Does someone's weight affect your perception of them?

Yes, I think a person's weight is a reflection of them.

In my opinion, judging people by their appearance is generally beneficial in non-superfluous levels (e.g. someone sagging his pants is likely to be rather superficial, somebody who is morbidly obese will likely have little self-respect, etc.).

 

If these women were being treated so poorly they should have reported it or gotten another job. Their employer was clearly in violation of their rights if it's as you describe. Finally, there are 24 hours in a day, meaning these women had 16 hours extra in the day to fit 45 minutes of excercise in.....every other day.

Excercise is a fundamental component of good health. People make time to eat and sleep, they CAN make time to excercise their bodies and extend their lives. Excercising GIVES you energy so not having energy is lame excuse. Full time jobs, small children, night shifts, and doubt shifts are no excuse. You can knock out push ups/sit up on break, run/bike to work, take your kids to the park for a vigorous walk. There are thousands of ways to excercise. I've been in much more time consuming, stressful, and poor conditions than anything you've described and STILL found time to excercise, even if it was at the cost of a little sleep. Calling excercise "utterly selfish" is insane. Do you consider eating and sleeping to also be utterly selfish? If you can't make the time to extend your life and be more healthy less than 2 hours in an entire week you're just making excuses. Stop watching tv, surfing the internet, smoking, reading etc. etc. You can ALWAYS make time.

Obesity has been identified by many health experts as the leading cause of rising healthcare. It has a massive affect on people and leads to many chronic diseases. Smoking has been called out similarly, and to a lesser extent drinking. Fishing and shooting isn't known to cause chronic health problems and other than the occasional freak accident isn't even on the radar, so that idea is silly.

Before the 60s most of the population wasn't overweight.

People can't change their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. People can quite easily change their weight. There's a massive difference.

I appreciate the personal insult at the end. How am I a sexist?

 

No, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be held accountable, I'm a strong believer in human accountability. I think those who are obese have no one to blame but themselves--some have contributory factors adding to their own responsibilities as well. It's a similar concept to that of anorexia, just the polar opposite disorder and for the opposite reasons. People who develop anorexia have reacted poorly to situations in their lives regarding self image and become confident that they must starve themselves in order to look "good." They entertained the notion and adopted the mindset which resulted in their eating disorder so of course they are accountable. People who are obese and overweight are responsible for entertaining the initial thoughts which led to whatever vicious cycle they find themselves in. But negatively judging a person based simply on how they look is naive, childish and ignorant. There are overweight individuals who contribute far more to society than some physically fit individuals and there are physically fit individuals who contribute far more to society than some overweight individuals.

 

I wouldn't take that comment of hers personally and I certainly wouldn't invest anything into it, but as a friendly word of advice, I also wouldn't feed the trolls if you know what I mean . I do understand being curious about trollish babble, but even dignifying it by inquiring about it will just result in more of the same rubbish.

 

That right there is a judgement.

I admit to judging people for being overweight. That said, I don't hate them or have a vendetta against them. I tend to feel sorry for them. Every once in a while I'll see an overweight person at the gym looking very ashamed and embarrassed. I know several overweight people who have told me their fears of being made of/looking pathetic at the gym and how insecure it makes them. When I see these people I want nothing more than to go over and support them for working out. I pray that they can take up the lifestyle that surronds my local gym because I know just how empowering it can be.

 

I judge drug users and alcoholics more than any overweight person.

 

All south east Asians eat is rice. You never hear of a huge SEA weight epidemic. I would think rice would be good for us.

 

It wasn't directed at you. It's just her way of saying I'm adorable.

 

LOL. I went through a "judgmental prick" stage for awhile. I found this to be true, nothing is more of a turnoff for people than that of the "judgmental prick" attitude. In the end, all judgmental pricks have is each other, and conditional love is as genuine as a 4$ bill. People would rather be around a fat, drug using, smoking, alcoholic with bad teeth, who loved them unconditionally, than a judgmental prick who they always secretly wondered what was saying about them behind their back. Food for thought.

 

You're not getting my drift. Judgment can mean condemnation, but it can also mean discernment without condemnation; and there is no condemnation in the mere observation that a person has a character flaw which manifests itself by obesity.

 

No, I got your drift, thanks.

I'm not arguing that point. I'm simply making the case that everyone has character flaws.

 

Which is a moot point, because the act of "judgement" is as simple as seeing a person or thinking about a person or a group of people and formulating ANY kind of thought or opinion having to do with them at all--whether it's good bad or otherwise. Judgement is inevitable, it's the type of judgement which is important to distinguish.

That sounds good to me.

 

Is that supposed to be news to anybody?

 

It doesn't have to be "news to anyone," it's simply a statement of fact, take it as is and move on. There's no need to make some pathetically failed attempt to be condescending. On a related note, if you'd like some assistance on how to discuss topics with strangers who have been neither hostile nor rude to you with similar principles of courtesy and respect, then I'd be glad to point you to some self-help sources for the anti-social, pious and generally more insecure crowd--only at your request, mind you.

But to get back on topic I'm sure there are people who believe that they have no character flaws or that their character flaws are somehow "better" than other peoples' character flaws. And my statement of fact, regardless of how "obvious" you perceived it to be was still a valid statement of fact. End of story. It certainly doesn't merit some tight-ass panty-wadded response like that which you brought forth to the topic. I could take your equally obvious statement:

and blast it for being obvious with some snide remark, but that would be stooping to a certain level, and I'm simply not willing to do that.

 

Maybe I will and maybe I won't. Either way, your advice is not interesting.

Again, no thanks.

Those people would not be any more edified by your statement of the obvious than anyone else.

Not much of a story when everybody knows the ending, is it?

Evidently the irony escapes you.

 

And your ignorant pandering is even less so.

Oh of course. Continue to discuss without principles of etiquette. I guess that is your right, but it's very revealing about the kind of values you have--or don't, rather.

Actually a great story is still a great story, even if you've already read it and know how it ends. Do you read much? Apparently not.

No, the irony was intended. I'm well aware of it. It was sarcastic and dripping with the same nonsensical hostility of your response to my initial comments.

 

I'm a realist. You can't sit here and tell me when you see a Meth addict come over and start talking to you you don't make judgements. That's just pure idealistic bs. Everyday we use dozens of different visual and vocal cues to make judgements about people. From clothing, body language, tone of voice etc. I make judgements about people (as everyone does), but try and treat everyone nicely, albeit not the same.

 

Calling it a character flaw and moving on is a bit cheap. Can we chalk up Hitler's actions to a character flaw? I like to think of character flaws as a part of a person's personality that they really can't change much...i.e. stubborn, cold, etc. Weight has very little association with one's personality. Sure, it can be a symptom of depression, but controlling one's weight is a basic health and appearance issue. I somehow suspect all these people telling me how terrible I am for judging fat people would be appalled by someone with terrible body odor and nasty yellow teeth. I see weight as something more akin to that than a character flaw.

 

I'm afraid I'm ignorant of nothing so much as what it is you think I'm ignorant of and whom you think I'm pandering to; and while you may elect to clarify, it's a good bet you'll be sorry you did.

Thanks, don't mind if I do.

Unfortunately that's nothing like what we're talking about.

Seeing my responses were utterly bereft of hostility, I can only take this as an exposition of your own character flaw.

I say yes. I say we all have the same character flaw: a desire for egotistical self-aggrandizement. In Hitler that expressed itself famously, and in his followers it expressed itself by subservience which in their minds enabled them to bask in his reflected glory. In the rest of humanity it expresses itself in countless ways.

Why the equivocation?

 

Someone's habits do not dictate how they will treat you. And in the end, how someone treats us dictates if we care to be around them or not. I have known 100s of people in my life span. Those who fit the definition of "perfect", are 9 times out of 10 extremely selfish people. It is easy to be "perfect" when your whole existence is to benefit yourself. More often than not, the people whose life is utter chaos on a personal note have no sense of self. They live their life for others, and more often then not, die too soon in obscurity, lost to the ages. The world would be nothing without them. I have seen both worlds, my friend. The world of "keeping up with the Jones", and the pseudo-relationships that come with it, and the world of those with less, who need each other to survive, and treat each other accordingly. Often, those with less are the ones with more. But to each his own.

 

On the subject of attracting the opposite sex, what is the point of it? What actually is the point of attracting the opposite sex if you are not genuinely looking to attract a partner? It's just taking the p*** out of men.

I don't want to wear a burka, but other cultures may have a more honest and sensible perception in how they dress to attract their own partner within the home but cover up so as not to bother or be bothered by nosy non-partners outwith the home.

And I think being uniformed and judgmental is just that. Mental. Nosy. Intrusive. Pointless. Not very nice.

People who are obsessed with fitness are not known for depth. More for strange ocd like behaviour.

LMAO...this is reality for a lot of people who don't work in Disneyland. Ignorance is Bliss.

I responded to all of this in the previous post. That is how you see the world. No one knows your circumstances and so I am not going to judge you. You do not know the conditions under which other people are having to live, you are not in a position to cast aspersions unless you are shallow enough to feel the need to make uniformed judgments on people you don't know. It's none of your business how other people live and those people are as decent and hard working as anyone else with any other living issue. They are entitled to the same respect as that nutter who's never out of the gym and approaches others with an intimidating gait because he thinks his muscles enable superiority. He's a twit and fairly often it appears the larger the muscles, the fewer active grey cells and emotional stability.

Over your head.

You're in the minority and unfashionable in your disdain for overweight people. Thin may have been in, but fat is where people are at. Careful people don't judge you as lacking or weird for being non-fat.

Eh, how can people not change their religion? My husband is of "foreign" origins and is now British (or Scottish as I prefer it), so has he changed his race? Have you heard of transgender sex change? Or bisexuality. Or sure there is something like poly-sexuality as these days, everything goes and is endowed with respect and human rights except being overweight apparently.

For once, the bold yguy is correct. It wasn't an insult, but I won't judge you.

You are funny, I'll say that for you.

...why have I never noticed your brilliance before? That post is exactly it.

Overweight people are on a par with meth addicts now...

Appearance-obsessed people have a very narrow world and extreme physical fitness doesn't seem to translate into usefulness or practical application either. Often such people avoid using their physically fit bodies for anything other than posing (as if anyone is impressed). Ask them to lift a big bag of something heavy, they invariably have a bad back or some other girl's blouse evasion tactic. Crowd of big cissies...

Still, each to his own, I agree with your point regarding relationships and wouldn't consider another super-fitty having experienced the shallowness of extreme super-fit good looks but preferring independence to dependence I don't really fancy needy either.

 

its not about either/or.

there are a lot of people who are not exercise junkies who are also not fat, and don't have tickets on themselves.

personally, I think going to the gym is a bit silly.

go for a walk, go to the park with the kids (or grandkids) and kick a ball around.

do some gardening.

walk to the bus stop and catch the bus instead of driving.

get up from your desk and go for a wander every 45 minutes (reduces your chance of developing type 2 diabetes) and go out for a walk during lunch break ...

get some incidental exercise by doing normal things, and eat sensibly.

thats enough for most people to stay in a healthy weight range and be reasonably fit.

 

I maintain a clean/healthy diet, exercise daily and get appropriate sleep. I enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

I make choices for myself, one of which is who I associate with. Others are free to do the same.

 

No one said a thing about being perfect. That's you projecting on me. Are you overweight?

I don't treat overweight people poorly, I just generally think they have less self-discipline and are less concerned with their health. I'm always polite to everyone, but when it comes to a job interview type scenario or romantic situation, weight is going to be a factor. This is no different than how someone dresses or carries themselves. People go on and on how they "treat everyone the same" and aren't concerned with outside appearances at all. Science has repeatedly shown that facial/body expression, height, clothing, attractiveness, etc. etc. plays a role in how people are viewed and treated. You can be delusional and pretend you treat the super model you're attracted to exactly the same as the overweight woman next to her, but you're just kidding yourself. I'm not saying you'll treat the fat woman poorly, but you'll certainly treat the attractive one better. (If you're a woman then flip this)

 

People who are obsessed with their outward appearance (which often involves fitness) have problems. People who love to do athletic things and work out are healthy, mentally and physically. The fact that you think "fit" people are automatically OCD/narcissistic is very telling about you.

No one said that fat people can't be kind, hard-working, intelligent etc. etc. All I said is that they've chosen to be unhealthy and that that is a reflection of them. It's not that I look down on them so much as I don't think they've reach their potential. I most definitely don't think they should be forced to work out. I'm of the mind that people should be able to do as they please. If they want to eat KFC all day and weigh 400 pounds, more power to them. The only caveat is that they shouldn't expect special privileges (2 airplane seats) and should expect to get some ridicule for their unhealthy behavior. Just as I think they should have the right to get fat, I should have the right to judge them for being unhealthy. This is why I don't like the fat "acceptance" movement. How come there's no "meth acceptance movement" or "alcohol acceptance movement?"

I think if you did an experiment with an overweight twin and a health twin you'd find that almost EVERYONE treats overweight people a bit differently. This is often unintentional, but exists nonetheless.

So you think anyone with muscle mass is less intelligent? Do you not see the incredible hypocrisy of that?

Stop comparing sexuality with being overweight. People are born into their sexuality, they CHOOSE to be fat.

What about the millions of athletes around the world who love to train and play? Do you still hate them because they're fit? How do you differentiate between someone that loves to train and someone that does it for vanity?