Racism is already an irritating issue; we don’t need fat discrimination!

Japanese are culturally and genetically slimmer by Western standards.
It’s extremely noticeable in Japan how much bigger Japanese are getting.

There are many forms of social descrimination.
Some people are genetically pre-disposed to being more stupid than other people and they are victimised by society by being refused jobs and further levels of education.
Some people are genetically pre-disposed to being psychopathic and that would be a good reason not to employ them and I doubt there would be any argument there.

However in the majority, people’s weight is nothing to do with genetics but their lifestyle and eating habits.
People just don’t like to take responsibility for their own reality and prefer to blame someone else for oppressing them.

Many societies tax people for the damage they do to their bodies’ through alcohol and tabacco.
This is a similar effort.

People like to say: If I want to do x, y, z then I can. I should have the right to.

Japanese society and hopefully people in their own societies like to recognise that they co-exist with the other members of that society too.

So yes you do have the right to do x, y,z just as if I want to I should be allowed to urinate in the street, smell like ass, shout at the top of my voice all day and run about naked.

However doing so would probably annoy a heck of a lot of people and so being socially aware I’d refrain.
Doing so would probably not make me a lot of friends who I have to co-exist with.

You could turn up for a job with a company wearing a ripped t-shirt, a purple mohawk, a pair or beach shorts and refuse to speak in English and only speak French (the company is Enlish speaking).

Understandably you won’t get a job.
The company has their right to not employ you and it isn’t surprising.

Is this fair? Well not by the argument of I should be able to do what the hell I want.
But socially yes.

I have to wear a suit to work, be well-kempt, I have to be clean shaven.

That’s beard discrimination, and fashion discrimination.
Also you need a university degree for my job so there is also educational discrimination.
If I want to work in my job and in this society I have to accept these discriminations or alternatively I can go against it but not complain about the social consequences.

People who are obese are considered to put a strain on the health resources of a society.
Therefore it is a social responsibilty to be in a condition to reduce this strain.

Just as it is a social responsibility not to destroy property or park your car in the middle of a road.

……..In Japan when people get drunk they don’t get violent.
Maybe due to less testostorone (or social education) they are genetically pre-dispose to being less aggressive.

However Northern European and Africans are supposed to naturally have more testostorone making them more aggressive.

So should people in society have a responsibility to be non-violent?
Certain groups and individuals will be genetically disadvantaged due to high levels of testostorone.

These high levels could be really useful in another society where defeating dangerous opponents by force is necessary.
Although in modern society the repression of this aggression gets them into trouble.

Being violent is against the law!

Some people are naturally violent.
A government initiative to help these people become less violent would be encouraged.
Very few people would say it was discrimatory and unfair. (maybe the violent people would)

So the genetic argument isn’t relevent.
And people in a predominantly fat society will view it as unfair.

Just as if the Violence law came into effect in a War-like society it would be seen as crazy.

The law is a result of being part of a society with it’s own cultural values.

I think it`s pretty absurd to pass a law like this and expect it to be successful.

Japan is no where near the tolerant society that people are led to believe in the west and this is a pretty good example of just how intolerant it can be.

Judging or penalising an individual on their waist size, particularly in the work place, opens up a pandoras box of problems which would probably be best left unopened.

If the Japanese governemnt really wanted to take issue with employee health and well being, they`d be much better off targeting the bordeline alcoholics and chain smokers which seem to prevail in may of the offices I`ve worked in over the years.

And what`s the deal with fat relations?!?!!?

How does that have any bearing on how an individual can function in the work place?

Perhaps I`m using the word `individual` too much. That would probably have quite a few Japanese civli servants lost on reading that alone.

Great blog!

http://www.teenbuzz.org

Great post by the way. Good day!

I read that article too! Although, the first article I read was from a local newspaper in Singapore. The new law’s main purpose is to curb the rising cost of health care in Japan. It’s a policy that stems from a good intention as with all new laws and policies, but one that still needs a lot of work in terms of implementation and feasibility.