NationStates Jolt Archive

If you're a fat tourist, don't go to Mississippi.

This goes just a little too far, if you ask me.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/ms_fat.html

If you're a fat tourist, don't go to Mississippi.

This goes just a little too far, if you ask me.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/ms_fat.html

It certainly won't help their tourist industry...

I'm skeptical as to whether that's a good idea. Keeping them from eating unhealthy food (as is the case in New York, apparently) is one thing, keeping them from eating anything they haven't prepared themselves is another thing altogether.

I'm just interested to see if there's money to be made supplying and delivering restaurant food...sort of like bootlegging...foodlegging?

I'm skeptical as to whether that's a good idea. Keeping them from eating unhealthy food (as is the case in New York, apparently) is one thing, keeping them from eating anything they haven't prepared themselves is another thing altogether.

Maybe the state should hire a few assassins and mercenaries (in secret of course) to stalk and shoot fat people. They'd be known in the media as the 'Fat Snipers'. After about ten kills or so with the police baffled, fat people will start to reconsider that candy bar they're buying. :p

If you're a fat tourist, don't go to Mississippi.

This goes just a little too far, if you ask me.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/ms_fat.html

Oh. My. God.
What. The. Hell?

I'm skeptical as to whether that's a good idea. Keeping them from eating unhealthy food (as is the case in New York, apparently) is one thing, keeping them from eating anything they haven't prepared themselves is another thing altogether.

All New York is doing is having restaurants post calorie information, which isn't unreasonable.

Somehow thinking that making obese people cook for themselves solves the problem in any meaningful way is just fucking stupid.

You aren't going to solve the obesity problem by making them second class citizens. Not to mention putting the weight of enforcement on some poor 16 year old kid who now has to determine if someone has a BMI of 30 or more.

This may be the stupidest thing I've heard all day.

This may be the stupidest thing I've heard all day.

Well, it is early yet ;)
(at least where I am)

And they didn't think the obese people would mind?
Imagine the charge at the government offices if this gets past?
It's a logical extension, perhaps, of laws that ban bartenders from serving patrons who are already beyond the point of legal intoxication.
And are they going to ban anorexic people as well, if this is the next 'logical' step?
Will the other physically disabled people be turned away? Will the blind be denied access because they can't see the menu?
What about political activists, they're a nasty bunch.

What i mean is sure it's all well stopping obese people, and might get them to watch their weight, but this isn't the best way to go about it, and it might be a bit upsetting for them too.

from article in OP

While New York City proposes to force fast-food restaurants to post calorie information on their message boards,


This already happens in the Italy - both on the fast-food wrappers and message boards, plus they have to post the quantity of total fats, proteines, salt etc.


Pundits suggested the next logical step would be to ban credit card sales to those who are already up to their eyeballs in debt

This would be logical. In Italy already happens: you can't have a credit card, or even give cheques, if you're deep in debt. So what?

Anyway, refusing to sell food doesn't follow the same logic. Credit to people in deep debt is refused because they aren't likely to repay it: alcohol to people who are already intoxicated is refused because they're likely to put other people in danger. Food to obese is different. Nutritional education in schools and awareness campaigning is better.

Interestingly this would ban governor Schwarzenegger and other people of his physique from getting served in a restaurant.

BMI is a bad measurement for obesity.

Totally unbelievable!!

http://www.detectiveboogaloo.com/images/BBWW/matthewmelisWW.jpg

:D

Why can't people just eat what the hell they want regardless if they're 'obese'?

Its their body, not the government's.

Do you guys think this is a real law? This is one of those crappy "raise awareness" laws.

Which begs the question: Of all the places to go on a vacation, who in their right mind would choose Mississippi of all places?

Pundits suggested the next logical step would be to ban credit card sales to those who are already up to their eyeballs in debt.
Why not.

And did anyone notice the "enclosed seating for five or more" qualifier? This is going to discount places that are only drivethroughs, Sonics, and pizza delivery places - all the restaurants that don't even require you to leave your home/get out of the car to order food. I also doubt this will apply to fast food/snack places in the mall as they generally don't have their own seating.

I can tell you this - fat ass rednecks didn't get fat by going to real restaurants.

I can tell you this - fat ass rednecks didn't get fat by going to real restaurants.Not entirely true: Few fastfood restaurants have All-You-Can-Eat buffets.

I didn't notice anyone mentioning that the bill was actually just a (IMO cruel) hoax perpetrated by the three congressyokels. Here's a fairly rational article that explains the truth:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-05-obesity-restaurant-law_N.htm

Hope that helps.

Opus P.
Benevolent Dictator of Penguinopoli

It certainly won't help their tourist industry...

What tourist industry? What does Mississippi possibly have to offer other than hurricanes and rednecks?

Yes, this is one of those "raise awareness" laws that should get the congressyokels who proposed it censured by their brethren.

Here's a mostly rational article that spells out the truth:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-05-obesity-restaurant-law_N.htm

Hope that helps.

Ugh. This sickens me. What's next, exercise police? Or will it be more of a 1984 thing where we have to do exercises in the morning? If people want to eat, let them eat it. What's next, forcing people out of 3rd parties because it's "Not a healthy choice"? Okay, mabye that was a little dramatic but the rest still stands.

And are they going to ban anorexic people as well, if this is the next 'logical' step?
Will the other physically disabled people be turned away? Will the blind be denied access because they can't see the menu?
What about political activists, they're a nasty bunch.
.

I'm confused as to how you reached this point. Although I don't agree with their methods, your examples don't make sense

Ugh. This sickens me. What's next, exercise police?

They will be called 'Chasers' and they will do this:

http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/chased.gif

Until you are thin. :)

Why can't people just eat what the hell they want regardless if they're 'obese'?

Its their body, not the government's.

well, there's health costs to general society....

I don't care much except when they sit on my seat too in airplanes. :p

Probably for the best.

They will be called 'Chasers' and they will do this:

http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/chased.gif

Until you are thin. :)

reminds me of this joke

guy wants to get thin, goes to this place where the manager says $100 for program A and $500 for program B. Guy sign up for A, is let into a room with a beautiful young skimpy clothed woman. He can do her only if he can catch her. He runs round and round to no avail. Next day he thinks, well if program A has such a girl, program B must have a much better girls. He is let into the room B.

An old ugly hag starts chasing him. :D

What tourist industry? What does Mississippi possibly have to offer other than hurricanes and rednecks?

Not a damn thing? :p

They will be called 'Chasers' and they will do this:



Until you are thin.
Good thing I'm underweight then! But what if they try to make us the ideal weight?Oh God...

Good thing I'm underweight then! But what if they try to make us the ideal weight?Oh God...
http://C:\Documents and Settings\vincent\My Documents\My Pictures\headshot1.gifhttp://C:\chew.gif

Uh, you know we can't see the images on your C drive right?


Besides the address wouldn't be HTTP it'd be file:///C:/.

Nanny government! Yay!

We will tell you what's acceptable to eat
We will tell you what's acceptable to drink
We will tell you what's acceptable to watch
We will tell you what's acceptable to wear

Freedom FTW!

we Ectomorphic folk laugh at are slow metabolized cousins

now we just need to find a way to persecute the Mesomorph scourge!

But what if they try to make us the ideal weight?Oh God...

whats this, you don't like chocolate cake now? ;)

Nanny government! Yay!

We will tell you what's acceptable to eat
We will tell you what's acceptable to drink
We will tell you what's acceptable to watch
We will tell you what's acceptable to wear

Freedom FTW!
This quote is not my own, but here it is.
It has been called the nanny state,but that is far too kind a term. It is too cold,too cruel,too implacable,too illiberal to be a nanny. It is the Nurse Ratched state. Government has created a brutal system of mandated behaviorism,in which the state uses immense powers to force targeted citizens and entities to "voluntarily" accept a violation of their rights...
I cannot agree enough. The Government thinks it can make all our decisions for us. It always wants more, and gives you peanuts when compared to what you give it. 1984 here we come.

we Ectomorphic folk laugh at are slow metabolized cousins

now we just need to find a way to persecute the Mesomorph scourge!


willing to accept an endomorph? I hate the mesomorphs, stupid perfect people.

I see no one has found the accompanying bill, that provides subsidies to all obese people for deep fryer purchases.

Which begs the question: Of all the places to go on a vacation, who in their right mind would choose Mississippi of all places?

Honestly. I could enrich my mind more inside a preschool.

I can tell you this - fat ass rednecks didn't get fat by going to real restaurants.

An ideal government would not prevent that. An ideal government would let them get fat, get heart attacks, and drop dead, so more stupid rednecks are cut out from our genepool.

Why can't people just eat what the hell they want regardless if they're 'obese'?

Its their body, not the government's.

Because Big Br.....I mean Gov. Co. knows what best for you, silly citizen. Now don't mind the talking coming from your turned off TV screen, it's just the mind con....I mean happy thoughts in your head, yea Happy thoughts! Don't worry, Big Br....I mean the government is watching over you.

Ha ha! I'm all for this, just to see the reactions. It would be priceless.

Ha ha! I'm all for this, just to see the reactions. It would be priceless.

I'm in it for the smuggling. The Great Fatsby will be this century's Great American Novel.

I'm in it for the smuggling. The Great Fatsby will be this century's Great American Novel.

:eek:

*begins typing first draft**

this is great!

Because Big Br.....I mean Gov. Co. knows what best for you, silly citizen. Now don't mind the talking coming from your turned off TV screen, it's just the mind con....I mean happy thoughts in your head, yea Happy thoughts! Don't worry, Big Br....I mean the government is watching over you.
Hail Glorious Big Brother for raising our chocolate ration to 20 grams! We were always at war with Eurasia and always been allied with Eastasia. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

Good, I don't even like crawdads. *hmph*

I'm confused as to how you reached this point. Although I don't agree with their methods, your examples don't make sense

I'll explain.

And are they going to ban anorexic people as well, if this is the next 'logical' step?
Seeing as obese people (if this is passed) will not be allowed to eat in Mississippi, then it follows that Anorexic people will not be allowed to eat there because they can be put in the same class of "weird unhealthy people".

Will the other physically disabled people be turned away?
Same here

Will the blind be denied access because they can't see the menu?
Same again
What about political activists, they're a nasty bunch
And same again.
I know my examples are wierd but i was just exercising my imagination.

Wait...

Are there thin people in Mississippi? :eek:

The most appalling part of this is how they're linking it to BMI, a measure that only applies to sedentary people of average height.

If you take someone like Magnus Samuelsson, 1998 World's Strongest Man, and still a competitive athlete, he has a BMI of 39 because he's 2.0 m tall and weighs 160 kg.

But he's fit, and even relatively lean.

The most appalling part of this is how they're linking it to BMI, a measure that only applies to sedentary people of average height.

If you take someone like Magnus Samuelsson, 1998 World's Strongest Man, and still a competitive athlete, he has a BMI of 39 because he's 2.0 m tall and weighs 160 kg.

But he's fit, and even relatively lean.

Or Mariusz Pudnowski (sp?)

NO SOUP FOR YOU! (http://www.tvacres.com/cooks_soupnazi.htm)

The use of BMI as a basis for determining health is and always has been ridiculous. According to BMI guidelines, Eric Chavez (one of my favorite baseball players--http://image12.webshots.com/13/1/46/6/2529146060060614233kEDodi_ph.jpg) is considered to be just over the threshold of "obese". He wouldn't be able to eat in Mississippi, apparently, nor would a good deal of professional American football players. But someone with a BMI of 24 who eats nothing but fastfood all day and has 30% body fat is deemed "healthy".

If you're a fat tourist, don't go to Mississippi.

This goes just a little too far, if you ask me.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/02/ms_fat.html

The news these days makes me chuckle. :p The world is slowly becoming more like II.

This is another thing to file under the heading "Only in America" lets hope it stays there

The news these days makes me chuckle.
Chuckle!?!? It makes ME scream in horror!

Good. These terrestrial planetoids have no judgment and cannot make an educated choice of what to eat.

Good. These terrestrial planetoids have no judgment and cannot make an educated choice of what to eat.

And we put 16 year olds working their first job in charge of determining by sight who qualifies and who does not for them?

Either way we are not helping them make an "educated choice of what to eat" we are just denying them service to sitdown places and driving them to fast food places which will not have this requirement.

Yeah we are helping a lot ... :rolleyes:

That is fucking ridiculous. I predict the ACLU will make hash of it. It's blatantly discriminatory.

The most appalling part of this is how they're linking it to BMI, a measure that only applies to sedentary people of average height.


In other words, the BMI is a perfectly accurate measure for about 99.9% of people on Earth. Since the vast majority of people are not Mr. Universe, objections to the BMI based on such rare exceptions are essentially irrelevant.

At any rate, the trick to proper diet and weight is rather simple. I've been doing my best over the last 5-6 months to eat organic, especially focusing on cutting out the high fructose corn syrup and other hyper processed junk. I've lost 20 pounds already, while still maintaining my otherwise lazy sloth-like lifestyle. My BMI is now just on the inside of "Normal." :D

And are they going to ban anorexic people as well, if this is the next 'logical' step?

No, the next logical step to this asinine law is to chain anorexics up in restaurants and force feed them.

No, the next logical step to this asinine law is to chain anorexics up in restaurants and force feed them.
Actually, there is no next logical step, because this law has no logic in it.

Mississippi, and other states, should quit wasting time, and enforce virginity by law!

Mississippi, and other states, should quit wasting time, and enforce virginity by law!

Mandatory chasity belts for everybody!

In other words, the BMI is a perfectly accurate measure for about 99.9% of people on Earth. Since the vast majority of people are not Mr. Universe, objections to the BMI based on such rare exceptions are essentially irrelevant.
No they're not. If you're going to make a rule that applies to everyone, it needs to apply to everyone equally fairly. You're penalising the unusual.

Since BMI assumes your optimal weight is proportional to the square of your height, people who are significantly taller than average will have high BMIs despite being fit, while short people will have low BMIs despite being fit.

Plus, anyone with greater than average muscle-mass will have a consideerably higher BMI, regardless of how much fat he carries.
At any rate, the trick to proper diet and weight is rather simple. I've been doing my best over the last 5-6 months to eat organic,
I refuse to buy organic food, or shop in any store that prominently advertises organic goods, mostly as a protest of the sloppy nomenclature.

Since there isn't much food that's inorganic (salt is inorganic - that's the end of my list), the designation "organic" doesn't make any sense.

No, the next logical step to this asinine law is to chain anorexics up in restaurants and force feed them.

Or make a law saying they have to eat at McDonalds every day.

That is fucking ridiculous. I predict the ACLU will make hash of it. It's blatantly discriminatory.

In this case, it would be Hash Browns.

Or make a law saying they have to eat at McDonalds every day.
Does that apply to bulimics? Rather unfair to those who clean up the McD bathrooms!

I give it a year before the British government tries to set that up in Britain.

Personally I find this whole thing funny. I don't get all this outrage, why shouldn't restaurants be able to refuse to serve the obese? With all that's going on in the world you're worried about some fatass not having the right to gorge themself at a restaurant? A healthier society should take precedence over one in which rights are upheld, in my opinion.

I give it a year before the British government tries to set that up in Britain.

And then less than that before we see a thematic V For Vendetta spoof with Robbie Coltrane.

Personally I find this whole thing funny. I don't get all this outrage, why shouldn't restaurants be able to refuse to serve the obese? With all that's going on in the world you're worried about some fatass not having the right to gorge themself at a restaurant? A healthier society should take precedence over one in which rights are upheld, in my opinion.

The problem is not whether a restaurant has the right to refuse service, the problem is making a law requiring it.

Cute.

I wanna go back to Dixie,
Take me back to dear ol' Dixie,
That's the only li'l ol' place for li'l ol' me.
Old times there are not forgotten,
Whuppin' slaves and sellin' cotton,
And waitin' for the Robert E. Lee.
(It was never there on time.)

I'll go back to the Suwannee,
Where pellagra makes you scrawny,
And the honeysuckle clutters up the vine.1
I really am a-fixin'
To go home and start a-mixin'
Down below that Mason-Dixon line.

Oh, poll tax2,
How I love ya, how I love ya,
My dear ol' poll tax.

Won'tcha come with me to Alabammy,
Back to the arms of my dear ol' Mammy,
Her cookin's lousy and her hands are clammy,
But what the hell, it's home.

Yes, for paradise the Southland is my nominee.
Jes' give me a ham hock and a grit of hominy.

I wanna go back to Dixie,
I wanna be a Dixie pixie
And eat corn pone3 till it's comin' outta my ears.4
I wanna talk with Southern gentlemen
And put that white sheet on again,5
I ain't seen one good lynchin' in years.

The land of the boll weevil,
Where the laws are medieval,
Is callin' me to come and nevermore roam.
I wanna go back to the Southland,
That "y'all" and "shet-ma-mouth" land,
Be it ever so decadent,
There's no place like home.

Personally I find this whole thing funny. I don't get all this outrage, why shouldn't restaurants be able to refuse to serve the obese? With all that's going on in the world you're worried about some fatass not having the right to gorge themself at a restaurant? A healthier society should take precedence over one in which rights are upheld, in my opinion
So what you're saying is that you would rather be oppressed mercilessly and forced to follow party doctrine as long as everyone was extremly fit and healthy, rather than a free and democratic society where about 24% of the population is fat? You need to get your priorities straight...