Megan McArdle
Can we shame our way to thin?
Professor Dennis Callahan believes that society has been shockingly negligent in its treatment of fat people. Apparently, none of us have bothered to express our disdain and disgust for the overweight, leaving them under either under the misimpression that they are thin, or worse, the misimpression that their extra body fat is anything other than repulsive and shameful.
Before he wrote this, Professor Callahan probably should have rounded out his research by looking at a magazine, a newspaper, or perhaps the television.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
I blame all the statuesque men on SCRUFF and GROWLr.
Jeddite on January 26, 2013 at 6:02 PM
If Megan McArdle and the rest of her left-wing, Old Media twerp friends put any stock in “shame” they wouldn’t be in journalism at all. They’d have been shamed out for their failed “work” years ago. So, excuse me if I don’t take any lessons on shame from her or her kind.
Warner Todd Huston on January 26, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Everyone should watch the Fathead documentary to see what role the government and “experts” played in giving people horrible nutrition information.
Some people are fat because they’re lazy and eat junk constantly. Others eat what they are told is good, and inevitably get fat.
Dash on January 26, 2013 at 6:11 PM
Instead of the “obesity problem” why don’t we fix the “sticking your nose into other people’s business problem” this country has.
Flange on January 26, 2013 at 6:12 PM
I still think that some people just have a genetic predisposition to being over weight.
Warner Todd Huston on January 26, 2013 at 6:13 PM
Is it even possible to shame anyone in today’s society?
Out of wedlock births – no biggie (see abortions, below)
Drug addicts – need our sympathy
Abortions – a right to murder
Drunks – lovable rogues until they get behind the wheel
Generations of families on welfare – a way of life
etc. etc.
Mitoch55 on January 26, 2013 at 6:14 PM
That would actually solve the obesity problem for some people.
The Rogue Tomato on January 26, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Why? If someone is overweight, they know it. They also know of the steps they can take (no pun intended) to change.
They choose not to change. It is not the government,s place or society’s place to coerce them into changing.
If the cost of extra pounds is a dollar issue for insurers, let the market do its thing. Otherwise, Leave Meggie Mac Alone!
davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Looks like my apostrophe slipped.
davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Great idea! Let’s start with the kids & let them know that they are repulsive & worthless. That will show ‘em!
Blake on January 26, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Good grief, I’m suppose to over look everything in the world about everybody except if they smoke or are chubby? Let’s see a picture of the professor, I bet i could take a few swipes at him for no reason at all.
Cindy Munford on January 26, 2013 at 6:22 PM
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_HEALTH_COSTS_REALITY_CHECK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Irony: http://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/boyd_professor/ocallaghan/Images/OCallaghan.jpg
davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Let’s just ban freedom.
(note: Different Callahan)
davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:31 PM
As long as you don’t dangle your participle we should be OK.
Flange on January 26, 2013 at 6:32 PM
C’mon people, the obvious answer to the obesity ‘epidemic’ is higher taxes and fewer freedoms!
Jackalope on January 26, 2013 at 6:33 PM
LOL!!! I’m sure he’s just big boned.
Cindy Munford on January 26, 2013 at 6:34 PM
And don’t you think for a minute that they aren’t working on that.
Cindy Munford on January 26, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Food in – fat out. Simple as that.
And no, fat is not beautiful!
OldEnglish on January 26, 2013 at 6:42 PM
While I agree I’m not crazy about what fat I have on my own body, I’d play hell shaming anyone else. And people trying that stunt on me would be counter productive.
Cindy Munford on January 26, 2013 at 7:01 PM
[OldEnglish on January 26, 2013 at 6:42 PM]
I know a lot of fat people who are much more beautiful than Callahan, The Daily Beast and McArdle, ’cause the inside counts more for me than the outside.
Dusty on January 26, 2013 at 7:04 PM
Oh fer chrissakes, It’s Daniel Callahan, not Dennis Callahan, as McArdle incorrectly uses.
It’s this guy.
It’s not the guy from here: davidk on January 26, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Dusty on January 26, 2013 at 7:18 PM
He looks like a little weasel with a serious nose problem.
Flange on January 26, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Shaming fat people has led to deadly eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia…although Callahan would probably rather they be dead than fat.
He can kiss my fat patootie!
JannyMae on January 26, 2013 at 8:01 PM
They do. Everyone will, of course, lose weight and die if starved. But some people are genetically inclined to burn off weight while others aren’t. A doctor once said he called people “good keepers” and “bad keepers.”. The good keepers were better at surviving during famine.
I always said thet fat discrimination was the last acceptable discrimination. I never thought, though, that people would actually ENCOURAGE mean behavior toward fat people.
Withholding medical services from fat people is something else I would have thought far-fetched.
Alana on January 26, 2013 at 8:05 PM