Handicapped Parking

slickwillie · 10-07-2006, 05:14 PM

Not sure where to post this, but I figured why not in the fitness section of the site? I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on overweight people using (or being classified as handicapped) handicapped parking spots? I noticed this about a week ago while at a local grocery store, that 3 handicapped spots had extremely overweight people loading stuff in their cars/minivans and not one had someone in a wheelchair (that couldn't walk) or some other form of disability.

What do you guys think? Should this be allowed or I guess "what constitutes a handicapped person" regarding getting things like parking stickers/signs? I also wonder if this number will increase over the next 20 years, therefore will we see an increase in the number of handicapped parking spots everywhere?

rocky6535 · 10-07-2006, 07:01 PM

Their lives already suck. Why not just let them park close? Why not call it a handicap? People discriminate against fat people.

JonPop · 10-07-2006, 10:05 PM

Yes. You don't know by looking at a person just what their disability is. These people may have extremely bad knees or feet that prohibits them from walking any distance. Or somebody that looks healthy to the casual observer could have heart trouble or emphysema. If you are young and healthy, count your blessings and don't sweat the petty shit.

10 · 10-07-2006, 10:38 PM

Unfortunately, when it comes to obesity, we as Americans are a very critical, judgemental society. If the guy doesn't look perfect and have that adonis physique, he's frowned upon. Likewise with women that may not have a huge chest or "Barbie" like physique.

I look at it this way. I consider myself blessed to be able to park way the hell out and walk into a store and get some exercise while doing it. Not everyone can do this. Obesity has become a huge epidemic in this country.

Loki · 10-07-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky6535

Their lives already suck. Why not just let them park close? Why not call it a handicap? People discriminate against fat people.

Sorry I diagee with you on letting them park in a handycap zone, to be fat is a choice! I was once over weight by nearly 60 lbs till I go sick of looking like shit, now I am well within my weight range, I have been for over 3 years.

Here in NY if a person is handycap, they get a handycap pass that they hang from their rearveiw mirror when they need to park their car.

It really pisses me off when anybody steals a real handycaps space and I am not one bit shy about jumping in someones shit about it either/

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/202_fat.html

Überschwanz · 10-08-2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loki

...to be fat is a choice!

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion Loki; nobody is entitled to their own facts. You don't pick your genes and 90% of a person's body characteristics are based on genetics, not environment.

slickwillie · 10-08-2006, 01:49 AM

To add to the parking thing, I find it funny that some people (even a friend of mine who I worked out with for over a year and was in great shape) will circle the parking lot looking for the closest spot to park in, only to go into a store and walk around for 2 hours. My wife laughs that I park toward the back of the parking lot, so I always chuckle and say "I'm just looking out for the car"! :)

10 · 10-08-2006, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwillie

To add to the parking thing, I find it funny that some people (even a friend of mine who I worked out with for over a year and was in great shape) will circle the parking lot looking for the closest spot to park in, only to go into a store and walk around for 2 hours. My wife laughs that I park toward the back of the parking lot, so I always chuckle and say "I'm just looking out for the car"! :)

Hell slick, I do the same thing. I figure I'm paying for my car and no one else is and I quite frankly like my car ding free. I can always tell how much a person respects their car by the number of dings on it and the amount of trash inside. Today in fact, and I'm probably going to burn in hell for having done this, but I took my kids shopping for their Halloween costumes. Anyway, as we were leaving, the person that parked next to my mom's car parked so horribly that I had to really work like a mother to get my daughter into her car seat. This pissed me off so bad that I took the wad of gum in my mouth and slammed it right on the rear door of the asswipe's piece of shit Ford Focus (which by the way was full of scratches, dings and dents). I figure if you don't want to respect your property that's your decision but damn it, you better respect mine! I hope the gum melted by the time they got back to their car!

slickwillie · 10-08-2006, 02:45 AM

Too funny 10! Yea, you have to love shopping for costumes with the kids. Just got our second one today, so we're safe for another year. :)

JonPop · 10-08-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loki

Here in NY if a person is handycap, they get a handycap pass that they hang from their rearveiw mirror when they need to park their car.

It really pisses me off when anybody steals a real handycaps space and I am not one bit shy about jumping in someones shit about it either

Here in California, if you are caught without the proper documentation, parking in a handicap space, the fine is $290.00. Just being fat doesn't get you a plackerd.
You must have a Dr. certified disability.

Loki · 10-08-2006, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Überschwanz

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion Loki; nobody is entitled to their own facts. You don't pick your genes and 90% of a person's body characteristics are based on genetics, not environment.

I work at a place where better than 70% of the people are over weight to just plain fat, keep in mind there are over 700 people there. I see their eating habbits, makes me sick! They eat more in one day than I do in a week.
To super size your Big Mac Value Meal is a choice. For kids to sit on their asses and play vidio games with chips, pizza and soda pop in hand is a choice.
I think you are right up to a point on genetics and weight problems, but many more are just addicted to food.

Loki · 10-08-2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonPop

Here in California, if you are caught without the proper documentation, parking in a handicap space, the fine is $290.00. Just being fat doesn't get you a plackerd.
You must have a Dr. certified disability.

Lazy asses get the hell fined out of them here too, I would like to see community service added to the offenders aswell.

10 · 10-08-2006, 02:49 PM

Loki, you seem to really have this intense hatred for the over weight or obese. Many of these people, yes, have some type of genetic malfunction which causes them to be over weight. Many, however, have incredibly low self esteem and choose food as their comfort zone. Food doesn't judge them, food won't let them down, food won't criticize them or ridicule them.........they view food as their friend.

It's this very unfortunate mindset that creates the huge problem of obesity that we have going on in this country. I will agree with you, to supersize your combo meal at the McDonald's drive through is a choice, but keep in mind also, America has become a country where "bigger is better".

For instance, on my plane ride down from Seattle to Orange County this past Friday night, there was an incredibly overweight guy sitting at the window seat in row 9. This guy couldn't have weighed less than 400 pounds..........he was BIG! And surprisingly enough, despite being told that the flight was completely booked, the middle seat next to him was empty. Don't know if the airline made him purchase two tickets to accomodate his large size or what but it was an empty seat. And I, like so many, sat in my seat and wondered how in the world he allowed himself to get so "fat". By looking at him, I could've come up with a million plus possibilities to rationalize his obesity. Point is, I just didn't know what caused his size. Maybe it was laziness on his part, maybe it was genetics, maybe it was low self esteem and poor eating habits.........who knows.

My point here is that these people spend most of their lives being made fun of, ridiculed, looked down on and picked on because of their size. For me personally, it's more the attitiude that the general public displays towards these people that makes me sick.

I will further agree with you that many of these people make poor choices (diet wise). When I see an overweight person in the grocery store or in front of me in the check out line, I'll take notice of what they have in their cart and 9 times out of 10, they do have nothing but high calorie, low nutritional value crap food in their cart.

On the other side of this, I also know someone (a long time childhood friend) who spent her entire adolescence being overweight. From the time we were kids until about a year or so ago, she was overweight. Now, I 've no idea what her diet was like or if she had tried exercising or anything, I just don't know. She chose to have gastric bypass surgery May of '05. The times I've seen and talked with her since this surgery, yes, she does look totally different. Not the same overweight kid from next door that I grew up with. But, her face always looks withdrawn and sunken in. Almost anorexic like. It's sad to because she has a pretty face but the outline of her facial skeleton is just too pronounced. Gross.

Anyway, I guess I'm just on a mercy mission for the overweight here. Alot is done to ridicule them but little is done to help them with their situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that until you've walked in their shoes, you've no idea what their life is like or of their daily struggles. Let's not be so judgemental.

slickwillie · 10-08-2006, 03:24 PM

We know every single person is unique in some way, shape or form and it's interesting how some people (a close friend of mine) are overweight yet loaded with energy and a great personality, but some are skinny (in Americans eyes viewed as healthy) and are lazy, miserable SOBs (I'm sure we all know someone on both sides of the fence). It's amazing that everyone is different, but I guess that's the best part about it...

Loki · 10-08-2006, 04:11 PM

have a hatred for over-weight people, like I said in my first reply I too was over-weight and I beat the beast. If I don't remain negitive there's a chance I could slip and put it on again and I don't want to go there again.
When I decided to dump the lbs. I first thought very hard on how in the hell did this happen to me?
What I did was to stop snacking "never eat before bed" I used a medium sized plate for meals and I only ate one helping, basicly I ate only enough to take away the hunger. I ate a shit load of apples and drank enough water to float a battleship. I did not do a bunch of excersieses, I'm active already.
Many people commented on how well I looked and they would ask how I did it or they would ask me if I was ok?, I told them my secrets and offered to help them lose theirs too, but many would say they can't do that because they like food or they like beer too much, well I do too, I love wine, big macs, deep fried everything I hate things that are good for you. I'll bet I can out eat anybody on this forum when it comes to chocolate icecream.
To get back on track, I detest anybody who is not handicapped and steal their space, either parking or bathroom. Those poor people are not handicapped by choice and if we don't stick up for them who will?
Of the 70% of the people I work with who are over weight, many are my friends and I do like them, so I don't think I have a hatered for them.

happy stud · 10-08-2006, 04:58 PM

I agree with Loki provided hes not talking about old people or people with a medical problem. When people get older there metabolism slows down and they sometimes cant help it when they gain weight. And people with medical conditions like a tyroid problem cant help it either.

But I think Loki is talking about young people in there teens, 20s, 30s and 40s that are 50-100 pounds overweight. I dont feel sorry for there ass either. They usually eat the wrong food, eat too damn much food, dont exercise or all of the above.

Yea I like ya'lls law out there JonPop to fine there ass if they dont have a handicap sticker. Lazy fuckers. And I agree with 10 I like to park farther away because its good exercise. Plus you see more pussy that way.

Loki · 10-08-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy stud

I agree with Loki provided hes not talking about old people or people with a medical problem. When people get older there metabolism slows down and they sometimes cant help it when they gain weight. And people with medical conditions like a tyroid problem cant help it either.

But I think Loki is talking about young people in there teens, 20s, 30s and 40s that are 50-100 pounds overweight. I dont feel sorry for there ass either. They usually eat the wrong food, eat too damn much food, dont exercise or all of the above.

Yea I like ya'lls law out there JonPop to fine there ass if they dont have a handicap sticker. Lazy fuckers. And I agree with 10 I like to park farther away because its good exercise. Plus you see more pussy that way.

I know this, when I dumpped my weight I felt like a new man and damn it feels good!

ThegoodDoctor · 10-09-2006, 05:28 AM

Just my $.02

I am sick of the obesity epidemic...it is not an epidemic at all. Obesity can be controlled for the most part with proper diet and exercise. It is a very small percentage of people who have a genetic disorder that does not allow them to lose weight, even when everything they do is correct. I personally feel that people who are obese to a certain extent can still turn their lives around. Others who are so obese that walking is difficult need serious medical attention.

10 · 10-09-2006, 09:07 PM

I spent much of my evening last night talking a friend of mine out of having gastric bypass surgery. She's so obssessed with her looks and trying to become an actress that she's actually willing to refinance her house, cash out $20K worth of equity to get this surgery done plus some other cosmetic doodads. Utterly ridiculous to me! Yes, she's a little over weight but she's certainly not a candidate for that time of extreme measure.

As soon as she told me about her eating and exercise habits, the solution was clear as day. Eat better and exercise and voila! I hope she got the message...........unfortunately, she's the type the likes the "quick fix" and doesn't have the patience to do the things the right, natural way.

kdub · 10-09-2006, 09:49 PM

Well I agree with Stud and Loki. Majority of fat people I mean 50lbs plus overweight are there by choice. Bad education regarding nutrition, fitness and general wellbeing. Now I am to young to remember this but my mum and dad always say that in the 60's and 70's you rarely seen anybody obese. No convienece food, or takeaways, cars to lug you around everywhere etc etc. Obesity isn't a disease (with occasional exception) its a bad mental state.

Society is to blame. The worst place I have ever seen(sorry guys) is the states due to the availability of general crap to eat. Its nice to eat a chocolate fudge cake, burgers pizza and all the rest but it takes effort and self control; to buy the right things and prepare the right food.

I am a very active guy with an intake of around 3000 cals plus a day. I also get injured on a regular basis not allowing me to train. Now to stop putting weight on I change my diet to suit. I am never hungry, I don't drop quantity just eat more sensible.

Back to the parking spaces. If they are not medically declared as disabled it would do them good to park a bit further away.

happy stud · 10-09-2006, 10:45 PM

Another thing about real fat people is they sometimes have an attitude that they have some right to eat like a fucking pig if they want. Yesterday some of us were in the Pizza Hut and this big fat fucker that was already eating saw a whole bunch of us were about to go through the buffet line so he almost sprints over there so he doesnt have to wait after all of us. This asshole must have had about 6 or 7 pieces on his plate. I started to say something to his big fat ass but there was some real nice pussy with our group and I didnt want them to think I was picking on fat people.

Loki · 10-09-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10

I spent much of my evening last night talking a friend of mine out of having gastric bypass surgery. She's so obssessed with her looks and trying to become an actress that she's actually willing to refinance her house, cash out $20K worth of equity to get this surgery done plus some other cosmetic doodads. Utterly ridiculous to me! Yes, she's a little over weight but she's certainly not a candidate for that time of extreme measure.

As soon as she told me about her eating and exercise habits, the solution was clear as day. Eat better and exercise and voila! I hope she got the message...........unfortunately, she's the type the likes the "quick fix" and doesn't have the patience to do the things the right, natural way.

I have known of people who have done this and they really haven't faired too well. Some have had to have shin removed so it doesn't just hang there.

She will have to watch very closely what she eats and drinks for the rest of her life, people who have this procedure can't have anything carbonated at all either.

It's not a perminent solution she must first learn the dos and the do-nots of healthy eating or she will gain back all she will lose. Another thing I hope she understands that like with any surgery, it could kill her.

One of the best tips I can give you "for her" is, never eat before going to bed !! That is the worst thing a person can do, unless they want to put on some fast pounds.

Please 10, hammer on her about all the bad things that can happen to her.

You know, you could help her out big time, how you say? Sex, yes SEX my friend, it is not only a very good fat burner it's great for the heart and lungs. and while you are having sex with her, she will be too busy to even think of food. Any time she gets the munchies, yep, you guessed it sex again.

Loki · 10-09-2006, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdub

Society is to blame. The worst place I have ever seen(sorry guys) is the states due to the availability of general crap to eat. Its nice to eat a chocolate fudge cake, burgers pizza and all the rest but it takes effort and self control; to buy the right things and prepare the right food.

Man kdub you are so right seems like all of the commercials on TV is food related, and even if you aren't hungry you still want to have a bit of what ever it is they are showing.
Here in the US it is so easy to get junk food, Christ, they will even deliver.
Seems like the best tasteing things are always the worst for us.

Überschwanz · 10-10-2006, 01:53 AM

It's partly choice, but it's also partly biology. Think about this. What were our ancestors many many thousands of years ago most concerned with? Food and survival. They didn't know where their next meal was going to come from or how long it would be. Evolution has a nice little way of saving resources when they are plentiful for a time when they won't be, hence, we have fat. When a person eats, eats, and eats some more, the body thinks that it's better to be safe than sorry and saves up a bunch of that energy.

slickwillie · 10-10-2006, 02:45 AM

I wish I would have bought a McDonald's franchise in the early 80s! Then I would be retired right now and could devote a hell of a lot more time to PE. :)