Trethowan wrote:My dad hates fat people. He thinks they're gross. I'm 40 pounds overweight and he thinks I'm gross. Sometimes I like to eat donuts in front of him just to watch his jaw twitch.
Oh man, I hear you. I'm half Hispanic so I get the joy of an extended family that whenever they see you have the urge to comment about either how much weight you've gained or how skinny you've gotten. It's like a cultural imperative, there's no such thing as an unremarkable normal weight. All my Hispanic friends face that too. And on top of that I grew up listening toy parents commenting about every fat person they saw. Hell, I even heard it from a Hispanic doctor-its shocking to have your doctor tell you how grossly fat you are and that you should lose 20 pounds (only saw her once obviously). My mother also loves passive aggressive games, like sending my pregnant sister xxxxl maternity dresses.
I was a fat kid but after being told just how disgusting I looked so much as crossing the street by my parents I went the other way and spent my late high school and college years with anorexia. Now I try to just eat healthy And work out regularly, but I still have tons of weight/self-image issues and could stand to lose 20 pounds.
The irony? My parents are many things, and skinny isn't one of them. I have a theory that in Hispanic culture, if you comment first you win and no one can say anything to you. It's like an old west quick draw of shame.