So, when Diane left a comment on my last post, I contemplated how to handle it. I considered disapproving the comment (since, y’know, it’s my blog and all and I can do that if I want to). I considered replying in another comment on that post. But I decided, instead, to give Diane the attention she was asking for with her little snip of a remark, and reply in a new post, because I have some things I would like to say to Diane.
Diane’s comment:
Obese, stop complaining. Lose weight before you sit next to me.
It seems that Diane is of the opinion that I, as a fat person, do not have the right to voice my opinion on matters of popular culture. Hey Diane, it’s the interwebz. Anyone with a computer and a phone line, or even a public library, can have a blog and spew whatever they want on it, fat, thin, green, purple, beautiful, ugly, or somewhere in between. Heck, you managed to spew a little right here. If the hateful and bigoted get to share their thoughts, the fat sure as hell have the same right.
The comment doesn’t really make much sense. Diane, let me help you. I wasn’t complaining that I am fat. I am fat, it’s true, but I am pretty content with my body. I was criticizing media that is promulgating untrue and damaging messages to the TV watching populace. I would have the same objection to a commercial that said blonde people can’t fly to Paris or take karate. It’s social commentary, not OMG I’M SO FAT whining, as you seem to think.
I can’t imagine why Diane would be so opposed to me, a fat person, sitting next to her. I smell delightful. I am a good conversationalist (although I really don’t like bigots, so we might not have much to say to one another), I’m funny, and I offer gum. Fat is not catching. I have no intention of rubbing my fat up against her, since such action is generally frowned upon in polite company, no matter the size of the person rubbing. I suppose Diane’s objection must be based in some unthinking hatred of fat people. So sad. One misses out on so much when one unthinkingly hates other people.
Diane, I wish you all the best, and I hope some day you can get past this irrationality and hate. I promise, when you do, you will lead a richer life and be a happier individual.
Maybe Dianne is worried that if you sit next to her on your flight to Paris, she will have slightly less than her “allotted” seat space.
I wonder if she says:
“Tall, lose height before you sit next to me,” or “Weight-lifter, lose muscle before you sit next to me.”
Of course not, silly! Being tall and/or broad with muscles is a sign of GOOD moral character, whereas we all know that being fat is a sure sign of perdition. And who wants to sit next to the morally weak?
Last time I flew, I got more than a few sidelong glances while doing yoga stretches at the gate. I even recognized a few of them as they boarded and saw me sitting in first class. Not only am I fat, OMG how DARE I afford to fly in a slightly more comfortable manner?
I don’t usually post replies to blog posts, but I have to wonder… Do you think Diane will know what “promulgating” means?
Meh, that’s what Dictionary.com is for.
I’ll lose weight before I sit next to that creature Diane, if she gets a brain transplant, an education and some manners first.
We all have our standards.
Wow, I think this made me laugh more than anything. I applaud the route you took with handling this. Some people are just outright rude and immature.
Ms Brain dead, lost weight, still fat. Logic flawed, prefer to stand.
Hey Erin, I saw a photo of you on Kelly’s flickr stream at her daughter’s birthday (it was you right?) and I thought you looked great. Fat or no fat.
Happy New Year. Nice to find that you’ve resurfaced!
What the? Since when is Obese your name. Sounds like you were way too polite in refering to Diane by her name rather than something more descriptive like “Troll”, “Idiot” or “Skunkmonkey”.
Okay Erin, I laughed out loud at quite a few parts of this – just another reason I love ya. And I can vouch for you – you do smell delightful!
I love the second to last paragraph here. “I have no intention of rubbing my fat up against her.” Hah! Take that, Diane.