Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Fat Acceptance Movement: Overdue Reform, or Total Denial?

guy44 · 05-09-2008, 04:12 PM

I think there are a few distinct points being made in this thread that should be addressed individually:

1. OT

The OT discussed the Fat Acceptance Movement specifically. While I am sympathetic to the ideas behind it (ending the viciousness often displayed towards the overweight, reducing the harmful effects of having a negative body image, etc.), I don't think this is something that really needs an organization and a movement. People who act likes dicks towards overweight people deserve plenty of scorn, but I just don't see why an organization needs to exist to deal with the topic. And plenty of other groups are already working to change the absurd body ideals, especially amongst women. Lastly, but also importantly, obesity is a major problem and what we really need is more help in combating that.

2. Whether or not people are often dicks towards the overweight

The answer is, very often, and being a jackass is simply never justified behavior.

3. Whether or not people in this thread have been acting like dicks towards the overweight

The answer is, some of the time. I know it is a fuzzy, subjective line between stating your beliefs and being a jerk about it, but in my opinion that line has definitely been crossed a few times. In part, because of

4. Perceived defensiveness by posters who actually are overweight

By way of explanation: a few years ago, I came out of college weighing 252, height 5'10. I finally joined a gym, started eating right, and dropped a bit over 30 pounds. I've plateaued since then, staying at around 220 (up a few, down a few), in part because I have grown lazy and don't work out quite as much as I used to. However, I still do work out and I eat pretty well - enough to maintain equilibrium without exercising every day.

It is incredibly frustrating to eat less, and better, and work out more, than most of my friends and still maintain a significantly higher weight. I'm not blaming the food industry (I know exactly what I eat, and it contains plenty of fresh produce, etc.), nor depression (I'm not), nor unfair body images. I acknowledge that I can do more to reduce my weight. But to hear it from most of the non-overweight commentators in this thread, I'm just a fat fuck completely responsible for my own pathetic situation and why can't I just find the time and energy to work out seven days a week and ingest barely enough calories to power a small child even though I'd be desperately unhappy because all my meals would taste like cardboard?

5. Self-Aggrandizement

I believe somebody else already mentioned this, but one of the more infuriating aspects of many of the posts by those who don't have weight problems is the gratuitous mention of how kick-ass their metabolism is.

I don't mean to sound defensive, or jealous, or angry, although maybe I am all those things, but there is no way that this information needs to be mentioned by every person who has never struggled with their weight. I don't begrudge anyone their body, even if it functions better than mine, but I also don't like to hear constant moralizing on the subject of weight loss from people who've never once experienced the issue in any way, shape, or form. It's fine to criticize the Fat Acceptance Movement - I did - but to do so while simultaneously spewing a bunch of stuff about pitying the fat guy in line in front of you or wondering why everyone can't make the same exact life choices you did to exercise every day just sounds like you are trying to build yourself up at others' expense, even if it isn't true.

6. Machines

We aren't machines, Ustwo and others, and we never will be. My very good friend has a sweet tooth almost as prodigious as his metabolism. Every morning in high school, he used to eat a donut and drink a Coke for breakfast. He never has eaten healthy, and never works out (hell, he's even a computer programmer), and still is quite thin.

I have managed to control my eating habits to a certain degree by willpower. I almost always eat healthy, I don't eat huge meals, and I can't even remember the last time I had dessert. And although I do work out, unless I do so very seriously for a sustained period of time, my weight maintains equilibrium. I have lost weight, and I can again, but my body doesn't do so easily. Sometimes, we're just built that way.

Furthermore, it's amazing the hatred people display towards those who have a hard time controlling their food intake. It's fucking hard, people - and to those who've never really needed to diet, you've got no idea. Stop acting like people can just flip a switch to turn off their hunger, or their love of certain foods. Has nobody on this board ever had a problem indulging in sex, or drugs, or coffee? Do you still have self-control issues with anything? Then don't be so damn quick to judge others just because their vice happens to be plainly visible.

05-09-2008, 04:12 PM	#84 (permalink)
guy44 Somnabulist Location: corner of No and Where	I think there are a few distinct points being made in this thread that should be addressed individually: 1. OT The OT discussed the Fat Acceptance Movement specifically. While I am sympathetic to the ideas behind it (ending the viciousness often displayed towards the overweight, reducing the harmful effects of having a negative body image, etc.), I don't think this is something that really needs an organization and a movement. People who act likes dicks towards overweight people deserve plenty of scorn, but I just don't see why an organization needs to exist to deal with the topic. And plenty of other groups are already working to change the absurd body ideals, especially amongst women. Lastly, but also importantly, obesity is a major problem and what we really need is more help in combating that. 2. Whether or not people are often dicks towards the overweight The answer is, very often, and being a jackass is simply never justified behavior. 3. Whether or not people in this thread have been acting like dicks towards the overweight The answer is, some of the time. I know it is a fuzzy, subjective line between stating your beliefs and being a jerk about it, but in my opinion that line has definitely been crossed a few times. In part, because of 4. Perceived defensiveness by posters who actually are overweight By way of explanation: a few years ago, I came out of college weighing 252, height 5'10. I finally joined a gym, started eating right, and dropped a bit over 30 pounds. I've plateaued since then, staying at around 220 (up a few, down a few), in part because I have grown lazy and don't work out quite as much as I used to. However, I still do work out and I eat pretty well - enough to maintain equilibrium without exercising every day. It is incredibly frustrating to eat less, and better, and work out more, than most of my friends and still maintain a significantly higher weight. I'm not blaming the food industry (I know exactly what I eat, and it contains plenty of fresh produce, etc.), nor depression (I'm not), nor unfair body images. I acknowledge that I can do more to reduce my weight. But to hear it from most of the non-overweight commentators in this thread, I'm just a fat fuck completely responsible for my own pathetic situation and why can't I just find the time and energy to work out seven days a week and ingest barely enough calories to power a small child even though I'd be desperately unhappy because all my meals would taste like cardboard? 5. Self-Aggrandizement I believe somebody else already mentioned this, but one of the more infuriating aspects of many of the posts by those who don't have weight problems is the gratuitous mention of how kick-ass their metabolism is. I don't mean to sound defensive, or jealous, or angry, although maybe I am all those things, but there is no way that this information needs to be mentioned by every person who has never struggled with their weight. I don't begrudge anyone their body, even if it functions better than mine, but I also don't like to hear constant moralizing on the subject of weight loss from people who've never once experienced the issue in any way, shape, or form. It's fine to criticize the Fat Acceptance Movement - I did - but to do so while simultaneously spewing a bunch of stuff about pitying the fat guy in line in front of you or wondering why everyone can't make the same exact life choices you did to exercise every day just sounds like you are trying to build yourself up at others' expense, even if it isn't true. 6. Machines We aren't machines, Ustwo and others, and we never will be. My very good friend has a sweet tooth almost as prodigious as his metabolism. Every morning in high school, he used to eat a donut and drink a Coke for breakfast. He never has eaten healthy, and never works out (hell, he's even a computer programmer), and still is quite thin. I have managed to control my eating habits to a certain degree by willpower. I almost always eat healthy, I don't eat huge meals, and I can't even remember the last time I had dessert. And although I do work out, unless I do so very seriously for a sustained period of time, my weight maintains equilibrium. I have lost weight, and I can again, but my body doesn't do so easily. Sometimes, we're just built that way. Furthermore, it's amazing the hatred people display towards those who have a hard time controlling their food intake. It's fucking hard, people - and to those who've never really needed to diet, you've got no idea. Stop acting like people can just flip a switch to turn off their hunger, or their love of certain foods. Has nobody on this board ever had a problem indulging in sex, or drugs, or coffee? Do you still have self-control issues with anything? Then don't be so damn quick to judge others just because their vice happens to be plainly visible. __________________ "You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say 'goats.'"