"I may be fat, but I beat my eating disorder"

[Napoléon]

Are you capable of having a conversation with someone you disagree with without insinuating I am stupid?

No, anyone who disagrees on this issue is being demonstrably stupid.

Inabit.

[Jello]

Well i'm not exactly wrong. He did quite openly state at one point that he was talking about people that we care about, if i remember correctly, and you guys are going off on one trying to make him look bad for caring about people. Not exactly something i'll side with.

How, exactly, is that saying that he's advocating genocide?

Be precise.

Me, I'm not trying to make him look bad for caring about people.  I'm pointing out that he's being patronizing.

Exaggeration, of course. Was merely pointing out that you two were treating him like he was a bad guy, from my perspective, for giving a shit about people. 

Alright, that's fair enough then. It merely came across like that, is all.

[Mermaid]

I reduced because I wanted to feel better and I know it's bad for me. I don't need people informing me of the really obvious health risks that btw are already written in large font on every cigarette pack available for sale.

Right, so a friend who might say you should think about cutting down smoking is over-stepping the mark, but the blinding warning on the front of the packet is just looking out for you.

My god people in this thread are stupid. I guess those warning labels got put there from the tooth fairy.

Thanks for calling us stupid. It helps!

My perspective, (although you don't seem to care or have the capability of listening to others) is that I resent it when people give me unsolicited advice. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. If you don't give a fuck that you are upsetting people, that's on you.

[Mermaid]

How, exactly, is that saying that he's advocating genocide?

Be precise.

Me, I'm not trying to make him look bad for caring about people.  I'm pointing out that he's being patronizing.

Exaggeration, of course. Was merely pointing out that you two were treating him like he was a bad guy, from my perspective, for giving a shit about people. 

Alright, that's fair enough then. It merely came across like that, is all.

I would not tell someone they were bad for caring about someone. What sucks is when you point out someone's flaws when they didn't ask for your opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Napoléon]

although you don't seem to care or have the capability of listening to others

Oh the irony.

[Mermaid]

Are you capable of having a conversation with someone you disagree with without insinuating I am stupid?

No, anyone who disagrees on this issue is being demonstrably stupid.

Inabit.

Honest?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Please, you're advocating, essentially, for going up to someone and saying, "Um, pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice you're a, well, um, a tad bit overweight.  I just wanted to let you know that there is an increased level of morbidity associated with being overweight, brought on by higher rates of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. I'm told you can address obesity as a risk factor by eating less."

Now, you didn't say this explicitly here in this thread, but this is goddamned well what your position entails.

No, this isn't what I've said and it's not what my position entails at all. So kindly go get fucked.

You can deny it as you wish, kid, but it doesn't mean that your denial sticks. Tell me, if they do know that obesity is unhealthy, and they do know it increases morbidity, and they do know that they can fix it, what is the purpose of you saying anything at all? Do you think that your magic words will get the message across, where all the other messages from their doctors and media coverage failed?

No, this is implicit in the behavior you advocate. The fact that you can't see only means you've got a big blind spot regarding your own behavior.

You're the cunt being dishonest with this ever so blatant straw manning.

Your inability to examine the implications of your own position is clear to me already, thanks. You can stop digging that hole now.

I guess you're such a genius you can identify the supposed 'logical implications' with my position (that you've straw manned), but are completely ignoring the logical implications of saying we should not say anything at all about anyone's weight.

I haven't advocated for that -- that was Mermaid's position.

My own position is that if someone asks me for my opinion, or for help in losing weight, I'll be happy to oblige, but until that time, I'd prefer not to be a busybody poking my nose in the business of others. I know that nuance and subtlety are particularly weak points for you, but I should think that the difference is clear enough that even you might be able to discern it.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Yeah, if I'm not going to call you an idiot, I'm certainly not going to call you a genius.

I'll let you know when your opinion of me matters to me. You don't merit such consideration so far as I'm concerned.

[Mermaid]

although you don't seem to care or have the capability of listening to others

Oh the irony.

Because I do not agree with you? Really?

[Losty]

I sense a UK-US divergence, here...

Us'ians like to be left alone and prefer to take the PC road with everything.
Brits... still care, bless them... at least for their friends. "I'd say, ol'chap, you're getting a bit rounder in your belly. The wife treating better than fine, I see."

I think you may have a point here. But I also think people on both sides of this argument are way too extreme. Is it wrong to suggest a friend or family member try to lose weight? No. I prefer offering to help. I have an anti processed foods policy at my house (except special occasions) and any friends or family are welcome to eat here I will cook them healthy food if they're interested in getting healthy. I have helped people lose weight before. I think if you're not willing to put in the effort of actually helping someone, then there's no use in opening your mouth. Speak out about obesity in general get involved in groups that aim to educate people who are interested in getting some help. Going up to some dude like "hey I really care about you and I suggest you try to eat less for your own sake. I'm not judging your body just genuinely concerned" is completely worthless. At best you'll have told dude exactly what he already knew and made absolutely no impact on his health. At worst you'll have hurt his feelings or pissed him off and still made absolutely no impact on his health.

[Napoléon]

Because I do not agree with you? Really?

No, because of the flagrant misrepresentation of my points that you and Thumpacuntacus like to do.