tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post1632763319891106958..comments2023-05-03T03:01:09.021-07:00Comments on Screaming Fat Girl: Mental Health Prejudice and Fattismscreaming fatgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09556199963917842135noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post-48804382694986411572012-07-13T09:25:08.754-07:002012-07-13T09:25:08.754-07:00As always, thank you for your gracious and kind co...As always, thank you for your gracious and kind comments. I can't profess to being perfect. In fact, there are entries in this blog that in retrospect, I have some regrets to how I phrased things, but I do try. I think I once wrote something which was akin to "if I can do it anyone can", which I regret, but I'm leaving it out there as a record of my thinking (even when it really isn't something I'm proud of). <br /><br />Regarding anonymity, some people think that if you don't place yourself at risk, then you are not to be taken seriously. Personally, I think only two groups of people expose themselves. First, there are those who wish to profit or gain notoriety through their endeavors. Second, there are those who want you to reveal yourself so they can more effectively attack you and intimidate you. The substance of what a person has to offer does not gain enhancement from a name or real face.screaming fatgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556199963917842135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post-33485341586720084662012-07-07T13:56:55.587-07:002012-07-07T13:56:55.587-07:00I had to smile with affection at your explanation ...I had to smile with affection at your explanation regarding the posting of comments. Admittedly, I do not read many blogs but of all the blogs I do read, yours simply stuns! Not only are your posts gems of thoughtfulness, self analysis and gentle and always considerate and respectful assessments of humans in general and the ones you know personally specifically, but your replies to the comments are so incredible gracious! <br />On some blogs, I almost never read the comments but on yours, the comments give followers the opportunity to read the equivalent of additional entries. Absolutely nobody takes the time, puts in the effort and is so thoughtful in replies to commenters. You are always so gracious, supportive and validating. The replies are so personal and never generic. Commenters have a sense that you actually READ their words and absorbed their meaning, gave them careful thought and considered carefully how you will reply.<br /><br />Not that it would be for me to have a preference regarding your anonymity anyway, but I think of the delight of imagining that you are the person in line behind me, at the supermarket, at the next reading table at the library or teaching the Psychology class at the local University. I agree; nothing is lost by keeping your identity private and I cannot think of what would be gained by disclosing it.<br />dlambAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post-23576583776064590862010-05-30T18:09:23.706-07:002010-05-30T18:09:23.706-07:00Greetings to both of you and thank you so much for...Greetings to both of you and thank you so much for your kind comments and for taking the time to read my blog. Knowing that my words are read with such a reception encourages me to continue on this blog. <br /><br />One thing I'd like to explain is the delay in moderating comments as I don't think I've ever explained it before. I am American, but I currently reside in Asia, so I'm often asleep when comments are made and there will sometimes be a delay of as much as 7 or 8 hours before comments can be posted or responded to. Some people get frustrated with this delay because they think it is some sort of willful neglect, but I simply am working in a very different time zone. ;-)<br /><br />Rebecca: Like you, I'm not a great fan of blogs that are just lists of numbers or charts. It's not that there is anything wrong with that, but just that it's not really reading that offers much to the reader. I do understand the value of public tracking of one's progress, but as you've probably seen, I don't even privately track anymore than I'm absolutely required to do. <br /><br />"I wonder for instance about the ways that fattist discrimination (against children and adults) may contribute to individual experiences of trauma and in turn, over time, contribute to the epidemeological increase in obesity (in populations)."<br /><br />You said this very well, and I agree. It certainly mirrors my weight gain experiences. Unfortunately, it's difficult to prove, and without proof, any explanation of obesity which does not "blame" the overweight person is dismissed as being an attempt to relieve fat people of responsibility for their actions.<br /><br />Mrs. Happy Pants: Hi, and thank you for your kind words and taking the time to read. I will check out your blog despite the possible profanity (profanity doesn't trouble me... I just don't tend to "feel" like using it very much when I write). <br /><br />I will always remain anonymous because I personally see no benefit in public exposure. Also, I am somewhat known through other activities on the web (in a very small way - I'm not famous or anything, but my real name and face are attached to something unrelated to weight which I am attempting to develop a career in). If I were to use my real name or face and people were to connect the dots, I might suffer some consequences in my other endeavors. I also simply don't see any reason to use my real name or face because it wouldn't lend any substance to the blog. <br /><br />It's interesting to consider the fact that fat discrimination is so pervasive and pernicious that we both feel it would damage our lives to reveal our feelings. For me, of course, it's not only my opinions, but the very fact that I am fat at all which I fear revealing.<br /><br />Thanks again to both of you!screaming fatgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556199963917842135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post-24727261375938075442010-05-30T14:16:01.196-07:002010-05-30T14:16:01.196-07:00I followed you here from A Merry Life, and I have ...I followed you here from A Merry Life, and I have to say that you are incredible to read.<br />So much of my blog is peppered with profanity, but yours is so cleanly articulate. I curse a lot, both out of frustration and habit. It's one of my flaws that I'm not in a huge hurry to correct (online anyway), being that I have bigger fish to fry. *understatement*<br />I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all you have written.<br />It's like reading my own thoughts with better punctuation and without the foul mouth.<br />I see you seem to prefer anonymity at this time. So do I. Admissions committees for my grad school program of choice don't look too favorably upon some of my opinions, and therefore, I have to play nice for the time being.<br />That being said, in spite of our anonymity, I look forward to getting to "know" you more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239703775224526488.post-48464174759505527972010-05-30T09:11:29.959-07:002010-05-30T09:11:29.959-07:00I'm about half way through reading your entire...I'm about half way through reading your entire blog, and I am so impressed with the tone and thoughtfulness of your posts. <br /><br />To me, what you have achieved here is much more inspiring than seeing a list of numbers revealing your weight losses or a chart showing your shrinking measurements, or how many reps you are doing at the gym. <br /><br />This is a personal preference of mine, of course, and not a criticism of other people's unique needs. Yet I didn't realize how much I inwardly longed to find a voice of calm honesty, steady sanity and good humor as applied to the changes I am making in my own life. <br /><br />Most of all, I appreciate this intimate look at the interior life of a courageous woman who is struggling to achieve greater freedom and better health. <br /><br />Thank you very much. <br /><br />The whole mental health vs. physical (physiological) health is a dichotomy that has never made much sense to me. Epigenetic research suggests that some genetic traits may be switched "on" by means of hormonal changes related to environmental traumas or left unactivated in the absense of environmental influences (including those within the womb). It is all very fascinating. <br /><br />I wonder for instance about the ways that fattist discrimination (against children and adults) may contribute to individual experiences of trauma and in turn, over time, contribute to the epidemeological increase in obesity (in populations). The dread of obesity functions like a cultural self-fulfilling prophecy (at the level of social organization). Thus, the more prejudice and discrimination (and hate) directed against fat people, the more obesity (and/or eating disorders) are likely to be manifested in populations. <br /><br />The interplay between psychological(mental) health, physiology, and sociology has barely even been considered by most people who consider themselves to be careful thinkers. (With tragic consequences for humanity.) <br /><br />Even if a large percentage of obesity in populations could be attributed to psychological dysfunctions of the sort that involve problematic approaches to rational/emotive behaviors (which, as you suggest here and elsewhere, is too simplistic an explanation), encouraging prejudice against people who are suffering is not only irrational and unhelpful, it is barbaric and cruel.<br /><br />Thanks again for publicly sharing your thoughts and experiences through your blog. It is helpful to me in ways I am only beginning to grasp.<br /><br />-RebeccaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com