Hm, that wasn't the discussion in my journal, was it? Can you link, or is it somewhere locked? (Sounds like a particularly interesting topic to me.)
I am often annoyed by the reactions people have to weight... it's such a hot-button idea or a sensitive spot for so many people that it's hard for them to divorce their personal axe to grind from a discussion that's more sociologically inclined. I got some of this with my recent statement of "eek, I have to lose weight". Ten thousand "you are fine just the way you are" and such responses. When I said, "No, I'm not", then I got accused of conforming to societal ideals of beauty (ha!), being brainwashed (!), and being biased or hateful towards heavier people. Many of the folks holding this view were really nasty about it, too. My explanation of, "no, I pride myself on being athletic, I *want* to have good muscles and be in the best shape I can" was not accepted. See, it's okay to accept yourself as you want to be if you want to be whatever shape the person you're talking to happens to like. But if you differ from their opinion, clearly there's something wrong with *you*. Grrrr. My body, my rules. If I want to be an Amazon, I will be. Nyah. [grin]
That has *no bearing* on my opinion of other peoples' figures, personalities, or worth as a person. It's as if me wanting to get myself in better shape is somehow insulting to others. I am disbelieved when I say "no, it's nothing to do with you, this is about me". I've dated people who weighed 100 lbs and people who weighed 250 lbs. Clearly I don't find weight to be some scarlet letter.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-01-28 07:23 am (UTC)I am often annoyed by the reactions people have to weight... it's such a hot-button idea or a sensitive spot for so many people that it's hard for them to divorce their personal axe to grind from a discussion that's more sociologically inclined. I got some of this with my recent statement of "eek, I have to lose weight". Ten thousand "you are fine just the way you are" and such responses. When I said, "No, I'm not", then I got accused of conforming to societal ideals of beauty (ha!), being brainwashed (!), and being biased or hateful towards heavier people. Many of the folks holding this view were really nasty about it, too. My explanation of, "no, I pride myself on being athletic, I *want* to have good muscles and be in the best shape I can" was not accepted. See, it's okay to accept yourself as you want to be if you want to be whatever shape the person you're talking to happens to like. But if you differ from their opinion, clearly there's something wrong with *you*. Grrrr. My body, my rules. If I want to be an Amazon, I will be. Nyah. [grin]
That has *no bearing* on my opinion of other peoples' figures, personalities, or worth as a person. It's as if me wanting to get myself in better shape is somehow insulting to others. I am disbelieved when I say "no, it's nothing to do with you, this is about me". I've dated people who weighed 100 lbs and people who weighed 250 lbs. Clearly I don't find weight to be some scarlet letter.
So yeah, I pretty much agree with your rant.