Re: (OT) In search of a definition

Howard Brazee wrote:
I read of a Parade Magazine poll where 2/3 of the respondents were in
favor of the government passing laws to fight obesity.
I suppose
lots of them must be wanting the laws to make themselves lose weight.

This disgusts me.

I can understand your disgust.

We abnegate personal responsibility and then complain about the restrictions
imposed by the "Nanny State".

Sure, you can argue that obesity leads to conditions that cause a severe
drain on already stretched health services, but we should be diverting more
resources to Health, not making it illegal to be fat.

I am 6 feet tall, weigh 223 pounds and am not obese (although, by clinical
definition, I would probably be considered "borderline"). I probably am
"overweight" although neither my friends nor myself perceive me as "fat".I
have a big build and played Rugby in my youth. I mention these personal
details only as background to my perception on this issue. I am neither
proud nor ashamed of my physical condition. My general health is excellent,
and I'm thankful for that. )

If my weight goes over 225 (102 KG) I take action. It's part of personal
responsibility; I don't need a Government to tell me to look after myself,
and I'd be uncomfortable living in a society that did that.

I'm a person who could eat 8 big meals a day
without reaching 180#, so it's not about me. Twin studies
consistently show genetics determines weight. Very expensive weight
loss programs have been tried and then not publicized when the people
in the communities involved did meet the desires of those spending our
money.

It seems to be popular to condemn fatties as if they were actually
hurting us.

There is an argument that says they ARE hurting us (see above) but then you
could argue that ANYONE who gets sick is a drain on health services. What
about smokers? Is the campaign to get people off cigarettes prompted by a
genuine desire to protect them, or is it about the astronomical cost of
health care for smoking related health problems?

I find the idea of legislating against fatness kind of amusing. If you
extend this idea it really gets laughable...

Why don't we have a law against meanness, or rudeness, or farting in public?

Probably because it would make every one of us a criminal.

I was reminded of the very funny sketch on "Not the Nine O'Clock News" with
Griff Rhys-Jones as Constable Savage and Rowan Atkinson as the Police
Commissioner... Unfortunately it has been removed from YouTube due to
infringement of rights.

There is a transcript of it here (at the bottom of the page):

http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/000452.html

.... and it is discussed here, with some clips from it that will give you the
idea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw1fhWgCfK0

In a free society we should be very careful about what we legislate.

I infer that smug condemnation of others isn't simply
something the Right enjoy.

Sadly, no, it isn't.

Pete.

--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."


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