Fat Chicks Rule

Sometimes I get a little tired of being the butt of jokes

I would say that I have a good sense of humor.  I actually don't mind fat jokes or even ones really offensive  (i.e. Eric Cartman, Homer Simpson etc.) provided that they are actually funny.  Now the question of what constitutes “funny” is a huge one that’s been covered on tons of literature across the spectrum of academia so I won’t go into it here. That said, I think a lot of people are way too sensitive and get offended too easily and instead need to laugh it off or to categorize it as "stupid" and walk away.

There are plenty of reasons a joke isn’t funny. It could be in poor taste, it can be designed to humiliate or insult, or it can incorporate racial slurs or any of a million other things.

So where's the line between joking in poor taste and actual hatred drawn?  I was thinking of this because I got an article about Two Gamestops in Los Angeles who had their employees in fat suits to promote fitness games (I've written about fitness games previously, saying that you should do exercises that you enjoy, but I personally like my exercise not to waste electricity).   I would categorize this as stupid as most fat suits gags are. Even if I was thin, I would think fat suits are merely dumb, but some people clearly think it’s a lot funnier than I do. I don’t get it.

I think humor ends when the jokes are pretty much meant to demean people and to remove their dignity.  Shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons and insult fat people but also everyone else.  They pull everyone down to their level and allow everyone to laugh it off.  That’s probably how it should be. We need to recognize that we are, well, people.  In the end I think it helps people with acceptance. No one is perfect, and if you are, you’re alone.

New Era for Change, for us too

Not only is today Martin Luther King day but tomorrow an African-American will be sworn in as president.  It shows that things change if we are persistent enough.  A lot of people think that fat people having the same human rights as everyone else is a joke.  That all we really need to do is stop eating donuts and go for a run.   We all know that isn't true.  Fat is genetic, just like tall or short.  The same genetics that allows my thin friend to eat anything she wants and never gain while I'd eat less than her and gain.  Regardless of what you eat, is it right to deny you health care, jobs, opportunity,  assume you are of low moral character just because you are fat?  Meanwhile studies have shown time and time again that meat on your bones is okay, that yoyo dieting may be the cause of a lot of ailments and that lesser calories than your body needs doesn't result in long term weight loss.  That this push for thinness has more to do with the diet and drug industry making money than health.

So tomorrow we get a new president, who talks about change.  President Obama is offering the Citizen's Briefing Book that allows you to vote up or down on issues.  Search obesity, vote down fat hatred and vote up being size positive. 

For those in the New York Area, get thee to Re/Dress

So Saturday I finally went to Re/Dress, a vintage (i.e. gently used) clothing store.  I was determined to beat traffic and the snow to get there as I been putting it off for weeks.

The store is lovely, not just for its selection but its coziness and nearness to shops on Court Street that offers books and coffee.

But on to the store.  First off, I always enjoy a store that caters to me for a change.  As seen in previous posts, too often stores don't have plus sizes, or if they do, they are microscopic or shoved as far from the public as possible. 

When I came in, after saying hellos to owner Deb Malkin, I was given a tour.  The place has coats, lovely dresses, workwear, lingerie, handbags, and shoes.  I was a little overwhelmed to be in a store where everything looked cool.  I wasn't really there to get anything in particular, just to see the store, but I walked out with 3 shirts all $8-10 and a fluffy jacket that cost $30 (she's having a 30% coats sale).

I had a time limit of about an hour (due to my car being at a meter a few blocks away), so I couldn't stay and really search the place but I knew that I would be back because I felt comfortable shopping there.

After leaving I lost my car. I eventually found it, but only after walking about 20 minutes in the snow (in sneakers!)  I was cold and miserable when I finally got into the car but I didn't regret going.  Shopping was fun for a change.

In these rough economic times, It's very important to support Re/Dress or any store that caters to you.  Let the Old Navys, Macys, and Gaps die. 

Notes on the new year

Happy New Year!!

Quick apology to Marshalls.  Never send your husband shopping for anything.  Marshalls does in fact have a Big and Tall section for men with sizes up to 5x.  I knew this, because this week I tried Marshalls for that mythical pair of sweats.  (Successful but not a good selection to choose from).  I saw Big and Tall and realized my husband, being a guy, missed the section entirely.  I had to explained to him when looking for fat clothes it will always been segregated. (As you know stores have clothes separated for Men, women, kids, juniors and fat).  While I like Marshalls solely because I've actually been successful buying clothes there, because they are a buy-out place, selection depends on the shipment. 

Next week I'm hoping to finally get to Re/Dress a plus size vintage clothing store, which if you are in the NYC metro area should be visiting.  

It's a new year and I hope that means we are not joining Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or a gym.   All programs that promote consuming calories less than your body needs is a diet, no ad campaign can tell me otherwise.  If you want to join a gym because you like to exercise, go right ahead, but never do it for weight loss.  I doubt you'll less longer than 6 months if you do.  I, however, will save my money by continuing to walk and ride my bike on the generator when it is too cold out.  I just find it incredibly wasteful to drive to a place to use a stairmaster.

Speaking of diets, here's the worst of 2008