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Tired of traveling overweight? Try Tonga!
I just read a great article in the San Francisco Chronicle about overweight travelers and a way for them to get away from the judgmental eyes of the "skinny finicky foreigners." The answer? TONGA.
Apparently, in Tonga being overweight is not quite the disaster that we as Westerners say it is -- to the contrary, being larger in the island nation is a sign of "wealth and social standing," kind of like 17th century France. Perhaps they have yet to get the memo on heart disease and diabetes.
I don't mean to sound critical, but the whole idea of traveling to a place where you can be accepted for being overweight seems kind of like circumventing the real issue. The problem is still there; you've just gone to a place where people won't bother you about it. Is that helping you resolve the matter?
But my favorite part of the article is a quote from NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance:
"When you get to your seat during pre-boarding, raise the armrest between seats. This may give you the inch or two of extra space you need. The chances are that the passenger who will be seated next to you won't say anything; if he does, smile pleasantly and say that you'll both be more comfortable if the armrest is up."
Will you be more comfortable?
Read Catherine's article on why Disneyland had to shut down It's a Small World After All this year here.
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Space most definitely isn't an issue in the new Singapore Airlines A380! Check it out:
Gallery: Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380
| Yes! | |
|---|---|
| No... | |
| I'm not overweight | |
| I'm overweight, but I'll travel where I want regardless! |
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
drk Feb 7th 2008 3:19PM
Are you guys serious people are losing their jobs and houses. Our economy is in decline and we still haven't figured out what to do in Iraq not to mention North Korea and Iran. Long story short I feel that there are more important issues for us to be concerned about by feel good trips for fatties and the armrest on some cramped airplane seat.
Denise Feb 7th 2008 6:14PM
I was on stand by on a flight last week and the one seat left was a middle seat with two very large gentlemen on either side, they had the armrests up and you could hardly see the seat between them. The flight was Southwest so the attendent and I made jokes about the fact that I didn't need my seatbelt as I was squished in between these two guys. When we landed she made further jokes about the fact that it appeared they were giving birth to me as I tried to vacate the seat. It was a short flight and I made lite of the situation, but I was concentrating on not freaking out over being more than a little clausterphobic. BTW the two guys where together they could have moved closed to each other and give me the aisle seat or something I was wedged under each armpit.
Rivka Feb 7th 2008 11:31PM
To all those who say that the fat people need to change their eating habits:
May I respectfully suggest that you haven't a clue what you're talking about. One of my very dear friends eats monumental amounts of food, much of it junk (honestly, how can ANYONE stand McDonalds?) every day and is so thin I actually found her physically repugnant before I learned to see the wonderful person around the skeleton-like body.
I eat sensibly [HUGE, protein-laden breakfast with whole grains and fruit, a lunch of soup, eat-out style burger, or home-bundled meals (usually a protein like eggs or lean red meat, a few stewed greens and a little rice or noodles), a mid-afternoon snack of a smoothie or some chocolate milk, and no dinner except for once a week at my folks - usually baked chicken, fish casserole (no fat, just tuna, egg, spices, and breadcrumbs), bread, broccoli, and mushrooms] and I am 195 pounds at 5'4, extremely curvy, and soft all over.
To those who would say that I am gross - The person on whom I have had a desperate crush and yearning attraction for going on 5 years now is more overweight that I, albeit a good few inches taller. The one everyone seems to think I should be crushing on is 5'10 and extremely thin in an athletic kind of way. Don't get me wrong, I'd never say this to anyone who actually knew both of us - but the idea's just a bit gross. I become actively disgusted at times when I'm hit on by or forced to look at someone who's extremely thin, but I would NEVER tell them that. What would be the use? To make them feel bad? They probably worked hard for and chose that body, so let them enjoy it! And if they didn't, I am NOT about to rub salt in the wound.
So next time one of the skinny fat-haters is being actively grossed out by a large person, please try to bear in mind that she/he may be a fatty thin-hater who's just hoping you wont a) touch them with your weird bone-thin limbs or b) hit on them. Oh, and thank you in advance for not hitting on me.
Doug Feb 10th 2008 10:18AM
We as a society would all be better off if we just practiced one little thing..LIVE and LET LIVE !!!!
Linda Feb 12th 2008 7:43AM
I'm fat but would not lift an armrest. I try not to inconvenience others and struggle to get comfortable by squeezing into the corner by the window or getting anaisle seat. That said, I agree with the happy fat person who wrote about all the skinny inconsiderate people out there too! I also have been bothered by men who MUST sit with their legs spread 2 feet apart as if they were in a recliner and invade my space. If its avoidable, thous shalt not touch another passengers body, If its unavoidable because of someone's size such as an overweight person, very tall person, or a lap baby on board, consideration and respect for all people large and small should come first!