Why it is acceptable to criticize smokers, but not fat people?

[Kwik won]

im a chef, the fat and the smokers are basicly my workmates, im a working enviroment such as a kitchen id rather have a smoker then a fat guy, only because your expected to move fast and be move around tight spaces.
but socially i think being fat is the worse of the two, when was the last time you herd a person being depressed because they were a smoker

 

[Supah]

I don't know how it is the UK and Australia, but in the United States, smokers have developed a pariah-like status over the years. There are all kinds of anti-smoking campaigns, city ordinances not allowing smoking within X number of feet from a building, etc. But at the same time in the US, it is politically incorrect to criticize those who are overweight and obese. Some might argue: "Second hand smoke harms other people, but it's my choice to eat what I want and this doesn't harm other people."

However, it DOES harm other people, just not in the same way as second-hand smoke. According to a recent study, annual spending on obesity-related diseases is expected to rise by 13-16% in the US by 2030, leading to 2.6% increase in national health spending. Total medical costs associated with treatment of preventable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease are estimated to increase by $48-66 billion a year.

That means as a fit person, my taxes will be higher and my insurance premiums will go up to fund increased health care costs associated with an increase in obesity. Also, children with fat parents are less likely to have access to healthy foods and are more likely to be overweight themselves. Other people ARE harmed by you being overweight.

But instead of a nationwide effort to promote healthy eating, there is a culture in the United States of being fat and proud of it. Facebook groups promoting concepts like "big women are beautiful" have millions of followers, and criticism of fat people is called "hate speech". Clearly some overweight people don't want to feel guilty about their behavior choices, so they try to make others feel guilty or embarrassed for criticizing them.

Let make this perfectly clear: being fat should not be a protected class like race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Unlike those categories, being fat is almost always a choice. Only a small percentage of people are overweight because of a legitimate medical condition like hyperthyroidism. And sure, eating disorders with psychological roots exist, but let's be honest: most fat people are fat because of poor food choices and because they lack the willpower and motivation to exercise regularly. They just don't like to be called out on it.

Smoke is filthy, digusting, and a public disturbance, I hate the smell of it and it makes me cough like crazy. If you feel like smoking, fine, go do it at home. Btw its not always a person's choice to be fat, you have to account things like metabolism and family history.

 

[A Shadows Age]

Because smokers "suck and blow", and it's even worse if they are fat... You must be using a very specific exception because fatties and smokers both get shit where I come from.

 

[Conza]

I don't know how it is the UK and Australia, but in the United States, smokers have developed a pariah-like status over the years. There are all kinds of anti-smoking campaigns, city ordinances not allowing smoking within X number of feet from a building, etc. But at the same time in the US, it is politically incorrect to criticize those who are overweight and obese. Some might argue: "Second hand smoke harms other people, but it's my choice to eat what I want and this doesn't harm other people."

However, it DOES harm other people, just not in the same way as second-hand smoke. According to a recent study, annual spending on obesity-related diseases is expected to rise by 13-16% in the US by 2030, leading to 2.6% increase in national health spending. Total medical costs associated with treatment of preventable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease are estimated to increase by $48-66 billion a year.

That means as a fit person, my taxes will be higher and my insurance premiums will go up to fund increased health care costs associated with an increase in obesity. Also, children with fat parents are less likely to have access to healthy foods and are more likely to be overweight themselves. Other people ARE harmed by you being overweight.

But instead of a nationwide effort to promote healthy eating, there is a culture in the United States of being fat and proud of it. Facebook groups promoting concepts like "big women are beautiful" have millions of followers, and criticism of fat people is called "hate speech". Clearly some overweight people don't want to feel guilty about their behavior choices, so they try to make others feel guilty or embarrassed for criticizing them.

Let make this perfectly clear: being fat should not be a protected class like race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Unlike those categories, being fat is almost always a choice. Only a small percentage of people are overweight because of a legitimate medical condition like hyperthyroidism. And sure, eating disorders with psychological roots exist, but let's be honest: most fat people are fat because of poor food choices and because they lack the willpower and motivation to exercise regularly. They just don't like to be called out on it.

I don't think its fine to critize either really, you're quite right in that it's a similar problem, so I think they should both be helped over come their addiction to food or cigarettes.

 

[ProtonGuy]

This has always bugged me, If I'm smoking outside of a Best Buy 30 feet from the entrance so I'm not blowing smoke at anyone, and a high and mighty soccer mom goes out of her way to tell me what I'm doing is harmful to her family's health you know what I'm going to do? Call her a retard to her face because she wen't out of her way to inhale my smoke.

Because my smoke 30 feet away from her lard ass son is the danger, and the the 3 greasy cheeseburgers her genetic mistake is wolfing down aren't. I go out of my way to make fat people feel like shit because hopefully they off themselves and I won't have to look at them anymore. I already pay enough taxes on tobacco, I'll be damned if I have to pay for Tubby McStickybuns medical bills.

I know second hand smoke is harmful, that's why when I'm in public I try to stay as far away from others as possible. But does that fat ***** that looks like a wookie from behind care about the old lady hobbling on a walker while she rides by on a Wal-Mart amigo because she's too fucking lazy to walk? No because fat people don't believe it's their fault, they make it sound like Ronald McDonald is holding a gun to their head forcing them to eat McDonald's 6 times a day.

If calling a fat person fat makes me out to be some hate mongering second coming of Hitler, then get me a fucking uniform. I'll burn Krispy Kremes in my front yard. Hell I'll become a bus drive and make them sit in the back just so it will force them to walk off some of their disgusting fat rolls.

Also to all the fat women out their, not you are not beautiful, you're ugly. Stop eating, start purging. Stop wearing tight cloths, no one want's to see Jabba the Camel Toe.

The best part is, when all of this is done, I'm going to drive into the mountains so no one can ***** about me smoking. Once I'm there I'm going to smoke myself into a coma with those sweet sweet nicotine sticks.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Food's necessary for survival. Some people just like to indulge a bit more.

There's really no reason to start smoking in the first place except for peer pressure/thinking it makes you look cool.

That's the way I look at it, and I'll even occasionally indulge in a cigar every once in a while.

Or that they enjoy it?

Sure, why not. Though you'll be extremely hard pressed to find someone that managed to legitimately like smoking the very first time they tried a cigarette. Addiction (which is really what people enjoy, satiating the craving because of the nicotine), very rarely happens during the first cigarette.

Usually the only thing you look forward to is coughing and watering eyes, because you just inhaled smoke.

But sure, if you like it, then by all means go for it.

 

[Spawny0908]

Because not everyone chose to be big. Take me for example if you look at me I'm a big girl and you'd probably think I ate myself that way. But you can't SEE what's really going on. I have a kidney problem that causes massive swelling so I'm technically not this big but you can't see that I have a kidney problem, only that I'm big.

 

[RagTagBand]

I've noticed an interesting repetition of the same "anti-smoking" argument in this thread - Smokers smell. And despite the fact that fat people also tend to stink (which is expected when bits of yourself can become buried underneath other bits of yourself) the crux of the argument is "You are causing displeasure to one of my senses".

Which is fine, if you'd like to use that argument, but You would also have to accept the validity of "Have you seen fat people? Fucking disgusting to look at" as it's basically the same argument; the offense of ones senses.

Allow me to pinch and alter a quote from the most recent post (at time of writing) and tell me if this sounds like a good argument against being fat near people.

"So you don't care at all that people are bothered by the horrid sight of your blubber? You can notice it well over 30 feet away. Actually, over a hundred metres if there's not a bus in the way"

inb4 a bunch of excuses as to why what people smell is sacred and important, but what people see is not important and that people should just deal with it.

 

[Darkmantle]

Honestly, I think the simplest answer is that while fat people might cause my taxes to rise to cover health care, a smoker could kill me. I would rather have a bit less money than be dead.

ps. no I didn't read this 14 page thread, it should be really easy to see why I'd be more upset at being, ya know, dead, then out a few hundred every year.

 

[Grant Hobba]

Being fat is not necessarily a persons fault. There are glandular disorders and even genes that can result in a person being heavy regardless of how they eat or if they exercise. So it's not always just because someone is a lazy fat bastard.

Smokers chose to be smokers. It's their own fault no matter what the case except in those rare circumstances where someone was tied to a chair and forced to smoke...and I can't imagine that happens very often.

As horrible as it sounds, I'm not saying we shouldn't criticize fat people (I have a bit of a belly, I admit. But I do eat a balanced diet and occasionally work out) because you bring up some interesting points.

But the reason why we don't put it on the same level as the way we criticize smokers is because they have different origins.

It's like comparing suicide and murder. Sure, the end result is that they're dead. The reasons behind it though can change how a person reacts.

EDIT: After actually reading the final parts of your post, I see you already covered this.

In that case you basically answered your own question.

being fat is always someones fault ... you have to physically eat that amount to get fat... I'm not talking pudgy or overweight; I am talking fat.

there is no excuse and fat people have a problem, they are lazy entitled people who cost tax payers millions in healthcare.. when all they have to do is put down the fork and go for a jog.


simple.

 

[Darkmantle]

Skipping meals is NOT a good way to lose weight. As soon as you begin eating normally again you start packing weight back on. If you want to keep a steady weight you need a steady diet. Our metabolism does work like a clock. Which is why tricking it isn't a good idea.

No tricking occurs. People eat too often anyway. I probably should have said fasting instead of skipping meals. Makes more sense.

Um... actually, eating MORE often, but lesser amounts, helps you lose weight.

Basically, the reasoning is, that if you go from eating large amounts infrequently to smaller amounts infrequently, you body will panic somewhat. Every mean it will try to store as much as possible because it is unsure how much food it will be getting next time. But if you eat rather frequently, your body will feel assured of it's food source and not try and store up as much because it's not worried about when it's next meal is coming.

Sorry for the informal explanation, I don't remember all the nitty-gritty details, but that's about the gist of it.

 

[Death God]

The difference I suppose is that where second hand smoke can cause problems with people nearby, there is no comparative quality with fat people (second hand eating? Eating the last crispy chicken at KFC maybe?)

The line I draw is when they are smoking in public. Being fat in public doesn't physically hurt someone. Smoking however does, quite a bit.

Because of the two of them, second-hand smoke can kill but being fat can not kill somebody who isn't.

Meh, you all just spew out second-hand smoke as if you all just doesn't know WTF you are talking about. I don't like smoke and smokers so i am going to run around saying second-hand smoke so all the people who do not smoke get scared.

The largest and longest study (Enstrom & Kabat) followed more than 35,000 subjects for almost 40 years and found no significant risk associated with second-hand smoke. Similarly, the World Health Organization spent seven years at a dozen research centers in seven countries and came to the same conclusion.

You should read this site then: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/ETS
Second-hand smoke killed my great grandmother and it killed my uncle so I think you should probably study a nit more before getting all angry. And on any case, it should be right that people who don't smoke are scared of it. It is a poison to your body and it should not be taken lightly. Comment or rage back at me all you want but know that I won't be replying back. Not only is your comment offensive but it is also one-sided. On that note, have a good day.

 

[thom_cat_]

I say melt them all down and make some soap.

Secondhand Fat doesnt cause others cancer.

It can even be used to make high quality soaps!

BLOODY NINJAS

 

[Some_weirdGuy]

so many people here are acting as if smokers DON'T put a stain on the heathcare system.
Where do you think they go when they get their smoking induced illnesses?




Also, what about the fat smokers?

 

[ProtonGuy]

Actually if your wife had asthma I'd move. I'm an asshole but I'm not that kind of asshole. I'd gladly finish the smoke in my car. What pissed me off about this idiot parent was the fact that she had to walk directly away from her intended path to confront me. I know smoking is bad for myself and others, that's why I try to stay out of the way while I'm doing it. You would know that if you had actually finished reading my post, where I state that I would drive to the mountains to smoke a carton away from everyone else.