Hey Everyone,
I wrote this thread idea down a few weeks ago while listening to videos criticizing the "Body Positivity Movement."
I've had friends in all shapes and sizes, and as someone who grew up with the models Kate Moss as being "ideal" and Cindy Crawford being "curvy" (fashion speak for borderline fat,) I'm glad to see many more body types represented.
The videos I was listening to were criticizing the branch of "Body Positivity" that tells people that being obese is healthy, perfectly fine to maintain, and goes on to give diet, exercise, and lifestyle tips revolving around staying that size and "learning to love it." The videos criticizing this always seem to be hosted by people who are thin -- or who were once obese themselves, lost a ton of weight, and now they think, "If I lost 200 pounds, so can everyone else!"
* Who has more authority to "teach" and "lead" people in situations like this?
With social media, everyone and anyone can set themselves up as a teacher, "guru", or some kind of "authority" on any possible subject.
* How much "Life Proof" -- success, or adherence to their own advice -- does someone have to have in order to make them credible?
For example, would you:
* Take advice on how to lose weight from someone who was obese?
* Learn how to save and invest from someone who was broke?
* Buy skincare products recommended by someone with severe acne?
* Follow tips about organization from someone with a messy house?
* Listen to instructions on how to be celibate from someone struggling with sex addiction?
* Take advice on how to live a holy life -- from a sinner?
The list of scenarios is endless, and of course, we can't expect anyone to be perfect.
* But how "perfect," "successful," or "transformed" does someone need to be to be seen as worth taking serioiusly?
* How do we decide who "qualifies" as someone to listen to, and whose advice is actually worth its salt?
I wrote this thread idea down a few weeks ago while listening to videos criticizing the "Body Positivity Movement."
I've had friends in all shapes and sizes, and as someone who grew up with the models Kate Moss as being "ideal" and Cindy Crawford being "curvy" (fashion speak for borderline fat,) I'm glad to see many more body types represented.
The videos I was listening to were criticizing the branch of "Body Positivity" that tells people that being obese is healthy, perfectly fine to maintain, and goes on to give diet, exercise, and lifestyle tips revolving around staying that size and "learning to love it." The videos criticizing this always seem to be hosted by people who are thin -- or who were once obese themselves, lost a ton of weight, and now they think, "If I lost 200 pounds, so can everyone else!"
* Who has more authority to "teach" and "lead" people in situations like this?
With social media, everyone and anyone can set themselves up as a teacher, "guru", or some kind of "authority" on any possible subject.
* How much "Life Proof" -- success, or adherence to their own advice -- does someone have to have in order to make them credible?
For example, would you:
* Take advice on how to lose weight from someone who was obese?
* Learn how to save and invest from someone who was broke?
* Buy skincare products recommended by someone with severe acne?
* Follow tips about organization from someone with a messy house?
* Listen to instructions on how to be celibate from someone struggling with sex addiction?
* Take advice on how to live a holy life -- from a sinner?
The list of scenarios is endless, and of course, we can't expect anyone to be perfect.
* But how "perfect," "successful," or "transformed" does someone need to be to be seen as worth taking serioiusly?
* How do we decide who "qualifies" as someone to listen to, and whose advice is actually worth its salt?
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