When Retro Goes Wrong

This post gets a lot of attention, strangely. But I had another think about this. And I'm sorry if it offends someone when they read it. But let's be honest. Sometimes offended is the feeling that is needed. And sometimes science is the evidence that we need. And always, history is the story that we don't want to repeat. Read the original and the story that goes with it below.

The Original

This writer has seen a disturbing new trend. Actually, it’s a resurgence of an old trend. The University of East Anglia published their findings recently noting how the “normalization of ‘plus-size” adds to the risks obesity already poses to the general public.

While this writer doesn’t think that people should be shamed for their weight, the risks that being overweight pose should not be swept under the rug.

This is not the first time that body positivity has led to spreading waistlines. Georgian ladies and gentlemen valued being slightly plump to demonstrate their wealth.

Even 300 years ago doctors were warning their patients of the dangers that obesity posed. These were doctors without the technology and knowledge of today. Even to them it was obvious that obesity caused health risks.

And, dear reader, do you know what they did?

They changed attitudes “towards over-indulgence” and “a pressure to demonstrate self-restraint” developed. People began to “worry about whether Britain could maintain its empire and global power” without a healthy population.

So now, dear reader, this writer suggests we hearken back to a bygone era. Be proud of your body. Know that it has the power to take over the world.

But know also that only healthy bodies have the power to rule the world. That no matter how proud of yourself you are, pride won’t keep your arteries clean.

If you want to take pride in your body take care of it. And only when you take care of your body will you have the energy to be unstoppable.

The Story

Someone, who this writer wasn't allowed to know the identity of read this post and was offended by it. Triggered, is the term that this writer is meant to use. And without being given the courtesy of being allowed to address their accuser, this writer was required to pen a public apology or risk being barred from their supposedly inclusive community. This writer was discouraged from communicating facts, historical and scientific. And this writer believes that facts are the only thing that can save us.

You can read the apology below.

The Apology

A lot can happen in a year. That was brought to my mind today as something that I had written over a year ago resurfaced and threw into perspective just how true that statement can be. A year ago I was bouncing around Limerick after just moving to Ireland. Looking for work and an apartment. And fighting the resurgence of my own eating issues who without fail rear their ugly heads when I'm feeling out of control. As usual I had wedged myself between the rock of staying "ballet skinny" and the hard place of getting told to embrace being curvy. Add to the mix that moments' media barrage around fat shaming vs body positivity vs healthy at any weight vs obesity and the result was a brain dump blog post that should certainly have had someone read before I hit send. So what's happened in this year? I've started performing burlesque. Where every body is represented and where no one is shamed for no matter their shape. Where there is a safe space from body shaming, something that my ballerina self had never experienced before. Where I didn't need to label myself as a curvy girl (which maybe shockingly to some people I am in ballet land). And most importantly where I could put aside the anger, towards others and towards myself, that had promoted that original post. So now that post is taken down. Perhaps I will replace it with these thoughts. But more importantly the jealousy I had towards people who were able to embrace their bodies has been replaced with so much love for this whole community and a huge and heartfelt apology for any undue stress I may have caused anyone