Some people smoke, others eat, some take their comfort from twiddling with a strand of hair, or watching Star trek...some find their way through by throwing themselves into sports. Unless you have been where that person is and experienced what that person has experienced, you are not in a position to judge them weak for the choices they make. You have no sympathy for people who are struggling with their weight? Everybody struggles with something. You'll find that out over time.

[freshnesschronic]

Nice post DanaC.

But I was just saying. Being of a certain race isn't a "struggle" because there is nothing you can do about it. In my opinion, weight you can do something about.

[Dagney]

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

Nice post DanaC.

But I was just saying. Being of a certain race isn't a "struggle" because there is nothing you can do about it. In my opinion, weight you can do something about.

Godhelpme for putting my nose in here, but I think I need to set you straight - or at least try.

Your opinion is your own, and while extremely prejudiced and judgemental you are entitled to have it - however, that being said, it's not exactly accurate.

I find this statement " But everything I've learned for the most part is the fault of the obese person." to be extremely offensive. Especially since I know first hand what it's like to be a person of size. I will be the first to state the obvious - my photos have been posted here and there on the cellar - I am _not_ a little woman. However, that being said, I can point to two genetic conditions that directly contribute to my issues, neither of which are easy to just ignore and 'do something about'. Do I work to keep myself healthy? Yes. Do I spend time planning healthy meals, working through menus and exercising? Yes. Does it 'look like it' to the casual observer? No. But they don't have a clue about what I do behind closed doors - and frankly, it's none of their business.

Before you lump all people into a group - as you are often wont to do (this is not the first time you've said something along the lines of "all <insert group of people here> think/do/act this way) you really need to turn the TV off, stop listening to what mass media, movies, and the like is stuffing down your throat, open some journals and get an idea of what's really going on. And open your mind for heaven's sake - really, it won't fall out if you do.

People are just that. People. And who are you to judge what they do with their lives if they don't directly have any affect on yours? UT and DanaC nailed it - you need to develop a little bit of empathy - everyone is walking a different path than yours - not everyone's life is sunshine and roses - and it certainly doesn't help if they're getting beaten down for no reason.

"Being of a certain race isn't a struggle"? Oh dear....I'm not even going to touch this one.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

Being of a certain race isn't a "struggle" because there is nothing you can do about it...

That's not true -- look at Michael Jackson.

[DanaC]

People can do something about lots of things.....but how many people do you know who make all the right choices at all the right times and never fail? Being human isn't easy. We all carry with us the weight of our experiences and our genetic heritage. Some people can eat huge amounts of food without gaining much weight. Some people look at a cream bun and their hips get bigger :P Some people put on a little extra weight and can lose it again in a couple of weeks, other people struggle with diets and take months to throw off half that amount. Add to that the whole issue of how children relate to food and the way that affects their long term tastes and tendencies and things get complicated.

[DanaC]

lol