JBZ
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2003
- Messages
- 2,247
- Reaction score
- 17
Extremely well put, globetrotter.
I am speaking as one who was formerly "fat". Â I don't know if I was obese (technically or otherwise), but I spent a good portion of my younger life (from as long as I can remember until my early 20's) overweight. Â I am 6'2" and, at the height of my weight gain, was roughly 260 pounds. Â I now weigh around 185, and have remained this was for about 8 years (although I had started my weight loss many years before that - I did it gradually). Â On a personal note, I am much happier and certainly much healthier.
I think what some people posting in this thread do not realize is that most people who are overweight are painfully aware of this fact. Â It is embarrassing for them and they would like nothing more than to lose the weight. Â The difficult thing is changing their lifestyle so that they can do this. Â A lot of what I've read in this thread makes it sound really easy - "Hey, fatso, get your butt off the couch and run a few laps, and try eating less." Â Sounds easy, but it's not. Â It takes time, dedication, and patience. Â It really is a wholesale change in lifestyle (and it's permanent - if you lose the weight and go back to the way you were, you'll gain it all back). Â It can be done, but it's not as easy as some of you seem to think.
Also, speaking personally, my hygiene has always been impeccable. Â I was particularly conscious of being clean and presentable when I was overweight, as a means of compensating. Â I also think that this is where my interest in clothing came from to a certain extent. Â Once again, I wanted to look good in order to compensate. Â As far as intelligence is concerned, speaking personally, I graduated 7th in my class from High School (out of about 340), and I graduated from Bowdoin College (magna *** laude) and Boston College Law School (*** laude). Â I may not be a genius, but I think I can hold my own.
I'm not trying to say that obese people should get a free pass. Â I think I draw the line where someone's condition or behavior affects me personally. Â For instance, if a person is so big that they take up two seats on an airplane, they should have to pay for two seats rather than spill over into my seat and make my flight uncomfortable.
However, there is NO EXCUSE for anyone treating someone with anything less than civility, respect and common courtesy unless that person says or does something which shows they are not worthy of the same. Â If I saw or overheard a salesperson treating a customer rudely simply because they were overweight, I would report this behavior to the manager of the store. Â If the manager said anything to me other than, "I'll speak with the salesperson. Â You're right, his/her behavior is intolerable," I would leave the store and never come back (and I would tell the manager that he/she had lost a customer). Â If I were a salesperson and an overweight person came into my store and I honestly didn't have any clothing that would fit that person, I would try as gently as possible to explain this to that person, out of earshot of others. Â Perhaps I would even maintain a mental list of other stores which might be able to help that person. Â I would think a "gentleman" would do nothing less.
Best regards,
Jeff
I am speaking as one who was formerly "fat". Â I don't know if I was obese (technically or otherwise), but I spent a good portion of my younger life (from as long as I can remember until my early 20's) overweight. Â I am 6'2" and, at the height of my weight gain, was roughly 260 pounds. Â I now weigh around 185, and have remained this was for about 8 years (although I had started my weight loss many years before that - I did it gradually). Â On a personal note, I am much happier and certainly much healthier.
I think what some people posting in this thread do not realize is that most people who are overweight are painfully aware of this fact. Â It is embarrassing for them and they would like nothing more than to lose the weight. Â The difficult thing is changing their lifestyle so that they can do this. Â A lot of what I've read in this thread makes it sound really easy - "Hey, fatso, get your butt off the couch and run a few laps, and try eating less." Â Sounds easy, but it's not. Â It takes time, dedication, and patience. Â It really is a wholesale change in lifestyle (and it's permanent - if you lose the weight and go back to the way you were, you'll gain it all back). Â It can be done, but it's not as easy as some of you seem to think.
Also, speaking personally, my hygiene has always been impeccable. Â I was particularly conscious of being clean and presentable when I was overweight, as a means of compensating. Â I also think that this is where my interest in clothing came from to a certain extent. Â Once again, I wanted to look good in order to compensate. Â As far as intelligence is concerned, speaking personally, I graduated 7th in my class from High School (out of about 340), and I graduated from Bowdoin College (magna *** laude) and Boston College Law School (*** laude). Â I may not be a genius, but I think I can hold my own.
I'm not trying to say that obese people should get a free pass. Â I think I draw the line where someone's condition or behavior affects me personally. Â For instance, if a person is so big that they take up two seats on an airplane, they should have to pay for two seats rather than spill over into my seat and make my flight uncomfortable.
However, there is NO EXCUSE for anyone treating someone with anything less than civility, respect and common courtesy unless that person says or does something which shows they are not worthy of the same. Â If I saw or overheard a salesperson treating a customer rudely simply because they were overweight, I would report this behavior to the manager of the store. Â If the manager said anything to me other than, "I'll speak with the salesperson. Â You're right, his/her behavior is intolerable," I would leave the store and never come back (and I would tell the manager that he/she had lost a customer). Â If I were a salesperson and an overweight person came into my store and I honestly didn't have any clothing that would fit that person, I would try as gently as possible to explain this to that person, out of earshot of others. Â Perhaps I would even maintain a mental list of other stores which might be able to help that person. Â I would think a "gentleman" would do nothing less.
Best regards,
Jeff