Comments on: In which I learn a vital, if painful, lesson.

By: ClumsyKisses

ClumsyKisses — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:02:07 +0000

I thought you did really well in that whole thing, and I’m glad I’ve now found your blog so I can read it

By: Twistie

Twistie — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:47:04 +0000

As buffpuff says, it’s a teaspoon by teaspoon process. Alas, the sea is large and there never seem to be enough teaspoons.

All the same, good for you for wading in with yours! I’ve done the same on threads with both more and less vitriol being tossed cavalierly about. Again, as buffpuff said, facing down prejudice with reason may not convert the whole world, but if it gets a couple people thinking and opening their minds to an alternate possibility, then we have another couple of teaspoons at our command. Eventually we’ll have enough teaspoons to do the job.

I’m glad you found the experience helpful to you as a person, too. I know how frustrating it can be. Good for you for taking away a valuable lesson into the bargain!

By: buffpuff

buffpuff — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:41:40 +0000

Fortunately I knew what I was letting myself in for – and, believe me, as a veteran troll-basher of old, we got a relatively easy ride compared to some of the vitriol I’ve seen elsewhere. Consequently I make no apology for flinging sarcasm about with gay abandon – treating these hate-spouting pillocks with the scorn they invite and deserve is, IMO, one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Regrettably, I’m not of a scientific or mathematical bent, and consequently find reading pub med studies and analyzing stats – as you, Sandy, and many other FA bloggers do – quite tedious. But language is my bag and I relish challenging the utter bollocks these people spout in order to uphold their right to insult those who don’t embrace their shitty value system.It can be exhausting, which is why I no longer do it on a regular basis, but, if it makes you feel any better I did notice that after you inferred one of the more obnoxious offenders felt threatened, his posts degenerated from faux-reasoned arguments to “yah boo sucks, fatty, ner-niddly-ner-ner!!” shortly thereafter.

I comfort myself with the knowledge that I have, when locking horns with sizist bigots in the past, inadvertently helped to make some FA converts. If a less bigoted, more open minded person finds themselves reading that thread, (which is not beyond the bounds of possibility given that it is a Liberal Leftie newspaper), we won’t be the ones looking infantile or unreasonable.

Teaspoon by teaspoon, joyousnerd.

By: bigliberty

bigliberty — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:19:41 +0000

I agree with Sandy. While I still allow comments on my blog, they’re heavily moderated and, I’m happy to say, I don’t have too many per post (about 1 to 3 on average).

I’m sorry you had to wade through the muck like that, but I think it’s how many of us learn that anti-obesity attitudes aren’t *really* about concern and care, or even misinformation – they’re about scapegoating and hate. They’re irrational – look at how easy it is to debunk those comments: most of them can be debunked with a simple anecdotal counter-example alone (i.e., “fat can’t be fit”).

Great post. Cheers!

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:02:42 +0000

Maybe you need a break from internet threads. Seriously. They are full of frustrated, hateful, cowardly people with issues that do not resemble most normal people. And they seem to live in a bubble world where fat people never have sex or are happy. This bubble world exists mostly in their mom’s basement. If you go to Threadworld too often, it’s like swimming in a toxic lake. Take a break and hang out with normal people for awhile to rid yourself of the poison.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:59:04 +0000

I had wished I could have sent a supportive email directly to Marianne, as I suspect she didn’t realize what she would encounter. Sadly, the paper didn’t moderate that thread. That degree of hate and prejudice is born of people who are ignorant. No amount of truth will ever break through to people who hate like that — they’ve closed their minds to learning anything but what they choose to believe — you noticed, too, how they simply refused to even read or consider the information you and others were presenting, to expand or grow. That’s why I don’t have comments on my blog — been there, done that (300+ vile comments just like that a DAY). Learned the hard way that discussions are not about exchange of knowledge, science, support, friendship and ideas. Comment sections about information that challenges beliefs, ideologies and prejudices (or agendas or what someone is trying to sell) don’t help people, they give platforms for others to spout vile stuff and spread misinformation, confusion, distort information, and stop any real discussions or learning. Those ugly threads become so uncomfortable that people who might really learn and be helped by what you have to say no longer want to come. I’m sorry it was a difficult weekend for you and that dear author, but good for you for coming out stronger! But please understand that the exact same hateful reactions you saw this weekend about fat are also found just as vehemently about ANY belief or ideology.