I’ve been seeing a lot of casual hate against fat people over the internet. Most of them justify their hate with “They have no excuse for being fat”, " It will motivate them to lose weight ".
They make it sound like it’s absolutely ok and the hate is a natural response to seeing an overweight person. I even saw a kid sharing his love for books in a video and one of the commentors was like, " Books are good, but exercise is better" and when he got backlash he was like “oh, he’s gotta lose weight”, “no hate, I’m just trying to be helpful” But is it right to do it under a post where he’s sharing his hobby?
I know fat is unhealthy and that the person is better off without it. But is how healthy a person lives anyone’s business except their own? I mean, it’s not contagious?
Besides, people could have their own reasons to be fat. Maybe they don’t have time to work out, maybe they have some physical problems that don’t allow them to work out or maybe that’s just the way they want to live. How do you decide they absolutely have access to a gym or have the time to work out based on a single pic or a short video?
Overweight people have become a kind of target for people who are bullies but don’t want to be called out.
Unsolicited advice based on someone’s physical appearance is generally regarded as pretty rude where I’m from. Rude enough to worry that saying it to an unknown person might even trigger a violent response.
On the internet, however, there’s a pretty low risk of any kind of reaction that would affect the person who made the comment.
It might be my most boomeresque opinion, but I think people simply are increasingly not learning what is considered rude and that they then shouldn’t do those things.
No, no. You are right. One of the problems of the internet is that there is no risk of getting immediately punched in the face for what you say to other people.
This is a pretty old topic in modern discussion, but there’s no reason to downvote it when bringing it up in a legitimate, honest way. Sorry for the casual negatives, OP.
In any case, it’s certainly easy to be overweight for a variety of reasons, as I’ve discovered myself in the post-Covid era, when my main form of local exercise got shut down. (two forms, really)
IIRC there are also studies finding that some people can gain weight eating the exact same diet as control subjects, and the science is still working to understand the totality of mechanisms involved.
Besides, people could have their own reasons to be fat. Maybe they don’t have time to work out, maybe they have some physical problems that don’t allow them to work out or maybe that’s just the way they want to live.
Absolutely. There’s also: they could have a medical condition, it could be their “least worst” way of coping with stress/trauma, they could live in a food desert, … But ultimately, like you say, it’s THEIR business how they do the “pursuit of happiness” thing.
How the hell would people know you are fat.
The sound of your fat fingers on your keyboard.
The whole focus on fatness shifts away focus from the two problem a society has - poor nutrition, poor basic education, and work culture.
That’s why you see so much toxicity towards fatness in the USA vs other countries - because the government and corporations push that forward.
That people are overworked to extremes where cooking is difficult, that beef is subsidized so much while broccoli isn’t , that education is so underfunded a course on actual nutrition is nearly non existent - those are all problems caused by the right wing and the oligarchy. And if you turn people against being fat, rather than being healthy, then it’s easier to not pay attention to the real problems that society has.
And now, there’s even an added financial reason now to avoid focusing on health and instead just purely on appearance, with drugs like Wegovy existing.
Being fat doesn’t mean unhealthy, and neither does being skinny. You can be overweight but easily lift your own weight, you can fat and run a km under 7 minutes, and you can be skinny as a twig but struggle to open a jar or easily break your bones because you only eat 800 calories a day but 500 of those come from cookies.
In any country without universal healthcare, someome else being fat is 100% not your problem.
It’s the opposite of that. Fat people need more medical intervention particularly later in life and so they disproportionately drain public resources unnecessarily. It’s the same with smokers and drinkers. We could save massive amounts of money and time by ensuring people live healthier lives.
Any money saved just benefits insurance corporations.
How so?
The argument for treatment goes both ways. If hospitals pickup the cost for uninsured and underinsured patients everyone pays for it with higher costs.
Conversely, if there are any savings to be had, the cost is still high for everyone and the savings typically go to the insurance company.
Okay so either the government, private insurance or the individual will pay. If more people are unhealthy than more has to be paid. Saying being fat is good actually because it means you get more out of private insurance is stupid af because it only applies to people with private insurance and private insurance companies price that shit in with premiums anyways.
Being fat is obviously not good. All I’m saying is you’re screwed one way and screwed the other way. It’s a bit pessimistic or sarcastic take on the matter.
Even if someone has private insurance and they’re overweight it’s still screws everyone else because the insurance companies raise the rates. That leads less cost for the medical system the hospital the government what have you the insurance company still make more money because they overcharge the shit out of everybody anyway.
True
That’s what I said. If your country does not have universal healthcare, then your taxes are not being wasted on treating fat people, so it’s none of your concern.
If, on the other hand, your country does have universal healthcare, then you have a vested interest in making being fat a poor choice.
Any universal healthcare country not actively and aggressively trying to curb obesity is just going to burn through its healthcare coffers sooner or later.
Yeah I misread sorry. Agree with everything you’ve said.
Only if the country also has no legal duty of care. The US, for example, has no universal healthcare, but if you show up at the ER the ER is legally required to treat you. Then the taxpayer picks up the bill.
Basically, it’s like universal healthcare, but as inefficient and expensive as possible.
I think part of the issue is that someone being fat does often become other people’s problem, in ways that are not obvious. For example: a while ago I was on vacation, and met up with some friends. We were gonna go to a museum. One of those friends brought their (obese) friend. Suddenly, the four block walk from the parking garage to the museum needed two rest breaks. Then we needed to take a rest break every 20 minutes in the museum. Then instead of walking to dinner, we needed to get taxis. Not to mention the nearly constant vader breath punctuated by bitching about being tired.
I mean, I’m not gonna call someone out for being too fat to function. But they do notice when I stop inviting them places.
At one point they casually mentioned that the last time they gave their 8 year old kid broccoli, the kid threw a tantrum as soon as they saw it on the plate. Apparently, the only way they can get their 8 year old to eat is with pizza. Guess what shape that 8 year old is?
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sorry you have to see that
Oh, it’s not about me. I’m not fat.
I don’t mind fat people to be honest but just don’t be overweight or unhealthy for your system to handle 😅 coming from someone who is borderline red on bmi
I don’t think bullying is ok because it causes psychological harm.
But IMO it’s wrong to view obesity as something personal and not affecting others.
Fat people consume more resources than their body needs. These extra calories could (in theory) be used to support lives of the starving. No wonder gluttony is considered a sin among most cultures.
I mean, it’s not contagious?
But it is contagious. Being surrounded by fat people increases the likelihood that you will be overweight too. And it works the other way around and with drugs, and smoking etc too.
When I hang with healthy people, I usually end up eating a lot less junk and being more active.
These extra calories could (in theory) be used to support lives of the starving
By that logic, every person who eats junk food, fat or not, is responsible for starving others?
I realize this is an unpopular opinion. It’s always good to learn and correct my thinking.
By that logic, every person who eats junk food, fat or not, is responsible for starving others?
As a collective I would agree. The vast majority of the inequality in food distribution and wastage comes from the capitalistic food industry and junk food. The food factories and the customers both are responsible for it. (Not in equal amounts)
Just like we might say cigarette manufacturers and smokers are responsible for those dying of passive smoke.
IMO if you live in a real country that has a universal healthcare system you have a responsibility to maintain fitness and a healthy lifestyle so not to drain public resources unnecessarily for your selfish behaviour. Yes ultimately it is a problem with what we let food producers get away with, that is making deliberately addictive food that doesn’t satiate, but if you ever ask a fat person what they think about regulating those foods; take a guess at how they’ll respond.
Now if you live in the US on the other hand you deserve to be bullied anyway so whatever.
Doesn’t make bullying ok.
Telling people they’re selfish and unhealthy for being fat isn’t bullying.
selfish
How?
isn’t bullying.
Highly depends on the context. If you are having a conversation about health, then that’s right. But other than that, reminding a person they’re fat as soon as you see them is bullying. And if they don’t ask you for it, you’re just overstepping other’s boundaries
It’s selfish in the same way smoking and drinking is. They’re going to have more public resources spent on their healthcare than if they weren’t. That is being selfish because they’re prioritising their own hedonism above the time of doctors and the money of taxpayers.
I agree with what you said about bullying.
Ok, you actually have a point. But I don’t think they should be shamed for it, or “called out” In a way that puts them to shame.
How come alcohol and cigarettes are still sold in those countries? How 'bout sugar or corn syrup? That logic is absurd…
Logic isn’t absurd. I think nicotine and alcohol should be regulated just the same.
