Mark's Blog

I have recently started watching Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge. It’s just one of those random shows I found on Sky Anytime when I was bored one day. As I am no fan of the x factor the first I saw of the Chawner family was seeing the outrage at some of the comments they made during an ill advised interview with one of the newspapers. Now I think anyone who has ever been on benefits knows it’s not an easy life and it leaves little money for any extras so it’s no wonder they were saying they were close to the bread line as that’s what life is like on benefits.

These poor people and I mean this in both senses of the word have been pubically humiliated and bullied because there youngest daughter had the audacity to turn up to an x-factor audition and try to get something better out of life. Granted from the clips I saw she really should give up on the idea of being a professional singer maybe if Lorraine can actually help them to lose weight she will sound better.

What I cannot believe is the intimidation, threats and general nastiness towards these poor suffering people. Being obese isn’t easy and maybe it is self inflicted but these people are suffering because of their condition.  The daily abuse these people have to suffer is appalling and no doubt contributes to their condition. What these people need is the help and support of people around them rather than this unacceptable abuse they currently get. I just hope they get the help and support they really need from the TV program and aren’t just used to provide cheap entertainment and then discarded and stigmatized even more if they fail.

I really don’t understand why we feel we can bully, intimidate and abuse people who cause us no harm just because they are different to us. Why is it acceptable to judge other people and decide oh that person shouldn’t get any help because I don’t agree with their lifestyle choices. Should the public help fund and treat people who die because of other dangerous activities. Should motor cyclists, rock climbers, sailors or anyone who does any form of sport be told you can’t be treated because your problems are “self-inflicted”. This of course precludes any possibility that being obese is due to mental disease or genetics, when there is emerging evidence that this is true in many cases. I mean we could discuss the currently advised “healthy” diet and its part in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and many other conditions but that is another subject for another day.

I just want to say be nice to other people. What right do you have to judge them? Would you like them to judge you and treat you in a negative way only because they are different to you?

1. Highlander says:

   January 24, 2010 at 4:03 pm

   That’s a bit uncanny as I was thinking of doing a very similar post today (but not because of Lorraine Kelly) and I must confess I haven’t seen the program. Although I did see an interview with Lorraine Kelly where she said that parts of it would have you “screaming at the TV” – I am assuming because the ‘help and support’ offered to the family wasn’t the ‘quick fix the family maybe hoped it would be. So they remained stuck in their ways. I don’t know – perhaps you could clarify? And no, I don’t think the TV company are in it for the good of the family, they will be “used to provide cheap entertainment”. But then if they set themselves up to go on the telly……

   It’s a tricky one but I’m with you on the anti-judgemental/bullying vibe – you know that.
2. Jonkarra says:

   January 24, 2010 at 4:43 pm

   Well its still only part way through the series, 3rd episode in the coming week. The daughters seem to be making some progress but the adults not really. Like I said I just hope the family benefit out of cheap programming for the bio channel and Lorraine Kelly “raising her profile” as its called at work!
3. Highlander says:

   January 24, 2010 at 10:16 pm

   I s’pose the daughters maybe have more motivation and Lorraine had better watch out or “her head will be above the parapet” as it’s called at work!
4. Jonkarra says:

   January 25, 2010 at 12:42 am

   Well its easier to adapt when you are younger I guess. And as for Lorraine she wins either way. Either they stay fat for people to laugh at and to blame them or they slim down and all the hypocrites will claim they are glad for them etc.