We're still too obessesed with physical appearance in this country. It's divisive and dangerous because a country divided against itself cannot stand. Aside from that fact, it's a shame that some people seem to have forgotten that you're not perfect just because you're in a so-called 'normal' weight range, or are considered beautiful by Hollywood's standards. If you're a human being, you're not perfect and never will be. So... I think we all need to focus more on the person we are on the inside. Some of the comments I've read here are proof to me that a lot of people are very ugly on the inside. And that's sad.

Life goes by rather quickly and it's a shame to waste valuable time obsessed with celebrities and comparing ourselves to them. They are human beings like everyone else...and most of the time, they don't have 'natural' beauty. They're doing all kinds of things to their bodies -- all in the name of meeting Hollywood's standards. Why would any of us want to emulate them? I feel sorry for most of them, because it's got to be extremely difficult to live in a fish bowl like that.

Okay... I'll get off my soapbox now. But I do hope we'll eventually learn that beauty (whether natural or manufactured) is a fleeting thing. And when it's gone, all we'll have is what's on the inside.

- Dd

Jahqoi, Inc.

I'm sure that your experiences were that you got more attention when you were emaciated. I don't doubt that. I just wanted to provide a dissenting experience. For one year I was a size 0/2. I was "healthy" in that I didn't smoke or do drugs, but I was definitely not eating because I was fairly depressed. I ate cereal for lunch, and then a small dinner. No breakfast. That was it. I am 5'7'' and at my skinniest was 117. I got attention from men for sure, but no less than when I gained back that 10 pounds and was 5'7'' and 127. I probably got MORE attention when I gained the weight back. One man whom I met when I was at 117, and continued to see on and off after I gained back that 10 pounds didn't even notice. All he said when I disrobed was that I looked real good, which is what he said when I weighed 117. I'm still 127, and some days I'd love to be back at 117, but I like food way too much. I guess my point is that I don't know who these men were that only hit on you at a size 0, but they're probably not worth knowing anyway.

But Anonymous, those vapid, size 2 throngs of girls wandering the malls are just pre-fat, as is anyone whose behavior NNG disapproves of.

And look at the last two posts...in the left corner you have NNG railing against the fat asses and their love of McMansions and SUVs. Next post, you have the stellar brilliance of anon, completely obliviously going on about SUVs and McMansions being the providence of thin, affluent people. And of course, since both are "fat culture"-averse, notice how neither is calling the other on this, ummm, contradiction?

To anon, in particular: you are like the senile old relative at Thanksgiving who sits by themselves in the corner of the room, babbling away, saying nothing that has any connection to the rest of the conversation. But thanks for being occasionally amusing!

NNG: no further comment.

Have a nice day!

Where I come from, 90% of mall shoppers are skinny ladies in their 20s and 30s who spend the weekend maxing out their own or their husbands' or their parents' credit cards on Size 0-2 fashions.

and it's not just at the extremes, there is a continuous correlation; a person who can afford a McMansion and an SUV is much much more likely to be in good shape than someone who has to shop at WalMart. Most people don't know this either but it's a fact that there is a pretty good corellation now between having MORE money and voting Democatic. It doesn't apply to inherited wealth and CEOs but MOST people who have money are educated and MOST educated people are not fundies.

Who votes for these dumb asses? Or maybe an even more appropriate question is why are so many people too lazy to even vote? Many of them are middle class, couch potato, no character slobs. In fact, that about describes most of the 2/3 of America that is too fat to run a 1/2 mile.

You can't tell me that the WALMARTification of America, which is just the natural evolution of shitty Mall Culture, doesn't directly correlate with all these fat asses, the sickness of consumption culture, and the shitty politics and FP that thrives in a viscious cycles with FAT culture.

What the hell are we in the Middle East for anyways? It's not sand or better relations with Islamic culture. Where does all the oil go? Into fatass SUV, trucks, and McMansion air conditioning and TV.

Why does Bush always talk about "conservation" so glibly? Because he knows the fat asses are about as likely to volentarially conserve oil as stick to a diet and exercise.

Any Cheney is fat and has a bum ticker as a result. Cheney epitomizes the consumption fat asshole culture. He goes 'hunting' by hobbling his fat ass out of an SUV, so a few hundred caged birds with clipped wings can be set free straight into his gun sights. He shoots indiscriminately, nailing a few hundred birds and a hunting partner. The only exercise Cheny gets is walking the revolving door between the White House and Haliburton, where he's playing plantation with the world. Bush keeps in shape because he's the front man, but look at the business people he represents. All lard ass gluttons in Big Business. The epitome of fatass glutton culture.

Go to the mall, the people who buy up the mass marketed products from these assholes. Almost everyone is fat as hell with a vacant stare. Look at the south and those 'red' burbs. All these fatass and intellectually lazy people, blubbering about pickup trucks, SUV, and wide screen TVs, either crawling their way into a McMansion or wishing they could.

To be clear, the truly poor in America have my complete sympathy. I don't blame them for being fat and eating shitty foods or not having the time to exercise when they're barely getting by. Of course to them a McMansion and SUV sounds like a dream.

But for people who are watching several hours of TV a day, and can shop at the mall, there is no excuse. They could be exercising, their minds and bodies, but choose to consume and self medicate with Haggandaas in one hand and Lipitor in the other, while their bodies and the country goes straight to shit.