Obese Boy Scouts not allowed to attend Jamboree. Fat discrimination or common sense?

[colander]

@Troppus

As I’ve said what, 32 times? I have no problem with an organization limiting risk, especially when that risk is to kids who cannot be relied on to self-report illness or injury, and especially when those kids will be pitted against typically developing, physically active and competitive kids. I have no problem with hard cutoffs for ages of consent, either. Or drinking, smoking, or military service. I see no reason why an organization with a voluntary membership can’t decide to exclude kids with an addiction that will hinder the other member’s progress, or why they want to avoid the expense of making allowances for kids who can’t keep up or who are more likely the need medical intervention and special attention than typically developing members of the group.

I agree, the Boy Scouts are legally entitled to do all sorts of things without having to offer any kind of valid justification. So what?

Remember all the discussions of how bad obese kids hated gym class, how badly they were bullied, how badly they hated being forced to participate in physical activities, and change in front of other kids? Peer pressure’s a bitch, bullying hurts 4ever, etc. Where are those posters now? Are these the same people who are pushing for inclusion of a kid with BMI of 40+? Now why is that? I think the adults who are crying “discrimination” here have their own fat acceptance agenda that is not considerate of the kids involved at all, and I think that’s pretty disingenuous. I’d like to hear from an actual kid who fits the criteria, who is dismayed at being excluded, and who can demonstrate that he’s as physically fit, agile, and competitive as his peers in the Scouts. That is, one who isn’t being pushed by his parents to speak up. I’d also like to hear from an actual physician who is willing to submit a physical and approval letter for such a kid. So far all we’re hearing from is a fat acceptance movement willing to throw some chronically obese kid to the wolves in order to prove that fat is healthy and strong. Damn shame all that energy can’t be put into helping the same kids beat an addiction and support them in learning some better eating and exercise habits so he’s not sick for the rest of his life.

You seem awfully intent on projecting nefarious agendas onto people who don’t take your side in discussions. Although apparently this mode of discussion is very enjoyable to you, I must admit to feeling no small amount of frustration when my cites to medicine journal articles that dispute your vehement but factually incorrect declarations are met with deafening silence and requests for clarification on your position are met with not so much answers as repetitive, irrelevant diatribes about some argument you remember having with some other people on the internet at some indefinite point in the past and how those people were totally wrong and I bet they hate all the children and they probably want those poor children to die and you probably do too and what do I have to say about that, huh?

Well, you know, I’m not really sure that I do have anything to say about that. To be honest, I kind of don’t think it has very much to do with me or even really all that much to do with this particular topic.

Good luck.