Have you been a target of prejudice

DWilbanks
DWilbanks Posts: 420 Member
edited October 2 in Chit-Chat
Have you been a target of prejudice because of your size?

I was listening to a radio station here, and they were ultimately talking about how obese people are just lazy, and that generally they all go and have gastric by pass surgery and the lap band surgery because they are too lazy to push themselves away from the table. They even joked around about never having a "large" intern. I have to say I was so totally offended that I called the station and complained, but was basically told that they didn't mean any harm. But in all honesty I guess that I got offended because it hit too close to home. In the past I was lazy and that probably one of the reasons I'm the way I am today, But I've corrected that and am trying hard to do the right thing now. But I just couldn't believe in this day and age their is still such a bias againist big people.

Replies

  • foremant86
    foremant86 Posts: 1,115 Member
    There's a reason I don't listen to radio talk shows, they are all morons who think their opinion matters and none of it is based on facts.
  • Iamfit4life
    Iamfit4life Posts: 3,095 Member
    Yes I have


    and there is bias against small people too. In a way some never grow out of that schoolyard pack menality.
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    there is still bias against all sorts of people..I just think it depends if you are in the category they are offending. I am East Indian..but raised in the stated and my daughters are 1/2 black and 1/2 white (adopted)...and their dad is polish/irish/german.

    The looks we get are amazing..as if
    A) We dont belong in the neighborhood
    B) We dont beling in the town
    c) We cant possibly be a family..
    D) That there is no way my white husband would really willingly be with me..so I had to have done something

    Its all over..just have to ignore it sometimes..or in others..stand up for what you think is right..
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    Not because of my weight, but yes.
  • SkinnyMamaG
    SkinnyMamaG Posts: 20
    You might be surprised how common it is! Personally, I haven't ever experienced it (mostly b/c most of the people I work with are bigger than me), but I see it all the time. Once, when the company I was working for experienced a hike in insurance rates, several people commented that it was the fault of all the unhealthy "fatsos." Never mind the chronic smokers & drinkers, I suppose. In my mind, one is just as bad as another.
  • mfiggs
    mfiggs Posts: 155 Member
    One of the rock stations in my area made some crappy comments about big people that hit close to home for me too, but I didn't call in I just stopped listening to their morning show! The jerk that made the comments got fired eventually anyway because like someone else stated he was a moron and his opinions didn't mean anything, especially not to me! People are just plain ignorant unless they have been in a big person's shoes!
  • Tropical_Turtle
    Tropical_Turtle Posts: 2,236 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against. The thing is when they say things like people take the easy way out for having surgery - they stick their foot in their mouth because they have NO idea WTF they are talking about. I really hate the fact that it is ok to treat heavier people like crap on the bottom of their shoe.

    I would personally find a new station to listen to, as well as complain not to the hosts, but management. It is offensive and they need to be put in their place!
  • voluptuous_veggie
    voluptuous_veggie Posts: 476 Member
    Not because of my weight, but yes.

    Yep, same here.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    Not because of my weight, but yes.
    Yep, same here.
    tritto
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    for the record everyone on here who puts forth the massive efforts I see are worth more than some lame radio host.

    I have because of my last name. I got singed out as a possible terrorist in airports.. you know cause my last name is Italian?!?!?
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    Someone once told me that they were "going to call INS on my illegal *kitten*."

    ...and I am Puerto Rican AND was born in Brooklyn, NY LOLOL
  • Ireshgurl
    Ireshgurl Posts: 559
    I am the proud owner of a beautiful American Pit Bull Terrier. Enough said.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that
  • jtsmou
    jtsmou Posts: 503 Member
    Sure among other things.
    I remember one of my uncles threw me when I was 3 years old and told me I should have been killed at birth because I wasn't full Japanese. The German side was no better....

    In 1999 I was stabbed and kicked in the head about 30 times by white supremacists.
  • Iamfit4life
    Iamfit4life Posts: 3,095 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that

    this is going to sound awful.
    But I think people find it less of a travesty when it is a thin person involved.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that

    this is going to sound awful.
    But I think people find it less of a travesty when it is a thin person involved.

    exactly people think its ok.
  • Tropical_Turtle
    Tropical_Turtle Posts: 2,236 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that

    Thing is thin girls dont get told they need to pay more cause they take up too much room or they arent allowed in places for that reason. Thin girls dont get told they are lazy because of their physical appearance. Many assumptions are made based on a heavy persons appearance that they are lazy and not worth a damn. I dont see or hear of that happening to many thin people
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that

    Thing is thin girls dont get told they need to pay more cause they take up too much room or they arent allowed in places for that reason. Thin girls dont get told they are lazy because of their physical appearance. Many assumptions are made based on a heavy persons appearance that they are lazy and not worth a damn. I dont see or hear of that happening to many thin people

    no they dont get told that,they get told diffrent things that are just as bad. Like oh you must be anorexic or that they look like skeletons with skin over them. I had a freind that got told her boyfriend must secretly be into boys since she has no curves. so all thats ok............
  • Andythefitfamilyman
    Andythefitfamilyman Posts: 420
    I think prejudice is part of the human conditation. Most of us suffered from it while other may have partaked in it. I know for me being fat and even though im still losing that i get crap all the time. but i have plenty of thin friends on here and i hear their stories of having to take crap. I hate it. I hate people judging people on age, weight, race, sex, sexual orantantion, and so on.
  • Iamfit4life
    Iamfit4life Posts: 3,095 Member
    and the term "Skinny B*tch" is ok?
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    and im sorry but if you take up 2 seats on a plane then yeah you have to pay for a second seat,thats how they make their money by selling seats. I had to pay for a second seat once when I was at my heaviest and thats just the way it is its not discrimination in that case. The same thing with rides at amusement parks if someone is turned away from a ride for their size its because its a saftey issue
  • MrBrown72
    MrBrown72 Posts: 407 Member
    It seems being fat is the one thing that people can openly discriminate against.

    This is absolutly not true,I know many many thin girls who get it for their size.
    That saying "real women have curves" that gets thrown all over the place is evidance of that

    Thing is thin girls dont get told they need to pay more cause they take up too much room or they arent allowed in places for that reason. Thin girls dont get told they are lazy because of their physical appearance. Many assumptions are made based on a heavy persons appearance that they are lazy and not worth a damn. I dont see or hear of that happening to many thin people

    While in some cases I believe that is is not discrimination it's really common sense. For instance on the airplane. I paid way too much for my seat, I dealt with security and baggage and all the other issues that come with flying these days, so for the duration of my flight that seat is mine. The whole seat. I do not want someone overlapping into my seat and touching me the whole flight. I do not want someone to keep raising my arm rest so they can fluff out into my space. I don't know you, you don't get to touch me for the next several hours without buying me drinks and possibly dinner.

    However much of the rest would happen either way. Some people will always find a reason to hate. Sure they may use weight or whatever as their justification but it is just their horrible negative bile that's built up looking for an outlet. I get to be the target now and then, but while I will always fight back it really doesn't bother me that much.

    You can hate me for who or what I am, or just what you assume I am but once this moment is over I don't have to deal with you. Once I leave, you're left with nothing but yourself and your hate is not going to leave with me. It's yours and your anger and misery will never be empty no matter how much you spread it around, it will just make sure you have to suffer it alone.

    And you still don't get to spend the flight touching me without buying the drinks.
  • adrian_indy
    adrian_indy Posts: 1,444 Member
    Yes. I once had a guy during lunch at a pub make a couple wise cracks about my size. I threatened to stab him in the neck with my keys, and it ended. Fat people can whip *kitten* too, buddy.
  • Tropical_Turtle
    Tropical_Turtle Posts: 2,236 Member
    In terms of me speaking of taking up too much room, I am not particularly talking about airplanes, but I like in Big Sexy on TLC have been told I needed to pay more of a cover because I would take up too much room due to my weight. Now really? that is ok in a bar? Now if I were too heavy to fit in an airline seat, which I have been close, I would take alternate transportation to accomodate me, but thats my personal thing.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    In terms of me speaking of taking up too much room, I am not particularly talking about airplanes, but I like in Big Sexy on TLC have been told I needed to pay more of a cover because I would take up too much room due to my weight. Now really? that is ok in a bar? Now if I were too heavy to fit in an airline seat, which I have been close, I would take alternate transportation to accomodate me, but thats my personal thing.

    Ok while that is wrong,my whole point was thin people get all sorts of discrimination too,and most people seem to think its ok
  • DWilbanks
    DWilbanks Posts: 420 Member
    Since I posted this earlier this afternoon, I've thought about all the things that usually I would brush off because frankly people's opinion do not matter to me... or do they? For instance, before I started this process, when at a resturant, you could read the look in some people's eyes when you went to get seconds at a buffet. They look at you like " oh geezzz their she goes again". But yet when my husband or brother went for the third trip...not a glance. But how much is actuality, and how much is my own perception?
  • calibri
    calibri Posts: 439 Member
    Because I look young, a lot of people at work question me or don't take me seriously.
This discussion has been closed.

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