# Hire the obese person or the other one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481 "2010-07-04T02:56:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/81 "2010-07-05T19:28:09Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Is that really an advantage? If they’re the same gender, she could be a real pain in the ass to work with. Dunno - I was hiring an assistant a couple of years ago and wound up hiring the prettiest (and thinest) one and had no problems at all. I guess I didn’t feel like I was competing with her for attractiveness so it really wasn’t and issue. Please note - I did NOT hire her because she was the prettiest or thinest - I hired her because she was the best qualified and the best fit for the job. FWIW, their was a less pretty (well, quite a bit older) and fatter candidate that was also well qualified and while I didn’t hire her I recommended her for other positions, one of which she wound up taking. Both have worked out very well, regardless of prettyness, fatness or age, so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/82 "2010-07-05T20:09:57Z")
I’d hire “the other one”, same as I’d hire a non smoker over a smoker. But it depends how you define obese. I need to loose 4 kilos, but I’m still quite capable of doing my (physical) job. But I barely scrape in under obese on the weight charts. One of my nieces had to skip work yesterday cause of double vision & migraines. She is hugely overweight & apparently all her other health problems stem from that. So I guess her & her mother’s health related weight problems would colour my deciision. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/83 "2010-07-05T20:23:36Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > It really is a dumb hypothetical. “Given that they are all identical in all other ways, do you hire the person with freckles or without? No flipping a coin!” Well, fuck, I don’t know. Um, I guess the person with freckles because they will be more protective of their fair skin and will go out in the sun less therefore meaning they will spend more time in the office? This is a stupid question. Even if it is a dumb question, why do we pretend we can’t answer it, instead of just\* not answering it?\* I hire the the slimmy because I believe it is hard work for a lot of people to stay slim, so that may speak to the person’s work ethic. I wouldn’t really worry about health issues, because I would assume the slimmy may smoke many cigarettes to maintain that weight and that may bring its own set of health issues. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/84 "2010-07-05T20:54:26Z")
I love working and running small kitchens. I love multiple people working and packed like sardines. The smaller the person the better. The usually are more efficient in the kitchens I run and fit my style better than a somewhat higher skilled heavier person. I love lots of equipments packed into small spaces with all sorts high pased energetic activity. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/85 "2010-07-05T22:15:20Z")
Christ. Ordinarily this shit doesn’t bother me much but after reading this thread I feel like throwing myself off a bridge. I guess it’s a good thing I’m planning on starting that medically supervised eat-nothing-but-our-prepackaged-shakes diet this week. Now I can slim down to a size six so I can successfully make you some fucking photocopies and answer your phone without my great rolls of fat covering my ears. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/86 "2010-07-05T22:33:07Z")
> [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](#): > > Christ. Ordinarily this shit doesn’t bother me much but after reading this thread I feel like throwing myself off a bridge. > > I guess it’s a good thing I’m planning on starting that medically supervised eat-nothing-but-our-prepackaged-shakes diet this week. Now I can slim down to a size six so I can successfully make you some fucking photocopies and answer your phone without my great rolls of fat covering my ears. Calm down. No one is saying fat people are incapable of working competently; we’re just saying all things equal (yessss, crazy hypothetical-haters, we know all things would never be precisely equal in the real world, but here in imaginary land, they can be), a person who is not obese is preferable to someone who is. This is not to say in real life we don’t hire fat people because they’re too fat to make photocopies. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/87 "2010-07-05T22:40:53Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Calm down. No one is saying fat people are incapable of working competently; we’re just saying all things equal (yessss, crazy hypothetical-haters, we know all things would never be precisely equal in the real world, but here in imaginary land, they can be), **a person who is not obese is preferable to someone who is.** This is not to say in real life we don’t hire fat people because they’re too fat to make photocopies. Bolding mine. God, I love when people say something revealing that they don’t realize is revealing. Not a preferable employee, just preferable. Preferable as a human being? ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/88 "2010-07-05T22:43:29Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Bolding mine. God, I love when people say something revealing that they don’t realize is revealing. Not a preferable employee, just preferable. Preferable as a human being? I think you’re on a fishing expedition… ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/89 "2010-07-05T22:45:21Z")
Yes. Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. Preferable _as a human being._ Fat people are morally repugnant and should be drowned in lakes of fire. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/90 "2010-07-05T22:52:31Z")
Fat person, because they could encounter unfair discrimination at future interviews. Also some people classified as obese really don’t look, like, horrendously huge. They could be more attractive than a skinny rake. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/91 "2010-07-06T00:38:37Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Yes. Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. Preferable _as a human being._ Fat people are morally repugnant and should be drowned in lakes of fire. Ah, that would render all the fat. Another ‘fossil fuel’. Good thinking! So when people tell me to go to hell because I’m overweight, at least I’ll know I’m contributing somethi\*\*ng to society! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/92 "2010-07-06T02:31:46Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Bolding mine. God, I love when people say something revealing that they don’t realize is revealing. Not a preferable employee, just preferable. Preferable as a human being? AHA! With my clever hypothetical, I have forced MOL to reveal the dark underbelly I knew existed all along. I’m glad this thread has been a success, and I would like to thank you, Brynda, for pointing out the obvious for our slower members. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/93 "2010-07-06T02:36:51Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > AHA! With my clever hypothetical, I have forced MOL to reveal the dark underbelly I knew existed all along. I’m glad this thread has been a success, and I would like to thank you, Brynda, for pointing out the obvious for our slower members. And so… Your ‘clever hypothetical’ was designed to do what, exactly? Make obese people feel like shit? Make skinny people feel ‘justifiably’ superior? Make Little Plastic Ninja want to throw herself off a bridge? Make everyone realize how shallow people are as a general rule? I guess I’m one of the slow ones because I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/94 "2010-07-06T02:43:16Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > I don’t get it. You don’t, do you? OK, back to the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/95 "2010-07-06T02:47:26Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > And so… Your ‘clever hypothetical’ was designed to do what, exactly? Make obese people feel like shit? Make skinny people feel ‘justifiably’ superior? Make Little Plastic Ninja want to throw herself off a bridge? Make everyone realize how shallow people are as a general rule? > > I guess I’m one of the slow ones because I don’t get it. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/96 "2010-07-06T02:48:36Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > You don’t, do you? I do get that you’re saying that someone who is a shitty person, but thin would be superior (in your mind) to someone who has all other good traits except for being obese. I just don’t believe that this is actually true. Do you really think so? I mean really? Am I a worthless human beings in your eyes because I’m not only obese, but morbidly obese? If that’s the case, I’d say that it says more about you than it does about me. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/97 "2010-07-06T02:51:06Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > I do get that you’re saying that someone who is a shitty person, but thin would be superior (in your mind) to someone who has all other good traits except for being obese. Please demonstrate how I am saying that. Before doing so, you may want to re-read the OP. Perhaps twice. Thanking you in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/98 "2010-07-06T02:54:44Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Please demonstrate how I am saying that. Before doing so, you may want to re-read the OP. Perhaps twice. > > Thanking you in advance. Please demonstrate, then, what you\* are\* saying. What is, in your opinion, the ‘dark underbelly’? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/99 "2010-07-06T02:57:01Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > Please demonstrate, then, what you\* are\* saying. What is, in your opinion, the ‘dark underbelly’? 1. I’m not “saying” shit. I’m asking for opinions. 2. The dark underbelly is MOL’s belief that the obese are less than human. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481/100 "2010-07-06T03:00:56Z")
It would take about five seconds to do a search to prove that obese people are discriminated against in employment. I don’t know what **Rand Rover** is trying to prove in this thread either, except that a lot of people are prejudiced against obese people, which we already knew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hire-the-obese-person-or-the-other-one/545481.md?page=6)