So, I’ve been reading BFD since about this past June or July. I found it because I used to know Mo in person years ago (Hiya, Moey!) and one evening, I was in a Where Are They Now sort of mood and Mo was one of several people I googled. I’ve kept reading the blog since then because… well, lots of reasons that have already been mentioned above. I appreciate the discussion, I appreciate the opportunity to learn what others go through. BFD is a pretty fun hangout.

I don’t feel I’m spying; more like, I feel I’m an audience to something I have not been on the receiving end of, but still identify with in certain secondary or tertiary ways which I doubt were part of the BFD plan.

I, personally, identify most with the Acceptance and Celebration message which I think extends beyond the Fat line, or even the Body line. (As has been pointed out, most people have some experience or another with feeling other, or left out, or unaccepted, or even unacceptable, even if their experience wasn’t about their weight. I have mine.) I mostly keep out of the discussions of the fat issues, though, since… well, I don’t have the ante (poker metaphor!).

I haven’t read any other FA blogs or materials, so my exposure to the issues signalfire raised has come mostly from those discussions here at BFD which I’ve read.

Again, I say the stuff I most identify with is the acceptance and celebration messages, but there are some instances of… well, what is it? Instances of lashing out? Frustration? Anger? Instances of… bashing… some Enemies of Fat. There have been (a minority of!) comments posted here & there at BFD which have disturbed me with their vitriol. Certainly, the majority of the blog entries and their associated comments leave me thinking, yeah, people should work out how to be kind to and with one another. And I really enjoy seeing how frequently the participants here are kind to and with, as well as supportive of, one another.

So, yeah, speaking as more spectator here than participant, there is, at minimum, a disconnect at seeing a message ostensibly about acceptance delivered in a militant, combative way (when it happens).

Can I vote for (submit, whatever), “Consciousness-raising and snappy comebacks” as a new BFD tagline?!

With all deserved appreciation to KC for the turn of phrase!

Count me as someone who’s glad to have body/fat-positive allies of all sizes. It’s funny–I now weigh more than I ever have, and only after consciously covering my ears and going lalalalalalala as much as possible to the voices telling me how much I suck (inside my head and out), I’ve begun to realize how ridiculously distorted my perception of my body has been my entire life. Like, I’m fine (or working towards it) with the way I look now–what the HELL was the matter with my brain when I was heaping so much scorn on myself, at any and all weights? What’s the fucking point of all that anxiety and lost time? And even though we fatties are exposed to disproportionate idiocy, discrimination, and dehumanization under the guise of “concern,” I’m quite sure that everyone has wasted too much of their lives on similar bullshit. Better for all of us to recognize how important it is to get rid of this kind of thinking.

Skinny people are affected by fat hatred, too. Everyone is. I’ve weighed more, and I’ve weighed a hell of a lot less, but I’m healthy and kind of happy and realizing that the size of my ass doesn’t indicate the size of my brain or the size of my heart. Just the size of my pants.

Carrie

Dang girl, you’re my hero! I’ll be buying your book. Actually, I’ll just send you money.

As a person who has lost nearly 180lbs I have sought to understand the new place I occupy in society now. I consider the position of someone like me to be a unique one: Not only do I find myself being privy to the biases of people who don’t know I was ever fat but I have been rejected by people I “came out” when they find out I USED TO BE fat. That speaks volumes about how deeply fat hatred is entrenched in our society.

As WLS becomes more common, there are an increasing number of people dealing with the rapid transition it brings on. It comes with its own set of issues and concerns that I feel DO have relevance to some FA-related politics and perspectives.

I am always interested in hearing what everyone here has to say because it helps me better understand someone very important in my life who strggles with their weight. I want to try to see life from their perspective, and coming here really helps me.

Thank you to everyone!