Breaking into peoples houses and smearing shit all over everything is not the same as murder, both are crimes however. I guess you might think that maybe one shouldn't be, so as not to trivialize the other.

Generally, I like Salon. Usually the articles are well thought-out and generally the prose is enjoyable. But really though? This? It's right up there with Slate writing about what kind of dog the Obamas should buy.

I'll be honest, lamenting over body image...or what other think of that image...doesn't really seem to engender a lot of sympathy with me. And "the fat acceptance movement" seems like the solution to that image problem the same way that torture is a solution to terrorism. The really sad thing is that all you Opragenarians are going to eat this thing up like so many bite sized Three Musketeers. Which will cause you to obsess about your fat asses even more, thus making them fatter, and making you obsess more, leading to more dead space on Salon. Actually, in hind sight, bravo! We've got to keep this economy going somehow.

There are things I both agree and disagree with in that, but essentially my point is nothing more or less than the fact that it's more than thoroughly possible for an obese woman to have a wonderful relationship with a wonderful man who loves her as she is. I say it because I've seen it. A lot. That's all :-)

In my opinion, "fat" is anyone who doesn't exercise and eats lots of "unhealthy" food (processed crap from the grocery store, or fast food). I have a friend who's BMI is 16.7, which is underweight, and I consider her "fat". She doesn't exercise, and eats lots of sweet and starchy foods.

I think that, from what I've observed, a thin "fat" person is less appealing to be around than an actual chunky "fat" person. My friend, although I love her, is sometimes a real bitch to be around. She thinks that people with lots of skin on their bones is below her, when really they might be healthier than she is. She thinks Hilary Clinton has "cankles", and therefore didn't deserve to be president.

This is kind of on the path of Harding's article because, I've met people who are considered morbidly obese, and they are fun to be around. They are more fun to be around than my thin "fat" friend. They aren't all the things usually associated with the word "fat".

I understand, though, when someone rants about how every large person would look and feel better if they exercised. I know what they're trying to say. I could, if I wanted to, eat whatever I wanted and not go above the 130 pound limit. I could eat whatever and never exercise, and I wouldn't break it. But I felt soooo sluggish and horrible all the time when I lived this way. So I now exercise, and while I only look slightly more toned, I feel a whole lot better. My confidence is better, too. I understand when people try to push this lifestyle onto other people, because they believe that it will make everyone feel good if they just do the same things.

The problem is, it's not clear who people are trying to push this lifestyle on. When they say "every fat person would feel better if they ate less and exercised" who are they talking to? Are they talking about what I consider "fat", which would include any person of any size that eats poorly and doesn't exercise? Or are they talking about those people who undergo gastric bypass surgery, and weigh 600 pounds (what the majority of America considers fat)? Or are they talking about people who are considered, by BMI standards, "overweight", who have a little more meat or muscle on their bones?

In my honest opinion, I think anyone who eats like my thin "fat" friend would do better to exercise and eat healthier foods (more vegetables, fruits, meats, and whole grains, but have a cookie once in a while). I've told my friend that she might want to go jogging every once in a while, only to have her say back, "I don't need to." To me, it doesn't matter if you are 90 pounds, 170 pounds, or 200 pounds. If you eat and don't exercise, you should. And if you exercise and eat healthy, but can't break the 230 mark, then whatever. You're healthy, that's all that matters. You're healthier than my thin friend, and might even outlive her.

Was that these substances often go to create non-food consumables, but no one is using world starvation as a reason to harshly judge those who drink wine, beer or hard liquor, even when they drink to excess.

I am completely in agreement with anyone who decries the prevalance of junk food and junk in our food. It's sad that there are many among us who rarely eat any whole food products. So, no argument there at all. My argument is with those who believe that cruelty, shaming and ridicule are ever effective behavior modification tools. And, I wonder at the motives of those who engage in such practices.

Not every itch is entitled to be scratched, child molesters have an itch they can't scratch too but that doesn't stop us from telling them NO. People whose obesity is a burden to other people need to tell themselves and be told by others NO as well. .

Are you seriously comparing fat people to child molesters? No, seriously?

WOW.

I am a woman who is attracted to bigger women. I see beauty in women who carry a bit more weight on them.

Yet, I hold myself to this impossible standard. I constantly look in the mirror and poke at my belly, sucking in and worrying about the french fries I had at lunch. I'm 5'3" and weight about 135-140 pounds and wear between a 6-8. Why the acceptance of others and yet such a harsh view of myself? I have no idea.

It is something I'm working on. I applaud the author of this. People are beautiful at any size. Once we all accept this as truth, I think it will be a much easier world to live in.