Fat Baiting Fun
Today's Weight 208.0lbs (Can you believe it's still TOM!?!)
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The NHS hospital I work in has just become a complete non-smoking site, which has gone down a storm with the anti-smoking lobby, and severely pissed off the diehard ciggie brigade. Staff, patients and visitors are all forbidden from smoking anywhere on site, even in their parked cars with the windows tightly closed. The rationale for the new policy is that as a publicly funded healthcare provider it is our responsibility to set a good example to the rest of the population, and that the cluster of desperate nicotine junkies gathered outside every entrance (especially the maternity block), not to mention the ankle deep fag butts, give a very poor impression. Presumably Joe Public can’t be trusted to make healthy choices of his own accord, and he must be dragged kicking and screaming towards a healthier lifestyle, whether he wants to adopt one or not.
Since the ban came into force a month or so ago, I’ve overheard FOUR separate conversations which went something like this:
Anti-ban: “They’re just picking on smokers! We don’t smoke for fun, we’re addicted – it’s not fair!”
Pro-ban: “Smokers cost the NHS a fortune. THAT’s what’s not fair. You smokers are bankrupting the NHS. People should be forced to quit smoking or forfeit free healthcare.”
Anti-ban (triumphantly): “Well what about fat people then?”
Pro-ban: “What about fat people?”
Anti-ban: “Well they cost the NHS a fortune too. More than smokers do, probably. Maybe we should go down to the canteen and grab doughnuts out of the hands of fatties and ban them from eating chips and chocolate. It’s the same principle. And no free healthcare for them if they refuse to shape up.”
Pro-ban: “Hmmm, hadn’t thought of that. Good idea!”
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I reckon it’s only a matter of time before the obese turn into the next pariah group. You can already see it in news articles and TV scheduling – this demonising of the ‘wilfully’ unhealthy.
Every time you turn on the box you see yet another semi-naked chubster being ritually humiliated by a panel of sadistic beanpoles so that the self-righteous bastards sitting at home on their sofas can feel morally and physically superior. It's a solid gold guarantor of good ratings - prime time entertainment.
Let's be honest, shall we? This isn't 'entertainment', it's Fat Baiting, pure and simple. If the victims were bears or badgers there'd be uproar, but luckily there's always some poor media-whipped volunteer roly-poly willing to self-flagellate by stepping up to the plate.
Honestly, we might as well just go the whole hog, chuck 'em in an arena for a fight to the death, and goad 'em to see who can eat the most of their fellow-competitors to win a lifetime's worth of lard and chocolate.
Enough, already!
Have you noticed that while most people seem to have cottoned onto the fact that it’s not acceptable to insult people on the grounds of their race, religion, colour, or mental or physical disability, it’s perfectly socially acceptable – if not practically obligatory – to rip the piss out of the obese. And the greater the obesity, the bigger the piss-taking. People with otherwise impeccable politically correct credentials will happily make offhand anti-fat comments that are breathtaking in their underlying mindset and stereotyping. It’s as if obesity really gets up people’s noses, since fat-derision is turning into an national epidemic.
You know what? It’s ALMOST enough to make me want to stay fat, just out of sheer bloody-mindedness!
