Denver Post published my letter about airlines

Sep. 10th, 2006 at 9:42 AM

I posted here about the letter I sent in response to Al Lewis's column in the Denver Post where he whinges about sitting next to fat people in airplanes. The Denver Post published my letter here:

http://www.denverpost.com/letters/ci_4302766

Current Mood: chuffed

Comments

( 28 comments — Leave a comment )

jb98

Sep. 10th, 2006 04:59 pm (UTC)

Yay! It just gets better every time I read it.

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apis_mellifera

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:05 pm (UTC)

You rock like a totally rocking thing! :)

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spiderdust

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:08 pm (UTC)

Well done!

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pyrzqxgl

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:11 pm (UTC)

Bravo!

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cheshyre

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:18 pm (UTC)

Woo-hoo! Go you!

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queensheba

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:23 pm (UTC)

Not only that, but the author of the original column expresses awe that the larger man fits his "20 or 30 inch diameter" into a 17-inch wide seat. Who DOESN'T have a 20-30 inch diameter? I think he's getting his terms mixed up.

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jinian

Sep. 10th, 2006 08:15 pm (UTC)

Most people don't have a 20- or 30-inch diameter, which is the relevant measurement for seat width. A 20-inch diameter (2r) multiplied by pi (2*pi*r) gives a 62.8-inch circumference, i.e., hip measurement as seen in 36-24-36. It's not outrageously big, but it's well on the larger side of average.

(Stef, you continue to rock.)

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queensheba

Sep. 10th, 2006 08:49 pm (UTC)

Ooops, you're right. I got *my* terms mixed up. I was thinking of a 20-30 inch waist (e.g. circumference, not diameter, as you said) - which wouldn't be particularly large at all.

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porcinea

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:27 pm (UTC)

Go you!!! W00t!!!

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kightp

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:28 pm (UTC)

Outstanding!

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clawfoot

Sep. 10th, 2006 05:42 pm (UTC)

*wild applause*

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loracs

Sep. 10th, 2006 06:14 pm (UTC)

Yay!!!!!!

Now all the readers (at least of the "letters to the editor" section) can hear a sane side to this fatphobic argument by this columnist and the airline industry.

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(Deleted comment)

waterowl

Sep. 10th, 2006 06:33 pm (UTC)

You go girl!

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gimpedoutwidow

Sep. 10th, 2006 07:26 pm (UTC)

Thank gods, you said it better than I did

I got labled a "babbler" on the author's blog, for zeroing in on just what you said so forcefully in your letter--the key thing is that only one third of us are 17.2 inches wide or less...and that the airlines have been using the "people are sardines" theory for decades now.

Loved your letter, thank you for it

Jean

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firecat

Sep. 11th, 2006 05:42 pm (UTC)

Re: Thank gods, you said it better than I did

Thanks for stopping by! I avoided the author's blog because I've seen too much of the way blog posts about fat issues collect fat hating comments, and I can't handle it. Go you for arguing the point in a hostile environment - you probably made a few people think.

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liveavatar

Sep. 10th, 2006 08:21 pm (UTC)

As someone else said, this looks better every time I read it!

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boxofdelights

Sep. 10th, 2006 10:30 pm (UTC)

Brava.

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submarine_bells

Sep. 10th, 2006 10:31 pm (UTC)

Bravo! It's lovely to see such a well-written and obviously sensible rebuttal to this rather prevalent flavour of bullshit.

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blue_sky_48220

Sep. 10th, 2006 11:56 pm (UTC)

I think your response is wonderful. I enjoyed reading it when you posted it, and I'm thrilled to see that the Denver Post printed it.

Good for you!

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pure_agnostic

Sep. 11th, 2006 12:43 am (UTC)

Stef, as long as we're on the subject of attitudes towards fat people ...

you may want to take a look at this article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003250510_nudephoto08.html

I think the article needlessly points out the weight of the police chief's wife. The police chief's own comments about his wife's size, and his attempts to control her are worthy of feedback. (The kind of feedback you've given to the Denver Post.)

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firecat

Sep. 11th, 2006 04:17 am (UTC)

Ew. I agree that feedback would be worthwhile. If you write something, let me know.

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sashajwolf

Sep. 11th, 2006 02:00 pm (UTC)

*boggle* Why on earth did anyone think he should resign over something his wife did?

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pure_agnostic

Sep. 12th, 2006 04:55 am (UTC)

Well actually, he didn't resign over something his partner did. He resigned because he didn't want to be hassled by a few dozen town residents. They didn't want him as police chief just because they think it's a Big Deal (tm) that his partner posted a nude photo of herself.

Is it fair? No. Is it his reality? Sadly, yes.

I was touched to see two others resign in protest over how the police chief was hassled.

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figmo

Sep. 11th, 2006 09:53 am (UTC)

One of my comedian-friends who isn't particularly large makes the following joke in her act:

"In China they used to bind women's feet so they wouldn't grow. I'm trying the same thing with my butt. I'm flying coach."

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