Originally Posted By WilliamK99 No, I am not talking about discrimination to Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Arabs, or even Asians. Because everyone freaks out if you even think about discriminating against someone for their race. I am not even talking about discrimination against gays because in today's PC world, we better not make fun of those who choose to be with the same sex. I want to talk about discrimination I see every day on LP.com, where somebody makes a smartass comment about the overweight. I don't think we go more than one day here without someone blasting the fat people similiar to these comments made today. "Why do Americans think its incredibly difficult if not impossible to lose weight? It really isn't rocket science how to control ones weight. Step 1. Stop snorting cheesecake. Step 2. Move." If I said similiar comments concerning gays saying "it's not that difficult to be straight 1) Find a hot chick 2) Sleep with her " I'd get blasted for being insensitive. I see it in America all the time, it's not right to make fun of others, unless they are fat then it's open season.... So why is it? Why is it OK in our country to discriminate against the obsese?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Oh my gosh, no way dude! I'm over weight and have yet to notice this at all. You are fighting something that isn't there my friend. I don't think anyone here (at least I have not noticed) is out to point fingers or make fun of over weight people. I totally disagree with the OP on this one.
Originally Posted By ecdc I think it's because, by and large, we can control our weight. We can't control our skin color or sexual preference or gender. I am overweight. I've lost some weight recently and I'm on the right track (don't eat fast food anymore and haven't had a Coke for almost a year) but I've got a ways to go. The simple reality: I'm overweight because of my bad decisions. Period. I am never offended at fat jokes or people poking fun at my weight because I'm the one responsible for it. I know there's a lot of people in America who are genetically overweight or obese. But the truth is, that's not how most overweight people got there. We got there by eating bad foods, eating too much of it, and then not exercising. This is coupled with a billion-dollar a year diet industry that doesn't work, and that has no vested interest in working. People want a quick fix; the solution is to cut calories and work out. As for making fun of people, I see plenty of jokes based on religion, sex, and race. I agree 100% that there is a political correctness out there that dictates much of what can and can't be said, but the jokes are there.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Try checking out a thread about scooters and overweight people. It's not a pretty conversation.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Goofyernmost, that is what brought about this thread, I saw some rude people on that thread blasting overweight people, and if I had that tone against homosexuals, I'd be blacklisted off these boards...
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Here's a recent discussion. Lots of stuff comes up when you Google it... <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/chi-fatapr28,0,125356.story" target="_blank">http://www.chicagotribune.com/...56.story</a>
Originally Posted By DVC_dad One thread doesn't make all insensitive. Sorry I missed that thread. I don't make fat jokes, but I'm not normally over sensitive about things unless it's SPP making me look like an idiot in WE with his amazing command of logic and the English language (of which I'm jealous). I'm plenty oversensitive about that. But at least I realize it and you know, let it roll off. But back to topic, I'm not saying you are overly sensitive about "fat jokes" but I am saying that really at the end of the day, It's all "sticks and stones...," the whole board is really...that don't make it right, but it is what it is.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 It's all across America though DVC_Dad, you may be blind to it but doesn't mean it doesn't exist. People freely discriminate against the overweight, and it's looked upon favorably by the population and media, unlike discrimination of color or sexuality which is frowned upon by our society.
Originally Posted By DAR It's one of the last few groups that can be discriminated against in this country, along with Christians.
Originally Posted By mele Yes, it is still usually okay to make fun of the overweight. While the food you eat and the activities you do (or do not do) does have a lot to do with being overweight, there are many other factors. One study just concluded that being exposed to chemicals in the uterus can lead to higher weights in rats. Even if you don't believe stuff like that, there are many studies that show that even if a person loses weight the healthy way, continues to maintain their good habits their body will STILL begin to gain weight again after 5 years or so. I read this in an article about a local person on The Biggest Loser. She lost over half of her body weight and has to exercise 3-4 hours a day to maintain it. Scientists say that even doing this, odds are that she'll gain some of the weight back. Talk about scary as HELL! I think that we learn more and more everyday that we should stop judging people's character based on their weight. Everyone makes bad decisions now and again but our bodies are all different. I'm not saying that people shouldn't try their hardest to be as healthy as possible but we need to stop believing that people deserve to be mistreated for their choices. Extra weight doesn't make a person BAD or undeserving of respect. I just don't understand why there isn't more compassion instead of mockery. It isn't an easy life, why do we think we have the right to make it harder?
Originally Posted By ecdc >>It's one of the last few groups that can be discriminated against in this country, along with Christians.<< I think "discriminated" is the wrong word here. Perhaps one might make a case that there's certain groups that do not have "PC" status which allows them to be made fun of more readily than other groups without consequences. I'd argue that if Don Imus had only made fun of the basketball team for their gender, and not their race, it would have gone completely unnoticed. But discrimination is a different matter. Christians and the obese are not denied rights that others have - at least not legally. If they are discriminated against beyond free speech (such as in job hiring, access to facilities, etc.) they have legal recourse. Gays, on the other hand, would certainly qualify in America as victims of discrimination.
