How not to be an arsehole 101
Jul. 28th, 2009 01:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sebastienneDear all,
Just in case anyone missed the memo, you have no right whatsoever to comment on the eating habits of strangers.
Dear random man in the uni offices,
I have no idea what you meant by, 'That'll keep you going!!' (I use multiple punctuation advisedly, to make you look like the arsehole you undoubtedly are), but I assume it was some kind of 'witty' comment on the appropriateness of my lunch-choice (which, for the record, was a jacket potato with baked beans, cheese, and salad, and a bottle of apple juice - but it wouldn't have mattered if I was eating a carrot stick or a big mac). If I had been dealing with binge-eating or bulimia issues - which, let's face it, as a fat girl in this society I'm bloody lucky to have mostly escaped without - then your throwaway comment could have precipitated any number of maladaptive behavioural responses, when all I wanted to do was eat my lunch and get on with reading my book in peace.
Please ask yourself why you think it is appropriate to comment on the eating habits of strangers. When you realise that the answer is because you feel no power in your own life, and thus feel the need to exercise power over strangers in order to cope with the meaninglessness of your own existence, then I suggest you join a political party or lobbying group and leave my eating habits the fuck alone.
Best,
Emma.
(As an aside, why is it always older men (50+) who appear to feel that they have this right? They're always the ones who think that they can demand I smile for them, as well. Patriarchy In Action, or just a generational thing?)
Just in case anyone missed the memo, you have no right whatsoever to comment on the eating habits of strangers.
Dear random man in the uni offices,
I have no idea what you meant by, 'That'll keep you going!!' (I use multiple punctuation advisedly, to make you look like the arsehole you undoubtedly are), but I assume it was some kind of 'witty' comment on the appropriateness of my lunch-choice (which, for the record, was a jacket potato with baked beans, cheese, and salad, and a bottle of apple juice - but it wouldn't have mattered if I was eating a carrot stick or a big mac). If I had been dealing with binge-eating or bulimia issues - which, let's face it, as a fat girl in this society I'm bloody lucky to have mostly escaped without - then your throwaway comment could have precipitated any number of maladaptive behavioural responses, when all I wanted to do was eat my lunch and get on with reading my book in peace.
Please ask yourself why you think it is appropriate to comment on the eating habits of strangers. When you realise that the answer is because you feel no power in your own life, and thus feel the need to exercise power over strangers in order to cope with the meaninglessness of your own existence, then I suggest you join a political party or lobbying group and leave my eating habits the fuck alone.
Best,
Emma.
(As an aside, why is it always older men (50+) who appear to feel that they have this right? They're always the ones who think that they can demand I smile for them, as well. Patriarchy In Action, or just a generational thing?)
