Originally Posted By JazzCat I've noticed in my 44 years that there are two areas that are still discrimiated against - being overweight and being a Christian. While Christians are constantly being told that we need to accept various ways of life, many people refuse to accept us. The same goes with being large. People make jokes~the worst offenders being late night talk show hosts. It seems as if large people are the brunt of uncalled jokes. I'm not pointing fingers at any LPers. I just want to know if others can relate or realize that you have done this to the two groups I've mentioned.
Originally Posted By MissCandice I know I joke about myself being overweight but I would never make a cruel remark about anyone else's weight. As far as religion, I am atheist but I certainly don't mock other people's beliefs.
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I think overweight people do take a lot of grief in this world. In the last few years, it's been interesting to see how people who aren't overweight seem to feel they can take a jab at someone who is. 'Why don't they just stop shoving food in their mouths?' -- 'No wonder our health insurance premiums are sky-rocketing' -- People like to make a lot of snap judgements about someone who is overweight. Everything from 'they're lazy' to 'they're stupid' to 'they're gluttons.' It amazes me that people feel they can tell other people what to do. There's a good percentage of people who feel they're allowed to tell smokers what to do too. 'Your second-hand smoke is impacting my health' and so forth. Since people are quitting smoking in record numbers, 'overweight person' is the new 'smoker'
Originally Posted By cstephens JazzCat wrote: > While Christians are constantly being told that we need to accept various ways of life, many people refuse to accept us. Can you give examples on what you mean by this? I'm trying to figure out when I've come across that, and I can't think of any. As for the overweight thing, yeah, I hear that, though I haven't had anyone direct it at me lately. There is someone at the company I work at who makes condescending remarks in general. I'm *waiting* for the day he says it in my presence. And I don't know that I'd call it being discriminated against. Mean comments? Yeah. /cs
Originally Posted By RokNRollaCosta " While Christians are constantly being told that we need to accept various ways of life, many people refuse to accept us. " I think that Christians are the least of the groups in the US who are discriminated against. The US was founded on Christian priniciples and ideology. America has proven itself over the years to be an extremly Christian country with an extremly Christian president. We, as a country, have voted to ban abortions, ban homosexual marriage, and go to war, because "this is what god wants." The president himself is a self- proclaimed man of god. Groups that should be complaining about disrimination in specific cases are homosexuals, people of Middle Eastern descent, the poor, African Americans, and those whom are obese like you mentioned. Looking at this, it would seem as though Chrisitans have it pretty easy...
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> While Christians are constantly being told that we need to accept various ways of life, many people refuse to accept us. << Christians have made the oppression of gays and lesbians their 'reason for being' a rallying cry. As a result of working tirelessly to reduce the status of one class of americans, you can expect some pushback. As a prime example, look at the neighboring thread about these groups that are attempting to rescind rights granted to gays and lesbians. Here's a link to their website. Take a look at the misinformation and fear-mongering plastered all over the home page. Is this "you"? <a href="http://www.savecalifornia.com/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.savecalifornia.com/ index.php</a> ALERT: Stop AB 606 & SB 1437 These bills would make every California school a trans-bi-homosexual school. Homosexual teens sponsoring "gay prom in No. Cal. Campaign for Children and Families is urging Californians to tell Ford: I won't buy Ford brand vehicles because you promote the transsexual-bisexual-homosexual agenda. EVOLUTION SOLUTION IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS "How can the government school monopoly be ended? Only if more and more parents are willing to take the plunge and either homeschool their children or send them to private schools." Read Steven Yates (like we're gonna take child-rearing tips from him!)
Originally Posted By Shooba My experience is that smokers take more verbal criticism than obese people. It's not unusual to hear someone tell a co-worker "you should quit smoking, it causes cancer and ruins your lungs" (as if this comes as a newsflash to the smoker). On the other hand, you'd never hear someone say "you shouldn't eat that chocolate bar, look how fat you already are!". Christians aren't accepted? I don't think so. It's the other way around.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I've noticed in my 44 years that there are two areas that are still discrimiated against - being overweight and being a Christian.>> Overweight I will agree with, and I would add being a short male to that list (I am one and I know). As far as being Christian, no way. The majority of people in this country ARE Christians, and the conservative Christians are presently running the country. What more could you want?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I am overweight, well I am fat. I could lose weight, but my wieght doesn't bother me and it doesn't seem to bother my wife. Speaking of my wife, she is huge right now. We are fat. I laugh at fat jokes all the time. If your weight bothers you, lose some. If you can't lose some, and some people really can't due to medical reasons and such, then don't watch the shows that offend you. The whole thing seems whiney to me, no offense. I also have no idea what you are talking about being descriminated against for being a Christian. There are more Christians in the USA than any other religion and there are even more Christians than there are non-believers outright. Hummmm.... think on this.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> Read Steven Yates (like we're gonna take child-rearing tips from him!) << Sorry - mixed him up with Randy Yates. Must've been this line ... >> Only if more and more parents are willing to take the plunge ... <<
Originally Posted By avromark Well stereotypes are used all the time, quota systems are bad as well. Judging people on how they look is bad. Drugs are bad. (just to tell you once again . . .) Who’s bad?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Speaking of my wife, she is huge right now.>> I know your wife is pregnant right now, but a wife is NEVER huge. She might be 'comfy', or 'voluptuous', or MAYBE even 'pleasingly plump'. But a wife is NEVER huge. Tell your wife she's huge and pretty soon she's your ex-wife. I'd be careful DVC or you be in a heap o' poo. You might get a free pass this time since she's preggers, but NEVER say that when she's not (If she ever is actually NOT pregnant). What is this one… number 6?? ;-)
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Number 6, and my eye hurts. I told her she was huge. Gonna have a shiner tomorrow!
Originally Posted By cstephens I'm going to have to disagree with the "drugs are bad" comment. Drugs are only bad if they don't work. /cs
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <(If she ever is actually NOT pregnant)> LOL! And we know it's not all her fault either! ;-)
Originally Posted By ecdc I'll confess, I'm at an absolute loss as to how Christians are persecuted. Instead, I think a minority of Christians (remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil) are convincing themselves that they are descriminated against to strengthen the rallying cry. In fact, Bill Maher talked about this on his last show. The whole thing is at <a href="http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/20060331.html" target="_blank">http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/n ew_rules/20060331.html</a> Here's some excerpts: New Rule: People who run everything can't complain that they're underdogs. To whit, this week, there was a highly-attended conference in Washington called "The War on Christians." Because nothing quite says "I'm oppressed," like the opulent Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Ah, yes, whatever happened to that plucky little cult, Christianity? Oh, that's right, they're 80% of the American people, and have taken over all three branches of government, country music, public schools, the bestseller list, and until recently, Katie Holmes.... Did you know that the Missouri legislature recently felt the need to propose a resolution declaring Christianity Missouri's majority religion. No kidding. Really, you mean people aren't saying, "Gosh, I'd like to go to Missouri, but...too Jewish...." The Christian right are now officially the party of paranoia. Secularists are attacking Christmas! Gays are attacking marriage! Liberals are attacking values! White girls are being abducted at an alarming rate! You know, if you're going to be that paranoid all the time, just get high. *and my favorite part* And the worst part is, the people [whining] loudest about being persecuted for their Christianity aren't Christians at all. They're demagogues and conmen and scolds. And the only thing they worship is power. If you believe Jesus ever had a good word for war or torture or tax cuts for the rich, or raping the earth, or refusing water to dying migrants, then you might as well believe bunnies lay painted eggs.... Thomas Jefferson called the type of Christian who trumpets his own belief in the divinity of Jesus rather than the morality of Jesus "pseudo-Christians." And that's who's running our country today. And since they thrive so much on turning water into "whining"—and get off on their endless pretend persecution, this Easter season, let's give them what they want. Let's go to the zoo, get some lions, and feed them Tom DeLay.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder As for Christians being "attacked", one phenomenom I've noticed in WE is when someone favors something like gay marriage or supports the science of evolution, invariably it is looked upon as an attack on Christian values, and therefore Christians themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth, but instead of allowing for differing opinions, many choose to play the victim and claim an attack.
