Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.

I don't support the fat acceptance/plus size movement.

17891113

Replies

  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    jenilla1 wrote: »
    I also know of plenty of places to get free or affordable healthcare, emergency rooms have to treat serious injuries, poor people quality for Medicaid, when your insurance runs out and you run out of resources, you will also qualify for Medicaid. I have first hand experience with this. I have done very well and been down and out. When I was down and out my daughters and I were on food stamps, Medicaid, and other welfare. We stayed on them until I got back up on my feet again. Some people here just don't want this to be true.

    "Plenty of places" for free and affordable healthcare? Please enlighten us.

    So you think that people having to wait until their life is in danger to go to the ER for "free" medical care for a problem that could have been easily addressed with preventive care is a viable, economical solution to the healthcare crisis? Really?

    So people are supposed to run to the ER because it's the only place they can't be turned away, bankrupt themselves will the medical bills they rack up there, lose all their assets, then sign up for Medicaid now that they have nothing left in life, so they can finally get free care outside of the ER? And you think that's a good, economical, working system? That's back-*kitten*-wards. Mind-boggling. :o
    Yes, I believe people should pay for their medical needs until they can no longer do so, them the government takes over. I absolutely believe this is how it should go. If you have a good job that offers insurance and you choose not to purchase it because it might tighten your budget more than you would like, there are consequences to that decision. If you are below the poverty level you will get free health care. If you have insurance and you max it out you should have to liquidate your assets to pay your medical bills. Bottom line, no one is being left out to die .
    But is it of the same quality as those who "have a good job that offers insurance "? If yes,then fine,but if not then surely you can see how unjust that is? Those with health problems are those most likely to be unable to work and therefore unable to buy health insurance .
    Also I would hope that civilised societies can aspire to more than simply making sure people don't die! What about quality of life,what about being able to work at all (ie not being prevented from doing so by ill health)
    Why should poor people get the same quality care as rich people? That doesn't even make sense. There are benefits to being rich, you get private hospital suites and name brand meds while the poor have to share a room and get generic drugs. I see no problem with that.
    The poor are still getting treatment.

  • clicketykeys
    clicketykeys Posts: 6,575 Member
    The poor are still getting *some* treatment. Whether or not it's adequate is another matter.
  • mortuseon_
    mortuseon_ Posts: 257 Member
    This thread has gone waaay off the topic of body positivity...surprised it hasn't been nuked yet.
  • WayTooHonest
    WayTooHonest Posts: 144 Member
    edited June 2017
    Regarding the OP:
    I think the important thing about the fat acceptance movement is NOT about saying 'yes, it's fine to be super obese'. I see it more as a mental health statement. When we accept ourselves, we can then becomes agents of change. For example, it's the first step of AA: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable." It's the same with our bodies. In accepting that I am a fatass, I now know what the target is and can work towards solutions. Our mental health is absolutely vital to our overall health and successes. If we don't embrace ourselves as we are, we can never truly be a better version of ourself.
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it.
  • DamieBird
    DamieBird Posts: 651 Member
    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it.

    I don't see any issue with 90% of these statements. The only part that I disagree with is the bolded - fat people ARE at fault for their size. We got fat by eating too much. The rest of it seems pretty spot on, though. Why should being fat = less dignity and respect? I believe that we should all strive to be healthier, and that nearly always includes shedding excess fat, but I don't believe that we should be ridiculed or disrespected if we haven't yet done that.
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    I support fat acceptance because much like thousands of other habits, hobbies, body modification, medical choices, religious and/or personal choices, sexual orientation, gender acceptance....etc etc...the way someone else chooses to live is NOT my business. Feeling mentally happy/healthy in your skin is very personal and private.

    These movements aren't about "agreeing" with obesity. It's about acknowledging that *others* have no business judging them for their personal choices and certainly not determining who "deserves to feel happy about themselves".

    Anything that promotes positive minds is a good thing. It's that simple. And people who judge or shame the choices of others are simply disgraceful. If you don't like overweight people feeling good about themselves as human beings (?!)...its probably *you* that needs some introspection and therapy. Not them.

    Sorry, but ...ugh.

    But that is not what this organization is about, this is in their own words;

    "Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people."

    What rights are fat people being deprived of?
  • taurian14
    taurian14 Posts: 3 Member
    I believe this movement is about loving yourself and knowing that your weight doesn't define who you are. Yes it's a part of you that you can choose to change. For myself, until I learned to love myself, I couldn't get into losing weight and knowing that this was a lifestyle change, not just a diet. The movement is about accepting other's for who they are and not treating them badly or bullying them because they are overweight. This can perpetuate emotional eating that almost everyone can relate to and continue the cycle. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity even if they don't look the same as the often time to thin models that society tries to push as the norm.
  • ncolj
    ncolj Posts: 2 Member
    I'm curious as to what do you get out of criticizing the plus sized movement. You sound like a fat person looking for a reason to look down on another fat person... Who do you criticize? The people that weigh 189lbs?
  • tattygun
    tattygun Posts: 447 Member
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
    Actually, you are wrong, there is actually such a movement.

    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    "About Us
    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it."


  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
    Actually, you are wrong, there is actually such a movement.

    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    "About Us
    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it."


    Having a website does not a movement make.
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
    Actually, you are wrong, there is actually such a movement.

    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    "About Us
    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it."


    Having a website does not a movement make.
    Except that this is far more than just a website. It's been around far longer than websites have been. There are meetings around the world.

  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    https://www.meetup.com/topics/fatpride/

    "Meet other local men and women who are overweight and proud. Gather for socialization, support, and to show off your pride by strutting your stuff!"
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    https://www.meetup.com/topics/fat-acceptance/

    "Find out what's happening in Fat Acceptance Meetup groups around the world and start meeting up with the ones near you."
  • peckchris3267
    peckchris3267 Posts: 368 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
    Actually, you are wrong, there is actually such a movement.

    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    "About Us
    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it."


    Having a website does not a movement make.

    BRIEF HISTORY
    The Fat-Acceptance Movement


    http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1913858,00.html
  • joemac1988
    joemac1988 Posts: 1,021 Member
    I was obese and it was being "fat shamed" that got my butt in gear. YOU can accept YOURSELF as fat, but I don't have to.
  • tattygun
    tattygun Posts: 447 Member
    tattygun wrote: »
    sssynnamon wrote: »
    Ugh. Wake up. There's no damn movement trying to force us to accept that fat is anything other than unattractive except by some dipshit media idiot deciding that it would be a cool story that would get them noticed because there are so many fat people in this country who refuse to take responsibility for their own lack of control. I say this as someone who has over indulged. As someone who was once an athlete. As someone who was once a competitive bodybuilder. As someone who, somewhere along the line, decided the burgers, tacos, pasta, fries, alcohol, cigarettes, and crack (yep, you read that right) were more important than making some choices that are healthier. I say it as someone who was hospitalized with congestive heart failure who STILL thought it was ok to eat whatever the hell I wanted because i didn't think i should be denied anything. Not sure why i felt t that way. I'm guessing i briefly bought into the media hype that we all deserve trophies simply because we exist. Yeah..... We DON'T. With VERY few exceptions, people are fat because they refuse to exercise self control. Excuses are just that... Excuses. Your mama and daddy didn't love you enough, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Your cousin/ funny uncle/ neighbor touched you inappropriately, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. Some person you really loved had the nerve to die unexpectedly, so you turned to food. EXCUSE. You people haven't been through anything I haven't, so you don't get to say I don't understand. If you're on MFP and you're looking at this, I assume it means you're ready to make a change. Good for you. I decided that it was time to take my life back. To take control back instead of trying to find ways to escape what happened. I walked away from addiction through sheer willpower. That may not work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is get PISSED at the things you've allowed to control you. Then take that control back. You have to figure out how to do that. There's no magic pill. There's no magic diet. No one is going to do it for you. Get up off your ample *kitten* and do it for yourself and stop expecting those of us who've bothered to do the work to make way for you. If you won't do it yourself... Then put your really big girl (Or boy) panties on and remind yourself "sticks and stones..."

    Wow. One of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.
    Actually, you are wrong, there is actually such a movement.

    https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/about/

    "About Us
    NAAFA: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
    Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit, all volunteer, civil rights organization dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support.

    Why Should I Support NAAFA?
    Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations, and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled “obese.” Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. Fat discrimination is one of the last publicly accepted discriminatory practices. Fat people have rights and they need to be upheld!

    NAAFA’s message of size acceptance and self-acceptance is often overshadowed by a $49 billion-a-year diet industry that has a vested economic interest in perpetuating discrimination against fat people. Without active financial support from people like you, NAAFA would not exist and could not fulfill its crucial role defending your rights. While it is an uphill battle to achieve our goals, together we are making a difference.
    Our Vision
    A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.

    Our Mission
    To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.

    Our Promise
    NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec­tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.

    We Come in All Sizes…
    Understand it.
    Support it.
    Accept it."


    OMG yes we get it!

    I'm agreeing with the main jist of her post, that there are no excuses, that you put yourself in the position you find yourself in.

  • lorinoye
    lorinoye Posts: 13 Member
    As an advocate of the plus-size movement, I will respectfully disagree with you.

    I don't advocate that being morbidly obese is healthy in any way. I've been heavy my entire life and I come from a family of larger people, so I know the health issues involved (which is why I'm working on losing the extra weight). There are a slew of health issues all related to one's weight. Anyone who claims that you can be fat & healthy is lying to themselves and you.

    However, to me the movement is about teaching people that you don't need to be a size 1 with 0% body fat to be "beautiful". And it's not just about young girls growing up in a society that says if you don't look like the models in the magazine you're unworthy. My mother is 67 years old, 5'3", roughly 130lbs. She wears a size 14 pants because of how she carries her weight. That makes her plus-size in the U.S. which is absolutely ridiculous! She's perfectly healthy, but she doesn't look like what the media tells us a woman should look like.

    For me, the bottom line of the plus-size movement is this: people come in all shapes and sizes and that is just fine. Who are you to shame someone based solely on their outward appearance? Just because you are a size 16 doesn't mean you are unhealthy, and just because you are a size 4 doesn't mean you are healthy. It's about accepting people for who they are, even if that doesn't conform to the "ideal body type."
This discussion has been closed.