It was the fastest growing subreddit outside of the defaults, and by far the most active. Turns out there's a large contingent of people who seem to hate fat people, at least that's how it seems anyway
I'm speculating but it seems like an easy outlet for that "being offensive for its own sake" mindset you see sometimes in kids and young adults. I think it's part of growing up... It just happens that the Internet allows people to focus and concentrate that negative energy.
While that's likely part of it, that's not the entirety of things.
To be fair, I would wager that fatpeoplehate had its share of trolls, but I would definitely believe that the vast majority of its denizens were former fat people, and very frustrated at the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Frustration leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. You know the rest.
I speak here from some experience. Several members of my family are morbidly obese, with BMIs well north of 45.
For the average person, obesity starts at a BMI of 30.
More than a third of the population of the United States qualifies as obese. Obesity-related diseases are the leading cause of death, and the problem is getting worse.
There are growing social movements that promote obesity as a way of life. This is simply insane. Nobody would promote anorexia as positive, or smoking, or heroin.
Now, this would all be completely fine if it only impacted those that choose this lifestyle, but the problem impacts all of us, in the form of higher medical costs, greater danger for service personnel, and in the cost of infrastructure changes required to support the obese.
Every holiday, I got to watch as some of the people I grew up with eat themselves into an early grave. To listen to them complain about their latest weight-related medical problem. To hear them make excuses and blame other people as to why they are sick.
And then these same people would insult my spouse and I, because we control our diets and exercise regularly.
I do not want to live in a society where this is accepted or encouraged.
While I don't think that mocking fat people will solve the problem, I can understand how that particular community could grow so fast.
>There are growing social movements that promote obesity as a way of life. This is simply insane. Nobody would promote anorexia as positive, or smoking, or heroin.
I think FPH got created as a counter culture to these movements.
>I do not want to live in a society where this is accepted or encouraged.
While I don't think that mocking fat people will solve the problem, I can understand how that particular community could grow so fast.
I agree.
Rather than focusing on education and knowledge they resorted to insults and mockery.
"Rather than focusing on education and knowledge they resorted to insults and mockery."
I just wanted to point how that comedy is as if not more effective than education.
Education through comedy is even more-so. This is likely a healthier outlet than what they
could be doing (given mockery was their first choice of action). Possibly the most peaceful option for this type of community... Is vandalism, assault or other crimes now
further up on the to-do list? I suppose we might find out now since censorship has created the opportunity.
And so that justifies using verbal assaults on people with obesity? You realize that in terms of treatment for obesity having something call you a hambeast or worse isn't exactly encouraging. In fact, studies have shown this just makes a person eat more (thus get fatter). So, if you think the tough love nonsense works, then think again.
> I'm speculating but it seems like an easy outlet for that "being offensive for its own sake" mindset you see sometimes in kids and young adults
Possibly, though theres /r/imgoingtohellforthis that literally aims for that exact "use-case", so whether FPH is the outlet for it I'm not sure? It's definitely possible though.
I think it stems from the fact that obesity is a real problem, it takes decades from peoples lives and is costing us trillions of dollars. And, for the most part, it's a lifestyle induced disease. Yet there are still a lot of misconceptions.
People need help, they need knowledge. They don't need people being plain mean and ignorant.
It was the fastest growing subreddit outside of the defaults, and by far the most active. Turns out there's a large contingent of people who seem to hate fat people, at least that's how it seems anyway