Pedestrian, can't you understand I'm NOT talking about normal/average sized ladies. There's no reason to think any of the posts are hurtful because they're about people twenty times your size.

You're right. There are underlying circumstances why someone gets that way. Perhaps, I've been a little dismissive of those circumstances. Though my point was never to put any individual down. Like other addictions there has to be some kind of motivation of their part to begin the process of recovery.

I'm new to these kind of discussions on in this forum and it was never my intention to make anyone feel hurt because of their personal situation. Personally, I had four grandparents that lived unhealthy lifestyles and none of them lived past 65 and it's my goal to live beyond that, so I try to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible. I know for some it's harder and I probably didn't see it that way at first.

it's okay sometimes these type of discussions can get a little out of hand when people feel very passionate about their opinion/stance on an issue.

On my mother's side of the family most of her sisters are on the heavier side but no one is to the point where they are obese and only one has gotten diabetes type 2 being my mother.

Even though I'm considered overweight due to that stupid BMI scale that needs to be thrown out because it doesn't take into account body fat percentage I'm pretty healthy by the way I eat and that I make sure that I'm jogging every other morning and on the off days, I make sure that I keep myself busy as far as moving around going for a walk things like that.

My personal goal is to avoid getting diabetes type 2 because that's so easily prevented.

I'm healthier than someone that weighs less than me but drinks beer and smokes. I'd be able to outrun them in a heart beat.

Thats just how society works now a days man. Your not allowed to say what you really think only what people want to hear. Even if what they want to hear is only inflating the issue, and potentially doing more harm than good. Personaly in life I tend to value, and trust someones brutal honesty(even if it is offensive) rather than someone who says something just to pacify me, or safe guard my feelins, but thats not the case for everyone, and thats their right.
I dont have problems with alcohol or cigarette jokes, and welcome them with open arms. In fact ive even been debating putting myself in a pressured to drink situation just to build up my resistance, and see how id respond. Its not going to go away, and its not like im going to start crying cause people are talking about alcohol or consuming it in my presence, and smoking ciggs as well. Then I again I guess I could break down, and get offended fall off the wagon buy a pack of smokes and throw caution to the wind. Then when life crumbles even more just blame it on how offended I was, and ask the government to start sponsoring me, and bail me out of the self created pity party I had created for myself. All because I wasnt strong enough on the exterior to handle the enevitable problems, and dilemmas life throws at you. Have someone sugar coat the approach they take(so I can not really take them serious) while they explain the problem at hand, and further the exsistance of a self destructive path.

Or I can continue to man up, and recognize the rewards of what will pay off in the long term. Instead of letting my emotions get bent out of shape because of comments someone made or lack there of because they were afraid of hurting my feelings. Either or if thats all it takes to crack my shell than I would be in for a long hard road of infinate failure of acheiving any life that had any kind of substance to it. So ill choose the latter, and remain sober, and aware that not everything in life is a bed of roses, and if I cant acheive something on my own or maybe with a lil help from my family. Then I damn sure aint going to ask the government for it..ill just go without. Accountability in modern society has been lost somewhere through the years, but all this is just my opinion and stance on things.

Haha, alright. Look, guys. It's not like I ran to bed and sobbed myself to sleep facedown in my pillow after pounding back a couple of twinkies. I honestly do not care one iota what you think of me or my lifestyle, because you know very little about it and I am both happy and healthy. That's not the issue.

I just want to make it clear that hateful speech (projected on to ANYONE) is unacceptable, and that there are a plethora of ignorant misconceptions about obesity that I've seen stated here. I do sympathize with people who are 300+ pounds, because I know how a person ends up on that track, and I know how difficult it is to get off of it when you have no self-worth.

That's why this sort of talk is more harmful than beneficial to people who need to make a change. It's demotivational, biased, and cruel. Stop trying to justify your schoolyard bullying. It would be very easy to have a factual and rational discussion on this topic without allowing your own prejudices to come into play, but because weight is the last acceptable way to ridicule an entire group of people, you've allowed yourselves to come down to this level of name-calling and abuse. I imagine in my head what it would be like if your defense were "BUT HE'S SOOOO BLACK/GAY" instead of "But he's SO fat!" and I nearly come to tears laughing. Come on, you are all better than that.

And that's the last I'll say on the matter. Take it or leave it, I'm not coming back into this thread.

It's not like when I see mobidly obese people in the street I fling food at them or something, I'm not bullying them. I'm stating my opinion and I seem to be mistaken but I thought everyone was entitled to one?

That was funny
As well as that

Just so this is clear I didnt project any insults directly onto anyone in this debate. Or insinuate that I suspected someone had a serious issue with weight here, and specificly make light of their own personal struggles.(if someone feels I did please enlighten me) Just stated the fact that tax payers shouldnt suffer for someones refusal to help initiate the first step of trying to help themselves. If I were three hundred and fifty pounds would it be ok for me to use the word fat, and joke around about it? My intentions arent to try an bring anyone down or justify my own self worth by insulting another. Im just a little more abrasive with my take on things than some people sometimes I guess. I thought once your an adult your not expected to be pampered quite so much. This is obviously a sensitive subject for a lot of people.

nor did I hurl any abuse on "fat" people or say anything that might denigrate their self-worth

all I did say is that my country does NOT support the overly obese who are so because of overeating and lack of exercise

You keep crying burden on tax payers like the same people that will be receiving benefits didn't pay taxes at one point in time. The fact that they DID pay taxes also entitles them to receive said benefits. You'll have to pay the stupid taxes anyways why do you care where it goes to?

Not everyone is as strong willed as you are to just realize one day that they need to change and start seeking help.

Because its like saying that its ok what your doing the government will take care of you regaurdless. Where does this sense of entitlment come from? Do something for yourself.... THERE SHOULDNT BE HANDOUTS FOR PEOPLE that dont want to help themselves. If they are not that strong willed then go without and I guarantee you they would start having a change of heart. Americans are always pointing the finger, and playing the blame game, and crying about what somebody else can do for them. Its ridiculous really, and im not just talking about obesity or alcoholism its a multitude of things. Imagine if everyone took on this attitude of the government owes me everything? Then once were all setting around waiting on the other to take some initiative, and have bled the country dry..whos fault is it then? Gods? Are we suppose to wait on God to take care of us for our own mistakes then?