Possibly the most dangerous question since “Does this make my butt look big?”
Is fatness ugly? This is a question that seems destined to become increasingly significant, controversial and touchy in the future, as more and more Americans cross the threshold from lean and trim to not even close. Indeed, it has already generated some heat for an international dating site which in all seriousness calls itself BeautifulPeople.com, and which recently booted some five thousand of its members out into the virtual street for having “let themselves go” weight-wise over the holidays.
The bootees had evidently posted updated photos showing their current, newly expanded selves, and had been voted off the BeatifulPeople island (whether by ballot or committee or other mechanism is not clear). In any case, the founder of the organization, Robert Hintze, minced no words.
“(O)ur members demand that the high standard of beauty be upheld,” he said. “Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded.”
Evidently, the concept he’s promoting is that “beauty” is properly defined by those who consider themselves singularly attractive and belong to a club made of people more or less like them. Think “sorority,” but with even more vanity and snottiness. BeautifulPeople.com claims to have around 550,000 members in some 16 nations worldwide, and the rest of us can probably be deeply thankful that they have found each other.
Frankly, we’re surprised nobody’s given him a fat lip
On the one hand, at a time when various “fat acceptance” organizations are becoming increasingly active and vocal, it’s surprising that Hintze’s comment have sparked little, if any, expression of outrage from the defenders of girth. On the other hand, they may simply regard BeautifulPeople.com as too preposterous and irrelevant to take seriously.
Nevertheless, and just in case you’re curious, it may be worth noting that the United States led all pudgy evictees with 1,520, followed by runners-up the UK at 832, and Canada at 533.
For some reason, the entire inane affair calls to mind Groucho Marx’s timelessly sage observation, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”
(By Robert S. Wieder for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)
“Beautiful People” club turns ugly, expels thousands of members for gaining weight