Because there are more fat people than there are smokers. Makes them more normal, and therefore difficult to criticise.
Facebook groups aren't the population. I'm guessing you don't watch TV or you'd see many many commercials talking encouraging people to lose weight, and I don't just mean those weight lose pills.Brawndo said:Facebook groups
That's all well and good, but second-hand smoke is a DIRECT, IMMEDIATE annoyance to non-smokers in close proximity to a smoker.Brawndo said: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.
I wont go as far as saying that being fat is a choice. I can agree with you that my original post was poorly phrased though. However am I wrong? Now you're a smoker so strangers will judge you for it and think less of you for that thing alone. They will judge fat people and think they are lazy. Now I am neither smoking nor fat, but I don't think we should think less of anyone for any reason. Disagree?elvor0 said:Being Jewish or Black isn't a choice though is it? Stop being sensationalist, you sound like fox news.Yopaz said:Where have you been the last decade? Have you ever seen shows like The Biggest Loser, Fat Camp, Super size vs Super skinny and a million other shows with the same message? The message media is sending out is "Fat people, you are disgusting and you need to lose weight". Back in the old days it was accepted to treat Jews or black people like they're less, now we treat fat people and smokers like they're less without seeing the connection.
Obese people and smokers cost money and cause strain on the health system (well at least in countries with a COMMUNIST HEALTH SYSTEM!!!1!11! anyway). Being black or jewish isn't one day going to cause you to be in hospital taking up time and resources for someone who needs it.
Just for the record I smoke, so it doesn't sound like I'm having a go at smokers for taking up hospital space, I'm just pointing it out. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, besides I'm not sure I want to live past 70 anyway -_- Saying that, I pay my taxes, which WILL have gone to some obese person or smoker, so when it's my turn I'm having that damn bed.
Yes, I am comparing racism and discrimination against smokers and fatties.Brawndo said:Are you seriously trying to draw parallels between The Biggest Loser and anti-smoking campaigns to Jim Crow laws and antisemitism?Yopaz said:Where have you been the last decade? Have you ever seen shows like The Biggest Loser, Fat Camp, Super size vs Super skinny and a million other shows with the same message? The message media is sending out is "Fat people, you are disgusting and you need to lose weight". Back in the old days it was accepted to treat Jews or black people like they're less, now we treat fat people and smokers like they're less without seeing the connection.
Unless you have ever been to a comic book convention.GamerKT said:It usually takes longer for someone to stop being fat than to stop smoking. Also, smoke stinks. The most a fat person could inconvenience another is by taking up extra space or food.
This, because it is truth.kouriichi said:Do you want to know why? Because some people CANT be skinny.
Ive exercised, ate healthy, cut may daily intake of calories in half, and tried diet pills. I busted my ass, sweat clean through shirts and ruined perfectly good jogging shoes trying to lose weight.
But ive never gone under 230lbs.
>.>; Then people like you, who believe "im skinny so everyone else can be", come along and say being fat is a life choice for everyone.
Well guess what. Smoking is a life choice, being fat is not. Smoking can LITERALLY harm others, and the person who smokes. Being fat doesnt truly effect anyone but the person himself.
And the idea that a fat parent is more likely to have a fat child? Yeah, because there was something to cause the parent to be fat to begin with. Its literally impossible for me to go under 235lbs unless i go get liposuction once every 6 months to physically suck the weight off of me.
Now i understand not all fat people have this problem. But being fat is being different. Put on 150lbs and then talk to me about not being different from the general population >.>;
Sorry if this comes off as a RAAAAAGE post, but people like this piss me off, with good reason.
TBH, its sort of screwed up to be called out on your shortcomings by non-friend, non-family members... Either way I can't stand people who criticize other people for their failings and not recognizing that they have their own to deal with.Brawndo said: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.
Uh... I've never had a smoker come up and shove a cigarette down my throat.DracoSuave said:The difference is very simple.
A fat person doesn't force bacon down my throat in order for them to eat. A smoker does force others to breath in his drug.
One is immediately self-contained, and the other inconveniences those around you.