A new way to discriminate (a rant)

[icymist]

I believe I've found a new way to discriminate against people, just call them fat. There's no laws against it and the airlines have been setting precedent in this matter. Religion, race, sexual identity, creed, or even liberal will no longer need be the reason for discrimination, unless they've got a 'Body by Jake' just deny rights because they're fat. Want to get rid of the gay working next you? Just accuse him of bumping into you (only call it "pushing me around") because he's fat. Want to make sure the person sitting next to you on the airplane is the same race? Just accuse them of 'invading your space' because they're fat. Why am I going on about this rant? Because I just got called into the office at work because of co-workers complaining of my attitude right after they called me fat so and so. At work we all communicate through walkie talkies. I was trying to raise a certain person with no response for over a hour. I called on the intercom and that person and another thought it was the walkie talkie again. "It's fat so and so" I heard loud as ever through the speaker. They then went on a discussion which I couldn't make out. The person I was trying to get a hold of finally called on the walkie talkie. The next day I get suspended for two days. When I asked the reason, I was told that it couldn't be discussed over the phone. I was pulled into a meeting just a few hours ago where my attitude was brought up in question. I have to go to another meeting in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow with my accusers which will determine if my employment will continue. I also happen to be transgender. This has got to be the worst year I've had since 1990 with work. That year I was fired for be 'religiously immoral' and evicted from my house by my own father. There, I got it out.

[LWolf]

1. I think you mean "setting precedent."

The president "sets" in Air Force 1.

[icymist]

3. Typing fast. Sorry, changed it. nt

[LWolf]

7. From my perspective,

humans crave victims to set themselves above. If you make racial slurs socially incorrect, it will be gender. If not gender, then something else. The species thrives on putting others down in order to raise themselves up.

So yes, when one kind of discrimination is checked, discrimination doesn't go away. It shifts to some other factor to discriminate against.

[icymist]

8. Yeah, that makes sense.

I remember, years back, when I had to deal with somebodies' "cultural differences" because they couldn't stand the idea that transgender people exist, let alone, gasp, have to work near one. I put up with this person for years and when finally leaving to another job, the work environment got much better.

[AlienGirl]

28. Wolf-packs need omegas, and baboon society always needs the low-ranking. Pretty common mammal thing.

[TwixVoy]

2. Hmmm

" Because I just got called into the office at work because of co-workers complaining of my attitude right after they called me fat so and so. "

I have found that many overweight people have a bad attitude. (this is also part of what compels them to eat so much, and it is a vicious cycle)

I would suggest you take a long hard look at your self FIRST to make sure your attitude is appropriate at work. If so many of your co-workers have a problem with it then it's a sign there probably is an issue you need to work on. If it was one or two people it would be a different story, but it sounds like many people at work are having a problem with your attitude.

I think you will find even if you are overweight if you are pleasant to people they will not think negatively of you.

This is true even in media. For example - Fat Bastard in Austin Powers. Everyone hated him. Was it because he was fat? No, because he was an ass hole.

Then compare someone like Santa Claus. Extremely fat, but well liked by everyone because he has a great attitude.

[icymist]

6. If you wish to know why I gained this weight, let me tell you

When my grandma died my mother called me up three days after the event and then informed me not to bother coming out there (Ohio) "because we're burying her today". I went into a depression, had to take paxil and prozac, which lasted years. Maybe this bulletin board wasn't the best place for this discussion for it becomes easy to judge others when you're anonymous.

[peacebird]

9. wow - your mom's comment was *so* cold... Was it her mom? Maybe she was too upset to think clearly?

:hug:

Just a terrible sad situation....

[icymist]

10. My mom dosen't want me coming back for any reason.

This was made very clear to me. Our relationship is only on the telephone and I view that as better than none.

[peacebird]

12. oh. I am sorry. I hope my post didn't cause you more pain?

:-(

[icymist]

13. Naw. I've gotten over it.

Sometimes it's good to talk about these things, sometimes not. Today it's alright.

[peacebird]

14. Hugs icymist!

:hug:

I wish you peace, love, and happiness
Blessed be,
peacebird

[icymist]

19. Thanks peacebird.

:hi:

[Raineyb]

16. Are you for fucking real?

What the HELL does that have to do with the co-workers calling the OP Fat so and so. They had NO BUSINESS calling them that. And why exactly wouldn't someone NOT have an attitude after being referred to in such a degrading way?

Seriously are you for real? Talk about blaming the victim.

[TwixVoy]

17. Yes I am for real

As I said - if it was one or two coworkers who were the problem it would be one thing. In this case it sounds like it is multiple coworkers.

I'm sorry - but if multiple coworkers are hostile then the OP more than likely did something that pissed them off. If the OP has been told that attitude at work is something that needs to be worked on then I am willing to bet the coworkers hostility is due to the OPs attitude towards other coworkers at work rather than weight.

[AlienGirl]

24. The same thought process could be applied to anyone/any group who's been discriminated against

"If multiple passengers in the front of the bus are hostile to Ms. Parks, then she more than likely did something that pissed them off."

"If multiple white people have a negative opinion of black people, the black people must be doing something to cause the situation."

Do you see how that's not rational?

Tucker

[Raineyb]

25. So because it's multiple coworkers it's the OP's fault? Like grown people have never

as a group decided they didn't like one person and decided to focus all their hostility on them? Seriously, there's nothing in the OP that even starts to make what is coming out of your keyboard sound like anything other than thoughtless blame the victim bullshit.

[petronius]

31. As I read the OP, it sounded as though the "attitude" in question was the response

to being called "fat so and so" - and I think a very bad attitude indeed would be justified there. It sounds as though IM was insulted, IM reacted to the insult, and IM got suspended as a result.

I think you're making some unwarranted assumptions here...

[AwakeAtLast]

21. My, what a broad brush you have

"I have found that many overweight people have a bad attitude."

Maybe they pick up on your attitude.

[dsc]

23. wow

and I bet you figure that the problem people have with black folks is that they can't swim and the problem people have with gays is that they are always either bitter and bitchy or too boyant. What a stereotype laden load of crap.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Gee that's helpful. NOT

[undeterred]

30. "I have found that many overweight people have a bad attitude."

Wow. Just wow.

[anonymous171]

4. Not all discrimination is wrong.

[lpbk2713]

5. Wait till you get to be "old".

If you are audacious enough to go out of the house with wrinkles and white hair it will automatically
be assumed that you are incapable of the simplest of tasks and feeble-minded to boot.

[icymist]

11. I am getting old. We all are.

I took up a new motto after hitting fifty, "Human bodies are over-rated".

[HipChick]

15. Sorry this happened to you...I work with a guy that hates women

I think I must remind him of his mother or ex-wife or something...he yells and screams at me all the time..the other day I simply couldn't take it anymore,and laughed right in his face..he went ballistic..

[lunatica]

18. Maybe you should throw caution to the wind and tell them you'll sue

If it looks like you're going to lose your job anyway tell them they'll be hearing from your lawyer and if they have bosses above them tell them you'll be writing letters about them to their bosses. And it might not hurt your case if you say you've had enough of their blatant bigotry and you plan to write letters to the newspapers.

Even if you don't intend to follow through. You'll be surprised how pushing back empowers you on the inside. They're bullies and bullies are cowards deep down in their dried up hearts.

[icymist]

20. I already brought up the issue of transgender with them point-blank.

I do not hide. They both swore up and down that this has nothing at all to do with my being transgender. I've been through all this BS before, where the boss calls you into his office and begins to declare "You won't get away with this". When I asked him what he was talking about all he would say was "You know what you did" and "You don't have the right to prove to me that people exist that are different than me". Next thing I knew, I was unemployed in 1990 Illinois, fired for being 'religiously immoral. I called the Department of Human Rights shortly after and the nice guy on the other end of the phone told me I had none. So yeah, I have a lawyer picked out, just need to contact him if things go wrong tomorrow.

[lunatica]

32. I'm glad you have a lawyer waiting

And that you plan to take action if necessary. You may have to be the precedent case for the next step in equal rights. And you do have those rights.

[varelse]

22. It's not exactly new (nt)

[Odin2005]

26. +1

[undeterred]

29. I'm sorry.

I hope things get better for you one way or another. :hug: