I wasn’t sure what forum stuff about the radio would go in, but I thought it might be here…If not, mods, please feel free to move.
I was listening to station 96.1 (also known as “96X”) on the radio and they were talking about fat people. They were actually having people call in, say their name, and then say the first name, along with any cruel nicknames (ones given were “House,” “Fridge,” and “Lunchbox”) of the fattest person they had ever seen. Even though they aren’t saying last names, it seems like the person would be able to figure out who they are by the name of the person calling in. Also, it just seems cruel to be making fun of a real health problem in American society. I’m not even fat, yet even I thought that this could be very, very, very offensive to some people. So what do you think?
Excuse me, but yes they are being offensive - and stupid, and hateful.
Being fat is not a choice. But it is hard, thanks to prejudiced, ignorant people like this. To make fun of someone just because they happen to be bigger than you is narrow-minded and bigotted.
skateboarder87, I can’t just “turn it around”. I’ve been fat for a very long time; I was made this way. I don’t choose to live this way, I HAVE to live this way - but I do choose to stand up and defend myself and others like me.
Maybe it’s easier for some to think that way. If I were darker complected, would you expect me to bleach my skin? If my nose was wider than yours, would you force me to have plastic surgery?
Maybe if people would just accept that all people are supposed to be the same size, any more than chihuahuas and saint bernards.
I have to make a point - that while I agree (wholeheartedly) that the large majority of “fat” people are genetically predisposed as such, there are also many people (think that boy that ate a supersized Big Mac meal daily for years) who just don’t care and let themselves go to the extreme.
Obviously if you have a disorder, you’re excused from the rule I stated above. I was referring to any “Fat” individual who attained that state through eating. It’s no one else’s fault but their own if they can’t pull that fork out of their mouth. That is not like having a “[wider] nose”.
I don’t think it’s entirely a black and white issue, even for those whose weight is due to their eating habits. I mean, people do plenty of short-sighted or unhealthy things to their bodies, not just overeat. We should have some compassion. A lifetime worth of habits and preferences! Think about how hard that is to break.
Eh…So they made fun of fat people. People made fun of me when I was skinny. People made fun of me when I sucked at various sports. I’m sure someone makes fun of me for something even as we speak. So what?
Offend everyone equally I say. You obviously can’t make everyone happy.
“Hey folks, how ya doing out there tonight? Good? Yeah, it’s great to be here, you know. Okay, first up, got a good joke for you here: How do you confuse an Irishman?”
BOOOOOOO HISS hurls tomato Wah. People can’t HELP being Irish! Why should you take some aspect of a person or group of people, then point out some real or imagined absurdity or inconsistency for the purposes of humour? Do you think it’s funny that people are different? Do you? HUH? WHY GOD WHY
Most humour is based on cruelty or ridicule. Think about it. Drunks are funny, fat people are funny, ignorance is funny, old people are funny. If we took political correctness to its fullest extent we would become a very dour puritan lot indeed.
Imagine a show like Becker, The Simpsons or Seinfeld trying to operate without the showing up of human folly and difference. There would be little left.
That said, there are ways and means. And it is all too easy to tip over from goodnatured ribbing to hurtful derision.
Oh wait - I’d hate for anyone here to think that YOU live every day of your life in a never-ending hell of pain, cruelty, and people ripping the last of your self-estime to shreds because “it’s for your own good.”
It’s called “self-esteem” for a reason, so BUCK UP. No one but yourself can drag you down. I belief any lifestyle choice is open to discrepancy, including religion, eating habits, exercise rituals, etc. If one were offended enough by a radio personality’s comments regarding naturally obese individuals, then perhaps that’s a cue to lose some pounds.
I also want to point out the hypocritical nature of your comments. I didn’t intentional insult you; however, you got on my case for defending the radio host’s action. You then proceeded to belittle me (which you have every right to), but this contradicts the exact point you were trying to make. Congratulations.
