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[–] Sarcastatron_9000 0 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago 

I googled the article in question. Holy hell. What a screed. On the one hand, I understand completely where she's coming from when she talks about how her health problems and her chronic pain were not taken seriously by anyone - not employers, not doctors, not coworkers. I've had a front-row seat to the chronic pain show and that's pretty much exactly what happens...if you don't look disabled, people think you're full of shit and are generally unwilling to make allowances for your health needs. So I get that part of her article and while I cannot empathize (because I'm not the one living with chronic pain), I can sympathize. I have seen how fucking hard and frustrating that is for people to live with on a daily basis.

However...I have to question just how much she understands about her health problems and what caused them. She may well be diabetic because of genetics; that shit runs in families, which is why they always ask about it when taking your medical history. But she says that she has all these health problems because of poverty and violence and oppression. Um, no. Nobody develops diabetes because of oppression. Nobody is fat because they suffered violence when they were young. She may have been genetically doomed to be diabetic. But she doesn't have to be fat - that, she could change. Yes, even though she has chronic pain and mobility issues. I know a guy who lives with both. He's disabled. Can't work. He has dealt with a shit ton of pain for years. But even though giving up would've been easy, he fought. He learned to control what he eats and how much and when, and started losing weight. He found a form of exercise he could do that wouldn't aggravate his condition too much and forced himself to do it even though it was excruciating - once a week at first, then twice, then more. It took two full years but he is in better shape now than he was for years before that and it greatly improved his quality of life. He's still disabled...still in a lot of pain...but he's better off because he didn't give up. She won't be able to cure her diabetes but it'd be easier controlled if she ate better - and obviously she's not eating well if she's that size. Nobody looks like that because they eat a balanced diet.

And I seriously take issue with her lumping everyone who is thin and fit in with the people who have been shitty to her over the years, as if we're all equally guilty because we look the same. Fuck that. She lead with this tidbit of wisdom: "We need to have a serious conversation about your perceptions of what good health is in relation to body size. I am not "unhealthy" because I'm Fat." That isn't just our personal perceptions...if you are fat, then you are not as healthy as you could be. If you're fat enough, then you are quite simply unhealthy. She's not quite fat enough to look like a wheezer but you never know.

Anyway, so basically, my takeaway from her article - which you can read here - is mostly "meh, no." with a side of "fuck that!" thrown in.

[–] [deleted] 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

[Deleted]

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[–] Sarcastatron_9000 ago 

Perhaps. It certainly doesn't help make life easier when your mind is so consumed with bitterness and rage, even if you've gone through a lot of shit and have valid reasons for being angry and bitter. She honestly sounds like she needs some counseling to help her cope.

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[–] mmmmdonuts 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

She is exactly the kind of person who gives me dirty looks when I use a handicapped space, I have a sign with my name on it approved by the dr.

Granted I very rarely ever use it, but there are times when I am very very sick and can barely walk and need to pick up prescriptions and there aren't any other spots available at all. But that's pretty much a once a year thing.

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[–] ObesePolice ago 

God bless, doesn't that drive you insane. ( My husband severely broke his back on account of an IED in Afghanistan, and this happens on the rare occasion that he uses handicapped parking as well. His sign is even physically on our license plate & additionally has disabled veteran on it.) I'm so sorry you hear you have to deal with that crap, especially when you are feeling your worst.

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[–] Sarcastatron_9000 ago 

I hate seeing the dirty looks...it's so rude. People who have a handicapped sign for their car obviously need it or they wouldn't have it. Do these morons think that doctors give them out like candy or something?

Your flair is awesome btw.

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[–] Plavonica 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

They just don't seem to ever realize that being fat makes everything worse. I also live with life-long pain. It sucks, I know. But I can only imagine how much worse it would be with an extra 300lbs to carry around all day, every day.

Really the best way to combat any disease is to be as healthy and fit as you can be. It even helps with mental issues (for a variety of reasons).

And all they have to do is put down the donuts.

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[–] Sarcastatron_9000 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Very true. Living with a chronic disease is hard enough without letting your health fall apart even more through overeating and no attempts to exercise. Sorry to hear that you've got chronic pain. It's such a shit hand to be dealt, especially if it's the sort of condition that is "invisible" - people can be really dickish when you don't look the part.