Comments on: Dutch Bus Ad Projects Your Weight

By: Ari

Ari — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:47:36 +0000

I would sit on the ground if I had to sit at all, in protest.

By: class factotum

class factotum — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:18:39 +0000

Oh man. Cultural differences. I lived in Chile for two years. My co-workers had no problems with saying things like, “Wow. That’s a huge zit on your face” and “Boy. You’ve put on some weight, haven’t you?” Not considered rude at all in their (indigenous) culture. Nicknames in Chile were things like “Baldy” and “Beer gut guy” (that’s the best I can get out of “Panchito”) and “Blacky” (for someone with darker skin than usual. That sort of thing does not translate well to American (oops — I have to say “United Statesian” — they were always quick to point out that they, too, were American) culture.

By: FatNsassy

FatNsassy — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:30:24 +0000

If I were in a grouchy mood and there were other people, I would definitely sit down, proclaim 220lbs and proud of every ounce and defy anyone to say anything. Of course where I live it would be vandalized in a second.

Good thing I have no desire to live in Holland. If someone made an openly rude remark about my weight (in English) I would just say what I say when that happens here. Why is it is is never the pretty people who are the most fatphobic? It is always the unattractive ones that don’t feel good about themselves that need to make remarks. I don’t get a second remark although I don’t win popularity contests either.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:36:31 +0000

Yikes! I refused to let my husband know how much I weighed on the day I gave birth. I am perfectly fine revealing most information that women are reluctant to share, like my age. But I will NEVER say my weight. If I didn’t realize and sat down on that bench, I would be LIVID that my weight was revealed.

By: Mayya

Mayya — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:40:05 +0000

That’s what spraypaint is for.

By: Ali

Ali — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:12:38 +0000

I would stand up but I stand up at bus stops anyway. Nobody accept me and my doctor and a trainer at my previous gym knows my weight and that’s the way I want to keep it because people don’t “get” weight – they think if you are more than 200 pounds you are completely abnormal and they couldn’t even imagine that you are WAY more than that.

Anyway – I did live in the Netherlands for 7 years until I moved to Chicago about 5 month ago and I have to say that there is way more fat hatred in America than in the Netherlands. Most Dutch girls are a little bit overweight but they are ok with it and people don’t laugh and stare. Dutch girls however work out a whole lot and I would say are in general way healthier than skinny women from other countries because of their active live style.
I have never been to a country where people cared less about your weight.
BUT in general the Dutch are way more direct and straight forward then other people, kind of like children, they will just say what they see but not because they want to hurt you but because they just say what they see. I recall my Dutch colleague and friend telling me things like “You have a pimple on your forehead” or “you look really bad today” – but this is just an observation. And you know – when they said something nice I knew it was honest too. This is something I have come to greatly appreciate.

When you live in the Netherlands you don’t get bombarded with “the obesity epidemic”, most doctors will be fine with you being overweight as long as you work out and eat healthy, there are no MeMe Roths and even though I lived in Delft which is a student town full of frat boys, I was never afraid to go anywhere.

Living in the Netherlands did WONDERS for my self-esteem. Now that I am living in America this is starting to crumble.

By: Liza

Liza — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:19:34 +0000

To add, I’m not amazed because I think Bust readers are douchey (quite to the contrary) but usually when you post anything about weight you get morons who come out, no matter how otherwise progressive or open-minded the forum.

By: Liza

Liza — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:17:41 +0000

Shameless self promotion time, I totally blogged about that for my internship. And I'm amazed at the non-douchyness of the comments I got.

By: lilacsigil

lilacsigil — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:32:13 +0000

On a highwa that I occasionally drive, there’s an automatic speed check that displays your current speed on an electronic sign. A month after it was installed, they had to limit it to a maximum of 107kph (the speed limit is 100) because of all the hoons driving through it as fast as possible all night.

I suspect a similar fate awaits this seat, only with people jumping on it. And people who really need that seat then won’t have a seat.

By: Flora

Flora — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:24:35 +0000

Lola, you’re right, I’ve known plenty of nice Dutch people too. Not everyone in the Netherlands fits the stereotype, not by a long shot.