brainless_fps_player said:
RaphaelsRedemption said:
brainless_fps_player said:
Freedom of speech is idiotic. Political correctness, equally so.
Words can hurt, and should be moderated, if only by common sense. There is nothing to be gained by giving people the right to slander or make inflammatory remarks.
On the other hand, the government has no right or purpose whatsoever to dictate right and wrong in any context, including words and opinions.
The more we care about the use of a word like black, the more we emphasise the difference between white and black people. The more we emphasise it, the more we talk about groups, rather than individuals.
Also, fat people deserve it. Like alcoholics.
Well thanks for the comment about fat people. And alcholics. Are you either? Do you have any idea of what might happen to encourage a person to beome either? No? Then be quiet.
I'm not saying you can't call someone fat, or an alcoholic, but to imply that their feelings don't count because of a condition that may or may not be their fault, is unfair and cruel.
In the vast majority of cases, neither are a condition. It's the fault of a bad lifestyle. And both are an unnecessary drain on the health service. What's unfair is that fat people don't pay for the treatment that they need by making themselves fat. I would never encourage either. In fact I would strongly discourage both. Am I either? No. Why? Because I care about my health and, thankfully, I'n not afflicted with mental illness. For those who do struggle with alcoholism or obesity caused by depression, my heart goes out to you. To those who are just fat or drunkards, get a life and, when you find you need an organ, don't bother joining the queue, in case you get priority over someone who deserves a second chance.
Look, as far as I can tell, you are upset that people can harm their health deliberately, and then expect the pblic health system to carry them and fix their problems. Yes?
Thanks for clarifiying. I actually have bipolar disorder, a condition that requires me to take several different medications. One side effect is weight gain. Now I try to manage this. I watch every meal. I box, I run, I swim and have a personal trainer. But I've still put on 15 kilos in a year.
The reason I called you out on that first comment is simply that my heart breaks when fat people are derided. There are so many causes, not just mental illness. Medications, metabolism, emotional issues and even poverty play a part. I know I die a little inside every time someone (and it happens quite a lot) makes a comment about my weight. I can only imagine what it does to other people with weight problems.
I get what you're saying, but I do think you are not helping. Since when has deriding people been a good way to motivate them? If you really wanted people to take responsibility for their health and lives, would you be sneering at them? Because, yes, some people are just friggin lazy. But I can guarantee most people would love to be thin, even if it just meant that they could fit in and stop being laughed at.
I know this is off topic, but I do think this ties into the political correctness debate. I wouldn't agree with calling a fat person "differently sized" just to make them feel better about themselves. But I would strongly support a change in attitude (not language) towards minorities and different groups. When people treat each other with respect, then language becomes much less of a problem.
My apologies for the wall of text, but this is something I feel strongly about.