Shakesville: Save Me from Myself, Skinny Jesus Chef!

[curgoth]

Shakesville: Save Me from Myself, Skinny Jesus Chef! A takedown of the sizism and classism in Jamie Oliver's crusade to save Americans from bad food and being fat.

Comments

[insaint.livejournal.com]

I didn't know it was possible to knee-jerk that much, even on the internets.

[kettunainen.livejournal.com]

who's knee is jerking? yours? the Shakesville author? *confused*

[insaint.livejournal.com]

The author, in my opinion.

[the-nita.livejournal.com]

That makes two of us. Unfortunately, I can't read Shakesville for an overwhelming reaction of that far too often.

[crystal-diva.livejournal.com]

Frankly, this new movement of demonizing anyone who says "fat is bad and ultimately unhealthy" gets on my nerves. While I am sure it is somehow possible to be overweight and still fit and healthy, I personally believe it's the exception rather than the rule. YMMV, especially since my opinion in this particular area is wildly unpopular.

[the-nita.livejournal.com]

I'm overweight. I'm reasonably healthy. I don't feel offended or put upon when someone says that I would live longer and likely better if I lost weight. I also don't feel a burning need to do what the rest of the world tells me each time. What does bug me about this particular issue is the polarity of the assumption. Either you're a horrible meanie who thinks fat people are evil or you know that fat is good and great and no one should be a hater.

Ugh. I can't be bothered.

[olletho.livejournal.com]

For years I have been baffled by a tendency in American culture (and I do see it more strongly across the boarder, but we're no angels) to fall into polerizations. Either you are A or C, if you are not C then clearly you must be A.... and the more the issue (what ever it is) is talked about the less and less the idea that B might even exist seems to cross the mind of the masses.

[dendritejungle.livejournal.com]

THIS.

You don't agree with the treatments of Palestinians? You're an ANTI-SEMITE! You don't support a specific war? You not only don't SUPPORT OUR TROOPS but are ANTI-AMERICAN!

*headdesk*

[kettunainen.livejournal.com]

I agree, as well.

[kettunainen.livejournal.com]

which isn't to say that there aren't problems with the show/clip of the show. Yes, there is fat-shaming. But he's not talking about people who eat healthy and exercise AND who are still overweight/fat. He's talking about people who don't understand that a diet of pure processed foods will kill you -- people who are overweight BECAUSE of those processed foods.

Yes, there's more to it than just learning how to make better food choices -- there's time involved in making the food and not everyone has that time. But why isn't that mother of four (it's four, right?) getting her kids to help prepare food? It's not like they're all under the age of 7. Even then, a 5yo should be capable of chopping a carrot/cucumber to eat with some hummus. Or even putting some beans in some water to soak.

I've read a few really good posts from Shakesville. I don't consider this to be one of them.