What are "we" doing to our children in America?

[FergieTCat]

I see this thread has moved past the argument that all we need to do is convince millions of people, and many doctors specializing in bariatrics, that obesity could be cured if we simply exercised more and ate less. Why didn't anyone else think of that?

I had read that schools sell junk food because it's an extremely easy and profitable way for them to make money. Schools get lots of money from food manufacturers to push junk on an audience that doesn't know much better.

As for the ECV judgers, get a life. Why do you care that some fat people are riding around on an ECV? Does it support some need to inflate your ego?

 

[CEDmom]

Hey Chobie,

I cannot even believe what this thread has degenerated to.

Just because you want the schools to refrain from pushing utter JUNK on small children, all the sudden you are accused of being a parent who doesn't want to instill good eating habits in your own children????

The argument that schools should offer complete **** in the interest of teaching good eating habits is completely offensive and unbelievable!!!!!

If you're talking about me you're way off base. First off there's a difference between selling and pushing. Pushing is including a bag a chips with the daily lunch special. Having them for sale in the lunch line is not pushing them.

I do think if you want to have this change you need to band together with other like minded parents and petition the school to remove these items.

I also wanted to add that you're right schools do try to make money any way they can. The reality of the situation is that fed/state and local funding are not enough to keep things going. Unfortunately, to have things like playgrounds, class trips, special visitors require raising funds. I'm sure if anyone on this thread approached their school with a way to make money that didn't involving selling snacks and didn't require much effort they'd jump at it.

 

[Saffron]

I see this thread has moved past the argument that all we need to do is convince millions of people, and many doctors specializing in bariatrics, that obesity could be cured if we simply exercised more and ate less. Why didn't anyone else think of that?

I had read that schools sell junk food because it's an extremely easy and profitable way for them to make money. Schools get lots of money from food manufacturers to push junk on an audience that doesn't know much better.

As for the ECV judgers, get a life. Why do you care that some fat people are riding around on an ECV? Does it support some need to inflate your ego?

Funny post.

I never understood why anyone cared what other people do. I might be sad if I came home from a WDW vacation because I saw some violent behavior, something like that, but seeing fat people on ECV's wouldn't make me sad at all. I doubt I would remember seeing them, there are so many different people to see at WDW. We are interesting animals, that's for sure. I love to people watch, for all the joy in it, not for judging people. I even like those men in speedos, no matter what size bodies they have.

 

[chobie]

I see this thread has moved past the argument that all we need to do is convince millions of people, and many doctors specializing in bariatrics, that obesity could be cured if we simply exercised more and ate less. Why didn't anyone else think of that?

I had read that schools sell junk food because it's an extremely easy and profitable way for them to make money. Schools get lots of money from food manufacturers to push junk on an audience that doesn't know much better.

As for the ECV judgers, get a life. Why do you care that some fat people are riding around on an ECV? Does it support some need to inflate your ego?

Yes, its all about people inflating their egos. They can pat themselves on the back for being thin people with thin children and feel smugly superior for a few brief moments. All these people who think they are such good parents, I got news for you, if you are passing on your self-righteous, judgmental, condescending attitudes to your children then maybe you should rethink annoiting yourself parent of the year.

 

[WDWfan36]

Suscribing

 

[TimeforMe]

Yes, its all about people inflating their egos. They can pat themselves on the back for being thin people with thin children and feel smugly superior for a few brief moments. All these people who think they are such good parents, I got news for you, if you are passing on your self-righteous, judgmental, condescending attitudes to your children then maybe you should rethink annoiting yourself parent of the year.

Hi, OP here. I haven't posted much on this thread anymore because it seems to have taken on a life of its own. I also found that no matter what I said (or even didn't say) that people were choosing to react defensively so whatever....

I have no need whatsoever to inflate my ego. I'm not patting myself on the back for being thin because I am NOT thin. And yes, I do think I'm a good parent -- I'm sure you do, too. We all do the best we can given the tools we have as parents.

And Saffron, it is VERY sad to me to see OBESE (not just overweight) children that can barely walk to keep up, never mind run and play and participate in life rather than be a spectator. I do find that sad. And in my initial post I specifically mentioned that I know that not everyone that uses an ECV is lazy, but people here won't even admit that SOME do that. What I said was that in my observations, most people that were using them were overweight....what came first mobility issues or weight.

I posted several pages back some statistics on obese children/parents. I find it extremely interesting that not one person mentioned it. These are facts, not observations or suppositions or judgments.

I am interested to know why so many of you are so defensive. You can call me judgmental all you want. But read some of your own posts--they appear VERY judgmental to me.

 

[Becky2005]

I also wanted to add that you're right schools do try to make money any way they can. The reality of the situation is that fed/state and local funding are not enough to keep things going. Unfortunately, to have things like playgrounds, class trips, special visitors require raising funds. I'm sure if anyone on this thread approached their school with a way to make money that didn't involving selling snacks and didn't require much effort they'd jump at it.

Just with this particular note, they could do like our elementary school does. They flat out ask for money from the parents. The year before my DD went to Kindergarten they started their "unfundraiser" -- where they basically said we won't make you sell anything if you just give us some money. It's $30/child or $35/family (or close to that it might be slightly more) and if they make their goal, they won't have any other fundraiser (the letter says they reserve the right to add one if they don't make their goal.) It's all optional and so far every year they have made their goal, sometimes before school even starts. Beyond that, there is just market day, fun fair, scholastic and other things like that.

We don't have this issue in our school though because our school doesn't sell anything extra besides the regular hot lunch until you get into middle school here. They do have 4th grade fundraiser where they sell ice cream 1x week along with pencil erasers but that is specifically to offset the cost of outdoor ed. The kids are also only allowed to buy 1 (I think that has more to do with making sure they have enough for every class to have a turn & not run out more than restricting what the kids are eating...could be a little of both. I don't know it's run by the 4th grade parents every year.)

I just thought I would put the money idea out there. I love that our school just flat out asks for the money (which is where all the assemblies come from, special speakers, etc.. it all comes out of the PTO budget here.)

 

[MushyMushy]

I am interested to know why so many of you are so defensive. You can call me judgmental all you want. But read some of your own posts--they appear VERY judgmental to me.

Let's find some aspect of YOUR physical appearance that would be politically correct to tear apart and feel justified in making remarks about day after day after day after day. You think you might get a tad bit defensive?

 

[TimeforMe]

Let's find some aspect of YOUR physical appearance that would be politically correct to tear apart and feel justified in making remarks about day after day after day after day. You think you might get a tad bit defensive?

Ahhhh, OK. So it became personal for you. That explains the defensiveness. Why not just come out and say that then. And if there was something about my physical appearance that made me unhappy then I would change it.

P.S. For the record, I wasn't speaking of anyone's physical appearance, per se. Just the fact that unhealthy diet/lack of exercise seems to be reaching epidemic proportions and reaching our children now. Sorry you took it so personally.

 

[Saffron]

What you did OP was combine several topics in your original post and people have chosen to take from it what they want, as they do with any posts. For me, it made me wonder how anyone could have a fabulous vacation, yet post about some fat people they saw on ECVs, and consider them to be lazy, without any knowledge of any such thing.

How is it exactly that you knew that anyone using an ECV while you were in WDW was lazy? And how is it that any of us would know why anyone uses ECV's to get around WDW? I for one don't know anyone who uses an ECV at WDW, so I can't make any such comment. I don't *just know* things, I don't pre-judge people like that. You might, and you might think it's a common thing for others to do, but I don't. Like I said, I don't remember who I saw at WDW on an ECV, I couldn't tell you the first thing about them. I only watch people because I find them interesting and because I love to see the joy that seems to exude from people while they're at WDW. I could care less what anyone looks like, it doesn't stay with me or make me sad.

Then you went on to talk about childhood obesity. I have no interest in the childhood obesity debate inside a thread about fat or "overweight" or "obese" lazy people on ECV's. If this was truly a thread about childhood obesity, then why the discussion about the fat lazy people at WDW on ECV's? Why not just discuss childhood obesity?

I do believe, however, by the sheer number of overweight people (kids, too) in these things that they are just too darn lazy to walk.

I'm not defensive, I just find your OP judgemental. You may find my posts judgemental. So be it.

As an aside, I do remember one elderly man, butting in front of the marching band on the way to the flag lowering ceremony at the MK, doing a high step march in front of the band, pretending to be the conductor. I thought it was cute and very Disney-like, other people were outraged.

 

[TimeforMe]

As an aside, I do remember one elderly man, butting in front of the marching band on the way to the flag lowering ceremony at the MK, doing a high step march in front of the band, pretending to be the conductor. I thought it was cute and very Disney-like, other people were outraged.

OK---so as long as we go under the guise as being non-judgmental, we can say anything we want about anyone.

You're right. I don't know these people. But I know what I saw and you don't. And I know how many I saw and you don't. I'm making a judgment based on what I observed. You don't do those kinds of things--yeah for you.

The truth is that childhood obesity is directly linked to adult obesity. Now one can say I'm not overweight, but my kids are or vice versa. That's not what I mean. Although it could mean that. Most obese children grow up to be obese adults and it's getting worse. Children are way more inactive than they were years ago--not blaming parents--just stating a fact. It IS the parents job, however, to try to guide them to a more healthy lifestyle.

And for someone who has no interest, Saffron, you've had a lot to say.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Ya know, I've been seeing this title on Pg 1 for 5 days now. Wandering in to see if its anything worth reading. 26 pages.

Anyone? Is this one worth reading or not?

 

[goofy's friends]

Then you went on to talk about childhood obesity. I have no interest in the childhood obesity debate inside a thread about fat or "overweight" or "obese" lazy people on ECV's. If this was truly a thread about childhood obesity, then why the discussion about the fat lazy people at WDW on ECV's? Why not just discuss childhood obesity?

See, I read it opposite of what you did. I read it as being about childhood obesity with a mention of the ECVs. I agree that a judgement shouldn't have been made about the reasons people are using them, but I just thought it was what got her to pondering the bigger problem.
I had no interest in discussing the ECVs, which is why I didn't, but the chilhood obesity issue is of importance and worthy of discussion.

 

[MushyMushy]

Ahhhh, OK. So it became personal for you. That explains the defensiveness. Why not just come out and say that then. And if there was something about my physical appearance that made me unhappy then I would change it.

P.S. For the record, I wasn't speaking of anyone's physical appearance, per se. Just the fact that unhealthy diet/lack of exercise seems to be reaching epidemic proportions and reaching our children now. Sorry you took it so personally.

No, my physical appearance doesn't make me unhappy. What makes me unhappy is the absolute shallowness and rudeness that obese people have to face on a daily basis.

People have said again and again on this thread that one doesn't have to be obese to have an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise, but nobody really cares about that in the long run. What it boils down to is that fat people offend certain people in some profound way, and they have to come up with all kinds of "acceptable" excuses to express their disgust.

 

[CEDmom]

Yes, its all about people inflating their egos. They can pat themselves on the back for being thin people with thin children and feel smugly superior for a few brief moments. All these people who think they are such good parents, I got news for you, if you are passing on your self-righteous, judgmental, condescending attitudes to your children then maybe you should rethink annoiting yourself parent of the year.

I think I'm a good parent but that doesn't mean I don't question myself everyday nor do I think I could in any way be parent of the year. We all just do the best we can and what we believe is best for our children.

All I can say about any of the topics on this thread is that if you're not happy about something then go change it instead of just complaining about it.

 

[RNMOM]

Goodness this thing keeps on going and going.

I don't have time to read back all the pages I have missed but just want to add, a scooter costs $30.00 per day to rent. Does anyone think families of fat people have that kinda cash to spend so their obese kids can ride one? Not to mention, there are a limited number to rent and getting one can be very difficult. If they rented off site, how would the have room in their hotel room to store and charge them overnight? It is difficult to find room for one and I usually have to rearrange the furniture a bit.

Resume discussion.....

 

[Kendra17]

Ya know, I've been seeing this title on Pg 1 for 5 days now. Wandering in to see if its anything worth reading. 26 pages.

Anyone? Is this one worth reading or not?

Hi. I think there's a lot of interesting posts on here. Some interesting opinions, a lot of defensiveness, that kind of thing.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Hi. I think there's a lot of interesting posts on here. Some interesting opinions, a lot of defensiveness, that kind of thing.

Thanks, I'll give it a try then. Let's see how far I get. Doesn't sound like light reading, huh.

 

[MushyMushy]

Goodness this thing keeps on going and going.

I don't have time to read back all the pages I have missed but just want to add, a scooter costs $30.00 per day to rent. Does anyone think families of fat people have that kinda cash to spend so their obese kids can ride one? Not to mention, there are a limited number to rent and getting one can be very difficult. If they rented off site, how would the have room in their hotel room to store and charge them overnight? It is difficult to find room for one and I usually have to rearrange the furniture a bit.

Resume discussion.....

It's just so much easier for some people to ASSume that fat people want to take the easy or lazy way out.

Ever since Polish jokes went out of style, fat people became the new target.

 

[GoofyDad869]

It's just so much easier for some people to ASSume that fat people want to take the easy or lazy way out.

Ever since Polish jokes went out of style, fat people became the new target.

(Joking)
It's just so much easier to paint that target on their "ASSumes" than skinny peoples'...

(/Joking)