Posted on July 06, 2009 by Glen Johnson

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“You need to push away from the table and exercise” or “You should wear a shaper to improve the fit of your clothes.”  Statements like these and others are offensive to some non-offensive to others and not even register on the radar with others.  I happen to be of the camp that the first statement does not sit well with me and the second while harsh as long as it is not spoken with venom could be viewed as very constructive criticism.

Over the years individuals in the size acceptance community have spoken out against me agreeing with comments similar to the second statement.  The thought process I think is that I should be able to recognize obviously offensive words.  In thinking about it I have come to the conclusion the part of the statement that gets to some is the word “should”.  Nobody likes to be told what to do, so for one fat person to make the statement that other fat people should do this or that feels like a slap in the face.  Personally,  I don’t see it that way which is were the problem begins.

As a blogger about fashion I am always writing tips about what ladies and gentlemen in the plus size community should and should not do based on observations and attacks from outside our community.  There will always be those that agree, disagree, or are indifferent to any words that I type it goes with the territory.  If you agree with me that does not mean I am right nor does it mean I am wrong if you disagree it just means on that particular area we have differing opinions and that is all.

Unlike some of the obvious slamming of the recent events occurring during Full Figured Fashion Week agreeing with a statement about wearing a shaper to even out the fit of a garment does not make me a troll nor does it make me wrong.  Ultimately, I am coming from the mindset of wanting to like to see a woman or man for that matter put together and looking like a million and one dollars.  Never once did it enter my mind that people should cover up or try to be something that they are not.

Admittedly, I do not blog constantly about size acceptance issues.  The issues that I do champion are the ones that speak to me.  Does that mean that I am a turncoat for not slamming all statements that do not point to size acceptance nirvana?  I don’t think so.  For me if something strikes an individual as offensive, and hits another person differently that is where it ends.  It does not mean either person is right or wrong it means for the slice of time in question there are two points of view.

There is far to much work to be done to worry about differing opinions on the topic of size acceptance or anything else within our community.  [book id='' /][book id='' /]In the end what makes free speech and individual preference great is even in the midst of uncommon thoughts a common thread can be found which will contribute to the overall good of the entire community.