zerographic ([info]zerographic) wrote in [info]fatshionista,
@ 2008-01-04 23:27:00
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Current mood:Outraged
Current music:BBC on NPR

"Anti-Gym" Advertisement
I saw this commercial for a gym here in Denver. I sat staring at the television in horror before crying a little for the poor self-hating girl that agreed to star in this series of commercials:


How do I respond to this? I want to do something, but it seems like this "gym" is proud of their attitude and hatred of fat girls. There's a whole series of these! Would writing a letter help?

P.S. Is there a better place to raise awareness about this company?


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[info]demiraks_world
2008-01-05 03:06 pm UTC (link)
YOu can write a letter - but I doubt it'll help, unfortunately. I'm sure they've received tons of letters.

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[info]xchernobellex
2008-01-05 03:22 pm UTC (link)
That guy was a big deal on the size acceptance blogosphere not so long ago. UGH. Google it, but him and his 'Anti-Gym' throw cupcakes at fat people and do other offensive public displays. He's just an attention whore who seems to have made a career out of being obnoxious. Write a letter, by all means, but he's a joke -- I certainly dont sit around eating pie and luring men into my home with promises of free beer! Call the station that advertised and complain (write a letter to them, as well!), write and call magazines that advertise the gym...Im certain if enough of us did, we could raise awareness about how we are NOT interested in taking anymore of this discrimination.

Seriously, a GYM is one thing; but advertising using harmful stereotypes? This guy needs to be vocally opposed at every possible opportunity.

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[info]inkyoctopus
2008-01-05 03:44 pm UTC (link)
What a terrible and stupid commercial. Clearly this guy has a fat complex--maybe he was chubby when he was younger and never got dates, and never realized that he didn't get dates because he was fat, he didn't get dates because he was a boring asshole. I've never had to lure men into my bed with beer, and I've definitely never been small.

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[info]_saybia_
2008-01-05 03:59 pm UTC (link)
I actually know a guy like that... it's scary.

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[info]leg_0f_lamb
2008-01-05 05:33 pm UTC (link)
i know TOO MANY guys like that. ugh.

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[info]charlottezweb
2008-01-05 03:49 pm UTC (link)
It may make you feel better but it won't help change their attitude. If you look at their website, you can see the sad truth--they love this kind of advertising and it sums up their attitude. This is a gym that kicks members out if it feels they aren't "trying hard enough." They are irredemable.

Writing a letter to the station might be more productive though.

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[info]_saybia_
2008-01-05 04:01 pm UTC (link)
I wonder how the chubby girl felt actin for that piece of crappy advertisement :s

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[info]deatoya
2008-01-05 04:53 pm UTC (link)
I've always wondered about that when I see someone being put down for their weight (fat or skinny). "They" are not laughing with you, rather at you.

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[info]leg_0f_lamb
2008-01-05 05:33 pm UTC (link)
yeah. i think the same. i actually kind of despise her, even though i don't know her.

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[info]box_x_of_x_rain
2008-01-05 09:15 pm UTC (link)
off topic, but i love your icon!

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[info]gaspworthy
2008-01-06 05:52 am UTC (link)
Apparently she thought it was for a jewelry commercial.

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[info]_saybia_
2008-01-06 08:18 am UTC (link)
what? How could THAT be a jewelery commercial.

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[info]garnet_feather
2008-01-05 04:05 pm UTC (link)
Kate Harding at the blog Shapely Prose wrote about it a while back, I believe... as did the ladies on Feministing. Just adds more evidence to the statement that fat-hate is the last great bastion of acceptable bigotry.

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[info]sometimesdee
2008-01-05 05:03 pm UTC (link)
Ugh. I can't stand him and his "Save the Chubblitos" campaign. Overweight child = child abuse? Come on.

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[info]blackstone
2008-01-05 05:25 pm UTC (link)
:(

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[info]thewsg
2008-01-05 05:32 pm UTC (link)
There is an article about this "gym" here:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6088239

Seems like this guy is better left ignored. He seems to thrive on attention.

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[info]acerzen
2008-01-05 06:04 pm UTC (link)
I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't be appalled by that. I know, I am wrong, obviously he and his crew weren't, but still, I am an idealist.

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[info]chavvah
2008-01-05 06:11 pm UTC (link)
Wow, how awful.

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[info]purrofheart
2008-01-05 06:14 pm UTC (link)
Ugh. He's ugly inside and out. I like to live by the saying "there isn't anyone you couldn't like if you knew their story" but unless this douchebag was sodomized by his fat mother every day for 20 years, I just can't feel sorry for him enough to excuse his behavior.

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[info]mazzie
2008-01-05 06:36 pm UTC (link)
:O

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[info]syndetic
2008-01-05 06:52 pm UTC (link)
I live in Denver. If you want to go yell at people at the gym, I'd be willing to join you!

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[info]geekyglamgrrl
2008-01-05 07:20 pm UTC (link)
Wow. Just, wow.

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[info]maude
2008-01-05 07:34 pm UTC (link)
Is it wrong that I am less offended by the message and more by the sheer stupidity? "NOW I SEE WHY!! A CHUBBY EATIN' A PIE!!"

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[info]wretched_orchid
2008-01-05 08:12 pm UTC (link)
Some people will do anything for money it seems, that's disgusting.

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[info]edenssixthday
2008-01-05 08:28 pm UTC (link)
I'm in Denver, too, and have seen that several times. It makes me so angry.

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[info]romijordanna
2008-01-05 08:38 pm UTC (link)
It's probably useless to write a letter to him, but perhaps a letter (or a letter writing campaign) to the station that's airing the commercial. It's insanely offensive.

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[info]odetomutilation
2008-01-05 10:20 pm UTC (link)
Do NOT send a letter directly to the gym. The owner *thrives* on angry letters. (See #10 here http://www.theantigym.com/beardedlady.html). A better approach would be to target the radio stations where he puts out the ad spots.

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If You're Chubby You'll Never Get a Hubby
[info]gaspworthy
2008-01-06 01:14 am UTC (link)


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Re: If You're Chubby You'll Never Get a Hubby
[info]iluvhistory
2008-01-06 04:24 am UTC (link)
How ridiculous. My husband is really happy with my size and he helped me get over self-hate, more like you'll never get a shallow hubby if you're large and in charge. I'd rather be single then be in that dating market!

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Re: If You're Chubby You'll Never Get a Hubby
[info]fyreforged
2008-01-06 03:29 pm UTC (link)
Amen! I got plenty of positive attention before I married, but I hit the jackpot with my mister. In addition to his many other charms, knowing that he loves ALL of my curves and hearing "You look beautiful" practically every day for four years has done wonders for my self-acceptance!

Viva la men of substance! (pun not exactly intended, but I'm certainly not taking it back!)

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[info]curseangel
2008-01-06 04:36 am UTC (link)
That is absolutely disgusting - as is the website (linked in one of the other comments here). My god. What an absolutely disgusting example of pseudo-human pond scum.

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[info]gaspworthy
2008-01-06 05:44 am UTC (link)
Know I'm posting again but I just want to say after reading this blog (http://theantigym.blogspot.com/) how truly disgusted I am. As someone above me said being bigots towards fat people is truly acceptable by most of the country. If you're so happy being thin then why don't you just talk about yourself? Why do people feel the need to rat on and on about people they don't know and make them feel like shit?

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[info]thinkpink4891
2008-01-06 07:24 am UTC (link)
How ridiculous and offensive. It's not a new idea, though... clearly he's someone who has watched Dodge Ball one too many times. You'll never be Ben Stiller, man! Give it up and stop being so mean!

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[info]amye
2008-01-06 10:38 am UTC (link)
i think i was most offended by the Seussian rhyming..

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[info]tigersvoice
2008-01-06 03:01 pm UTC (link)
This guy is a serious sicko. I strongly agree about sending letters to the station that airs the commercials. They're a lot more susceptible to viewer pressure.

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[info]shell524
2008-01-07 03:37 am UTC (link)
Just... Wow.

Fat hate seems to be the last bastion of bigotry because it's perceived (rightly or wrongly) to be something everyone can do something about and considered by many to be the direct result of the fat individual's choices. Not always true, and a poor excuse for being a bigoted jackass, to boot.

I agree with those who suggest you write to the stations, rather than the gym.

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[info]tree_of_jessie
2008-01-08 05:23 am UTC (link)
i totally posted about this back in november...

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[info]haptotrope
2008-01-08 05:27 pm UTC (link)
They have cage dancers? and costumed trainers? co-ed hot-tub when you are "hot enough?" In the gym?

I'm really confused. Tho I guess if you are motivated by humiliation... knock yourself out - pro-dommes have been doing it for decades.

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Oh, he has a MySpace page..
[info]photocindy23
2008-01-08 05:40 pm UTC (link)
And this is the first line:

Who wants to be sexy?

Get ripped at Anti-Gym while you eat carbs, drink booze, and smoke pot!

Ohhh..kay.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=108009089

We should all 'friend' him and get rejected due to our amazing zaftig awesomeness.

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Re: Oh, he has a MySpace page..
[info]haptotrope
2008-01-08 07:26 pm UTC (link)
ps: that link is most certainly not work-safe.

I'm not feeding any fires... I've got constructive things to do. :-)

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