posted June 17, 2000 02:46 PM            

Are fat people stupid, weak willed, or demonic? No. Leave them alone. It serves you no purpose.

Damning the fat to hell elucidates an incredible lack of tolerance. It makes you in the very least close-minded and perhaps down right bigoted. If someone chooses a different value system than yours or perhaps prioritizes things different than you, it does not make them less of a person.

I have several friends who are overweight, not because they can't control themselves, but because they have CHOSEN to focus their energies on non-physical pursuits. They decided long ago that they would rather pursue academic/spiritual interests with their full drive and not worry about the physical. Being fat does not interfere with them becoming the best they can be at what they have CHOSEN to do. They are still passionate, dedicated people whose scopes' vary from yours.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are overweight, out of shape people who are so because of weakness. I will condemn them right along side of the rest of you. You cannot simply look at someone on the beach and declare them worthless, however. You can't do this any more than someone can look at you and declare you a BIGOREXIC ROID-HEAD.

If you want to vilify, vilify those who lack passion and dedication. They are humanities real viruses.

posted June 17, 2000 02:57 PM            

Puc

posted June 17, 2000 03:55 PM            

IMHO

When the physical interferes with chosen goals, that is a lack of passion. If you become morbidly obese, that can/will interfere with just about any path you choose or goal you set.

The morbidly obese should not be condemned for being obese, but instead, for their lack of passion.

posted June 18, 2000 07:52 AM            

L8R

posted June 18, 2000 05:06 PM            

"Choosing to be fat because of other things is bullshit, I know how they really feel and they aren't happy with themselves down deep so they cover it up by saying stuff like that"

How can you possibly profess that? There are plenty of people who are happy with themselves even though they don't meet YOUR ideals.

Also, I will compare fat pictures with you any time you want so do not claim some kind of a greater understanding of the human psyche simply because you were once overweight.

posted June 18, 2000 05:11 PM            

Overweight does not equal morbidly obese.

You can be overweight without being a health hazard (well, no moreso than a drinker or smoker, anyway) Also, not everyone who is overwieght is so because they eat 4 whoppers a day and drives around in a minivan looking for the closest parking spot.

I am not arguing the extremes here.

posted June 19, 2000 12:27 PM            

We're bodybuilders. I think it's only natural that we have a more extreme reaction to fat folks than most people do. After all, turning into those people is our worst nightmare.

As for "choosing to pursue other interests," I prefer the Greek ideal: a healthy mind and body. I look at computr nerds with pale skin, big bellies, unkempt, bedraggled, and I realize these people have no aspiration to a certain quality of life. They don't care hot they look. They don't care how they live, or how they're perceived. They have no respect for themselves. So why should I respect them?

Maybe I'm a sensualist, but I love HAVING a body. And I thank God it's a healthy one. I love that a chain link fence isn't an obstacle, that a mile is not a long distance. I love that I can DO anything I want. And if I can't today then I will tomorrow.

I think the most empowering thing in the world is having one of these amazing machines. Because you can make it look like whatever you want it to. You can make it do whatever you want it to. Sure, there are some limits. But they can always be pushed. Take a Chevy Nova, it's always going to be a Chevy Nova. Take a human body the equivalent of a Nova, train it in whatever discipline you want, and you can turn it into a Lamborghini.

I think that's absolutely incredible. I think it's incredibly liberating. It's the great equalizer. We can be whatever we want to be.
Given that, why would anyone NOT choose this quality of life? Is a cheeseburger really worth not being able to climb a mountain? Or a flight of stairs?! And if you say it is, so be it, but don't ask me to build an elevator or a larger seat for you. When I was grossly fat, I did it to myself. I'm STILL fat. I did it. I'll fix it.

And for the record, this isn't true just of physical pursuits. I have no sympathy for the uneducated. The underacheivers. For anyone in a situation they don't want to be in. Sure, you can't help being in jail. but you can sure help working in an office you don't like. Living in a city you don't like. We all have enormous freedom. So few use it. And that's a damn waste of a fantastic gift.

posted June 19, 2000 12:57 PM            

I understand exactly what you are saying. I, too, was 100lbs overweight (5'8", too) and I simply decided that I enjoyed physical activities too much to stay that way. I personally have trouble empathizing with those who choose different paths in life.

I just refuse to damn them for it.

posted June 19, 2000 01:17 PM            

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SIZE MATTERS

posted June 19, 2000 02:20 PM            

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"Pain, is only weakness leaving your body"

posted June 19, 2000 05:15 PM            

I AM NOT ARGUING THE EXTREMES HERE

OF COURSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH GETTING TO THE LEVEL OF OBESITY THIASSI SEEMS SO FIXATED ON. IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE BODYBUILDER PSYCHE THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN OVERWEIGHT AND MORBIDLY OBESE??

posted June 20, 2000 12:04 PM            

I think you have been misreading my posts.

I never said "they have a problem down inside themselves."

In fact, I have been stating the opposite, that "I have several friends who are overweight, not because they can't control themselves, but because they have CHOSEN to focus their energies on non-physical pursuits"