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[Seanspeed]

Anyone saying there's no excuse for not fixing your body should be having the same feelings about fixing your capacity for empathy and understanding.

Its not about 'fixing your body'. Its for people who WANT to lose weight, but list a bunch of excuses as to why they haven't or can't. 99% of the time, those excuses are not legitimate, and are just being used to justify their laziness and lack of motivation.

I'm not in shape right now. I've gotten overweight. But I know why. I know damn well how to lose weight and I know I should. But I'm not hiding behind excuses. I've just been lazy and haven't been eating as I should.

 

[Zoe]

So she isn't catering to those people. I find it very motivational. Why must she cater to you?

That's fine, she doesn't have to. She just needs to be willing to accept that she's going to offend a lot more people than she'll draw in when she uses social networks as her preferred method of advertisement.

 

[PogiJones]

There's no accusation there. There is a question. It's all in how the reader chooses to interpret it.

It is not. You are factually wrong. I provided literal definitions of the words used by the woman in the OP (i.e. "Excuse") and then the word in the debate (i.e. "accuse')

This is not open for debate. You are factually wrong. Words have specific meanings and you cannot just insist that words can mean whatever you want because the actual definitions are very inconvenient for your argument.

In a sense, you're both right. Yes, Opiate provided the literal definition, and that is what it means. And assuming she wrote those words directed at a single person, they would be an accusation, not really subject to interpretation.

However, it is a general picture directed at the general population. For example:

By saying, "Break the Cycle," it implies that you are in control of a cycle to be broken. In other words, it's accusing either you or your parents of domestic violence.

But the thing is, it's not directed at EVERYONE. If your friend wrote you and said, "break the cycle," yes, you'd think you (or your parents) were being accused. But since it's on a poster, people know that it only applies to people to whom it applies, as redundant as that may seem.

So yes, Opiate's right that the words are what they are, and they're accusing a person of making excuses. But Petrie is right that, since it's a general picture directed at the public, its message is subjective to each person, as to whether or not it applies to them. It is aimed at people who DO make excuses. Those who don't make excuses don't need to read into it, because it's not for them.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

99% of the time, those excuses are not legitimate, and are just being used to justify their laziness and lack of motivation.

99%. k.

 

[Seanspeed]

99%. k.

Name me some legitimate excuses. I've done this before. We've done this before on GAF. Its always the same thing. Its usually a bunch of ignorance, misinformation and plain BAD excuses.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Name me some legitimate excuses. I've done this before. We've done this before on GAF. Its always the same thing. Its usually a bunch of ignorance, misinformation and plain BAD excuses.

The point that is going over everyone's head here is that everyone's body is their own, and they don't have to justify anything to anyone else. It's cool to have your own body.

 

[grumble]

I think on an objective basis, we can all agree that neglecting ones health and being overweight is unhealthy and unwise. So the question if someone is overweight is only, why? I think that's a good question for everyone to ask themselves. What are my excuses? Are the things I'm obligated to and the time commitments I have something I can work around, or can I eliminate some optional things to better focus on my health?

EXACTLY.

And people are freaking about this because they are being challenged. They have to take a look at themselves and their lifestyle choices and realize in some cases that they aren't being active not because they are incapable of doing so but because they aren't willing to put in effort. This realization that despite her socially acceptable excuses' she manages to lead a busy lifestyle and be a mother of three and still be (very) fit, and that unless their reasons are better than hers they don't have a valid reason to be unfit except that they choose to be unfit.

I have to say though this thread is putting a lot of focus on a facebook post which is AT WORST slightly too aggressive for oversensitive types. If we're doing a deep dive into facebook there are worse demons to uncover.

 

[SeanR1221]

She does have a target group. Mothers. That's why her kids are there. That's part of the reason why the backlash is so vicious. It's also explained in her various FAQs.



Not really no. The negative aspect is inherent. It can only be viewed as positive after the fact if the individual judges it worth going through the negative to get the results. Even in that light, it still negative reinforcement to achieve a desired behavior. That desired behavior is then what results in a positive feeling. So you're really stretching to call it positive reinforcement.

Not really no.

I saw it as very positive but that's what I respond to. Isn't behavior fun? There are no blanket statements when it comes to these things.

It got me pumped up to work out. Not because I have any guilt, but because I respond to the non nonsense approach.

 

[RM8]

The point that is going over everyone's head here is that everyone's body is their own, and they don't have to justify anything to anyone else. It's cool to have your own body.

Just maybe, she's trying to reach people who do want to lose weight (or getting fit! It never mentions weight). Her being a fitness celebrity and posting it on her business page.

 

[Petrie]

So yes, Opiate's right that the words are what they are, and they're accusing a person of making excuses. But Petrie is right that, since it's a general picture directed at the public, its message is subjective to each person, as to whether or not it applies to them. It is aimed at people who DO make excuses. Those who don't make excuses don't need to read into it, because it's not for them.

Exactly. I know I have no excuses. I eat right and make time for the gym and physical activity despite a constant hectic schedule. The message is unique to each person. If someone feels accused, that's on them, not the person who made the picture.

 

[PogiJones]

She doesn't.

Seriously, people can say and do what they want. Just don't be weird when others do it right back to you.

There's so much "you must accept this can exist" in this thread from people who don't seem to understand it works both ways.

"Don't use the word 'excuse.'"

"Don't tell her not to use the word 'excuse,' she can say what she wants."

"Don't tell me not to tell her not to use the word 'excuse,' I can respond to what she says by saying what I want."

"Don't tell me not to tell you not to tell her---"
-----
That's an endless game. We're not talking about legal rights here. People are criticizing her words, and others are saying her words are not deserving of criticism. That's as far as it needs to go.

 

[Opiate]

Yes because everyone uses the literal definitions for words whenever they read or write anything.

What definition do you use? He interpreted the word to mean X, I interpreted the word to mean Y. I provided the definition of the word as evidence for my interpretation. If you need more, I can provide other definitions from other dictionaries.

So there's the evidence for my position. What's the evidence for his position? More broadly, how do you personally decide what words to use in a particular context?

Meanings are static and never change due to context, time, culture, etc.

That's certainly possible, but is typically a response to reasonable need for additional information. For example, turning the word "excuse" in to an exact synonym for "reason" only destroys information: right now, they mean two slightly different things, but if they meant the exact same thing, then expression would be lost. A new word would need to be invented to take the place of what "excuse" currently means.

Based on etymological precedence, I don't think it's likely the word "excuse" will morph in this way over time and destroy information. Language actually tends to become more efficient and less redundant over time.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

People are criticizing her words, and others are saying her words are not deserving of criticism. That's as far as it needs to go.

That's a very conservative view of one side here. In this thread I mostly see a lot of people hating others for being lazy or having particular body shapes. A lot of judgment and assumptions and just straight up shitty human behavior. It's not just a debate on words.

 

[Jest Chillin]

I'm not misunderstanding anything. The 'average' people you're talking about would be an example of 'ignorance'. If you took a minute to think about it, the intent would definitely be obvious. Some people wont do that, some people will ignore it anyways, and some people will pick on up what the point actually is(to be motivational). As for me, as soon as I saw it, I thought "That's what this is about?" without having read through the thread at all.

Ignorance of what? Common workout meme usage? Did you not read the title of the thread and the OP as well as having not read the thread? Because if you read either of those things you still have more context than Jane Smith who scrolled through Facebook and saw that picture on her feed.

The intent is the same. The whole point of it IS "You can do it too". I mean, really, if you can understand that(which isn't hard), then there's no excuse for being offended. Who cares if it wasn't worded exactly how you would have liked? Some people like to find different ways of saying things. Its not a big deal.

And she's right. That sort of body is accomplishable by most anyone. It takes a lot of hard work to get that level of tone, granted, but its do-able. Its one of those 'dream things' in life that is actually achievable. Very, very, very few people have legitimate reasons they cant lose weight. Again, there's no reason to be offended over that. You have to face that hurdle in order to get on the wagon.

Words have meaning for a reason and without context in a rhetorical setting.. if you don't choose your words carefully then you'll get ostracized for it. Hell it happens all the time here on Gaf. It's human nature.

Actually.. for her target market, reaching that body type isn't possible for a lot of mothers (maybe even most) due to a number of factors. She herself acknowledges this when she discusses the topics at more length.

 

[PogiJones]

That's a very conservative view of one side here. In this thread I mostly see a lot of people hating others [Example?] for being lazy or having particular body shapes [Example?]. A lot of judgment [Example?] and assumptions [Example?] and just straight up shitty human behavior [Example?]. It's not just a debate on words.

.
EDIT: It should be super easy to find examples for each of those, since all of that is what you "mostly see." I suppose you don't have to find an example for "a lot of judgment," since I've already quoted one in this post.

 

[Wazzy]

Name me some legitimate excuses. I've done this before. We've done this before on GAF. Its always the same thing. Its usually a bunch of ignorance, misinformation and plain BAD excuses.

Money and mental health.

 

[andycapps]

Not really no.

I saw it as very positive but that's what I respond to. Isn't behavior fun? There are no blanket statements when it comes to these things.

It got me pumped up to work out. Not because I have any guilt, but because I respond to the non nonsense approach.

Same, when people tell me I need to do more or be better it pushes me to step my game up. Makes me angry, and I channel that into my workouts.

 

[Gustav]

Money and mental health.

Forget it. It's a lost cause. There are myriads of reasons. The problem is that a lot of fitnessGAF cannot comprehend that some people have simply other priorities in life, or are in another space mentally, socially or financially, etc.

 

[RockTurtle]

Forget it. It's a lost cause. There are myriads of reasons. The problem is that a lot of fitnessGAF cannot comprehend that some people have simply other priorities in life, or are in another space mentally, socially or financially, etc.

i'm not fitnessGAF and I understand that there are legitimate excuses.

but there are also ILLEGITIMATE excuses, and most of the time these statements are geared towards those.

 

[Jest Chillin]

Not really no.

I saw it as very positive but that's what I respond to. Isn't behavior fun? There are no blanket statements when it comes to these things.

It got me pumped up to work out. Not because I have any guilt, but because I respond to the non nonsense approach.

Same, when people tell me I need to do more or be better it pushes me to step my game up. Makes me angry, and I channel that into my workouts.

Your perception of the behavior as positive doesn't make it "positive reinforcement." There is no reward given to produce the desired behavior so it's not positive reinforcement.

You find it an effective motivator to produce the desired behavior and you may even find the behavior itself enjoyable but that still doesn't fit the definition of "positive reinforcement"

 

[Trey]

Name me some legitimate excuses. I've done this before. We've done this before on GAF. Its always the same thing. Its usually a bunch of ignorance, misinformation and plain BAD excuses.

They don't want to.

Being fit is not necessary to operating or enjoying life in this society.

 

[RM8]

Plus no one is forcing fitness on anyone who doesn't want to be fit. Why would you "like" this woman on Facebook in the first place if you don't care about fitness?

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Plus no one is forcing fitness on anyone who doesn't want to be fit. Why would you "like" this woman on Facebook in the first place if you don't care about fitness?

You don't understand how Facebook works.

 

[RM8]

You don't understand how Facebook works.

So if I share something, it means it applies to my entire friend list? Lol.

 

[IceCold]

Forget it. It's a lost cause. There are myriads of reasons. The problem is that a lot of fitnessGAF cannot comprehend that some people have simply other priorities in life, or are in another space mentally, socially or financially, etc.

Like I mentioned before, there's a difference between being super fit like this chick and simply not being fat. If you are fat and unhappy with your body image then the only valid excuse for your current sat is gonna be a medical one.

All it takes is calory restriction. The guy on fat head lost weight by simply eating fast food while giving himself a a daily caloric and carb limit. He also walked for a bit a couple of times a day.

 

[Zoe]

Plus no one is forcing fitness on anyone who doesn't want to be fit. Why would you "like" this woman on Facebook in the first place if you don't care about fitness?

You don't have to "like" the page for it to appear on your feed.

 

[Deleted member 12837]

What definition do you use? He interpreted the word to mean X, I interpreted the word to mean Y. I provided the definition of the word as evidence for my interpretation. If you need more, I can provide other definitions from other dictionaries.

Again, you're assuming that the majority of people interpret words based on their dictionary definition as opposed to colloquial use. I have no data to actually find out of that assumption is true or false, so if you do, please post it since your argument sort of hinges on it.

So there's the evidence for my position. What's the evidence for his position? More broadly, how do you personally decide what words to use in a particular context?

There are actually people out there whose sole job is to do just that for companies, brands, etc. None that I've worked with sit with a dictionary on their desk to help them, though.

For example, turning the word "excuse" in to an exact synonym for "reason" only destroys information: right now, they mean two slightly different things, but if they meant the exact same thing, then expression would be lost. A new word would need to be invented to take the place of what "excuse" currently means.

Based on etymological precedence, I don't think it's likely the word "excuse" will morph in this way over time and destroy information. Language actually tends to become more efficient and less redundant over time.

I agree, but I also hear and see people use "excuse" and "reason" interchangeably, however wrong they technically might be.

They don't want to.

Being fit is not necessary to operating or enjoying life in this society.

Deciding it isn't a priority is not an excuse. It's an informed decision. That particular person should have no reason to be offended. They'd realize the message doesn't apply to them and move on. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[TheContact]

Genetics could be one excuse. Having a job other than being a fitness trainer could be another excuse. I suppose her intentions were good but it comes out as stuck up.

 

[andycapps]

Your perception of the behavior as positive doesn't make it "positive reinforcement." There is no reward given to produce the desired behavior so it's not positive reinforcement.

You find it an effective motivator to produce the desired behavior and you may even find the behavior itself enjoyable but that still doesn't fit the definition of "positive reinforcement"

I think the only person mentioning positive reinforcement is you. Obviously we're not getting physical rewards (like cash or prizes) from doing a good job in the gym. I was just agreeing with a previous poster in saying that what she said motivates me in a positive way.

I understand that not all people are motivated in the same way, and what she said may not be seen as positive for others.

 

[Jest Chillin]

So if I share something, it means it applies to my entire friend list? Lol.

It's a little bit more complicated than that, but in a nutshell yes. You can I can be friends on Facebook and you "Like" a page that I have no interest in. The moment you "like" it, the fact that you "liked" that page pops up in a corner of my Facebook page if I'm on a computer (as opposed to phone or tablet). If you "share" a post from that page, that post will then be shown on my Facebook feed as a sub-post under you. Even further than that, if that page that you liked "Promotes" a post.. I'll recieve an Advertisement-like post on my Facebook feed directly from that page with a header that lets me know that you've "liked" that page.

And that's the basic rundown.

 

[Seanspeed]

The point that is going over everyone's head here is that everyone's body is their own, and they don't have to justify anything to anyone else. It's cool to have your own body.

Thats not going over anyone's head. I think its quite clear we're talking about people who WANT to lose weight here. If somebody is content with their situation, then they aren't the sort of person being targeted here.

Ignorance of what? Common workout meme usage? Did you not read the title of the thread and the OP as well as having not read the thread? Because if you read either of those things you still have more context than Jane Smith who scrolled through Facebook and saw that picture on her feed.

How am I not the same as 'average Facebook person' when I came to the exact same conclusion without having read anything in this thread? I literally did the same thing as average Facebook person would do in making a judgement solely based on the picture I saw in the original post.

Words have meaning for a reason and without context in a rhetorical setting.. if you don't choose your words carefully then you'll get ostracized for it. Hell it happens all the time here on Gaf. It's human nature.

Doesn't make it right. Besides, this isn't some complex message being sent that only a few select individuals will get. Its pretty obvious if one takes a minute to think about it.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

Name me some legitimate excuses. I've done this before. We've done this before on GAF. Its always the same thing. Its usually a bunch of ignorance, misinformation and plain BAD excuses.

Well, I don't know what we're fishing for when we say "legitimate." Mind you, I completely understand that outside of a small minority of people that have actual medical conditions/got hosed by bad genetics, almost anyone can lose weight with a proper diet/exercise regiment. In that regard, I agree with the assertion that it's something that almost anyone can correct if they try hard enough.

But in terms of whether or not "excuses" are "legitimate" or not, I always think it's important to realize that many people lead stressful lives and don't have an infinite supply of willpower that they can draw from at any given point. Now, I understand that it doesn't necessarily take a serious time commitment to eat healthier, but it still takes willpower. And that doesn't mean that if something is hard that you just throw in the towel and conclude that it's not worth doing.

However, I think if anyone of us sat down and did some introspection in terms of what facets of our lives need addressing, we'd come up with a list that's going to be impossible to complete given that there are only so many hours in a day, and that we have all sorts of responsibilities that are an absolute requirement. Again, don't mistake this for "weight loss is impossible I tells ya!" But I also think "it's easy if you have discipline and willpower" is often a rather hollow sentiment, as it's a pithy platitude that can describe almost anything. And you'll likely find that although you might be able to do anything they set their mind to, they can't do everything. Eventually, you have to prioritize. Obviously, some may make dubious decisions in terms of their priorities, and we can challenge them on that. However, I don't know if the "excuses" offered deserve derision.

 

[Seanspeed]

Well, I don't know what we're fishing for when we say "legitimate." Mind you, I completely understand that outside of a small minority of people that have actual medical conditions/got hosed by bad genetics, almost anyone can lose weight with a proper diet/exercise regiment. In that regard, I agree with the assertion that it's something that almost anyone can correct if they try hard enough.

But in terms of whether or not "excuses" are "legitimate" or not, I always think it's important to realize that many people lead stressful lives and don't have an infinite supply of willpower that they can draw from at any given point. Now, I understand that it doesn't necessarily take a serious time commitment to eat healthier, but it still takes willpower. And that doesn't mean that if something is hard that you just throw in the towel and conclude that it's not worth doing.

However, I think if anyone of us sat down and did some introspection in terms of what facets of our lives need addressing, we'd come up with a list that's going to be impossible to complete given that there are only so many hours in a day, and that we have all sorts of responsibilities that are an absolute requirement. Again, don't mistake this for "weight loss is impossible I tells ya!" But I also think "it's easy if you have discipline and willpower."

That's a pithy platitude that can describe almost anything. And you'll likely find that although you might be able to do anything they set their mind to, they can't do everything. Eventually, you have to prioritize. Obviously, some may make dubious decisions in terms of their priorities, and we can challenge them on that. However, I don't know if the "excuses" offered deserve derision.

No arguments there. Losing weight isn't easy and willpower/motivation is indeed the hardest part. But I think people at least need to realize that's what it is instead of hiding behind other excuses. Only then will you be able to really take the first step towards doing something about it and sticking with it if that's what you really want. Otherwise, you're liable to give up very easily or not even ever start, citing some lousy excuse as to why.

 

[RM8]

It's a little bit more complicated than that, but in a nutshell yes. You can I can be friends on Facebook and you "Like" a page that I have no interest in. The moment you "like" it, the fact that you "liked" that page pops up in a corner of my Facebook page if I'm on a computer (as opposed to phone or tablet). If you "share" a post from that page, that post will then be shown on my Facebook feed as a sub-post under you. Even further than that, if that page that you liked "Promotes" a post.. I'll recieve an Advertisement-like post on my Facebook feed directly from that page with a header that lets me know that you've "liked" that page.

And that's the basic rundown.

I have an aunt that shares hardcore religious nonsense on FB all the time. Should I blame the pages she likes? They're posting stuff for the people who like them. And in the end the problem seems to be that this message aimed at people who like this fitness celebrity's page made it to the newsfeed of people who don't follow fitness celebrities. Welp.

 

[grumble]

Forget it. It's a lost cause. There are myriads of reasons. The problem is that a lot of fitnessGAF cannot comprehend that some people have simply other priorities in life, or are in another space mentally, socially or financially, etc.

What I comprehend from this post is that you don't care about getting in shape. That's fine, you can absolutely hold that opinion and you can choose to treat your body however you want. Frankly however if people are saying that their life situation makes them incapable of taking care of their health... I find it hard to believe it's true for most. I am aware as is everyone else in this thread that there are valid reasons that some people can't work out. Severe physical handicap for example that keeps your bedridden, or some kinds of mental illness It's an obvious implication that the creator of that image wasn't talking to those people, because that would be moronic. she was talking to mothers who use their children as an excuse for being in poor physical shape, demonstrating that it is in fact totally doable if you're willing to work.

Working out is free by the way. If you want access to facilities that will allow you to work out in a certain way then that's fine and encouraged, but the body of the woman in the OP for example is achievable at home.

 

[TAJ]

Can I assume that you English buffs know all the meanings of the word 'acceptance'?

Spoiler

lol

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

The problem with the "almost everyone has excuses, only a few are real" mindset is that it becomes so easy to attribute weight problems as laziness when it comes to everyone. You're no longer judging people as individuals. You become emboldened by the assumptions you make because you make yourself think your judgments are likely statistically supported.

What I comprehend from this post is that you don't care about getting in shape. That's fine, you can absolutely hold that opinion and you can choose to treat your body however you want. Frankly however if people are saying that their life situation makes them incapable of taking care of their health... I find it hard to believe it's true for most. I am aware as is everyone else in this thread that there are valid reasons that some people can't work out. Severe physical handicap for example that keeps your bedridden, or some kinds of mental illness It's an obvious implication that the creator of that image wasn't talking to those people, because that would be moronic. she was talking to mothers who use their children as an excuse for being in poor physical shape, demonstrating that it is in fact totally doable if you're willing to work.

Working out is free by the way. If you want access to facilities that will allow you to work out in a certain way then that's fine and encouraged, but the body of the woman in the OP for example is achievable at home.

See what I mean?

 

[TheFightingFish]

Honestly there is a possible debate here about the tone of the message, and I can see a bit of both sides of that so I'm not even going to dig in there.

But I really do feel that much of the criticism here is coming at her regardless of the tone of the message and it's something that I really do find a bit annoying. What I see here is someone who is exceptional, I don't care about debating the value of what she has done (some value fitness more than others) and I don't care about debating how much genetics have helped her or how busy her lifestyle is, regardless of anything else she's a mom with three young kids who is in incredible shape. I personally happen to think that's pretty impressive and laudable, and I would think that most others would agree. And not just laudable, she's pretty clearly put herself far outside of the "normal" expectations of fitness for a new mom.

What I see in this case and other cases is that regardless of the message tone when someone gets media attention for a lifestyle that is far outside of cultural norms they get a heavy dose of criticism from those that feel that exceptionalism is a slight against them, even if they are not in the conversation at all. If her message with the picture was something less challenging like "Moms can get fit too!" or something like that I believe that she'd still get 90% of the backlash that she's getting now. I don't believe that it's mostly the message tone, it's the simple fact that she's exceptional and that creates an "implied judgement" to lots of folks, even if no judgement is involved.

I remember a thread on GAF about one episode of A Life Well Wasted podcast where they covered a programmer who gave up the corporate rat race to move out and live a very simple and cheap self-sufficient life style on very low income. This interview had zero judgement involved, there was no criticism, but there was an "exceptional" lifestyle and a clear move outside of social / cultural norms. And in that thread I remember plenty of the same types of comments that I see directed at Ms. Kang. Since she can't really be attacked in the area that she is exceptional in she has to either be attacked for the possible trade offs that she's made "do her poor kids ever see their mom," "I bet her job is not very challenging," "well sure, if you think that having the perfect body is more important than contributing to society" or by implied judgement "why does she think that everyone needs to have a body like hers," "she doesn't understand why getting in shape is hard for me" and so on and so on. For some people there is just no room for someone to do something awesome without having to either pick at their motives or to project out their own guilt onto them.

Now that fact that her tone was a bit aggressive does muddy the waters a bit, but I'd stand by my comment that if she posted it with a positive message or heck, with no message at all and the picture went viral she'd be getting almost exactly the same flack back.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Good on her, loved her FB post too, screw the vitriolic detractors who get "offended" by what is obviously a motivational statement.. Has worked for a killer body and has every right to flaunt it. I'm unhealthy and I have no excuse for not doing anything to change that. Whether that is a bad thing is up to the individual and what they are happy with.

I completely agree. And I say that after eating nachos and a beef burrito for lunch and washing it down with a coke.

What's YOUR excuse!!!?!

 

[cdyhybrid]

I don't know why this argument keeps coming up, but she has posted on her website that she was not asking "What's your excuse for not looking as good as me?" - it's "What's your excuse for not exercising?".

If you choose to interpret it as the former there's nothing she can do about it, but that was not her intention.

 

[spwolf]

I'm fucking lazy.

Fair play to her for putting in that work though, killer body.

yep, same here... but some people are unwilling to blame themselves for their own issues, so it has to be someone else's fault.

 

[andycapps]

The problem with the "almost everyone has excuses, only a few are real" mindset is that it becomes so easy to attribute weight problems as laziness when it comes to everyone. You're no longer judging people as individuals. You become emboldened by the assumptions you make because you make yourself think your judgments are likely statistically supported.

See what I mean?

Most people that you see that are overweight have a bunch of excuses, but few are valid excuses that keep them from ever being fit. What you do with that information is up to you.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

yep, same here... but some people are unwilling to blame themselves for their own issues, so it has to be someone else's fault.

Well, (almost) everybody has their insecurities. Some people are perfectly okay with their deficiencies, and that's a good thing for self-confidence. However, many aren't comfortable with every flaw they have, and it's not altogether a complete mystery as to why people aren't just willing to accept "I suck" as the reason for why they aren't good at something when it obviously bothers them that they're not where they want to be.

Couple that with the fact that society as a whole is getting more obese, and there is some room to consider other factors outside of "Fattie over there is fat because they are dumb and/or lazy." Unless of course you prefer misanthropic views such as "society is getting dumber and/or lazier."

 

[Trey]

Well, (almost) everybody has their insecurities. Some people are perfectly okay with their deficiencies, and that's a good thing for self-confidence. However, many aren't comfortable with every flaw they have, and it's not altogether a complete mystery as to why people aren't just willing to accept "I suck" as the reason for why they aren't good at something when it obviously bothers them that they're not where they want to be.

Couple that with the fact that society as a whole is getting more obese, and there is some room to consider other factors outside of "Fattie over there is fat because they are dumb and/or lazy." Unless of course you prefer misanthropic views such as "society is getting dumber and/or lazier."

It's easier for people to blame individuals than it is to blame the society that those individuals were brought up in.

 

[Haly]

I don't know why this argument keeps coming up, but she has posted on her website that she was not asking "What's your excuse for not looking as good as me?" - it's "What's your excuse for not exercising?".

If you choose to interpret it as the former there's nothing she can do about it, but that was not her intention.

This would be fine if the picture juxtaposed with the caption wasn't specifically designed to show of her great body. In that context, it's very easy to take it as an attack on one's personal image. The message would be different if, say, the picture showed her lifting weights while her children were on a nearby bench, safety issues aside.

And in the end, it's not really about her intent, but how people receive it. This is true of any marketing/public awareness ploy.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Most people that you see that are overweight have a bunch of excuses, but few are valid excuses that keep them from ever being fit. What you do with that information is up to you.

It's pretty clear what a lot of people in this thread have done with that information.

 

[Opiate]

Again, you're assuming that the majority of people interpret words based on their dictionary definition as opposed to colloquial use. I have no data to actually find out of that assumption is true or false, so if you do, please post it since your argument sort of hinges on it.

Oh I completely agree that people often interpret words incorrectly. The point is just that: it's incorrect.

I know some people believe the word "droll" is loosely synonymous with "boring," for example. That is wrong.

I agree, but I also hear and see people use "excuse" and "reason" interchangeably, however wrong they technically might be.

Exactly. It's a completely understandable mistake, but it's a mistake. They're wrong.

 

[RM8]

I live in the new most obese country in the world. You won't convince me that the price of veggies is a factor. Water is not more expensive than Coke, yet Mexico gulps Coke like no other country in the world, including the US. It's just bad habits becoming more and more common, and not unbeatable genetic obesity becoming more common.

 

[cdyhybrid]

This would be fine if the picture juxtaposed with the caption wasn't specifically designed to show of her great body. In that context, it's very easy to take it as an attack on one's personal image. The message would be different if, say, the picture showed her lifting weights while her children were on a nearby bench, safety issues aside.

And in the end, it's not really about her intent, but how people receive it. This is true of any marketing/public awareness ploy.

Her body would still look incredible if she were lifting weights. She can't turn off being in shape.

 

[Opiate]

I live in the new most obese country in the world. You won't convince me that the price of veggies is a factor. Water is not more expensive than Coke, yet Mexico gulps Coke like no other country in the world, including the US. It's just bad habits becoming more and more common, and not unbeatable genetic obesity becoming more common.

But why are those habits becoming more and more common? Did people just decide all of a sudden en masse to be lazy fat asses? Why isn't this epidemic of laziness affecting our willingness to work (work hours have actually remained stable for decades)? Why hasn't it affected our economic productivity (productivity has actually increase in real terms over the same period)? If we're just all getting lazier, why aren't people becoming stupider (I.Q. has actually increased notably over the last few decades) or becoming noticeably less educated (college degrees are approximately as common now as they were in the 1980s)?

In other words, if this is just a sudden, independent choice by a lot of people to be lazy, why is this laziness only affecting our eating habits and not any other objective category of work ethic?