The affair of Kevin Smith v. Southwest Airlines et al appears a little less resolved than I believed. If you read Smith's post, which is terribly long, but informative, you will see that, contrary to most of the media reports on the issue, Smith's issue with the company is purely a customer service issue-it's not so much that the decision was made, but much more that it was done so poorly-without regard for their policy and without regard for human decency.
I'm a big dude. I make no secret of that, and anyone who has seen me face to face can confirm this fact. I could stand to lose 50 pounds, lets say, and 100 wouldn't kill me, I don't think. I weigh less than Shaq, but then again, I'm not 7 feet tall either.
Smith has gotten some unfriendly advice and comments about this affair, mostly along the lines of, "Hit the treadmill, Fatty!" This is entirely beside the point and needlessly cruel. Fat people know they are fat. Given the choice, there is not a single fat person who would forgo thinness. Similar to homosexuality, given the many disavantages, what rational person would possibly want to choose it?
Dissimilar to homosexuality, there is a element of human choice in weight problems. There is a psychological element, a social element, a behavioral element-like all human behavior, it is multifaceted. I know I could lose weight, I know I should lose weight, I know how to lose weight, I know bad things will happen if I don't lose weight. And I don't lose weight.
People like my brother will say, "Well, you just eat less." Which is, technically, true.
But it is also true that it is possible for a major league player to hit 96 home runs in a major league season. Lots of things are true. But all that the fact that YOU did something proves is that YOU can do it. You're not me-you don't have my collection of neuroses and beliefs and insecurities and wants.
I guess what I want, and what Smith wants, is for Southwest, and society, to acknowledge my humanity. Even though I'm a big guy, I'm still a person.
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