Slashdot Mirror
Obese Have Right To Two Airline Seats
The Supreme Court of Canada decided to not hear an appeal from Canadian airlines on Thursday, effectively ruling obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one. The Canadian Transportation Agency had made a decision earlier that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare. The appeal had been launched by Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet. Now they just have to work on more leg room for tall, fat people and complimentary pie.
You know, I never thought I would comment on an idle story but this just pisses me off. I'm 6'5", does this mean that I'm entitled to always sit in the emergency exit row where there is more leg room, or 2 seats so I can stretch out? Does this mean I'm functionally disabled by my height? Not only that, I was born with this 'affliction', and as much as people may say the are pre-disposed to obesity, If you ass is too big to fit in a single seat it is your own damned fault. I would guarantee my metabolism is slower than most (I can easily put on 10lbs of real weight in a week), which is why I eat healthy and exercise 3-4 times a week.
/flame
Don't give me this functionally disabled by obesity bullshit. Put down the god damned jelly doughnut and the cheetos and go for a walk for fucks sake.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
So not only will be have to deal with the 'spill over' into our seat space from our obese friends - we also effectively have to pay extra because they're on the flight? There's only one place the airline will recoup the loss of the extra seat, and that's on everyones fare price. I wonder if this will hit american airlines harder than others *giggle* One might even say it's a heavy burden...
You see, all of that makes perfect sense, which is why it will never be implemented.
Having said that, obesity is being treated way too nicely indeed. It's some people's problem alright, but the second law of thermodynamics is the second law of thermodynamics.
If we keep tip-toeing around the question, and we're gonna be all politically correct about it, we're never gonna get anywhere.
Why is it that a homosexual who attracts the AIDS virus can get condemned in many countries, but a fat man / woman can't be chastised for not taking care of themselves?
Why can a smoker be told to quit smoking or else, while fat people get treated with velvet gloves, as we say?
Having said all that: Obesity, in some cases cannot be helped. But in other cases it can be. I would argue that the great majority of obese people I've known simply lacked the knowledge or self-discipline to do something about it.
If I see the mother of a fat kid in the UK looking at a leaf of Basil and exclaiming "But who on earth could eat that? It's GREEN!", you have the cause for the kid's obesity nailed down right there.
Eat in moderate amounts. Fresh stuff. Mostly plants. Move your ass regularly.
There.
And no, I don't particularly feel like paying through the nose for other people's problems either. Just like my mother raised me not to become a burden to others.
Well it's not a surprise that people react to this. Simple maths will tell you that because of people being obese, YOU have to pay for that extra seat with higher ticket prices. Airline business is very competative and as a side note, to those of you complaining for more space, you fly cheap, you sit cheap, simple as that. Now to my point. Truth is: given that obesity is now considered a handicap it is however not irreversable. Thus through whatever actions (walking, running, operation, what the fuck ever) there are solutions for reversing the damage. If your legs are fucked, I will step aside when you roll by to give you space, this is common sense (given that I may at any point loose the function of my legs as well). But if you're just plain fat and haven't solved this clearly irreversable issue as stated above, YOU will step aside for I will never be in that situation. It's an insurance. Everyone has a chance of loosing their legs in an accident, however not all of us are lazy, and yes, some of us have better metabolism but it DOES NOT give you the right to be passive and then claim that everybody else should adapt. Nobody wants to be fat, this is given, and of course I feel sorry for those that are in extreme situations as illustrated above. However it's a matter of giving up. If you give up on yourself, don't expect anyone to do anything different.
Human nature: don't spend energy unless necessary. Paradox: unless necessary, you will stay fat and miserable. Period.
I am the lawn!
Get a clue you ignorant git!
Most suffers have become
Put another way, most sufferers
It happened to a close friend of mine
I actually have a family member who "has" it (although I love them, I hate the fact they take advantage of something like this, and try telling me to get a job/work - which I did get), and I am still biased towards it. They won't talk about it, unless its used as an excuse NOT to do something. It's is hard to diagnose (taken from the link) meaning it can be abused.
Regardless of "most", or your relations with someone who has it, it is still being abused like the occasional obese person who abuses their 'disability'. Most people like to pretend their lives are "worse" than anyone elses. Sometimes they wish to go as far as a 'legal' way of defining how bad it is, so they can get sympathy and excuses.
Notice, how most people who are actually disabled: DON'T want sympathy? I have seen disabled people who could legally not have to get a job, but still go to work because they want to be normal (and respected, which they are).
Disclaimer: I am not god.
We may not be created equal
But we can be treated equal.