My own sense of this is that the fat acceptance movement focuses on the notion that people aren't fat by choice. As it happens, I think that's generally right--people are or get fat for all kinds of reasons, not just the way we do. In fact, more of my fat comes from trying really hard NOT to be fat than the # of pounds that are intentional.

But they're running the line that they can't be blamed for anything, so people should accept them as they are--after all, it's not their fault.

Seems to me--and I say this knowing full well it will make some people angry--that is the exact same logic LGBT folk use when they insist that their sexuality is genetic. It may well be, and I'm totally sure fat is on some people, But the problem is, the second you insist that your identity is genetic, you have to disavow anyone who joins your ranks by choice. I think that's the main reason the size acceptance folks are so nasty about us.

Amanda, aka That Reese's Girl, just posted the original Fat Liberation Manifesto from 1973 in honour of the passing of Judy Freespirit, one of it's authors. Go read it, all--it's not to be missed:

feedeeworld.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/fat-liberation-manifesto/

Thanks, Amanda.

Yeah, that IS really, really creepy. But it doesn't set the tone of the whole site, though in years past it had a real effect on the overall vibe. But my sense is that's no longer the case.

I was just in a church today, for the first time in ages. It was empty--my choir was rehearsing in a different room, but I went through the church itself to the toilets. And I got a strong flash of church from my younger years, an orthodox church with a lot of incense, oriental rugs, and flash robes. Visually, aurally, tactilely, olfactorily (what a miserable world), it all came back like a quick slam, and was gone again nearly as quickly.

Great. Both Paul Campos' The Obesity Myth and Glen Gaesser's Big, Fat Lies are well worth reading. I don't remember who else they cite. You might also like to have a look at Jon Robison's page on Health At Every Size, or HAES: www.jonrobison.net/size.html, and Linda Bacon's book, Health at Every Size.

For pure fun and a lot of much-needed sass, there's Marilyn Wann's
Fat!So?It is its own little manifesto!

There's lots more. But that's a pretty hefty start...enjoy it!

lol. I'm curious too. I hadn't read this thread originally, though I had read a prior one. I'm really curious about this game.

One thing, in case the game maker is around and reading: please please please change your mind about the 'Ignorant' thing. There is so much bad press about us--the possibility to make her ignorant just reinforces every bad stereotype!

I agree with what a lot of people have said. I really do think all people are beautiful, or at least can be if they are clean and acceptably dressed. (Can't be doing with dirty and smelly and ratty, unless you have no access to water and soap.)

But I want to say something else. It's dangerous to measure yourself and your appeal by your success in online dating. For example, I've never been unsuccessful in dating terms, and while I've been insecure and uncertain just like everyone else, I've almost always had enough attention to be perfectly happy. At the moment, I'm not succeeding online--partly due to the fact that I have high standards, which seems to me like a good idea, and partly because luck is like that. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way.

Just remember, everytime you walk into a crowded room, someone in there thinks you're beautiful. So stand a bit straighter, and smile a bit, and play to your audience. You have nothing to feel insecure about.

1. On legislation

(OK, it's important here for me to point out first that I lived and worked in the US all my life, until 5 years ago.)

This has never been true. What affirmative action did--and it was the ONLY legislation on diversity issues that had an active component--was to say the following:
If you have two equally qualified candidates,
and if Candidate A is from a group that is covered by Affirmative Action legislation,
and if Candidate B is not,
then Candidate A should get the job.

The point of the legislation was to combat unconscious tendencies to hire people who seem more familiar to you than the ones who aren't. No programs ever chose unqualified or less qualified people.

2. On Confidence

As for Sethman and others' points about confidence, I'm totally with you. But how do you encourage confidence in a society and culture that hates you? This is a perennial question--does change first come from within or from the context? (Or, as Alabama 3 quoted Mao as saying, 'from the barrel of a gun'?)

How do we all get confident if we grow up in families and schools and medical systems that tell us we're ugly and lazy?