Fat Shaming – #ThingsFatPeopleSay

I’m fat.

I weigh 175 lbs more than the high-end of my ideal body weight (according to the Rush University Medical Center website).

According to some standard BMI calculators (which are extremely inaccurate) I have a BMI of 49.1%.

I have to pay extra for my clothes because of the size.

I live my life with just a bit more caution to avoid destroying chairs and desks just by sitting in them.

I have an unhealthy relationship with food that I struggle with.

It is something I have dealt with almost my entire life. It is part of who I am, and it is part of the struggle I live through.

I deal with these things because I have to. I deal with them because it is part of who I am. I work to make myself better for me. I work to be comfortable with who I am and what I am.

You know what I won’t do:

Allow you to shame me, or anyone else.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I have a sense of humor. I make jokes about being a fat kid all the time. I understand that it is easier to deal with issues when you do so with comedy.

I’m with you there.

At a certain point, though, things go from funny to cruel.

If you want to come here and make fat kid jokes with me, feel free. You can do it all day long, I don’t mind. I’m pretty comfortable with my size. Also, I’m way bigger than you, so if you get out of line, I’ll sit on you.

So, imagine that I thought there might be some clever jokes floating around the Twitter Trending Topic #ThingsFatPeopleSay.

I imagined that it would be full of jokes like:

http://twitter.com/Ek_Tha_Baba/status/250978015050342400

or

http://twitter.com/narucotic/status/250901522223882240

Which I found extremely clever.

 

Those are the exceptions, though. What you actually get is an entire stream of condescending bullshit. The worst part is, these fat kid jokes aren’t really about being fat.

People equate fat with stupid.

 

I suppose in a way, I understand why.

It’s easy to know that diet and exercise are good for you, after all, reality television tells us that all the time.

I mean, if you go with Biggest Loser, all you need is a crash diet and heart damaging workout to get skinny.

That probably doesn’t have any long term health effects.

Of course, you could also go on a fad diet, like Atkins, because that’s good for your heart… or not.

You could also just get off your ass, right? Because exercise leads to weight loss, right?

It’s  good to know that scientists are working on this issue, since apparently they don’t know what the hell their talking about when it comes to diet and weight loss.

Seriously, just in case you need it again: Diets don’t work.

It’s okay.

I’m going to share with you some truths that are undeniable facts:

  • People are different.
  • Fat Shaming IS bullying.
  • Body weight and Mental Ability are rarely linked.
  • Yes, there is a difference between jokes and cruelty, and you’re on the wrong side of it.
  • Body Image Issues have a significant impact on happiness, but strangely size itself does not.
  • If you think it’s okay to make fun of fat people, you are an asshole!
  • Pizza rolls are still addictively delicious!

 

I’m not here to judge you for your behavior. You’ve all been swept up in the tide of ignorance and hate.

I just want you to realize that your self-indulgence has victims.

Fat kids are people, too.

I am fat, but I’m still human.

Can you say the same thing for yourself?

 


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