NationStates Jolt Archive

Really, now, I don't like these very much...but anyhow, I decided to ask you all two questions, as a new health craze has begun to spread through Amerique--or at least my area. (proof: Chew on This).

So the questions are:

1. Should Fast-food industries be regulated because their food is "bad for you"?

2. Are health crazes overrated?

Personally, I think that those industries shouldn't be regulated for that. (they should be regulated though), and that health crazes are overrated, but...what of you?

I await your response.

Like this?

http://www.chewonthis.org.uk/

Is this what you're talking about?

I think most health crazes are overreactions. In the end it come to personal responsibility. I love to eat out, and I eat out quite often with my friends since its about the most entertaining thing to do around here, I gained some weight over the winter as a side effect but I maintain quite a healthy diet.

I tend to put on some weight in the winter because I have a low tolerance for cold and that tends to cut down on my activity level. Then springtime hits and I start running around like a maniac tackling stuff until I burn off the extra pounds. :)

Like this?

http://www.chewonthis.org.uk/

Is this what you're talking about?


That's about it. (I think, anyway, I can't follow the link on this computer)

I think most health crazes are overreactions. In the end it come to personal responsibility. I love to eat out, and I eat out quite often with my friends since its about the most entertaining thing to do around here, I gained some weight over the winter as a side effect but I maintain quite a healthy diet.

Whats more, as far as eating out is concerned... it's only your fault if you eat seven square meals a day at McD's every day, and gain a ton of weight. There is nothing wrong with enjoying terrible food in moderation, and should big brother close down all fast food chains just to stop people from unmoderated eating?

Really, now, I don't like these very much...but anyhow, I decided to ask you all two questions, as a new health craze has begun to spread through Amerique--or at least my area. (proof: Chew on This).

So the questions are:

1. Should Fast-food industries be regulated because their food is "bad for you"?

2. Are health crazes overrated?

Personally, I think that those industries shouldn't be regulated for that. (they should be regulated though), and that health crazes are overrated, but...what of you?

I await your response.
what the hell are you talking about? what new health craze?

no i dont think that fast food should be regulated. people should have the right to eat as they please. (but they shouldnt eat fast food very often)

most health crazes are stupid but a few--"eat well and exercise"--are a good idea.

Like this?

http://www.chewonthis.org.uk/

Is this what you're talking about?


Something this started.

Whats more, as far as eating out is concerned... it's only your fault if you eat seven square meals a day at McD's every day, and gain a ton of weight. There is nothing wrong with enjoying terrible food in moderation, and should big brother close down all fast food chains just to stop people from unmoderated eating?
What's the theory behind taxing gasoline, cigarettes, and alcohol?

It's two-fold. One, you discourage overconsumption. Two, you help pay for the collateral damage caused by it. And by those criteria, taxing unhealthy food sounds perfectly reasonable.

Something this started.

What, has it started some crazy fad where people think about what they're eating, are we saying that individuals, consumers, are actually questioning what they put in their mouth?

Crazy, encouraging this kind of behaviour must be stopped, if we start informing people about what goes into mass-produced food it's a short step to hippie-style communism.

Freedom means the freedom to supersize on junk without questioning, now hand me my jumbo Freedom Fries!

Excess, it's the American way,

No and Yes

Why no? Because it's about time that the governments stops this whole "don't smoke" "don't drink a lot", "don't use your car a lot" while at the same time it is an enormous income for them, for which without it, they'd be in serious problems.

Yes: Since it is very easy: Eat balanced, and don't eat more than you actually need. So you can eat a lot, if you burn up a lot of energy.

While I fully believe people should pay for the costs they incur based upon their behavior, the simple problem is that healthcare in the United States is so ridiculously overpriced that it is not possible to realistically achieve that aim without unfairly gouging people. Of course, the medical industry has no qualms about that because, well, that money is just more in their pockets. This is another reason why they so stringently oppose a national healthcare system...regardless of whether it's cheaper and more efficient, the lost profits are worth considerably more than the lives saved or quality of life offered, let alone such useless concepts like personal freedom of choice and association.

The simple truth is that punitive taxes, prohibitionism, and the nanny-state attitude towards imposing the Cult of Healthy Living on people will not work. Period. The more you marginalize behavior, the more appealing it becomes because it has that feeling of rebellion attached to it; it places it in a dichotomy between the boring cubicle-slave materialism of the nanny state and the alternative, a realm of personal freedom and the choice to do what you want with your life. Given that the reward of living to, say, 100 seems to consist of dementia and ultimately death from the exact same causes as our shorter-lived bretheren, it's hardly appealing to sacrifice the little pleasures of life for a few extra years that we might not even be able to enjoy.

Now, if you want to invest your time and effort in to your health, by all means do so. I have to admit, I really applaud your determination...it's not easy to constantly eat right and exercise regularly, especially if you're college-age like me. You'll hopefully reap rewards for your efforts now and long and in to the future. Just don't automatically assume everyone else does as well, and if they don't then by God you're going to make them. The truth is that my decision to smoke and drink is based upon what I enjoy in life, just like your decision to exercise and diet is based upon your own enjoyments. Neither really is superior to the other, especially since it's quite possible for me to cover the fair cost of my decision on society, and likewise. I enjoy good food, good alcohol, and good tobacco and I enjoy experiencing them with friends...that's what's important in life for me, and I'd rather do that and accept what may come than live my life afraid of death. Barring the Singularity, I'm almost certainly going to clock out somewhere between 70 and 85 so it's not going to matter all that much.

I'm more than willing to accommodate your needs provided you accommodate mine. It's that simple. However, the reason and rationality of the public health movement has been drowned in corporate interests and puritanical fanaticism that have long since killed any real pretext of helping people in favor of the same old tactics of condemnation and bullying, and all that does is guarantee the eventual defeat of their attempts to force their lifestyle on others.

All of those health fads make me cringe. The snakeoil commercials, the promises of effortless weightloss - it's all so blatantly dishonest. I'm not overweight myself luckily, so I can ignore it, but knowing that people get suckered in is upsetting.