Should being fat be socially unacceptable

[Ashtrayhead]

I completely understand (and thank you for sharing your own personal experience, I don't think you are being selfish at all but I do think you are giving consideration and perspective to the question...so cheers) Perhaps, therefore, you are most qualified to answer the question that i am struggling with myself.

You are spot on, smoking eating, drinking (and the addition of drug) taking are all support systems that we sometimes "fall" back on and can all to easily become habit forming. So, my question is, in much the same way that "society" has made it easier...or perhaps more important... for smokers to stop smoking, could she also make it easier for those who fall to overeating as a vice...not to.

by simply making it embarrassing.

I know what you are thinking, it would be like hell for those who already struggle with their weight. But isn't it irresponsible to defend those who make a choice that is bad for them and ultimately leads to an early grave.

Smokers are massively discriminated against, they are taxed treated and segregated like no other member of society and yet we are happy to maintain this discrimination on the grounds that its "good for them".

PS, I am and have never been a smoker.

That's very cruel!
Do fat and overweight people bother you that much that you need to be so nasty to them?
Who's next on your list now that we've done the smokers, drinkers and the fatties?

 

[vernon]

I went out with her for around fourteen months.She never in that time over ate or even drank beer.She smoked more than i liked,she did say it was some hormone problem.I had no reason not to believe her.We were close if you get the meaning.

But if she was thinner you could have got closer.....

 

[smutchin]

I've witnessed plenty of discrimination against smokers in my workplaces.

Interesting. What form does this discrimination take?

d.

 

[Norm]

I'd hate to live in Jeez world if those who already have mental health issues were also shunned as a result of one of the few physical manifestations of their issues.

 

[Fab Foodie]

But if she was thinner you could have got closer.....

Well if you survive 'till ten thousand and five I hope you're exceedingly thin.
For if you are stout you will have to breathe out, while other around you breathe in ...

 

[Arch]

I think its probably a good idea for obesity not to be considered the norm, for health's sake, certainly, but not the subject of discrimination. It seems to me that the tide has turned against smoking fairly gradually, as much down to social pressure as any legislation, and perhaps that's the speed at which we need to turn the tide against obesity. Gently does it, encouraging healthy lifestyles as much as discouraging obesity, if you see what I mean.

 

[BSRU]

It is probably more to do with the switch away from physical labour to sedentary occupations

I should have written at the start "One of the many causes of the current complex problem".

 

[slowmotion]

Slowmo, I disagree, I think it will become unnaceptable. I recall when we lived in Sweden some 18 years ago, it certainly was there and I don't doubt it'll happen here.

FF, that interests me. Back in the days when smokers were grudgingly tolerated, the usual way of registering displeasure was for the non-smoker to frown and wave his hands about like a demented penguin in an elaborate charade of wafting the noxious smoke away. How did the Swedes register their disapproval of their bulkier brethren?

 

[jonny jeez]

Lots of interesting points.

My view (and this view was shaken by a discussion about the programme last night with some pals who presented a convincing counterview) is that we should make it socially unacceptable to make certain choices but those choices need to be the types that can be made in an instant.

Should I drop this litter...No its socially unacceptable
Should I be rude to this person... No its socially unacceptable
Should I speed...No its socially unacceptable

But when the decision that needs to be made requires a good deal of application, commitment, time and self discipline then it would be dangerous to allow society to "bully" itself to comply.

However its extremely interesting for me to hear views, especially some from those who suffer at the alter of the cookie jar (like me at times), that suggest that we should be allowed to be bullied or embarrassed into conformity, at least a little…for our own good.

I also find myself agreeing with those who predict that, like it or not, society will ...someday soon...end up going this way.

The reason I was conflicted was that I was discussing this last night with a couple of mates, one of whom suggested that "all fatties should be placed in the stocks" and that “they’d soon find a diet that worked after that”. His view was that people just need a motivation and that at the end of the day he would rather suffer a few months of embarrassment than a short lifetime of missing out. He also added that, in the short term this may offend some …and will result in a number of “casualties” but that eventually it would prove beneficial to us all. He also argued that we are being programmed to think stuff all the time and how would this change in attitude would be no different. He also argued that the many wars that we engage in result in far more needless casualties .

Basically his view was that in nature the fat would not survive, so why make excuses and allow.

I’m glad we live in a society and not in nature.

And that we have cake.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

disagree with what?

That being fat should be socially unacceptable.

I would at a guess that certain people being less unemployable is probably more common in the private sector than the public sector.

I just think that fat people like smokers know that they are already doing something that is bad for them without them being alienated even more with politicians or whoever else going on about it, or Gillian McKeith examining their turds on tv.

With all the fatties, smokers, and drinkers around at the moment we are already as whole living too long so we are told and it is costing the state with pensions, care etc, older people working longer denying younger people of jobs. I think in an ideal world the goverment in this country would like you to live healthily so it does not cost the NHS and then drop dead with a massive heart attack close to retiring age.

I just personally dislike people being labelled, it's not right.

 

[Fab Foodie]

FF, that interests me. Back in the days when smokers were grudgingly tolerated, the usual way of registering displeasure was for the non-smoker to frown and wave his hands about like a demented penguin in an elaborate charade of wafting the noxious smoke away. How did the Swedes register their disapproval of their bulkier brethren?

They were just labelled as 'fat Swedes' implying they were lazy feckless Bjorns and Bjornettas who couldn't be bothered to take better care of themselves. It also implied greed, gluttony and selfishness in Swedish society.
I recall asking about a cheap out of town supermarket (for food is very pricey in Sweden) and was told not to go there as it was full of 'fat Swedes'. It's not unlike Tesco vs Waitrose on a Saturday morning ....

 

[slowmotion]

They were just labelled as 'fat Swedes' implying they were lazy feckless Bjorns and Bjornettas who couldn't be bothered to take better care of themselves. It also implied greed, gluttony and selfishness in Swedish society.
I recall asking about a cheap out of town supermarket (for food is very pricey in Sweden) and was told not to go there as it was full of 'fat Swedes'. It's not unlike Tesco vs Waitrose on a Saturday morning ....

...with or without the pyjamas...?

 

[subaqua]

Sorry I totally disagree. I am not fat but have plenty of other vices like most people do in this country. Smokers, fatties who's next?

and define obesity . are "they" going to use the godawful BMI , or some other useless measure.

i fall just inside the BMI calculated definition of Obese, but have a lower cholesterol level, lower blood pressure and can recover quicker than the "skinny" guy who sits next to me in work, who falls nicly into the "normal" range. done in health week last year to prove a point about BMI being a useless measure.

or is it only fat people that say BMI is a useless measure

 

[Fab Foodie]

...with or without the pyjamas...?

The Jim-jams worn in Waitrose seem to have a certain quality ....

 

[MrJamie]

I think "appearing fat" is pretty subjective and not necessarily a good indicator of health. I suspect there are quite a few of us on here myself included with an unhealthy BMI and beer belly to match, but a relatively good level of fitness. It also makes me think of young women who being weight concious trying to watch their figure because of the social stigma we already have, dont exercise at all and just eat very little and with poor nutrition.

Having thought about it a little more, I think theres already plenty of social pressure in place and it has little positive effect imho.