Obesity Discussion Forums

[William Wallace]

Sorry; I just had to vent a little. I'm just fed up with the way people sometimes stare at me like I'm some weirdo because I'm overweight. Of course, little kids don't know the difference or think it's a big deal, but my guess is their parents, peers and/or TV tell them otherwise. I think I understand how some minorities may have felt in the US many many years ago.

Am I the only one who notices this?

[Obesity Discussion]

You aren't the only one who notices it. I think you are right on with your train of thought. Unfortunately bias is learned through the media, family and friends. I think of it as a form of ignorance, and feel bad that they have been corrupted. Whether it be race, sex, physical appearance, etc, I think there's too much stereotyping and profiling going on these days.

[William Wallace]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

You aren't the only one who notices it. I think you are right on with your train of thought. Unfortunately bias is learned through the media, family and friends. I think of it as a form of ignorance, and feel bad that they have been corrupted. Whether it be race, sex, physical appearance, etc, I think there's too much stereotyping and profiling going on these days.

I think you're right on the bias part. In a country that was founded on equality (we screwed that up many times along the way), you'd think that we'd be better about it.

[jacqueline]

I guess you have to chalk it up to peoples ignorance. Whether you are exptremely thin, fat, tall, short, have a handicap, or are just out of the norm, people don't know how to handle it. If you are too smart, or not smart enough, kids at school will make fun of you because you are out of the ordinary. I certainly don't condone rude behavior, but I guess sometimes it is almost an extreme sense of curriosity that causes people to stare. Parents should teach their children how to handle these situations, but there will always be some ignorant, uncouth people who will act inappropriately. If they can't control themselves, how can we expect them to teach their children how to behave. It is disappointing to say the least. :-(

[Irving]

Originally Posted by William Wallace

Sorry; I just had to vent a little. I'm just fed up with the way people sometimes stare at me like I'm some weirdo because I'm overweight. Of course, little kids don't know the difference or think it's a big deal, but my guess is their parents, peers and/or TV tell them otherwise. I think I understand how some minorities may have felt in the US many many years ago.

Am I the only one who notices this?

You are not, but just ignore them. Do not let it get to you. Although, if you do lose a lot of weight and people stop looking at you, you may feel lonely and ignored! :razz:

[pharmgirl]

I've experienced this myself, however I don't let it bother me anymore. I'm overweight, but I walk with confidence. And when you start walking with confidence, people look at you in a completely different way. I've always been a fast paced walker. I'm sure people wonder how I walk so fast, guess I'm just used to it. Pick up your head, set your pace and you'll be amazed at the difference in the looks you get.

[Merle]

Originally Posted by pharmgirl

I've experienced this myself, however I don't let it bother me anymore. I'm overweight, but I walk with confidence. And when you start walking with confidence, people look at you in a completely different way. I've always been a fast paced walker. I'm sure people wonder how I walk so fast, guess I'm just used to it. Pick up your head, set your pace and you'll be amazed at the difference in the looks you get.

i walk with confidence too but it doesn't always stop the stares. but I agree it does reduce them. people in all walks of life respect you more when you show confidence

[shortstop]

Originally Posted by William Wallace

Sorry; I just had to vent a little. I'm just fed up with the way people sometimes stare at me like I'm some weirdo because I'm overweight. Of course, little kids don't know the difference or think it's a big deal, but my guess is their parents, peers and/or TV tell them otherwise. I think I understand how some minorities may have felt in the US many many years ago.

Am I the only one who notices this?

you are right. But, I had a little kid come up to me in a restaurant and tell me I was "big". Then he and his little friend stood their and snickered at me.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by shortstop

you are right. But, I had a little kid come up to me in a restaurant and tell me I was "big". Then he and his little friend stood their and snickered at me.

Maybe it's me but it seems like kids have less and less respect every generation.

[shortstop]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

Maybe it's me but it seems like kids have less and less respect every generation.

I think you're right.

[MikeB]

I just get called a giant...

[pharmgirl]

Originally Posted by mtxpert

I just get called a giant...

You must be talllllllllll

[William Wallace]

Originally Posted by pharmgirl

You must be talllllllllll

I believe he is 6'4". He does have some pics floating around :nilly:

Trials and tribulations of a middle aged fat man

[pvanbrak]

My great niece is always so sweet, but one day we were traveling to Indianapolis and we stopped to get something to eat, and she looked at me and said, You know Aunt Pam, You sure aren't skinny!!!! I guess her parents told her its not nice to call people fat.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by pvanbrak

My great niece is always so sweet, but one day we were traveling to Indianapolis and we stopped to get something to eat, and she looked at me and said, You know Aunt Pam, You sure aren't skinny!!!! I guess her parents told her its not nice to call people fat.

I don't think that's what they had in mind.

[vegan314]

I've been stared at, called names, ignored, pointed at,snickered at.

I always say "better to be fat than to be mean and ignorant"

I had a little girl sit next to me on the lay away bench in wal mart one day with her granny. She looked at me and said "you have a little mustache (I am 1/2 cuban and all my hair is very dark) I laughed and said"yes, I sure do and so do you."
She got a funny look on her face and I said," everyone does, it just shows up darker on some people and boys can grow theirs long if they want to".
This satisfied her and her granny started to apologize. I told her it was a great opportunity to explain that all people are different and I was happy that she said something to me.
By the way, hello I am new here.

[mystere]

i think im meaner to myself than anyone has been

[sass63]

You know for me it was a little different. Yes I did get the stares and comments. I got tons of comments, but I used the weight to hide from people. See the thing is we all know that most people just see whats on the outside and not whats on the inside, so this is how I mean hide from people. I had been hurt so much in my life it was a way to protect myself. When I first started losing weight and people started to talk to me I really had a hard time holding it together, I wanted to run and hide and eat and eat. But thank god I found the strength to move forward and not backwards.
Try not to let these foolish people bother you. Chances are that you wouldnt like the kind of people they are anyway.

[mclintst]

I used to be one of the people that would stare. But it was only to take the attention away from myself. I assume that is why most people do it.

In a society where 60-70% of the population is overweight, almost all of us are selfconcise about our weight.

Once I started dealing with my own weight problems, I stopped looking for everyone elses.

Keep up the weightloss efforts William, soon they will be staring with jealously.

Steve

[athenamor]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

Maybe it's me but it seems like kids have less and less respect every generation.

It seems that way, alot of it is parenting and TV I believe. I've seen parents laugh off something inappropriate a child has said, and may apologize for them, but don't talk to them about what they said (right then and there anyways) and then don't tell them that they owe an apology. Or they allow their children to say whatever at home and seem shocked they said something in public.

The adults that have asked when I was due, or if I was pregnant, seemed more embarrassed for themselves then for me when I tell them I'm not. Sigh, I do get an apology at least, sometimes snickered, but you take what you can get.