Thursday, June 16
Jun. 16th, 2022 11:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
Pleasant weather.
I spent most of the afternoon mowing. The grass was pretty tall, as I hadn't mowed much before the rain because it was so dry, then it rained, then I had to wait a day or so to let it dry out.
I was irritated by a post made by a friend. She is sometimes kind of critical about "kids these days". Sometimes she posts about how they are all going to be zombies because of their phones, or they are all losing the ability to talk to other people, or they are all weak, or too sensitive. Today it was that people today are all too fat.
My feeling is, of course most of us are overweight now. Of course kids are more likely to be overweight. Our lives are a thousand times easier than that of our grand parents. We generally have enough food, more than likely too much food.
The undercurrent is naturally "you lazy bastards, go for a walk and quit eating crap". Yes, that's the easy answer.
I wrote a bit of an essay for her, about the more real answer (I feel). The industrialists wanted us all to be consumers of products so they could be wealthy. So, they made what they thought we would buy. Things that would make life easier. Cars, telephones, washing machines, then tools to make every job simpler. Electricity. On and on, to make things simpler and easier.
Of course, that chained us to working to pay for our conveniences, and then our jobs changed too, from being farmers and people who worked with our hands, to mostly people who sold this stuff, or desk jobs. Those industrialists made sure that almost no one could make a living building furniture or sewing clothing. Now everyone had to work for a big company, and do one unskilled job like putting in a rivet in one spot on a car chassis.
THEN, the capitalists had to come up with things we didn't need, but made sure it would be things we would WANT. Television, music, clothes that would be out of style every year or so, things that were TRENDY. Then computers, then cell phones, then a sinkhole of attention-grabbing distractions. They wanted more money, so they had to create things we wanted...
and now people are giving us shit for wanting the things we have been groomed to want our whole lives.
We have been advertised at since we were born, targeted with precision to want these foods, these clothes, these houses and cars. So, we are told to go to school and train for a good desk job so we can buy these things. Then we buy them, and spend our leisure time sitting around watching things or playing with our phones, eating the food we were groomed to want that is chemically engineered to light up our brains like crack, and they criticize us for being exactly what they wanted us to be?
Then they started farming on an industrial level too, and kicked everyone off of their small farms that couldn't compete and left us without the means to feed ourselves or to enjoy a lifetime of meaningful physical endeavor. Dependent on industry again for our food. It is what they wanted, and they criticize us for not growing our own food. For eating whatever the machine lies to us about as being healthy and safe.
Then we were stuck in cities with shitty public transit that were no longer designed for foot traffic or bikes, so we HAD to get cars. Then they fed us with fears of safety, so we didn't want to walk outside, or let our kids roam. Then we get criticized for being afraid to walk, or for not being able to walk to work, and we are fat.
We are the exact thing they groomed us to be, and we are often fat. Now, we are bad people too, for being exactly what we were groomed to be.
And that is why kids are fat these days.
My Sweetie came home from work just as I was having a phone conversation with my Mom. She was pretty lucid and happy, and we had a good talk about the rain we've been having, and just general conversation. She talked with my Sweetie for a while too. She seemed to enjoy the company, and I think it is fun for her to talk with someone different.
When I was done mowing, we watched the last episode of Squid Game. It felt like it was leaving it open to another season rather than resolving this season. I have heard that there is a season two in the works.
I learned that TIL the full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, and is listed in Guinness World Records as the world's longest place name.
It sort of translates into "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."
The people who live in Bankok (which is apparently a name used by the rest of the world, but not by Thai people) would know it as Krung Thep (city of angels).
https://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/introduction/fullname.php
Pleasant weather.
I spent most of the afternoon mowing. The grass was pretty tall, as I hadn't mowed much before the rain because it was so dry, then it rained, then I had to wait a day or so to let it dry out.
I was irritated by a post made by a friend. She is sometimes kind of critical about "kids these days". Sometimes she posts about how they are all going to be zombies because of their phones, or they are all losing the ability to talk to other people, or they are all weak, or too sensitive. Today it was that people today are all too fat.
My feeling is, of course most of us are overweight now. Of course kids are more likely to be overweight. Our lives are a thousand times easier than that of our grand parents. We generally have enough food, more than likely too much food.
The undercurrent is naturally "you lazy bastards, go for a walk and quit eating crap". Yes, that's the easy answer.
I wrote a bit of an essay for her, about the more real answer (I feel). The industrialists wanted us all to be consumers of products so they could be wealthy. So, they made what they thought we would buy. Things that would make life easier. Cars, telephones, washing machines, then tools to make every job simpler. Electricity. On and on, to make things simpler and easier.
Of course, that chained us to working to pay for our conveniences, and then our jobs changed too, from being farmers and people who worked with our hands, to mostly people who sold this stuff, or desk jobs. Those industrialists made sure that almost no one could make a living building furniture or sewing clothing. Now everyone had to work for a big company, and do one unskilled job like putting in a rivet in one spot on a car chassis.
THEN, the capitalists had to come up with things we didn't need, but made sure it would be things we would WANT. Television, music, clothes that would be out of style every year or so, things that were TRENDY. Then computers, then cell phones, then a sinkhole of attention-grabbing distractions. They wanted more money, so they had to create things we wanted...
and now people are giving us shit for wanting the things we have been groomed to want our whole lives.
We have been advertised at since we were born, targeted with precision to want these foods, these clothes, these houses and cars. So, we are told to go to school and train for a good desk job so we can buy these things. Then we buy them, and spend our leisure time sitting around watching things or playing with our phones, eating the food we were groomed to want that is chemically engineered to light up our brains like crack, and they criticize us for being exactly what they wanted us to be?
Then they started farming on an industrial level too, and kicked everyone off of their small farms that couldn't compete and left us without the means to feed ourselves or to enjoy a lifetime of meaningful physical endeavor. Dependent on industry again for our food. It is what they wanted, and they criticize us for not growing our own food. For eating whatever the machine lies to us about as being healthy and safe.
Then we were stuck in cities with shitty public transit that were no longer designed for foot traffic or bikes, so we HAD to get cars. Then they fed us with fears of safety, so we didn't want to walk outside, or let our kids roam. Then we get criticized for being afraid to walk, or for not being able to walk to work, and we are fat.
We are the exact thing they groomed us to be, and we are often fat. Now, we are bad people too, for being exactly what we were groomed to be.
And that is why kids are fat these days.
My Sweetie came home from work just as I was having a phone conversation with my Mom. She was pretty lucid and happy, and we had a good talk about the rain we've been having, and just general conversation. She talked with my Sweetie for a while too. She seemed to enjoy the company, and I think it is fun for her to talk with someone different.
When I was done mowing, we watched the last episode of Squid Game. It felt like it was leaving it open to another season rather than resolving this season. I have heard that there is a season two in the works.
I learned that TIL the full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, and is listed in Guinness World Records as the world's longest place name.
It sort of translates into "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."
The people who live in Bankok (which is apparently a name used by the rest of the world, but not by Thai people) would know it as Krung Thep (city of angels).
https://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/introduction/fullname.php
no subject
Date: 2022-06-17 04:06 pm (UTC)My one point of difference from you is that I don't think of any of this as something people consciously did to us. By that, I mean I don't think the wealthy consciously planned to take away jobs that required physical effort-- They were aiming to make money, and probably didn't envision these consequences. To me that's important, because people get stuck when they see the causes for problems as something outside themselves. For example, if the cause of obesity lies in the actions of the wealthy, it's difficult for people to believe they can in any way change their weight.
I'm the first one to say that changing weight is incredibly difficult! But ultimately, if we want to change it, we have to do it ourselves. One of the best ways is to restrict current social forces that feed the high obesity rates (forgive the pun!). Like support legislation to reduce drink sizes, and require that the calories in fast food be posted. Those steps and others like them do make a difference...
no subject
Date: 2022-06-18 07:30 am (UTC)Yet, the production of junk food that is designed to be addictive (adding caffeine to soft drinks that don't need it for taste?) and carefully tested over and over again to be nearly impossible to resist, is going to result in more people eating more empty calories.
Marketing that food to kids during their cartoons is likely going to make them eat more of it.
Making kid's cereal that is more or less cookies instead of them getting cooked oatmeal or toast for breakfast is likely done with the knowledge that those kids will be fatter.
Maybe the people who sell us cars didn't deliberately set out to make us fat, but the people who make and market junk food are in the business of selling obesity and diabetes, in the same way that the people who grow and sell tobacco are in the Cancer business.
What the wealthy have done, is to sell us on the idea that products will make us happy. Products we don't need. That is what gets us stuck on the treadmill, working longer and longer hours indoors. The wealthy HAVE gotten us hooked on things that maybe obesity isn't their goal (though it is definitely a known result), but what else are you going to get from video games? Ones that are designed to take six or more hours to complete a single level?
no subject
Date: 2022-06-19 07:04 pm (UTC)Also, that is quite a mouthful of a name! I'd love to hear it because Thai is tonal so it would rise and fall and be wonderfully lyrical. My dad spoke Thai (church mission) and my sister-in-law is Thai also.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-20 08:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 03:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 04:10 am (UTC)Food literally IS addictive, especially carbs. The heavier you are, the less their body responds to a hormone called Leptin, the one that says you are full.
Your body also goes on this cycle with foods with sugar/carbs, where a while after you eat, your blood sugar drops and you crave more sugar.
It is a vicious cycle.
I would say that if they are depressed, then often you do get food addiction and no interest in being active.
A lot of heavy people get less interested in exercise because it is HARD, and maybe there is no motivation, like if they are never going to have an easy time walking, why bother? If they can't ride a bike comfortably, or fit in a kayak, well, after a while you quit trying.
Of course they would say something like caring about your appearance is a sin. This is my beef with the body acceptance crowd. No, there is no point in making people feel ashamed about how they look, but I think it is also still fine to say being a healthy weight is going to be more attractive than obesity.
I have a Facebook friend who is very obese, and pretty unhealthy. She is adamant that her weight has nothing to do with her arthritis problems, diabetes, back problems, mood, etc. She criticizes her doctor for even bringing her weight up when he talks to her about managing her health. She refuses to accept any responsibility for the role her weight might play in her health.
There isn't much to be DONE about it, if you have heavy family members. My family is chock full of obese people who don't do any exercise, who eat crap, and just sigh about getting older. I have a 19 year old nephew who is way too heavy, and he knows it is a problem, but at least he has a job that is fairly physical. He was raised on fattening food, and he will have to make some choices at some point. I'm sure his mother, who has always been obese, just tells him it's genetic. Isn't is something, that a person who eats garbage and then feeds that to her kid just blames the obesity on genetics?
I'll be honest, I had to be fairly extreme to lose weight. I eat a lot of vegetables now, no meat, overall low in animal fat, and not much for carbs. Whole food as much as possible that I cook myself, not much processed food. No soda, maybe a handful of chips once in a blue moon, in general no sugar or candy or dessert and even careful about fruit and veg that is high carb. No white flour, rice, or pasta. I am eating smaller portions of anything that isn't a raw vegetable. I wouldn't even have thought that I was eating badly, a few years ago. I didn't drink much soda, I ate vegetables as stir fry a lot, I didn't get it. I had to severely reduce all carbs in my diet, and that is what it took. I was just as active then as I am now, too. It was all about the carbs (but fat still has to be moderate too).
It is partly being ready to make changes, but also to have the right information. Too often, people are told that they won't lose weight unless they starve, or if they have to exercise a LOT, and neither are true.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 05:50 am (UTC)The obese family members have a limited palate, the kind most of us outgrow as adults. They like grease and sugar to the point of oversatiation; we might call it binge-eating. There is great emotional benefit to the kind of food upon which they insist. They "don't feel good" if they eat salad or healthy foods.
I admit I don't understand overeating as stress relief. I do understand craving comfort food - whatever functions as soothing or satisfying on a psychological level.
The connection between sin and vanity (focusing on worldliness, appearance, et cetera) seems to play a large role in the obese family's justification for choosing unhealthy foods. They also believe in cranky health cures instead of sensible nutrition. It doesn't surprise me that anti-vaxxing and a disdain for medicine/medical science are part of the bigger picture.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 06:14 am (UTC)They will literally say they are not obese at all, that there is nothing wrong with their food because "Grandpa ate like this and lived to be 100 and was still chopping his own wood" or something like that, and that the REAL problem is chem trails and cell phone towers, or all the hormones in the water.
This is how an addict works, whether it is food, meth, shopping, sex, or what have you. The universe according to their perspective will resemble nothing you have ever known.
They will drag down anyone trying to do better, the same way that willfully ignorant people will actually mock a person who tries to understand something like art or math. If you are a person who tries to explain a universe to them other than the one they have created, they will try to tear you down or shut you out.
So, just do you.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 06:23 am (UTC)I keep quiet about my ideas and ideals. My opinion is neither requested nor appreciated. But I can tell you I'm going for my fourth vaccine as soon as I can book an appointment on a day that isn't followed by a ballet day and I am neither sheeple nor fooled by alternative research. (rolls eyes again)
no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 10:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 06:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-22 10:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-23 04:02 am (UTC)It's Pride Month, which elicits a fun and spirited segue into summer for the likes of me, and a dour, clenched-fist sputtering among the, shall we say, strict of church. I was telling someone a few minutes ago that I don't discuss things like Pride with that ilk; it'd be like pricking them all over with needles. I take my fun and rainbow spirit elsewhere.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-23 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-06-23 05:38 am (UTC)