Why should we accept and accommodate people being fat?

[Raikiri]

People getting outraged over stuff that has no affect on them... good times.

It does though, spending a 13 hour flight with someones flab spilling onto your lap isn't much fun

There's nothing wrong with being fat, but it shouldn't be the job of everyone else to adapt to them. You don't see tall people campaigning to make all the doorways taller.

 

[DJMK4]

That would be a large can.... yum, yum....

Whole

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

A documentary I once saw said that greed was good.

 

[Lysander]

We definitely shouldn't be changing basics to accommodate for massively obese people, such as widening doorways and seating as standard.

Though we also shouldn't think that it's okay to openly deride and belittle people for being large or obese. As you said, you have no way of knowing whether that person is battling psychological problems and/or physical problems such as a hormone imbalance that makes it incredibly difficult for them. Those situations are hard enough on those people without others being given societal carte blanche to ridicule them as they please.

Live and let live. But you're not using public money to alter buildings and whatnot.

I see where you're coming from, but on the other hand, making allowances gives the impression that it's "OK" to be obese. "It's OK, you can be fat, society will cater for you" [literally]. There are plenty of lazy people out there, and if these fat accommodating measures come out, there could be more people who go that way.

It's not a disability, so it's not the same as there being car parking spaces for wheelchair users. A lot of the time it's a choice.

I've been obese myself. I was just lazy and fat. I decided to do something about it and lost it all.

 

[Maccapacca]

There's a guy sitting next to me who's in a wheelchair from a motorbike accident, no one else involved it was all his fault, why should I accomodate the changes in the office, it's disgusting.

 

[Begbie]

Definitely not, majority of the time there is no excuse.

 

[AtreuS]

Well done, dropping 6.5 stone is a very difficult task, and you basically show the OPs point of what people who are obese should do.

Its not easy and it depends on those around you. I was in a stable relationship when I put on a lot of the weight, she was doing the same. Once we split up I was suddenly acutely aware that I was an enormous blob and no woman would ever look at me again.... so I had to do something.

I wont lie its taken about 4 years and its been a struggle... I do have the occasional blow out but I HAVE to get a grip and just say "ok ive had my fix... back to normal now" and get over it.

Luckily I was always a large bloke... and I goto the gym now just started doing weights and I am putting a lot of muscle on fast... bear mode apparently according to the lads lol.... so the only excess skin I have to worry about is round my belly and to be honest its not that bad, they think I can tone a lot of it away.

 

[Leprechaun312]

A documentary I once saw said that greed was good.

 

[mrk]

Calling people fat is not an insult. It's not discrimination. It's a fact.

People are black, people are white, people are thin, people are fat.

The only reason why fat people get offended when they're called fat is because they don't want to be fat.

How often do you find thin people getting offended for being called thin? Exactly.

The reason is that many people are a bit retarded.

 

[Janesy B]

The whole reason people are getting fatter is because people are scared of saying; look, you're getting fat, stop it or you'll die early.

Society shouldn't allow morbidly obese people to accept their body and call it beautiful, because that's like saying you should embrace your tumour. It's not right.

Poor people end up spending more on crap food because they aren't taught how to cook in school and just come from a line of people that would rather order take away or put something in the microwave. It's getting worse now because fatty can just click away from facebook for a second and order a tonne of junk to feed their horrible family without even getting off the chair.

 

[Lysander]

There's a guy sitting next to me who's in a wheelchair from a motorbike accident, no one else involved it was all his fault, why should I accomodate the changes in the office, it's disgusting.

That's different, his accident was not a personal choice. Being fat is.

 

[elmarko]

Finding labels for people isn't helpful (or polite), providing help to reduce weight is the only sensible response.

Precisely.

Insulting/offending & depressing people will more likely result in further depression & more comfort eating.

Resolving the underline issues which result in over-eating or a lack of self-control would be a good thing to invest in, apparently teaching a young children patience (with reward for waiting) improves temporal discounting (a key skill required to make choices which benefit in the long term - ie, picking the salad, over the short-term ie, eating a cake).

It's a hugely complex issue, with health, diet & psychological elements which all need to be considered - calling people fatties isn't likely to help any of them.

 

[Leprechaun312]

Its not easy and it depends on those around you. I was in a stable relationship when I put on a lot of the weight, she was doing the same. Once we split up I was suddenly acutely aware that I was an enormous blob and no woman would ever look at me again.... so I had to do something.

I wont lie its taken about 4 years and its been a struggle... I do have the occasional blow out but I HAVE to get a grip and just say "ok ive had my fix... back to normal now" and get over it.

Luckily I was always a large bloke... and I goto the gym now just started doing weights and I am putting a lot of muscle on fast... bear mode apparently according to the lads lol.... so the only excess skin I have to worry about is round my belly and to be honest its not that bad, they think I can tone a lot of it away.

Bear-mode haha, seems like you have some class mates too
yeah, having people who are there to support you helps, at least you made the realization and decided to make a change. I'm sure the first couple of weeks of changing diet, exercising...etc were absolute hell to the point of wanting to just go "AAAh **** it, i want a McDonalds"

4 years, that is impressive to have such self control, and hey there is nothing wrong with the odd wee treat, and as you have said, you've had your treat now back to normal

 

[Joshct]

Definitely not, majority of the time there is no excuse.

As though everyone undergos a choice one day where they say "i'll pick skinny" or "i'll pick to be fat".

Go find a fat person who grew up overweight, got bullied because of it and was never taught proper eating habits / relied on food for comfort etc.

I'm not saying they can't or shouldn't change. But there is no single moment they should have to have an excuse for, it's simply what life was for them. That's not their fault.

You can debate each time they chose to eat too much or the wrong thing was a choice, yes, but for most i think surely there's a point where even if they know its wrong, it's the only option. They can't even possibly begin to imagine the years of hard work required for them to lose it.

The mindset of people who have been skinny their entire lives probably cannot even begin to emphasize with someone who has a lifetime of bad habits to fix, or that of someone who cannot walk without getting tired.

Again, not saying people should chose to be fat, or that they shouldn't fix it. Just that everyone here is seemingly of the opinion "fat people are pratically the devil! they do it to spite us!"

Unless you've lived in a bubble you've taken chances which could have lead you being a burden on society. Including ever entering a car, crossing the road, smoking / drinking or any other hundreds of thousands of activities which could have left you a burden.

EDIT: Fat people eat more. Fat people pay more on food than you, therefore they pay more VAT, therefore they pay off their medical bills. Logic is infallible.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

That's different, his accident was not a personal choice. Being fat is.

I get a little bit uncomfortable when my views and your views start lining up so, I don't know, you're going to have to move out. I don't think this is working.

 

[NightSt@lk3r]

 

[deuse]

Big girls, you are beautiful

until they lay on the bed naked singing "here I am come and get me" feel sick yuk

 

[elmarko]

That's different, his accident was not a personal choice. Being fat is.

Choosing to ride a dangerous vehicle with a much higher statistical chance of an accident/serious injury was his choice.

The problem with this debate is it's full to the brim of reductionists who lack either the ability or the inclination to appreciate the vast complexity of the issue at hand.

 

[Pestilence]

I see where you're coming from, but on the other hand, making allowances gives the impression that it's "OK" to be obese. "It's OK, you can be fat, society will cater for you" [literally]. There are plenty of lazy people out there, and if these fat accommodating measures come out, there could be more people who go that way.

It's not a disability, so it's not the same as there being car parking spaces for wheelchair users. A lot of the time it's a choice.

I've been obese myself. I was just lazy and fat. I decided to do something about it and lost it all.

I agree with you. I don't think we should be making allowances or accommodations.

The majority of the time, it's a choice, no doubt. Sure it might be a struggle to get back out of it when you're so far gone, but it's do-able with determination, moderation and the will to succeed.

However, while we shouldn't be making allowances or letting people get away with being lazy and gluttonous with the excuse that they are disabled (through entirely their own design) we equally shouldn't be telling ourselves and others that it's okay to ridicule and ostracise another person because of their physical form. There's encouragement, however slight (for example a massive person "getting the message" when they can't fit in a seat one day could be the turning point for them to sort it out), and then there's being a complete **** to people, which is nobody's right.

 

[Leprechaun312]

Choosing to ride a dangerous vehicle with a much higher statistical chance of an accident/serious injury was his choice.

but being a wheelchair is punishment enough don't you think?