*facepalm*

[sarah]

I'm here in Silver Spring, Maryland with reginagiraffe and synecdochic, having dinner at a Chipotle. Syne popped into the ladies, only to find the handicapped stall occupied by a very thin woman, crouching over the toilet, vomiting with the stall door open.

Syne asked if she was okay -- if she needed help of any sort. "I'm fine," the woman said.

Well, that's debatable. And you shouldn't be occupying that stall, among other things.

Comments

[jackandahat]

*points* This. I really wanted to reply to this post last night, but I figured I'd be accused of derailing or something. Good to see I'm not the only one.

I've never been bullimic in my life. I did spend every day of a month throwing up after lunch at school until I realised just what I was eating that I shouldn't be. (Bread. I figured "Come on, no-one's allergic to bread!" and tried everything except that, changed filling every day, no butter, no dessert, anything. Turned out to be the sandwich itself.)

And of course, people took one look at the skinny kid throwing up... and I was being accused every day of being bullimic.

And frankly, when I was throwing up the last thing I'd want is someone who didn't know me (And was judging me) "helping".

Also - handicap stalls are the only places I've seen with grab bars. How else am I meant to get me and my arthritis up off the floor after without one?

off-topic :P

[freyakitten]

And of course, people took one look at the skinny kid throwing up... and I was being accused every day of being bullimic.

Heh, people took one look at the skinny kid eating more than the large-portion adults and had concerned talks with my parents about my supposed bulimia... I started eating less when I figured out the combination to be able to digest it all *headdesk*

Re: off-topic :P

[jackandahat]

I have been anorexic, but people had no clue then. When I *was* eating, I was accused of having something wrong with me because I ate a hell of a lot and was slim. It was a combination of more calories out than in (a lot of work/exercise) and a naturally fast metabolism. Nothing sinister going on. But people love to judge based on looks - and I find the people who are first to cry bias over how fat people are treated are often the first ones to go "God, why doesn't the skinny bitch just eat a burger?"

Re: off-topic :P

[keeva]

in my experience, people who are concerned about body shape discrimination are as upset about judgment of thin people as well of fat people.

Re: off-topic :P

[jackandahat]

Difference in experience there.

Re: off-topic :P

[freyakitten]

I'm of the opinion that people concerned about body shape discrimination are bothered by the treatment of all body shapes - but those worried about larger body shape discrimination are not worried about smaller body shape discrimination.

Like all the people who go "being overweight is a risk factor for x! and y! and z!" and don't believe you when you tell them all the things that being underweight is a risk factor for (osteoporosis and heart problems and a whole bunch of stuff that I can't remember right now but which you can link back to insufficient nutrition if you really want to).

I spend more time than I am societally comfortable with (I'm comfortable doing it, but I am uncomfortable that the biases of society make it so I have to) reassuring women at dancing that they're gorgeous, and they don't have to try to get down to my weight because I'm trying to gain weight for my health.