Fight Fattism! Fat Rights NOW!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8327753.stm

Ok, obviously attacking people for being fat is indefensible, but I get sick of this "I can't help being fat." I sincerely doubt the 114kg (251lbs) woman is really all that healthy unless she's 7 feet tall.

What say you, wordforge?

Kicking people on a subway for being fat? This seems like a strict European issue, because in America, everyone is fat.

I think it doesn't matter if she's healthy or not, if she packed on every pound herself or not....there is no excuse for treating people like that. None.

Unless they're fat...

I think its good that people provide the proper negative feedback, if it really bothered them so bad then they would set down the twinkies.

That is the mindset of a bully.

No, no one has the right to physically or verbally abuse another person without just cause. Someone's physical attributes, orientation, religion, or gender does not count as just cause.

J.

So that's where Mewa's been....

What will it take to make you set down the bottle?

Oh, and if your past really bothered you, you'd drag your ass to a therapist.

How do you like it? Is it helping?

That behavior is unacceptable. You don't beat people up because they're chubby.

Of course, in some circles, it seems like it's fair game to call thin people "anorexic" or act like a thin woman isn't a "real woman," so it's not like it doesn't go both ways...

Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.

That said, I doubt she is too healthy at all, the fat acceptance movement has a history of grossly overstating the fitness of its members, and also being slightly insane.

See this article from around the same time:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8314125.stm

No-one should be attacked for their weight, but the fat acceptance movement is living in some fantasy land where they are all perfectly healthy normal individuals.

Yeah, I'm calling BS on that woman being a trainer, too. My mom's been at the gym for the last fourteen years, and no fucking way has she ever seen a trainer there who wasn't in decent shape themselves.

But aside from that...throwing beer cans at people? REALLY? Just for being fat and daring to show themselves in public? Just...goddamn.

There is no excuse for hitting or hurting anyone. It is wrong.

It is also wrong for a tub of lard to think they can occupy two seats, ooze into yours etc. If you can't fit into one seat, stand or tind another means of transporting yourself. It is wrong to inflict your problems onto everyone else.

So are drug users, smokers, promiscuous bare-backing male homosexuals, certain homeless people and an array of bad-decision-making people.

Doesn't give people the right to harass and abuse them sans consequences.

That said, it's silly not to expect a doctor to say something about weight. Still, I don't know any overweight people who lost weight because they were abused...if anything it sends them right to the refrigerator.

I could see the problem if the woman was oozing all over the woman who attacked her...I still wouldn't agree with the abuse but I would get why it happened....but this was a near empty train and no one was forced to sit next to her so what business is it of anyone else?

And fuck that crap about inflicting problems.
I suppose the handicapped should be trapped at home since they may need special accomodations as well.

I have a female cousin that is vastly overweight. Her self-esteem couldn't be higher. Her parents think that makes it ok, but the fact is she is extremely fat and doesn't need to be. I wouldn't want anyone to mistreat her, but she could definitely use some constructive criticism.

So what you're saying is, every single person should have the world adapted to them? Never thought you were the kind Tamar.

And also, when it comes to adapting things, surely there's an issue between those who can do something about it (like weight - and yes, some can't, but that's under 1% acc. to my medics friend), and those who have conditions that they can't help, no matter how they change their diet?

There is a huge difference between someone who is handicapped or has a disease and people who suck down fast food like it was water.

There is also a limit to accomodations that society makes. We don't need to rebuild our trains twice as wide to accomodate fatties.

So, according to you, being gay is probably a choice, but being fat is just inevitable?

There's a considerable difference between being a few pounds up and being obese. And obesity that is not a result of a rare metabolic disorder or a side effect of medication *is* a choice...a choice that has an impact on society as a whole in terms of inflated medical costs required to treat obese people for heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic problems, etc., etc., etc., most of which are preventable.

Obviously this sort of abuse is totally unacceptable. There are huge anti-obesity campaigns in the country, the government has declared war on obesity but unfortunately innocent fatties have become victims of sorts.
While I condemn physical/verbal abuse of the obese, I welcome the political efforts to combat obesity. I remember there was a time when fat folk were being told there was nothing wrong with them, and that 'big is beautiful'. (mainly American media).

The government should be strict with the morbidly obese, not only for the sake of their health but to ease the pressure on the NHS. I'd rather my money not be spent on caring for people with little self control.

Maybe those people would prefer the option to have private healthcare to keep personal issues like that... personal.

I just wanted to say I have lost 12 pounds in the last 4 weeks. Been running/biking a few miles everyday. Back now at 6'3 and 198 lbs.

As for the topic of this thread -- what a total douche the attacker was. Next time the fat person should knock them to the ground and sit on them until help comes.

So if its okay to beat up people because they're taking up two seats, is it okay for me to start punching smokers?

At what point does a bad behavior become punishable by others? Never. If you have a problem, call the cops, otherwise back the fuck off.

Of course if you didn't have a national health system you wouldn't be paying for the fatties.

I don't understand why we don't just put fatties on treadmills as alternative energy. Save money now on electricity, save money later on healthcare.

Guess who's paying for the fatties in the U.S.? You are. Every time your insurer tells you "Due to the increased costs of medical care in America, we're obliged to raise your premiums," that's InsurerSpeak for "people in the U.S. are getting fatter, and needing more CABG surgery, and more knee and hip replacements and more diabetes care, and we need to 'spread the risk' to everyone. This means you."

Instead of beating up fat people, why not beat up idiots instead? Especially those who dont know when to :jackvamp:

Actually, fatties save plenty of money when they drop dead quickly from heart attacks or strokes. It's the selfish cancer victims wasting away for months and years that really put a strain on the system.

Geez, from the article and comments fat folks are saying that the [supposedly thin] people who are making fun of or hurting them are just angry because they're hungry and they've been on starvation diets all their lives.

I agree, unless they're morbidly obese and on Food Stamps.