Author Monster Posted September 28, 2009 Author Posted September 28, 2009 Certain lifestyle choices, (e.g. stuffing your face with too much food and/or unhealthy food) leads to health problems. This is common knowledge. Stuffing your face is a CHOICE (as is smoking and consumer excessive quantities of alcohol). I have little compassion for those who suffer the undesirable consequences (e.g. type II diabetes) for unhealthy lifestyle choices. I think it's fine to insure people who smoke, drink heavily, and choose to be overweight. But I think they should pay MUCH higher premiums than those who do not. I have the unmost compassion for anyone who develops an illness that was not due to a poor lifestyle choice. sb129 - Sorry I wasn't able to provide a more immediate response. I decided to get off my arse and do a bit of exercise.
Dooda Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Thaddeus, what was your point? So we should continue to support fat people, who, most of the time, lead lazy, unchanging life styles? How does saying that 'active' people use health care show anything? Just because we can come across accidents in life just by doing regular stuff, doesn't mean we should sit around, watch TV all day, and watch our deaths slowly creep up upon us. That doesn't make sense.
Author Monster Posted September 28, 2009 Author Posted September 28, 2009 By the way... As far as what is considered fat goes, there is gray area; however, here are the stats on two of the chubsters who harass me: Chubs #1 5ft 1in, 160 lbs (woman) Chubs #2 5ft 5 in, 210 lbs (woman) Too me, that is fat. I know many will disagree. I know fat men also, but they do not pick on those who are in good shape; rather, they aspire to be fit and healthy also.
tinktronik Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Certain lifestyle choices, (e.g. stuffing your face with too much food and/or unhealthy food) leads to health problems. This is common knowledge. Stuffing your face is a CHOICE (as is smoking and consumer excessive quantities of alcohol). I have little compassion for those who suffer the undesirable consequences (e.g. type II diabetes) for unhealthy lifestyle choices. I think it's fine to insure people who smoke, drink heavily, and choose to be overweight. But I think they should pay MUCH higher premiums than those who do not. I have the unmost compassion for anyone who develops an illness that was not due to a poor lifestyle choice. sb129 - Sorry I wasn't able to provide a more immediate response. I decided to get off my arse and do a bit of exercise. They do pay higher premiums and often don't get through underwritting at all; if they do get through there are higher premiums.
Author Monster Posted September 28, 2009 Author Posted September 28, 2009 Quote from carhill: "I think the government's up my ass way too much as it is already, and it's giving me hemorrhoids." Nicely stated.
Author Monster Posted September 28, 2009 Author Posted September 28, 2009 Fat folks who get off of their asses and work can frequently be found on their employer's health care plan. They do make it through underwriting. They may be labeled as having a pre-existing condition and denied treatment for the particular condition for a certain time period (e.g., 6 months), but they get coverage and it doesn't cost them any more than it costs anyone else. Yes, fatties will have more difficulty obtaining coverage under an individual plan.
Author Monster Posted September 28, 2009 Author Posted September 28, 2009 UrKillinMeSmalls, I agree 100% that these guys don't want to take responsibility. I've only ever heard one overweight person admit that the reason she was overweight was that she overate. Overweight = Overate The rest of the overweight people I know all have "excuses": Healthy food is expensive (not necessarily) I don't have time to exercise (I'll bet you spend time sitting on your ass watching TV or blogging) My mom is overweight (of course she is--she also overeats and doesn't exercise) I really don't overeat (yes, you do) I can't afford a gym membership Knee problems, foot problems, injury, etc. Thyroid problem Etc.
sunshinegirl Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Mmm, I just love the fat hatred threads. I especially love how anyone overweight is immediately stereotyped into a lazy pig who stuffs their face nonstop and is determined to bankrupt the health system. While I may not agree with every tenet of the fat acceptance movement, it has certainly opened my eyes to the degree of open hatred so many people seem to have of fat people. It's not attractive.
theBrokenMuse Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 While I may not agree with every tenet of the fat acceptance movement, it has certainly opened my eyes to the degree of open hatred so many people seem to have of fat people. It's because fat folks are one of the last acceptable outlets for bigots to attack in order to bask in the gloriousness of their vast superiority. After all, many of the people that were targeted in the past are pretty untouchable now in this PC world (if you are trying to remain within the realm of what's socially acceptable anyhow). Fat people often have low self-esteem brought about by the stigma they face and often will not fight back as a result making them the perfect targets for that kind of vile nonsense.
JohnnyBlaze Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 I think Denis Leary put it best; "I am fed up with the whole denial phrases they have, too. "I'm not fat, I'm husky." "I'm portly." "I'm stout." "I'm big-boned." You're big-a$$ed!! Dinosaurs were big-boned!" I'll be the first to admit, I'm overweight. For the time being, anyway. But you know what? I'm doing something about it. I'm down almost 20 lbs since the summer, and I want am working to drop another 20-25 over the next year. I'd optimally like to drop 30-35, but I'll be happy with 25. Too many people say "well, everyone else in my family is fat; it's genetic" or "I've always been big, even as a kid". They convince themselves that their weight problem (and yes, it is a problem) is beyond their control. As Stewie Griffin once said "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." Once you convince yourself that you'll never change, then you won't. Even clothing manufacturers have admitted to changing things to reflect the bulge in society. Many dress manufacturers have moved their numbering down: eg. what used to be a size 10 is now a size 9. Although it helps them market more product, it doesn't help the consumer, who now has external validation (albeit false validation) that they don't have a weight problem. And so they go back for another plate at the buffet table, confident that they're Kate Moss skinny. As to who pays for them, that's way too slippery a slope for me to try. So fat people have to pay for their own health coverage, because they got that way on through their own choice. Who's next? What about hockey players? They chose hockey, knowing the risks; they should've taken up a safer sport. How about people who speed? They're risking both their own health and that of those around them. What about people who suffer from hearing damage from all those concerts they've been to? Should we ban Van Halen*? (By the way, bill Eddie for his hip surgery. Nobody forced him to do the jumps.) You see where I'm going with this. Too many fingers could be pointed at too many people. Then there's the inevitable discrimination suits that will follow. Even if the State wins, it'll still have to spend a ton on the lawyers. *Note: this is entirely, totally, completely 100% academic. I would never seriously suggest banning Eddie & Co. from anywhere. Coldplay, sure, but not VH.
donnamaybe Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 Think of all those seniors, who suck up the cost of health insurance. Imagine how cheap health care would be, if we just let them all die of natural causes. More sarcasm... People can't help getting old. They CAN help getting fat and smoking though. No sarcasm.
donnamaybe Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 They do pay higher premiums and often don't get through underwritting at all; if they do get through there are higher premiums. Not where I live, and it PISSES ME OFF having to pay their way!
Lizzie60 Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 People can't help getting old. They CAN help getting fat and smoking though. No sarcasm. Well said.. I totally agree..
donnamaybe Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 Well said.. I totally agree.. And you know what? I fluctuate in weight, much to my dismay. When I put on extra weight, I HATE IT! I always get my weight back down though by getting back to good eating and exercise habits. But when I DO put on a few pounds, I know I have no one to blame but myself.
Trialbyfire Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 While I may not agree with every tenet of the fat acceptance movement, it has certainly opened my eyes to the degree of open hatred so many people seem to have of fat people. It's not attractive.No, pettiness is not attractive.
donnamaybe Posted September 30, 2009 Posted September 30, 2009 No, pettiness is not attractive. You mean like slamming a woman for her hair and clothing choices? We aren't talking about strolling down the street and yelling at an overweight person eating an ice cream cone, "Hey, put that down!" I really don't think anyone in this thread would be so rude and ignorant. We also aren't talking about the mere fact of obesity in and of itself. It's simply discussion regarding the fact that many people project blame for their own situations onto others while refusing to examine their own culpability for making the bed they now find themselves lying in.
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