News Anchor Stands up to Weight Bullying
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What part of "If you haven't got something nice to say, don't say anything at all" do mothers not teach their children anymore?! Maybe, just maybe, as part of a loving friendship developed over a number of years, where said overweight person asks the opinion of a friend they know and trust, it might be acceptable to say something similar to that email. But otherwise? Keep your mouths shut. Being rude is not a personality trait to aspire to...
Yep this. Someone being overweight is none of your damned business. If they ask for your help fair enough, otherwise butt out.
What I have learned on here is that some reformed overweight/unfit folk are worse than reformed smokers, they are freaking obsessed, judgmental much!0 -
I come onto this site to do much the same thing. Am I a bully for pointing out the obvious? Your idea of what a bully is is very lacking....
The guy went out of his way to write to her, of course it's bullying. Do you think she should quit her job until she loses weight? You're as bad as the dumb**se who wrote to her.It sounds to me like the letter, although offensive to the anchor, had good intentions. The man who wrote the email has an absolutely valid point. She is very overweight, and although we do not know if she has any health conditions that could affect her weight, she has a career in a visual art. I think she took it well out of proportion in calling it "bullying". Yes, he made a judgement based on her appearance, but hellooo...she is a TV anchor. For someone who was not hurt by his words, she sure made a big deal out of it.0 -
News Anchor gets imaginary internet high-five from me!0
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If obesity is a choice vs an illness, etc, I don't see people shaming smokers?
Really?!? Terrible comparison. But you don't see smokers being shamed? They aren't even allowed in most public places anymore - (which I'm personally thankful for because cigarette smoke gives me asthma attacks.) I don't like smoking and think it's a nasty habit, but I can acknowledge that most smokers I know of are quite defensive these days because they take A LOT of flack for it.
Anyway, continue on with the topic, people.
I didn't get the memo that I wasn't allowed out in public anymore. ****. I thought they meant I couldn't SMOKE there, not that I couldn't be there because I smoke :O0 -
I can't decide how I feel about this. Would I like someone to call me out on my weight issues? Not so much. Is there some truth to his letter? Yup. I'd like to say my weight is only my problem, but being that I live somewhere with public health care, I can't really say that, It's pretty common knowledge that overweight and obese people do effect the bottom line in regards to health care. I think it boils down to being polite. Is he right? Probably. Is it polite to point it out to her? I don't think so. I think she is very aware of her weight, as we all are.0
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The person who wrote the email seemed respectful and concerned. If they had been talking about smoking the point would have been the same.
It isn't an "attack" or "bullying" to show concern for someone. He didn't say "Hey fatass!" or anything like that. He used very clinical terms even used by the FDA. She is right though - she's got very thick skin - but not metaphorically.
I look in the mirror when I'm lifting weights and call myself a fatass if I think about giving up before finishing my planned sets.
A large majority of my region of the country is obese. I wish more people would point it out.
Rubbish.0 -
I come onto this site to do much the same thing. Am I a bully for pointing out the obvious? Your idea of what a bully is is very lacking....
The guy went out of his way to write to her, of course it's bullying. Do you think she should quit her job until she loses weight? You're as bad as the dumb**se who wrote to her.It sounds to me like the letter, although offensive to the anchor, had good intentions. The man who wrote the email has an absolutely valid point. She is very overweight, and although we do not know if she has any health conditions that could affect her weight, she has a career in a visual art. I think she took it well out of proportion in calling it "bullying". Yes, he made a judgement based on her appearance, but hellooo...she is a TV anchor. For someone who was not hurt by his words, she sure made a big deal out of it.
We are on this for advice and motivation. She was at work. There is a major difference there. It doesn't matter if his point is valid. He went out of his way to give his advice to a person he doesn't even know who anchors a show he doesn't watch. He is a jerk.0 -
I saw this yesterday and was going to post it up myself! Good for her!!!! :drinker:0
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I totally agree with you and if you ask me shell be the better for it at the end of the day. Fat is bad and there is no good way of telling a fat person he/she is fat. I was obsessed and nobody told me for years until God helped me and I realized it.The person who wrote the email seemed respectful and concerned. If they had been talking about smoking the point would have been the same.
It isn't an "attack" or "bullying" to show concern for someone. He didn't say "Hey fatass!" or anything like that. He used very clinical terms even used by the FDA. She is right though - she's got very thick skin - but not metaphorically.
I look in the mirror when I'm lifting weights and call myself a fatass if I think about giving up before finishing my planned sets.
A large majority of my region of the country is obese. I wish more people would point it out.
Some people need critism before they can get up to do anything, it's also possible shes tried to lose weight at a point in her life, I assure you when she sits quietly and looks at the Positive side of what he said she will do something about her weight, it's bad whatever anyone thinks attack or not.
Fat or obed people are most times not taken seriously because they look sloppy or maybe people think they can't achieve much unlike those who are not obeesed, I think weightless is worth it, for her and for every fat person. For self confidence, smart looks and above all a healthy life.0 -
People are too sensitive. If she'd spend half the energy she spent moaning and groaning and becoming an e-hero for a day on getting healthy, this thread wouldn't exist. The guy was hardly bullying or trolling.0
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a jerk is not a bully. to label this as bullying is a slap in the face to everyone who is actually bullied...
I come onto this site to do much the same thing. Am I a bully for pointing out the obvious? Your idea of what a bully is is very lacking....
The guy went out of his way to write to her, of course it's bullying. Do you think she should quit her job until she loses weight? You're as bad as the dumb**se who wrote to her.It sounds to me like the letter, although offensive to the anchor, had good intentions. The man who wrote the email has an absolutely valid point. She is very overweight, and although we do not know if she has any health conditions that could affect her weight, she has a career in a visual art. I think she took it well out of proportion in calling it "bullying". Yes, he made a judgement based on her appearance, but hellooo...she is a TV anchor. For someone who was not hurt by his words, she sure made a big deal out of it.
We are on this for advice and motivation. She was at work. There is a major difference there. It doesn't matter if his point is valid. He went out of his way to give his advice to a person he doesn't even know who anchors a show he doesn't watch. He is a jerk.0 -
I can't see how the size of the anchor in any way effects her doing her job. How can people say beauty comes in all shapes and sizes but obviously don't apply that sentiment to women on the TV.
I might be a bit controversial here but I bet a male anchor wouldn't have been sent that email
Double standards0 -
Is this lady some sort of health & ftiness news anchor or something? Or was the email just random?
There are fat people everywhere, just because you're on TV doesn't mean that you should be in the healthy weight range. Would it be good for her health to be? Most likely yes but I highly doubt that was in the prerequisites for the job.0 -
Does it matter if he knows her or not? She's fat and it's possible she has not realized it and he might probably be helping to save her life by telling her the truth. It's a letter he wrote meaning he tried to respect her. If she's hurt the she can seek help like us on this forum and if she's been trying then she should try harder. I understand how she feels but she's just seeking attention cos theres nothing wrong with what he said.
I come onto this site to do much the same thing. Am I a bully for pointing out the obvious? Your idea of what a bully is is very lacking....
The guy went out of his way to write to her, of course it's bullying. Do you think she should quit her job until she loses weight? You're as bad as the dumb**se who wrote to her.It sounds to me like the letter, although offensive to the anchor, had good intentions. The man who wrote the email has an absolutely valid point. She is very overweight, and although we do not know if she has any health conditions that could affect her weight, she has a career in a visual art. I think she took it well out of proportion in calling it "bullying". Yes, he made a judgement based on her appearance, but hellooo...she is a TV anchor. For someone who was not hurt by his words, she sure made a big deal out of it.
We are on this for advice and motivation. She was at work. There is a major difference there. It doesn't matter if his point is valid. He went out of his way to give his advice to a person he doesn't even know who anchors a show he doesn't watch. He is a jerk.0 -
Bump man.0
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Thats the part thats confusing to me as well. The email reads like he was responding to a segment where she was talking about health and fitness or something along those lines. It seems a very odd target for him to suddenly randomly write saying you're a poor roll model for no other reason than being overweight considering the tons of other public figures also obese.Is this lady some sort of health & ftiness news anchor or something? Or was the email just random?
There are fat people everywhere, just because you're on TV doesn't mean that you should be in the healthy weight range. Would it be good for her health to be? Most likely yes but I highly doubt that was in the prerequisites for the job.0 -
Great topic. Here's what I always think when I see stories like this: Do you think that person doesn't know how they look? Or how fat they are? Did the person writing in to her really think she didn't already know she was overweight?
And since I am not without my own failings, if I do find myself judging someone I try to always correct and think "Who the F*** am I? " When did I become better than anyone? What gives me the right to judge?
Always before you judge others think about how others might judge you. We all have our issues, we need to lift each other up, help each other out, not put each other down.0 -
If she were a close friend or familymember, it is perfectly justified. From a stranger, it is rude and unnecessary. Is it bullying? I don't thnk so. Should he have written that email? Absolutely not.0
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If she were a close friend or familymember, it is perfectly justified. From a stranger, it is rude and unnecessary. Is it bullying? I don't thnk so. Should he have written that email? Absolutely not.
If an anonymous email hurt her that badly, she's obviously unhappy with herself. To respond to the email publicly and try to champion a cause (aka be supported in her obesity and bad habits) instead of make a change to be happier with herself so that she is not so easily affected, is nothing more than attention and assurance seeking.0 -
Interesting. Maybe you should have read the thread you linked, cause in that thread she lost 30lbs due to running.Is sooooooo tired of hearing about this.... she just can't let it go and is becoming famous because of it. BULLYING MY *kitten* !!
I just heard that she runs 3x a week .......suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure she does BAHAHAHAHAHA
There are many people on this site who are even heavier than that woman and who run regularly. I see posts from them quite often. Here's a recent example: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/711234-300-lbs-and-ran-my-2nd-5k-i-feel-like-a-superhero-w-pics?hl=300+5k
I'm sure she's just faking it though. No one who is overweight exercises or eats healthy things ever. Just as no one who is thin starves themselves to get there or spends any time watching T.V. Fat people all stuff themselves and sleep all day. While thin people all run 10 miles daily and eat healthy balanced meals. At least that is what I am "learning" from some of the ignorant comments in this thread.
I also find it hard to believe that reporter as well.
Yes, she lost 30 pounds. Why is that relevant? She still weighs 300 pounds, which I would think is quite a bit more than the television anchor who neither you nor the poster I was responding to "believes" can run. Yes, supergirl 6 lost weight. She might lose more weight, but she is, currently, an overweight (obese even) person who runs. Plenty of obese people exercise, plenty of thin people don't. Why is that so hard to understand? There are examples all over this site. Why do you find it hard to believe that the reporter in the story runs?
Your responses in this post are completely on point. It's a shame so many people are incapable of opening their eyes and minds to the very simple points you are making and realise that weight issues are often complex and you're never helping someone by pointing them out. Fat people know they're fat.0 -
My Type-1 Diabetic daughter was bullied in school a few years ago when a boy in her class was repeatedly threatening to rip off and destroy her insulin pump- no wait- the school said that wasn't bullying sorry- they classified that as some other kind of "behavior incident" since they have policies against "bullying."
Sorry I don't see a single private email sent directly to her which she and her husband chose to make public as bullying. If the guy was sending her multiple harassing emails or had some kind of attack blog/website devoted to her appearance then sure but for just one email? She should have just deleted it and moved on with her life.0 -
*Puts on flame proof suit*
In my opinion / experience, the only time I get upset when I get called out about my weight is because I know I'm not doing what I need to do to get in shape and I know it.
My "personal struggles" have always been me not eating right or not going to the gym, not saying that's the same for her case so put yer pitchforks away... But I've seen friends and also people on MFP accomplish a lot even with a number of medical conditions stacked against them.
It's all about how bad you want it. Her statements such as "If I could snap my fingers to be a size that I don't have to shop on the plus size rack that would be great" Livingstone said during the CBS interview. Wouldn't we all? Damn, if I had spent as much time working out in the gym as I did wasting time wishing that I could be fit and ripped then who knows... Maybe it'd actually would've happened faster than it's happening now. Wish in one hand, poo in the other and just see which one gets full first.
If you want to be complacent in your level of fitness or lack thereof, than so be it, but taking an e-mail out of context and sensationalizing it (something the media neeeeever does) is a bit extreme in my opinion.
As for him sending the e-mail, was it right for him to do it, I honestly don't know. I don't see it as him going out of his way to be rude or hurtful (though some here seem to think the e-mail was going out of his way), he didn't tell her that she needed to be a size 0 to be a broadcaster, and in his rebuttal to her national response to him, he said he'd still support her and offer her advice. He seemed generally concerned about the situation.
I just think the whole thing got blown out of proportion, I know that when I struggled (still am from time to time) I would've welcomed any advice on what to do to remedy the situation... Hell, I still need / want / am grateful for the advice that I get on here and on my friends list.
Through the whole thing, he didn't get dirty, or insulting or make blanket statements about all overweight people... He didn't even point out the stations foodie Youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/StopLookinGetCookin) where they claim to be "A food blog that serves up simple food, inspiring ideas and connects with readers along the way." Yet all the food they seem to make is sugar dipped in sugar and frosted with sugar. Personally, now that I've changed my diet, I find that there's a lot more simple food that is easier and healthier than theirs.
With all that said, that's been my two cents based my personal experiences / opinions, flame away.0 -
Bang on!!.0
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I'm seriously disappointed in some of the responses in this thread. As the news anchor pointed out, does he think she doesn't *know* that she's overweight? Some of us know how easy it is to be in denial, but seriously, you don't get overweight and not know it on SOME level. He was being an *kitten*. She had a powerful message that I completely agreed with. "Don't let your self-worth be defined by others" is my new motto.
As other people in this thread have pointed out, it is possible to be thin and unhealthy, or fat and healthy. Research has continually shown that if you practice healthy habits, your general health will improve, regardless of your weight.0 -
BUMP to read later....
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I don't agree with the anchor that it was bullying.
However, the e-mailer is obviously someone seems disgusted with anyone who is not at the 'recommended' weight.
We know these people. Their subtle, 'helpful' comments (or jokes) pointing out your weight or examining closely what you're eating (to give their opinion). It usually someone who is not a relative or a friend.
Usually, these individuals are the most fake people you'll meet. They have their own issues, but feel the need to correct everyone else.
I think this anchor said what we have always wanted to say to these individuals.
I should add that ALL of us on here had to lose weight on our own, not through the 'help' of others. Criticism does not necessarily lead to pushing someone to lose weight. Weight could be tied into so many other than just eating too much or the wrong foods, etc.
We all know (or knew) it is a control/lifestyle change, not restricting what we eat. And we all know (or knew) we were not at the weight we wanted to be. What discourages most of us is that it is not a simple fix, it takes a long time.0 -
Unfortunately, unhealthy choices manifest as physical appearance. Including her double-chin, thick waist, etc.
She may be a successful working mother of three - but she should focus on being there for her kids for as long as possible by improving her lifestyle. Hell - I bug my mom to exercise all the time, and I bug the rest of my family who eats fried food 90% of the time when it would be just as easy to grill.
I'm not suggesting she starve herself, and I'm not suggesting she go down to a size 0. But if she's obese according to her BMI, (as she says in the video) she is at greater risk for a majority of health problems which are preventable. She doesn't have to starve herself, but dropping the pint of Ben & Jerrys and eating a salad instead of a bucket of KFC for her lunch might do wonders toward improving her overall state of affairs.
I guess the overall point is that her appearance is her choice in a lot of ways - but her health is key and if she still looked the same after getting into a normal weight range I'd say more power to her. But if she's going to be a public figure and whine that pointing out her obesity is akin to pointing out the color of her skin or sexual orientation she's going off the wall worse than the guy who emailed her.
As for your point here: "Does it look like that tactic is working? "
Counterpoint: Look at what site you are on after all of that treatment in your youth.
And how do you KNOW that she doesn't lead a healthy lifestyle?
Maybe she is in the process of losing weight. Maybe she has a medical condition.
I'm still a aus size 12 but hell I am a lot fitter and healthier than half my friends who are an aus size 6-80 -
Woo! Thread #6 of the same topic!
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Like I said in another thread....I can guarantee that this wasn't her idea....for one...she was going to keep it quiet until her HUSBAND made it public....and two...you can be damn sure the News Department Director and Executive Producer of whatever show she is on saw a golden opportunity and wrote it in the books to do a story on.
RATINGS RATINGS RATINGS!!!0 -
I said it yesterday when we first started talking about this. What the guy did wasn't bullying - it was criticizing. Which the reporter had a right to reply to - but in order to do so on air, while doing her job, she had to enrobe it in a larger issue, i.e. bullying.0
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