US anchor Jennifer Livingston: Is she right or did the emailer have a point?

Yeah I heard about this. He was a bit out of line, though it's a free country, but a detail the media seems to be ignoring is that in her capacity as an anchor she hosts a feature called "The Sugar Buzz" where they bring a cook on the show who shows how to make sugary treats. Examples are chocolate chip cookie dough truffles, brownie ball snowmen, candy cane chocolate covered popcorn, apple pie pops, ooey gooey peanut butter eyeballs, etc. You can check it out on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSugarBuzzPantry/feed
So it does go a bit beyond just the fact that she's overweight, though in my opinion people would still be eating unhealthy food if she didn't exist.

 

This has to be the biggest cop-out out there. It's a free country so you are supposed to say and do what you like? He was out of line - the end.

 

Yeah, bullying is a fact of life and isn't going anywhere. Anyone remember that recent scandal over the timid old lady bus monitor who was harassed by the kids she was supposed to be monitoring and just silently took the abuse?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12R9fMMtos"]Bus Monitor Karen Klein bullied by vile school children - YouTube
What was interesting about the media coverage was how all these people were talking about how remarkably evil the kids involved are, but the only thing unusual about the situation was how passive the woman was. Most kids (or people in general, though adults tend to keep themselves more in check out of self interest) are capable of extreme schadenfreude when they sense weakness that they can exploit. I think if it was a video of another kid getting bullied instead of an old woman it wouldn't have elicited nearly the same shockwaves, since most adults enjoy their authority and power over children and witnessing some kids dominate an adult infuriated them on a deep level.

 

You're not "supposed" to do anything. I just mean that he's within his rights to criticize, even if you or I don't agree with it.

 

Ok. But when is the word 'bully' acceptable or not? This is borderline bullying. Perhaps passive aggressiveness. But I do not think we should dismiss bullying and tell people to get over it.

 

I wouldn't tell someone to "get over it". But I do have a generally low opinion of human nature and to hold people to a noble standard, or even a standard of basic civility, is unrealistic. Most people are some combination of dimwitted, close minded, misguidedly opinionated and narcissistic. There are exceptions, like me for instance.

 

This has an unfair rating of 5/10...

 

Yeah, this happened right here where I live. Same exact school district I attended, in fact.

 

So you've got a jackass on one hand, and a fatass on the other. I don't have a problem with either.

To each their own.

I think I like the jackass better though because I thought his letter was funny.

 

So you went to school with those same kids? No wonder you're a misanthrope. Were you on the school bus when this happened by any chance? Why didn't you step in to help her?

 

The kids were not nearly this bad when I attended.

I wasn't picked on too much (at least not in high school), I was just always sort of a shy, eccentric outcast who mostly kept to himself. For the most part people left me alone.

I don't really consider myself as much of a misanthrope as I used to be, though I suppose the word still applies.

 

I noticed.

 

Bullying, or the idea of bullying has changed. Calling someone a name , or busting their chops because they tripped and fell, a one time thing yes that is normal behavior. Kids and adults alike do this.

That is one end of the scale. On the other end are the people (usually children) that get downright harassed. Getting called a name or two is normal, but some victims of bullying live in fear. Many times the harassment turns to violence. If this is what we accept as "normal" we are in a sad state.

Just because something has gone on for a long time does not make it right.

 

if the tigers are in the world series i think i will go to one of the games.

uuuummmm what was this thread about again?

 

Bullying or not bullying.

 

I found these posts to be hilarious! :smilielol5:But seriously who the hell is he to tell her how to look? Just ridiculous. (SMH)

 

I think that Jennifer was eloquent and addressed the issue head on, and this one time, at least, the stupid dude got "called on" for what he said/did...and it has worked out for the better. For me, there is a happy ending with this. When she confronted this author, this Mr. Internet Opinion, she had guts and "intestinal fortitude" that he did not. This was never about her weight...which in all honesty, does not appear to be sufficient to cause his outroar.

Seriously, what with all the stuff going on the world, THIS is what he is going to start sending letters about? This PROFESSIONAL and SUCCESSFUL woman that he deems to be too overweight for his taste, apparently? He thought writing this note would be a good move? lol

I can't help but wonder what, indeed, did he hope to pull off here with his little note...what sage wisdom or simple questioning answer did he think he would get from this most ignorant communication?

I applaud her and say get 'em girl. She has a husband, a good career and 3 small girls. Everybody is not meant to be a size 2 - 6 or even 12. Jennifer really doesn't appear that terribly obese to me, and I'm even taking into account that I've ALWAYS heard that TV does make someone appear larger. Anyway, even if she were that distastefully, unhealthfully obese, this e-mail would not aide in her weight loss program. However, I think she was well within her rights to let Him know the real deal. Damn right.

You Go Girl.

 

There's a difference between 'you're promoting unhealthy habits on your cooking show, stop it' and 'you're fat, stop it.'

I'm sure the writer may have had good intentions. Doesn't make it less dickish, ultimately.

 

They both sound kinda dumb and delusional. She took more offense to his letter than she should have and responded fairly inappropriately (she calls him a bully? she's the one made the correspondence public and scolded him like a child) when it was just some kooky advice; that was pretty much true. If she really feels victimized by such an innocuous and off-the-wall letter, she has some emotional issues.

I don't think I have to explain why he is dumb or delusional =P

 

Well put.

People should probably not bully him for bullying her, though.
Being 'door-stopped' by the media isn't fair, either.
The poor chap looks like he hasn't slept in a couple of days.

He was monumentally incompetent - but atleast had the good grace to apologise. Perhaps he had little choice - but he did.

He isn't a baby killer.
He didn't run over an old lady.
He sent an ill-judged email to somebody.
I agree: "she was well within her rights to let Him know the real deal. Damn right."