Stop eating you fat pig!?

Question

In the movie "Supersize Me!" by Morgan Spurlock, a man made a point that I found very interesting.

He stated that he had been out to dinner, where one person was a smoker. Someone at the table said to the smoker "What is the matter with you, don't you know how unhealthy that is? Why don't you quit that filthy habit before you die!" Well the smoker agreed that it was a filthy habit and that he wanted to quit, but had failed. So this man said that there was also a very large woman at the table, and he wondered what would happen if someone said "Oh my gosh, stop eating you fat pig! Don't you know how bad it is to be so fat??? Do not order dessert!" Of course we all know what would happen, the people would defend the fat women. Obviously we've come to a point in our society where it's ok to heckle some bad things but not others.
I guess my question to you all is, is this right? (More details)

Our society is obviously having a severe problem with obesity, should we be more aggressive in our attempts to fix this problem? ( I am NOT advocating calling anyone a fat pig, or being hurtful!) Why this double standard where it's ok to heckle smokers (I don't smoke) and not ok to heckle the obese? What is the difference really?

I'm not referring to a smoker actually smoking near you. The smoker at the table was not smoking, it was just brought up. The man heckled the smoker, despite the fact that the smoker was NOT smoking near him.

Answer 1

Good movie, I have not eaten at McDonald's since then. I think that of course society would not accept this, hurt feelings blah blah bah, you know. But are they eating to live or living to eat??? Questions lead into other questions. Hard one to answer...hmmm

Answer 2

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THE SMOKERS ARE AFFECTING ALL OF USE WITH THEIR SMOKE. BUT BOTH THE SMOKERS AND HEAVY PEOPLE USUALLY HAVE MORE MEDICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH CAN COST US MONEY.

Answer 3

Since there are many people that are overweight in America, many can empathize with suffering from dealing with the issue. Weight is a very sensitive issue for a lot of people. People still find it acceptable to heckle the issue, especially if that person is morbidly obese. People make jokes about fat people all the time, so I cant say that society has made it where we don't make fun of the issue.

Answer 4

A fat woman does not blow smoke in my face or hurt my lungs when she eats ice cream.

Answer 5

wow .. i've never thought about it like that but i totally agree

it would be mean to tell someone that they are fat because it IS unhealthy, but if you tell a smoker to quit people agree with you saying that you could get cancer and even die


that is SUCH a good point

Answer 6

Uh, then what are you advocating?

The problem is not that people do dumb things, it's that so many people think they have the right to tell everyone else how to live.

The person who yelled as the smoker was wrong and should take Human Being lessons. (The smoker was also rude for calling a table-mate "fat.")

People do verbally attack fat people, and they, too, should knock it off.

People have the right to live their lives unmolested by others, yes, even people who you don't approve of.

It is NOT OK to heckle people.

(Except your own minor children, and even then, insulting them is not appropriate.)

Answer 7

Hmm, well, if a big person eats, that really doesn't affect my heatlh.

But when a smoker smokes and their nasty smokes starts to contaminate my lungs without my permission...then yes, I have the right to complain.

Answer 8

Both can be addictions; sometimes putting down the food is just as hard as putting down a cigarette; I don't think it's right to heckle either; if a person chooses to smoke then that is their right to destroy their body...I mean if we're gonna give people the right to do whatever they want with their bodies (piercings, tattoos, abortions, c-sections, etc...) then smoking has to be included...for at least the last 20 yrs there have been warnings of some type on each and every pkg of cigarettes purchased legally in the U.S., but when the tobacco companies began to be sued over what they had previously warned willing participants to smoking of and the payoffs were outrageous, then it became okay...because apparently when there are payoffs to victims it's okay to start to give anyone and everyone who smokes a hard time, because if there's a court ordered payment over it, then it must be a valid cause and people want to be part of something...now as far as heckling fat people...we're bigger and, in some instances, healthier than you might think...I wouldn't attempt it!! LOL!!

Answer 9

Oh my I feel like the fat pig lady but I have unknown blow up arthritis...You are right...why do you think the trans fats are being removed...

Answer 10

"Obviously we've come to a point in our society where it's ok to heckle some bad things but not others.
I guess my question to you all is, is this right?" -

Well there are certainly some things that are just not appropriate to say to someone (I wouldn't consider it "heckling"). To make a statement to someone about smoking and dying is different than saying something to someone about being overweight. The reason is that you could ASSUME the person is overweight because they eat too much but they could also have something that is medically wrong with them, and thus have a "valid" reason for being fat.

When it comes to vices - smokers know they shouldn't smoke, over weight people know they shouldn't eat dessert or eat too much, work alcoholics know they shouldn't stay an hour extra at work, but they can't help it. They don't need someone pointing out the obvious.

If it isn't any of your business, butt out. However, if someone is smoking and the smoke is going directly in your face, yes, you have the right to ask them to move or move yourself.