Obese Surgeon General Good or bad?

[Flyndaran]

And everyone knows thin people never die suddenly.

They die suddenly less often than the morbidly obese do from diabetes, heart disease, etc.
Making fun of the morbidly obese is that same as making fun of being ugly, or stupid. Just, because it isn't entirely their fault doesn't protect them from jokes.
Sorry if this offends you. But humor always offends someone. As a fellow fatty, I nevertheless laugh at most funny jokes.

[Boozy]

Would you really accept advice on how to get out of the house and socialize from me? It would be hypocritical, and who likes hypocrits?

Maybe not, but that's a bit different. Socializing is a soft skill that requires experience to learn. People who don't socialize aren't experts on socializing. But the dangers of smoking are not subjective. They are quantifiable and based on scientific research. So if a chain-smoking doctor gave me information on the dangers of smoking based on his knowledge of that research, then yes, I would listen to his advice.

[Flyndaran]

...So if a chain-smoking doctor gave me information on the dangers of smoking based on his knowledge of that research, then yes, I would listen to his advice.

I would see his advice to quit as rude if he continued to smoke. I would, if I were in his place, feel a bit hipocritical.

[BroomJockey]

I would see his advice to quit as rude if he continued to smoke.

Why? He's made a more informed choice than many smokers would have. A doctor would know better than most the risks of smoking, and the most effective ways to quit. I'd have thought you'd be all over for a doctor making his own choice in spite of the "socially conscious" thing to do - individual rights and all.

[Flyndaran]

Why? He's made a more informed choice than many smokers would have. A doctor would know better than most the risks of smoking, and the most effective ways to quit. I'd have thought you'd be all over for a doctor making his own choice in spite of the "socially conscious" thing to do - individual rights and all.

I do accept his right to choose to smoke. I just wouldn't accept his likely justifications for why he continues to smoke.
Telling others to "Do as I say, not as I do." is inherently hypocritical. Are you saying that being a hypocrit is sometimes ok?
Am I really being overly strict in thinking that hypocracies are always bad?
It's hard enough for a doctor to earn the respect of patients without having to also overcome their hypocracy.

[Boozy]

I think we're talking about different things. I assumed that in your example, Dr. Hypothetical was simply providing me with information about smoking and my health, and then allowing me to make my own decision. But now I see you're talking about Dr. Hypothetical judgmentally telling me to quit. That I would have a problem with.

[Flyndaran]

I think we're talking about different things. I assumed that in your example, Dr. Hypothetical was simply providing me with information about smoking and my health, and then allowing me to make my own decision. But now I see you're talking about Dr. Hypothetical judgmentally telling me to quit. That I would have a problem with.

Okay, then we're in agreement.

[BroomJockey]

Telling others to "Do as I say, not as I do." is inherently hypocritical.

No it isn't. Not even close. That's the least accurate blanket-statement I've heard this month. I can disprove it with one example, but I'll give ya TWO for the price of one. One off topic, one on.

Off-topic: Man is trained killer from days in army. Army is all he knows. But he has kids. Kids get older. Kids see dad doing awesome violent fighting stuff. Dad tells kids to always try talking first, and retreat if it can't be resolved through diplomacy. Dad's saying "Do as I say, not as I do" because he worries for his children's safety.

On-topic: Doctor smokes. Doctor has smoked for 40 years. Doctor knows studies, issues, risks, everything. Doctor keeps smoking. Patient knows doctor smokes, and also smokes. Patient has smoked for 2 months, and is now pregnant. Doctor advises patient to stop smoking for health of child. Do as I say, not as I do. Doctor is advising based on risk to foetus, as well as health of patient. Doctor never smoked around children. He's saying "stop smoking" but the message is "for the child."

"Do as I say, not as I do" is only hypocritical if you consider the surface message, and just that.

[Boozy]

Broom, your examples add factors not in the previous argument.

There's a difference between someone saying "Don't smoke" and "Don't smoke because you'll harm others." Dr. Hypothetical is (presumably) not pregnant him/herself.

[Flyndaran]

No it isn't. Not even close. That's the least accurate blanket-statement I've heard this month. I can disprove it with one example, but I'll give ya TWO for the price of one. One off topic, one on.

Off-topic: Man is trained killer from days in army. Army is all he knows. But he has kids. Kids get older. Kids see dad doing awesome violent fighting stuff. Dad tells kids to always try talking first, and retreat if it can't be resolved through diplomacy. Dad's saying "Do as I say, not as I do" because he worries for his children's safety.

....

The first is only hypocritical if the father demands that his kids don't do what he does WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS which is what he is.

[IDrinkaRum]

Kevin James makes himself the butt of jokes too often to do it for him. Kirstie Alley is different because she used to be a major hottie. Rapid ballooning is always up for joking about. Also the really really huge men tend to do too often to make fun of.... John Candy, Jim Belushi, Chris Farley, etc. Who wants a monologue to premiere right as your punchline guy drops dead from a massive heart attack?

For the record, only John Candy died of heart issues that were related to his weight.

John Belushi and Chris Farley died of drug overdoses. Neither died from health issues due to their weight.

As for rapid ballooning of weight, the tabloids should be more worried about Ms. Alley's health and the reasons behind her weight gain, and not the obnoxious bashing they are famous for.

[BroomJockey]

Broom, your examples add factors not in the previous argument.

The argument as it stood had no details. I was specifically addressing the statement that "Do as I say, not as I do" is inherently hypocritical. For that, you kinda NEED details. After all, calling something hypocritical without knowing the situation is a douchey manoeuvre.


And Flyn, no, because he instills it in them as kids so that it carries over to adulthood. So he starts at childhood, then continues after they've grown. Still not "inherently hypocritical."

[Flyndaran]

For the record, only John Candy died of heart issues that were related to his weight.

John Belushi and Chris Farley died of drug overdoses. Neither died from health issues due to their weight.

As for rapid ballooning of weight, the tabloids should be more worried about Ms. Alley's health and the reasons behind her weight gain, and not the obnoxious bashing they are famous for.

Sure thier weight wasn't a factor? Either way, alot of morbidly obese people die from weight related issues all the time.

But tabloids should only worry about sales as they are businesses and not charities. Those personally involved in her life should deal with her problems.
Being in the limelight isn't all fun and games.

...
And Flyn, no, because he instills it in them as kids so that it carries over to adulthood. So he starts at childhood, then continues after they've grown. Still not "inherently hypocritical."

Actually if he wants them to be different when he doesn't stop his own behavior is hypocritical. Either his behavior is bad and he should stop it, or it isn't and he shouldn't stop his kids as adults from doing it.

[BroomJockey]

Actually if he wants them to be different when he doesn't stop his own behavior is hypocritical.

Again, only if you look at the surface issue. It's a case of intent and background. He may see it as it was a moral imperative that he was in the army, but things have changed. He can't leave the army, since he can't really do anything else. However, he wants his kids to do something else, since the army - to him - isn't what it once was. Not hypocritical. Your blanket statement just does not work.

[Flyndaran]

Again, only if you look at the surface issue. It's a case of intent and background. He may see it as it was a moral imperative that he was in the army, but things have changed. He can't leave the army, since he can't really do anything else. However, he wants his kids to do something else, since the army - to him - isn't what it once was. Not hypocritical. Your blanket statement just does not work.

Either he agree with his military stance or he doesn't. You seem to be waffling just to stay contrary to my argument.
I guess it's better if we quit before we get aggressive.