No, Really, Tell Me...

 

 

 

"Family Guy - Beverly Graffiti Wall"

Nikon D7200
Nikkor 10.0mm-24.00mm
Lightroom

Being a fat person means that you're always being watched, and evaluated. It also means that you're the recipient of unbidden feedback on your appearance and/or "helpful" diet and/or exercise regimens. The startling thing about the feedback is that it can come at any time and at any venue - just out of the blue. You just never (ever) know when the next salvo of "helpfulness" is going to land.  Even "nice" comments like "You look good" received in the midst of one of one of hundreds of weight reduction efforts you're currently trying out, lands with a payload of implicit judgment  - "You used to look like shit." Recently at the end of a family event, one of the guests came up to me and offered "Hey, you're looking good. Did you drop some weight?" I deadpanned  "It's the chemo." The color drained from their face and I said "Naw... just kiddin..."  Hah! Then there's the "Hey Big Guy!" bullshit which is really just a friendly way to deliver "Hey Fat Dude!" I've taken to responding to those kinds of greetings with "Hey Medium Guy!" or "Hey Short Guy" etc..  One of these kinds of interactions unfolded recently at the end of the Super Bowl in front of hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe. Terry Bradshaw, Fox Sports commentator, was interviewing various members of the victorious Kansas City Chiefs. When it came time for him to speak to the head coach Andy Reid, Bradshaw said "Come on over here Big Guy. That's it waddle over here." On national motherfucking TV... in front of hundreds of millions of viewers... Bradshaw thought it'd be funny to call attention to Coach Reid's weight. That just shows how no-big-deal it is to skewer fat people - any time/any place.  And you know, the really entertaining thing is that Thins would dissolve into the air out of embarrassment or alternatively become "I'm-gonna-cancel-your-ass" outraged if they started receiving body feedback out of the blue whenever people felt like giving it. Can you imagine the response that would ensue on the heels of comments like "I love the way those jeans make your ass look." or "Fuck, is that chest hair or are you wearing a sweater under your shirt?" or "You know - I was just reading about exercises to get rid of those cheek jowls." or "You look a little puffy, are you eating a lot of salty snacks?" or "Jesus Christ, you look tired. Look at those bags under your eyes." Imagine?    And this isn't any boo-hoo, poor me, post.. fuck that shit. This is just the way it is as a member of one of the last groups of people that folks can dump on with absolutely no repercussions..    So, please, unburden yourself, tell me what you think about my body...       ~