NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

[Mickkey]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Well TMN, I'm of like mind, once you try to legislate people's addictions, habits, or inclinations, it won't stop there. It will grow feet. I thought that clear back to when they demanded everyone wear seat belts or else pay a fine. Remember Mississippi was one of the first states to take on big tobacco and win.

I live in Mississippi, wasn't born here, but have lived here for several years, however I'm moving soon, kinda back and forth at the moment. Why we have the highest obscenity rate baffles me, other than somebody's gotta be first. At least we're first in something, instead of dead last!

However, this is ridiculous and I'm wondering how they purpose to enforce it. Will people be fined if served? Will they fine restaurants? Will they have the 'fat police" stationed at Mcdonald's, Hardee's, and Wendy"s?

[pamelainaustin]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

While this is really crazy, I also recently read that Southwest Airlines (based here in Texas) is currently having their gate personnel "eyeball" passengers and pulling people aside that "appear obese" and telling them they will have to pay for 2 seats if they want to board the plane.

They apparently are also developing a "test seat" that the passenger will be required to "fit" in to more objectively enforce this policy. It stems from complaints of other passengers getting less than a "full seat" to sit in if they are seated by someone who doesn't fit.

I can imagine this being both humiliating and inconvenient.

[HellOnWheels]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. ***Clarification***

Since it seems a few of our folks may be unclear on the matter, I felt a note of clarification was in order: this is not a law... it's a bill. If you don't know the difference, please follow the link below for a fantastic explanation, compliments of SchoolHouse Rock:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

[RANT]
In a nutshell: the bill is well-intended, painfully short-sighted and a ridiculously two-dimensional approach to dealing with three-dimensional people.
I doubt any of the legislators involved considered the following:

1) The average restaurant manager doesn't get paid enough to put up with flaky employees and ill-tempered customers -- two groups fairly endemic to the industry -- but you're going to add "tell people to their faces that they're too fat to eat here" to the list of duties?

2) Considering lots of employees in Mississippi restaurants are statistically likely to be obese as well, they would need to be monitored by other employees to keep them from eating on the job.

3) Convincing any nationwide chain of restaurants to voluntarily turn away their single most lucrative income stream is about as likely as getting Disney to stop marketing their ubiquitous princess videos and merchandise to girls under twelve.

So, to be sure I've got this straight: legislators from the fattest state in the union want to encourage its citizens to lose weight by making them ashamed of their size and forcing them to eat in seclusion?
How the do they think most of us got this way?
[/RANT]

[Ladychan]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

It baffles me how some people can't see complete insanity when it stares them in the face. There are so many trickle down effects to this bill if it were made into law that the state would be a mess in no time.

[purplecat]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

This is as bad as someone judging me based on the color of my skin. I can't imagine that this would pass but I have seen some stupid things done when it comes to politics.

[matawguro]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

There ought to be a law banning stupid politicians from breeding.

[Hayden]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

There ought to be a law banning stupid politicians from breeding.

I'm pretty certain the politicians think the same about "us".

[tmn]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Obviously MS legislators have WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much time on their hands.



That is TOTALLY different. Whether you want to discuss second-hand smoke and its dangers or not, IT DOES POSE A HEALTH RISK TO EVERYONE AROUND IT, and personally, I HAVE A RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR WHEN I EAT. Smokers have a right to smoke, but not in MY face. Obesity is a personal thing .. and doesn't pose any risk to anyone else.

Betty

Fine! If you want to believe the junk science, then go somewhere where there is no smoking and not to place where there is. And leave those PRIVATE establishments that want to allow their customers to smoke alone! I can't handle fragrances so I don't go to places where people are saturated in them and or buy products that have them. It's really that simple!

Just remember, folks, where this is all heading. Foods with fat content in them are just one of the many areas that is in the bulls-eye of the "all-knowing" government.

[Bettestress]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

So does this mean if a restaurant serves to an obese person they'll be arrested by the fat police? Will there be bathroom scales at the entrance?

It's so nutty it just has to be a stunt to make a point. If they banned the sale of "bad foods" to everyone, at least it would be across the board non discriminatory. I'd hate to be a small restaurant business owner if that did pass. The state would soon be bailing THEM out.

[tmn]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

I thought that clear back to when they demanded everyone wear seat belts or else pay a fine. Remember Mississippi was one of the first states to take on big tobacco and win.

Ooh, I've totally forgotten about seat belt laws. You're right, that and helmet laws... Wisconsin bikers still put up the fight so our helmet laws for those under 18 years old. One of the few freedoms still fought for in our state.

Years ago, I fought with a doctor who carried on about wearing seat belts. He made a huge issue over it because I don't wear mine regularly. I finally asked him if he was going to put as much energy into my recent ailment of the day as he was over that BS. He didn't. Needless to say, he hasn't been my doctor for a long time now.

[sadie147]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

I just remembered...Oprah Winfrey recently had Mississippi on her show as 'the fattest state' and challenged them to lose weight and lower that statistic...i forget what the time frame is but they're doing a followup.

Just thinking this is most likely the limelight, or 15 mins of 'fame' (though IMO not what you want to be famous for) , has gone to their heads....'hey..lets think up ways we can force people to lose weight and win Oprahs Challenge' WHATEVER.

[Chicklady]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Fine! If you want to believe the junk science, then go somewhere where there is no smoking and not to place where there is. And leave those PRIVATE establishments that want to allow their customers to smoke alone! I can't handle fragrances so I don't go to places where people are saturated in them and or buy products that have them. It's really that simple!

Just remember, folks, where this is all heading. Foods with fat content in them are just one of the many areas that is in the bulls-eye of the "all-knowing" government.

I agree. Pretty soon we will be pledging allegence to the Socialist Republic of America. Every time you let the government "make you safer" you give away your liberty.

I'm curious, though, how these politicians think this will make a difference?

[angelcakes]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

i my guess is that a good number of the politicians who are voting on this bill are probably obese themselves. if they are going by bmi, they will find that there are a lot of people who probably appear "normal" or "average" but are actually obese according to bmi. for example, a lot of men i know who are very athletic/muscular are obese by their bmi, but really don't look overweight. so it wouldn't jut be the obvious "fatties" like myself that would be barred from restaurants. it would be more people than they think.

[Atkid]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

I live on the Louisiana/Missippi borderline and my son works in a casino restaurant in Mississippi. I am very curious to see how this all works out.

[itsme12i]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

hey...and what about the restaurants...??

why would they want to involve themselves in the business of "healthcare" ?

it's ridiculous to expect a business owner or their emplyees to determine whether someone is clinically obese...it would be purely subjective for one, and not their business for another....

I'm sure the cute little hostess at the Denny's in Biloxi wants to tell some customer that "I'm sorry I can't seat you...you are too fat!!" ESPECIALLY when they are still under court order to educate their employees about discrimination because of their LAST lawsuit lol!!