Ugh

[mickeym]

MTV to debut plus-size reality star.

Ordinarily, I would think "gah, another reality show? Really?" and move along. Especially since it's MTV, and they seem to cater more to the generation behind me (and because the majority of reality shows annoy the ever-lovin' hell out of me).

But the thing that caught my eye and is really pissing me off, is the fact that they made this big deal out of the young woman's weight.

There’s a new MTV starlet in town, but this isn't just another Lauren Conrad.

The network will debut a new reality series in October, and while it features a familiar premise – girl moves to a big city to pursue fashion – newcomer Chelsea Settles is not only battling the transition, but also her weight. She weighs 324 lbs.

Why does it matter that she's plus-sized? But more importantly, wouldn't it have been sufficient just to say something like, struggling with weight issues. The number didn't need to be given, and I'm kind of horrified on this young lady's behalf.

ETA: Aaaaand I made the mistake of reading some of the comments, and now would like to go smash a whole bunch of idiots' heads.

I particularly love the ones where the tone (and/or words) are thus: "all you have to do is NOT EAT, no one's making you, you just need willpower".

Yes. I see that, now. *headdesk*

Comments

[embroiderama]

*determined to avoid the comments* I clicked through just to see her picture, and damn--she's gorgeous. I think it could be good to have more diversity in the world of MTV reality shows, but it all depends on how they play it.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Yes, for the sake of your sanity and blood pressure, ignore/avoid the comments.

She is absolutely *gorgeous*, yes, and if it's handled well (here's me not holding my breath, but whatever) so much the better. I just hate that they're making a big deal about her size, when the focus of the show seems to be her dealing with all these changes and not JUST her size.

[gooferdusty.livejournal.com]

To be honest i'm not surprised by peoples attitude towards this girl. These genius's who suggest she just not eat have probably never had an issue with their weight or their relationship to food in their whole lives. I would suggest the majority of them are speaking from a point of view coloured by ignorance. Would they walk up to an alcoholic and say all you have to do is not drink? or a drug addict and say 'hey, how about you just don't take drugs? No probably not because those forms of addiction are more widely understood and dare I say it accepted by the media. I wont bother to watch this show as I know the slant the programme will have. The girl will be portrayed as if her weight defines her and everything else in her life will come a poor second to that fact. Mind you i'm not surprised, this is the channel that promotes women as little more than things to be demeaned and objectified in countless by the numbers videos by the current rapper of the week.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Not to mention, if you have a different addiction -- drugs, smoking, drinking, whatever -- you can quit it and never have to have anything to do with it again. Whereas, with food? Still gotta eat to maintain the body. Doesn't diminish how hard it is to deal with any addiction, but I think if you have to quit something, it's probably at least slightly easier if you can truly quit it.

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

ooh, i loathe reality shows, but she's breathtaking!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Me too, and she is :)

I like to watch shows on Animal Planet, or the History Channel, or even things like Forensic Files, or Mystery Diagnosis. But I cannot deal with things like "Big Brother", or "Survivor", or things like that. UGH.

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

behold my ... snobbery? i think of shows like animal planet, history channel, etc., as edutainment, not as reality shows. to me reality shows have no educational value -- no history, no science, just a quest for ratings and turning people into objects of pity, admiration, or a combo -- with a big dose of saying "hey, look how stupid, weird, crazy, freaky these people are!"

(gah, sorry about the repeat edits; first i lost my thought half way thru, then i saw a spelling mistake)

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

Response to idiots: "All you have to do is have some empathy. All it takes is a few brain cells."

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but getting them to understand that...would probably be about as easy as getting them to understand that sometimes it's NOT just 'that easy'. *g*

We'll just have to hope they're not reproducing, yeah?

[kkscatnip.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, what a gorgeous woman. *_*

I... okay, I am struggling with my weight myself, and I don't care about telling people the numbers, but at the same time you can hear in the trailer how she is NOT comfortable revealing that.

I like that they're making a star out of her, because she is beautiful and deserves to be famous, but I hate that they're shaming her over her weight to do it. :|

(And I am studiously avoiding reading any comments on the news and trailer post and whatnot, because then I'll just rage and I really don't feel like raging!)

[nopseud]

I like that they're making a star out of her, because she is beautiful and deserves to be famous, but I hate that they're shaming her over her weight to do it. :|

They aren't making a star of her, though. They're putting her on show in a tent, with 'World's Fattest Fashionista!' on the board outside. Reality TV can dress itself up however it likes, but at heart it's all about the freak show.

[kkscatnip.livejournal.com]

Point. =_=

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I would give my eye teeth (and possibly my eyes!) to look like her.

But I do not believe any woman (anyBODY, but women in particular) should ever have to reveal her weight.

I don't mind giving my numbers (though I prefer to have a choice who I give them to), but I sure wouldn't want to go on national TV and do it.

[kitanabychoice.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to bet money that the reason they actually posted her numerical weight is because without it, people wouldn't be able to accurately guess it and would possibly have "mixed feelings" about whether she's "truly fat or not."

The reason why I say that is because I've gotten people who are like "you're not fat, I bet you don't even weigh [X amount]", when I actually weigh usually around 70 lbs more than they think I do. It's easier, I think, for people to "see fat" when a number is attached.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

And the unfortunate thing is that it's all relative. People can be athletic and muscular, and have a low body fat measurement...and still have a high BMI. And weight? The same 150lbs on different body types, different heights, etc., might as well BE different weights.

As a society, we rely too much on those numbers, I think. All of them.

[fufaraw]

I'm still gaining weight. Those people are morons.

You? I like you, you can stay. The rest of them? Off the planet.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

It's really too bad, isn't it, that we can't vote the morons off the 'island'. Or TO an island. Clear out NYC and send 'em all there ;)