Debate:Why is fat discrimination tolerated?

Lets have a debate about this important topic.

Why do we tolerate discimination of obese people? Obese people tend to have lower salaries, lower life expectancies (due to health inequality) and are generally despised by mainstream culture. Yet obese people accomplish great things all the time. In most cases obese people cannot help their appearance, so why do people think it is fun to make fun of these people? Would we mock a disabled person, or a black person? Of course not, that would be terrible! But why is it ok for fat people? Fatacceptancemovement (talk) 15:51, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * You're going to have to find some citations for those claims. -- "Shut up, Brx." 16:47, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Ooh, a fat activist. This is going to be fun.


 * Question - is your obesity due to genetics or anything beyond your control? Osaka Sun (talk) 17:52, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * There are a lot of conflated issues with this one, unfortunately. First, what's considered 'fat' is not always fat: some people naturally ARE size 14 and up, regardless of their health. Second, fat is not always indicative of health: there are many athletes in very good shape that also must have significant body fat, and many people retain body weight regardless of physical health. Third, there are issues of classism wrapped up in body weight: many people of low income (at least in the USA) rely on poor nutrition sources and do not have enough time to exercise. And these are just a few examples of the mess surrounding what's defined as 'fat.' So there are lots of questions surrounding what it means to be fat and it's unfortunate that society likes to simplify complex issues into ones about image and worth. I think it's safe to say that when society deems one image an ideal (being thin, young, etc.) with gains and success (being rich, glamorous, wanted, etc.) the opposite of that one image (fat, old, etc.) will be equated with unhealthiness and failure. So I wonder if the discrimination really is wholly "Ha ha, you are fat," or at least partially, "Ha ha, you are a failure to be thin."±[[File:knightoftldrsig.png]]KnightOfTL;DR just shut up already 18:03, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Also, being fat, like being a drunk, is an extremely complex problem with as many causes as "cures", few of which actually work. And all those who claim, you should just diet, generally have no idea of what goes into both gaining and losing weight.  In my own life, for example, I was 22, very into outdoor life (sailor, rock climber, scuba diver, etc) when i had my thyroid removed as cancerous.  I put on 60 lbs in one year, due to the loss of thyroid.  the changes were so sudden,  and all the execrices i had been doing were impossible.  Most extremly fat people have a hard time exercising, which means their diet is 1200 cals a day, which if you've lived on 1200 cals is like - nothing.  Then there is massive amounts of mis information, confusing information, and conflicting information about what to eat and how to eat, even if you aren't trying any stupid shit.  For example, some people say the body goes into "starvation mode" at 1200 cals, and you need to eat more, others say "posh on that, eat 1200 cals!".  All this added ot the fact that "fat looks bad" in our society, gives people the right to assume that we fat people are lazy, unmotivated to change, "stupid", stinky, or whatever other stereotypes they have.
 * Humans will ALWAYS find some "other" to say "i'm better than you". Color of skin, sexuality, gender issues, 4-eyed, fat, bald, etc.  And we actively discriminate against all those categories.  And I'm sure there are others we will find.  Like what school you went to.  If you grew up in teh south where everyone is "ill educated"; if you like playing D&D; if you read Dr. Who, etc and etc.[[Image:green mowse.png|25px]]Godot RIP original "muahahahah".  1...2....3...4...muahahahahah  18:15, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * It isn't my fault I'm fat. But more to the point - I'm happy I'm this way. Obesity is beautiful, discrimination is not. I would equate anti obese and anti black discrimination as being tied up in one and the same thing. I've organised obese protests against discrimination in employment laws and the wage gap. Fat people can't help the way they are. We were born this way, we've a predisposition to obesity. The health 'issue' is a contrived one in order to make people fearful and full of loathing for their obese brethern. It is intended to encourage shame, and the medical lobby is in hock to the pharmaceuticals who think they can medicate the 'problem' away. Its like when they used to say gayness was a disease that could be cured.
 * Having just defended your first position, i do think the "obesity is not my fault" goes too far, too. It is partially your fault, and it is something you can change.  it's hard to change, but it can be done, which is why i related it to alcholism.  We should not discriminate against fat people, yes, but we also as fat  people, can't just hand wave away the fact that it is a health concern for anyone who is obese.  even the counter examples of "she's fat but healthy" are not people who are truly obese, since obesity is defined as a health issue.  (ie, a good doctor does look at your overall  health, physical activities, etc, not just one number, when saying you are obese or Morbidly obese.)  I do think there is some healthy middle ground between "not my fault", and "fuck fat people".  [[Image:green mowse.png|25px]]Godot RIP original "muahahahah".  1...2....3...4...muahahahahah  18:49, 2 September 2012 (UTC)