Fat Shaming.

[Parasondox]

When it comes to work, there is a golden rule. Don't Trust Anyone. *Stabbed in the back*

You know what? People are shitty. Really shitty. Filled with hate, disgust, narrow mindedness in order to hurt people everyday. Often bidding being a screen and false name or just running like cowards.

News time.
'Fat shaming' cards handed to London Tube passengers -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34969424

Yet this isn't the only case.

"Overweight Haters Ltd", as they are calling themselves, have been handing out cards to passengers who they deem overweight. Now, they aren't exactly handing out the cards, they just leave it next to the passenger when at the station they are getting off at, and then leave the train straight afterwards. Basically how some on social media sites leave nasty comments online and think no one will every catch them or do anything about it.

Pathetic and cowards. Yeah, a free speech or freedom of expression argument will come. I know the Escapist well but this is just insulting. It's not a comedy or parody in this situation. This is just a random attack in a setting that doesn't need it.

Thoughts?

 

[Thaluikhain]

An unusual manifestation of a very common problem. Hell, I can more or less guarantee we'll get a lot of the usual fat hating rubbish in this thread.

As well as the obvious, the idea that telling fat people they are awful will somehow make them thin this time...yeah, c'mon, that's not why you are doing it.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

The entire problem with fat shaming is that it's a method of tearing people down, not building them up, there have been many studies that shows negative reinforcement doesn't work. What happens when people get fat shamed is they seek comfort, which for them is usually eating, and retreat from social and public situations. Calling fat people horrible things makes them less likely to be open to the idea of going to the gym, or reaching out for help with weight loss.

In particular the method on show here, this venomous cowardly method of doing it. It'd be nice to gather the people putting these cards out and let others call them scumbag wastes of oxygen. See how they like venomous vitriol sprayed in their direction.

When it comes to the human condition, I lose hope every day because of the way people conduct themselves. People spewing vitriol, or making others extremely uncomfortable, then justifying their behavior in the weakest possible ways... Really I'd like people like these cowards to stop and think about what harm they're doing to others, but they're not going to. You call them they'll throw weak justification back at you.

 

[DefunctTheory]

To me, this isn't a fat shaming issue. This is just people being rude, obnoxious trolls. The fact being fat is being mentioned is secondary to that.

 

[Thaluikhain]

To me, this isn't a fat shaming issue. This is just people being rude, obnoxious trolls. The fact being fat is being mentioned is secondary to that.

While I see what you mean, much the same could be said about any prejudice. This didn't come out of nowhere, you don't have people doing this sort of thing to, say, people with brown hair, it's built on a long history of fat shaming.

Now, of course, if it wasn't about fat people, perhaps they'd be being racist or attacking people with Aspergers.

 

[lionsprey]

uh what? it's not eating to much food that makes you fat its eating the wrong kind of food and too many snacks that make you fat.

 

[Thaluikhain]

uh what? it's not eating to much food that makes you fat its eating the wrong kind of food and too many snacks that make you fat.

That's also an oversimplification, if things were that simple we'd not have zillions of stupid weightloss stuff being sold all the time.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Now that's just assholish.

 

[Dizchu]

I'd like them to know how much they shot themselves in the foot with this. They've made encouraging people to lose weight exactly the same as encouraging them to join their religion. Well done guys, bravo.

There are certain things commonly called "fat shaming" that I'd disagree are about shame. Things like advice from doctors for people at risk, advocating healthy eating and exercise, things that don't need to be confrontational at all. But this? This is self-admitted fat shaming. This is like a manifestation of all the fat-hating nonsense that's present on the internet, delivered the same way a fundamentalist would preach about the end of the world.

There is nothing good I can say about those sorts of people. "Perverted chubby-lover"? Woah now.

 

[Albino Boo]

Its rude, but is it any ruder than to expect everyone else to pay for the medical costs from her lifestyle choices through the NHS. The NHS is spending at least £5.1 billion a year on costs associated with weight. I'm a middle aged man and I don't claim to be a muscle bound adonis but I still have the same waist size that I did 20 years ago. It just takes a little self discipline, it's not food is heroin.

 

[IOwnTheSpire]

Yeah, a free speech or freedom of expression argument will come.

Ugh, I hope not. One thing I cannot stand is people using the terms free speech, freedom of expression, or (god forbid) censorship as a shield/get out of jail free card for their vile behavior. Unfortunately, free speech is like those terms of agreement you see when installing a program: most people click accept without actually reading it and aren't aware that free speech comes with a lot of caveat.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

Well I mean, Reddit took down their very favorite hangout.

I surprised so many of them would risk the terrible burns from exposure to the "outside" long enough to get to the tubes and continue being awful.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

It just takes a little self discipline, it's not food is heroin.

Yes and no.

Gaining weight stems from a variety of different factors (like almost everything in life). Some people have systemic diseases that contribute to weight gain, others have systemic diseases that hamper or even outright prevent proper exercise. Some are on drugs and medications...for a variety of issues...that instigate weight gain or prevent its natural loss. There's a hormone that regulates how hungry you feel, and some people just produce more of it. Some people are gifted with raging metabolisms, others have to struggle with slow ones.

I spent my entire life through my late 20's with a roaring furnace of a metabolism. I could shovel in any kind of food I wanted, in any amount, and never gain a pound. I was WHIP thin. That eventually ebbed away, and now I have to struggle with a life time of learned gluttony, yet despite eating WAY more food than I needed through my 30's and getting precious little exercise, I never got fat. I definitively got "soft", but I never got fat, and when I decide I'm getting perilously chubby, a few months of half-assed exercising and reasonable meals sees the pounds melt off like butter. So I'm in a position where I could easily say "LOL ALL IT TAKES IS SOME DISCIPLINE" and I'd be right. For me.

Not everyone who gains weight gains weight because of circumstances beyond their control. For some, gluttony is definitely an issue. For others it's a senseless aversion to healthy food or even minimal levels of basic exercise. It's pretty tough to know just by looking at someone though. And research has shown...repeatedly...that negative reinforcement isn't effective at treating the problem. There will always be individuals who respond better to the iron boot than the velvet glove, but on a macro level you "catch more flies with honey".

Telling overweight people they're disgusting pigs isn't going to shame them into positive action, it's probably going to perpetuate an already ugly downward spiral. It's shitheads using feigned concern for budgetary issues to validate their malice. As if everyone living in the first world didn't have gluttony/consumption problems when viewed through a global lens. I wonder if their righteous indignation over excess extends to their own lives.

I'm guessing "no".

 

[CaitSeith]

Spoiler

To me, this isn't a fat shaming issue. This is just people being rude, obnoxious trolls. The fact being fat is being mentioned is secondary to that.

Oh, please, don't bring out the troll card. That is a cheap cop-out that doesn't apply in coordinated actions like this.

 

[Zontar]

Yeah that's pretty dickish.

On the other hand, I wonder how people would react if it was being done to smokers. Say what you will, but with the cost obesity has on the health care system being overweight should be seen in the same light as smoking, especially given the fact that in 99% of cases it is in fact a choice on the part of the person who is overweight due to their lifestyle habits.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

I think it's hilarious :^)

An unusual manifestation of a very common problem. Hell, I can more or less guarantee we'll get a lot of the usual fat hating rubbish in this thread.

Lol, so far it looks unlikely

 

[DefunctTheory]

uh what? it's not eating to much food that makes you fat its eating the wrong kind of food and too many snacks that make you fat.

In my experience, the most common cause of being over weight is over sized portions, not people who exist purely on Little Debbies and white bread. Generally, people who exist on such lopsided diets have issues far more worrying then a couple more pounds hanging off of them.

To me, this isn't a fat shaming issue. This is just people being rude, obnoxious trolls. The fact being fat is being mentioned is secondary to that.

While I see what you mean, much the same could be said about any prejudice. This didn't come out of nowhere, you don't have people doing this sort of thing to, say, people with brown hair, it's built on a long history of fat shaming.

Now, of course, if it wasn't about fat people, perhaps they'd be being racist or attacking people with Aspergers.

What I meant by that was that I think these people are more concerned with attacking people then with fatness. Obviously they have a problem with overweight people, but I think that simply swinging a metaphorically brick at these people is the goal. I can't speak to all bigots, but I think most people who discriminate against things like, say, LGBT or certain races have legitimate (To them, anyway) problems with those groups that leads to physically, mentally, or legally fighting against them. This seems more to me like a prick calling a girl a ***** just to see her cry, not because he actually thinks she's a *****.

Spoiler

To me, this isn't a fat shaming issue. This is just people being rude, obnoxious trolls. The fact being fat is being mentioned is secondary to that.

Oh, please, don't bring out the troll card. That is a cheap cop-out that doesn't apply in coordinated actions like this.

I don't see how its a cheap cop out card. Isn't trolling people for your own amusement more vile then a misdirected and counterproductive attempt to help people be 'healthier?'

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'd just eat that card right in front of them, and then tell them they're next.

Its rude, but is it any ruder than to expect everyone else to pay for the medical costs from her lifestyle choices through the NHS.

Yes it is, because nobody wants to be fat. Unless you're one of those women who's in a relationship with a feeder. And even then there's a hefty amount of manipulation going on from the feeder's side.

Beyond the numerous medical reasons people can get fat, there's also people being poor or having crazy work hours, so that all they can really get is the cheap crap. And let's not forget the many food manufacturers that straight up lie on their packages as to how many calories their products actually contain.

 

[cleric of the order]

Pool's closed friend.
Point being trolls can organize, I cannot be sure that these folks are trolls or doing it for humors sake but the writing "perverted chubby-lover" and other things like that is meant to be offensive and generally smacks of b8 m8.
If not I find it mildly disquieting that people would have time to waste yelling at fat people in England.
They should be doing it in the US.

Ugh, I hope not. One thing I cannot stand is people using the terms free speech, freedom of expression, or (god forbid) censorship as a shield/get out of jail free card for their vile behavior.Unfortunately, free speech is like those terms of agreement you see when installing a program: most people click accept without actually reading it and aren't aware that free speech comes with a lot of caveat.

I'd genuinely like to hear of the limitation that this covers.
I mean I know of the general idea that you shouldn't be able to cause direct harm with your words i.e. the old shouting fire in a crowed auditorium or hate speech. But i would like to know what directly limits these people being jerks.
also any off the top of your head too.