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Not sure if this is the right place to post this, if not, mods please move...
Note: I am referring to "fat people" as "we," but I am not saying anyone is overweight/obese. I realize many people here have reached their weight goal, I'm just referring to the anonymous "we" that are large, including myself.
Has anyone else noticed a growing...for lack of better word...hatred against people who are overweight and obese? I have noticed it more and more on the news and in public.
I see news daily about some sort of government legislation being considered to stop the "fat people" from eating transfats (New York City) or even stop them from being served food in a restaurants (Mississippi).
On other message boards I frequent, news stories about how airlines are now charging overweight people for two seats is met with countless replies of "YEAH! THEY DESERVE IT!" and "THEY NEED TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND EXERCISE, THE FATTIES!"
I am a graduate student in a college town, and of course that means lots of young, mostly fit people. I can tell you I get very strange, almost "you disgust me" looks from some people. It's not because of my cleanliness or upkeep. I don't have hygiene problems, but I am obese. I'm not sure what else it could be.
The arguments always seem to revolve how much "fat people" cost society. It is as if people think that overweight people do nothing but sit on their couch and eat McDonalds all day long. I have yet to meet a large person that did not spend tremendous hours at work, or someone like me who spends 80 hours a week doing research. In fact, I'm in a field (public administration) doing research to save tax payers money!
The next argument is that its OK to hate overweight people because we are a burden on the health system. Yes, being overweight or being obese has a cost. So does drinking too much liquor. So does eating unhealthy even though your skinny. So does treating terminally ill patients. Yet all of these cost burdens are socially acceptable, but NOT being overweight or obese.
All of this is incredibly depressing, for me. It doesn't motivate me to lose weight, it just depresses me. Why do people have such hatred of other people simply because of their weight? Do people so desperately need to feel superior in their lives that it has come to this?
Don't get me wrong. I need to lose weight, and I am trying. It's a battle, one I hope to win. I realize I got myself in my position now, and I am trying to change it. But why hate me because of my size? It shouldn't matter.
Maybe it is because of my weight, but when I look at someone I truly do not judge them on such superficial criteria. It seems odd that everyone at least outwardly says that no one should be judged on how they look. But then we find that only applies to things like race and gender. Judging people on how much they weigh? Perfectly fine! Hating the "fat" people is cool!
Note: I am referring to "fat people" as "we," but I am not saying anyone is overweight/obese. I realize many people here have reached their weight goal, I'm just referring to the anonymous "we" that are large, including myself.
Has anyone else noticed a growing...for lack of better word...hatred against people who are overweight and obese? I have noticed it more and more on the news and in public.
I see news daily about some sort of government legislation being considered to stop the "fat people" from eating transfats (New York City) or even stop them from being served food in a restaurants (Mississippi).
On other message boards I frequent, news stories about how airlines are now charging overweight people for two seats is met with countless replies of "YEAH! THEY DESERVE IT!" and "THEY NEED TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND EXERCISE, THE FATTIES!"
I am a graduate student in a college town, and of course that means lots of young, mostly fit people. I can tell you I get very strange, almost "you disgust me" looks from some people. It's not because of my cleanliness or upkeep. I don't have hygiene problems, but I am obese. I'm not sure what else it could be.
The arguments always seem to revolve how much "fat people" cost society. It is as if people think that overweight people do nothing but sit on their couch and eat McDonalds all day long. I have yet to meet a large person that did not spend tremendous hours at work, or someone like me who spends 80 hours a week doing research. In fact, I'm in a field (public administration) doing research to save tax payers money!
The next argument is that its OK to hate overweight people because we are a burden on the health system. Yes, being overweight or being obese has a cost. So does drinking too much liquor. So does eating unhealthy even though your skinny. So does treating terminally ill patients. Yet all of these cost burdens are socially acceptable, but NOT being overweight or obese.
All of this is incredibly depressing, for me. It doesn't motivate me to lose weight, it just depresses me. Why do people have such hatred of other people simply because of their weight? Do people so desperately need to feel superior in their lives that it has come to this?
Don't get me wrong. I need to lose weight, and I am trying. It's a battle, one I hope to win. I realize I got myself in my position now, and I am trying to change it. But why hate me because of my size? It shouldn't matter.
Maybe it is because of my weight, but when I look at someone I truly do not judge them on such superficial criteria. It seems odd that everyone at least outwardly says that no one should be judged on how they look. But then we find that only applies to things like race and gender. Judging people on how much they weigh? Perfectly fine! Hating the "fat" people is cool!
~ 
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