Friday, October 08, 2004
RANDOM RANT FOR THE DAY
What is it with Michael Moore critics' inevitable invocation of Moore's weight? Latest example is in Catherine Seipp's review of Alexandra Pelosi's Diary of a Political Tourist (link via Instapundit):
Heaven knows there are plenty of reasons to criticize Moore's brand of filmmaking, his opinions, and his asinine statements (my favorite was the one he made right after Sept. 11, 2001 in which he wondered why the terrorists chose NYC as a target since most of the denizens of Gotham didn't vote for Bush anyway) without bringing his girth into the equation.
Of course, writing as someone who could afford to lose about ten pounds, perhaps it is just that this hits a little too close to home. Am I 10% less trustworthy, smart, or competent because of ten pounds of extra fat on my body? I hope not.
But then, Diary, unlike Journeys, doesn't have the luxury of focusing on one candidate. It's more an examination of the process, and has all of Pelosi's smart-ass charm--which is sort of like Michael Moore's minus the dishonesty, agitprop, and, of course, about 200 pounds--even if it lacks that of her first movie's star.What is the point? Are heavier people inherently less trustworthy, less smart, less capable than skinnier people?
Heaven knows there are plenty of reasons to criticize Moore's brand of filmmaking, his opinions, and his asinine statements (my favorite was the one he made right after Sept. 11, 2001 in which he wondered why the terrorists chose NYC as a target since most of the denizens of Gotham didn't vote for Bush anyway) without bringing his girth into the equation.
Of course, writing as someone who could afford to lose about ten pounds, perhaps it is just that this hits a little too close to home. Am I 10% less trustworthy, smart, or competent because of ten pounds of extra fat on my body? I hope not.
Comments:
<< Home
You asked, "Are heavier people inherently less trustworthy, less smart, less capable than skinnier people?"
Please, how would you answer your own question?
Do your 10 excess pounds make you feel less trustworthy?
Perhaps you lose a few IQ points with each pound.
Please do let us know what you expect the 'right' answer to your rhetorical questions to be.
Please, how would you answer your own question?
Do your 10 excess pounds make you feel less trustworthy?
Perhaps you lose a few IQ points with each pound.
Please do let us know what you expect the 'right' answer to your rhetorical questions to be.
# posted by 
: 1:43 PM
: 1:43 PM
I'm with you on this one, Dr. Larsen. Judging anyone's opinions by their physical characteristics is wrong.
We would be horrified (or incensed, depending on who was talking) if someone made an issue of skin color; why is height, weight, physical conditioning, or number of teeth relevant?
The sad fact of the matter is that those who are "out of shape" are picked on from childhood. And things like this reinforce discrimination in all physical forms, even if "racial" discrimination is not encouraged.
Moore is a lying sack of crap; but attacking his weight is no more honorable than his attacks on the President. .. and probably less since "we" claim to be "the Good Guys"...
We would be horrified (or incensed, depending on who was talking) if someone made an issue of skin color; why is height, weight, physical conditioning, or number of teeth relevant?
The sad fact of the matter is that those who are "out of shape" are picked on from childhood. And things like this reinforce discrimination in all physical forms, even if "racial" discrimination is not encouraged.
Moore is a lying sack of crap; but attacking his weight is no more honorable than his attacks on the President. .. and probably less since "we" claim to be "the Good Guys"...
I think maybe Moore's weight is always talked about because it's just so visually obvious and at the same time very anomalous. It's not often that you see an unkempt 300 pound man sounding off in front of a tv camera, and this is part of what makes him intriguing and unique. When is the last time, for example, you saw a 300 pound anchorwoman on Fox News? Few others could fit his bill, and his physical presence adds a hard to describe element to his message.
I'm a Michael Moore supporter and I also invoke his weight. I think it makes him more entertaining and I don't think this insinuation would bother him unless it were to his political advantage.
I'm a Michael Moore supporter and I also invoke his weight. I think it makes him more entertaining and I don't think this insinuation would bother him unless it were to his political advantage.
# posted by : 6:26 AM
: 6:26 AM
I think maybe Moore's weight is always talked about because it's just so visually obvious and at the same time very anomalous. It's not often that you see an unkempt 300 pound man sounding off in front of a tv camera, and this is part of what makes him intriguing and unique. When is the last time, for example, you saw a 300 pound anchorwoman on Fox News? Few others could fit his bill, and his physical presence adds a hard to describe element to his message.
I'm a Michael Moore supporter and I also invoke his weight. I think it makes him more entertaining and I don't think this insinuation would bother him unless it were to his political advantage.
Matt from http://www.metanoiac.com
(I can't log in from China because I'm on a proxy server)
Post a Comment
I'm a Michael Moore supporter and I also invoke his weight. I think it makes him more entertaining and I don't think this insinuation would bother him unless it were to his political advantage.
Matt from http://www.metanoiac.com
(I can't log in from China because I'm on a proxy server)
# posted by : 6:27 AM
: 6:27 AM << Home
