Slog - Comments on This Headline Oppresses Fat People

Comment by UNPAID BLOGGER

UNPAID BLOGGER — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:51:18 -0800

All fat people should be boiled and fed to you skinny bitches.

Comment by Judith

Judith — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:52:52 -0800

lol -- love it.

fat people oppress themselves and they know it. that's why they bitch so much about headlines like that.

as someone who has been fat, then skinny, then fat, and finally skinny again (and forever i hope), i KNOW that being fat, unlike being gay, black, tall, etc. really IS a choice. genetics only makes it more difficult to avoid, but not impossible.

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:53:44 -0800

The single paper clip on the far left of my desk is oppressing fat people.

I shall flick him!

Meh. I'd have to slightly move my chair. Never mind.

Comment by Original Andrew

Original Andrew — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:59:20 -0800

I've really begun to sympathize with people who are overweight.

I recently began counting calories, which I've never done before in my life, to add some metrics to my work at the gym.

I think most Americans would be totally shocked how little you have to eat to get 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day. I mean damn, you could easily pack that away in one restaurant dinner.

We need a major education initiative, starting in the schools, to teach people nutrition basics. They don't have to give up their favorite foods, but they do need to reduce their daily caloric intake and reduce portion sizes which are insane in the US.

Comment by Julie

Julie — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:08:49 -0800

Here's something that if I were fat I might actually be offended by. Has anyone heard of this ABC show Fat March (I just saw a blurb about it)? Fat people walking from Boston to DC to lose weight and win $1 million. Here's an episode description:

"With 230 miles under their belts, the nine remaining trekkers depart Millstone, N.J., bound for Philadelphia in the warmest weather yet. The first stop on their roundabout route is Lancaster County, Pa., where they face an �Amish challenge�: harvest cabbages under a blazing sun. They must also climb a 25-foot telephone poll. And there's a third challenge: those tempting cheesesteaks in Philadelphia."

This just sounds a little bit too much like "fat people on parade" or "fat people doing potentially embarassing things"...

Comment by monkey

monkey — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:09:44 -0800

I blame restaurants bringing enough food for 3 people on a single plate combined with baby boomer children of depression era parents making us clean our plates when we were kids.

Old habits, etc...

Comment by monkey

monkey — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:10:32 -0800

Oh yeah, and to those who feel oppressed I say...

MOO!

Comment by Soupytwist

Soupytwist — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:21:37 -0800

monkey, you don't know how right you are.

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:27:17 -0800

Oh yes he does.

Comment by tsm

tsm — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:28:12 -0800

Clearly we must boil fat people alive and feed them to pit bulls, with blackberry compote on the side. Especially the ones who bike side-to-side.

Comment by jhell

jhell — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:39:14 -0800

Monkey, wonderfully succinct point.
Not only does the general population not know much about diet and nutrition, physicians and other health care providers (I am one) get little to no training regarding nutrition. Without independent research we have no idea what to tell people about nutrition. It's frustrating and I've yet to come up with a national (or global) solution.

Comment by Bellevue Ave

Bellevue Ave — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:54:02 -0800

Bad art and fat people oppress us!

Comment by Just Me

Just Me — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:58:26 -0800

I got into an argument with a fat guy at the Cuff this weekend. (Oh dear!) He hit on me and it talked with him but told him that he really was not my type. (nicely mind you) Then I went to leave.... He asked me where I was going and I said home since I needed to get to bed as Sunday's I run my distance run of 9 miles. He blasted into me that I was not interested in him since he was chunky ect.

I told him that I did not think being that overweight was healthy and he got all huffy with me. And I thought fat people were supposed to be jolly!!

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:58:36 -0800

@5,

I recently heard someone describe it as "Fatties on the March." So, yeah, they're just asking for trouble with that one.

Comment by josh bomb

josh bomb — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:09:52 -0800

in related news, There are Deep Fried Lattes for a morning jump-start, plus fried chili pie, fried guacamole, and a range of crispy desserts including Fried Cookie Dough....at the Texas State Fair.

Comment by Kiru Banzai

Kiru Banzai — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:36:33 -0800

That's not an oppressive headline. An oppressive headline would have been something like "Obesity Rates Wheeze Moistly As They Attempt To Rise In Most States".

Comment by violet_dagrinder

violet_dagrinder — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:01:02 -0800

Good of you, Dan, to post a topic like this as a gift to the absolute sweethearts who show up to comment. It's really a win for everybody. Thanks!

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:38:59 -0800

If you're fat and this offended you... you're still fat. We may be assholes... but you're still fat.

Comment by Kristin Bell

Kristin Bell — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:26:56 -0800

I know most of you are just being assholes, because you can't think of anything intelligent to say. So, I will just say to Dan, yes, that headline and the accompanying story does oppress fat people even though you were just mocking fat people with your headline. If you read the story that went along with the headline you would see that they are using the same BMI-like charts to define who is or isn't "obese." Those charts were developed by insurance salesmen in order to maximize profits for insurance. So basically the numbers are completely arbitrary as it relates to actual health. For example, George Clooney is technically "obese." In addition, the cutoff numbers for who is actually considered "obese" are often changed, so someone can literally go to bed one night as a "regular" human being and wake up the next day re-classified as "obese" without having gained a single pound. If you have some time on your hands I invite all of you to do some actual research into the whole weight/diet/obesity industry and rhetoric or you could continue to run around making fat jokes like a 13-year-old boy with nothing better to do. Whatever suits your fancy. I'm just saying that the linked story doesn't do anything but add chatter about how there is a "HUGE OBESITY EPIDEMIC" and how "OBESE PEOPLE WILL BANKRUPT SOCIETY WITH ALL OF THEIR HEALTH WOES." Feel free to stick in the word Jew instead of fat freak any time you like and tell me if it sounds any better to you.

Comment by UNPAID BLOGGER

UNPAID BLOGGER — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:31:37 -0800

I may not be fat, but I thank god everyday that I don't worship at the alter of GQ/Vogue.

The real irony can't be ascertained until the day you can no longer achieve the level of beauty your shallow aesthetic made standard... only then can we see you for what you are; pathetic human shells, aged past your expiration date, groveling to the vapid pretty things for a hint of validation...

I pity every dried up old queen who haunts Neighbors for that fleeting memory of youth and vanity- and I shall do the same for you.