Go Japan

[The Case for Reason]

I'm a US citizen, but can I really be expected to root for the United States in a soccer match against Japan given the fact that the US is currently made up of FAT people? I've been to Japan, and I can't remember seeing a single obese person. Americans are gluttonous and disgusting. I know our soccer team doesn't have any fat players, but they represent a country that is made up of fat, lazy, consumers. The US doesn't produce, it CONSUMES. Go Japan.

[wuapinmon]

I'm a US citizen, but can I really be expected to root for the United States in a soccer match against Japan given the fact that the US is currently made up of FAT people? I've been to Japan, and I can't remember seeing a single obese person. Americans are gluttonous and disgusting. I know our soccer team doesn't have any fat players, but they represent a country that is made up of fat, lazy, consumers. The US doesn't produce, it CONSUMES. Go Japan.

You sound like tons of fun.

[smokymountainrain]

I'm a US citizen, but can I really be expected to root for the United States in a soccer match against Japan given the fact that the US is currently made up of FAT people? I've been to Japan, and I can't remember seeing a single obese person. Americans are gluttonous and disgusting. I know our soccer team doesn't have any fat players, but they represent a country that is made up of fat, lazy, consumers. The US doesn't produce, it CONSUMES. Go Japan.

I take it you're not fan of a fairly popular sport there in Japan...

[wuapinmon]

I take it you're not fan of a fairly popular sport there in Japan...

I guess he also despises the ubiquitous Japanese obeisance.

[SuperGabers]

I take it you're not fan of a fairly popular sport there in Japan...

Dude. That chick isn't wearing a bra.

[RobinFinderson]

*sigh*

Not the best introductory post, TC4R. Every culture has its struggles, and in the US, we struggle with the overuse of cheap high-calorie food as a form of dealing with stress and emptiness. We also have a huge problem with alcohol, used to treat the same problems, however the cheap high-calorie food gets an earlier foothold, because it is available to children. Whatever you think of this American problem (that is quickly becoming a global problem), rooting against the US women's soccer team is hardly a reasonable response.

[wuapinmon]

*sigh*

Not the best introductory post, TC4R. Every culture has its struggles, and in the US, we struggle with the overuse of cheap high-calorie food as a form of dealing with stress and emptiness. We also have a huge problem with alcohol, used to treat the same problems, however the cheap high-calorie food gets an earlier foothold, because it is available to children. Whatever you think of this American problem (that is quickly becoming a global problem), rooting against the US women's soccer team is hardly a reasonable response.

[RobinFinderson]

This board is full of people who got off to rocky starts. I'm sure that TC4R can recover from insulting a significant number of beloved long-time members of this community.

[The Case for Reason]

I take it you're not fan of a fairly popular sport there in Japan...

http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/wor...orldfat_5.html

In the United States, 75% of its citizens are obese. That's shameful. Only 22% of Japan's citizens are obese. Japan is ranked in the same neighborhood as countries such as Sudan, Namibia, and Angola.

[Donuthole]

http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/wor...orldfat_5.html

In the United States, 75% of its citizens are obese. That's shameful. Only 22% of Japan's citizens are obese. Japan is ranked in the same neighborhood as countries such as Sudan, Namibia, and Angola.

See, but now you have a credibility issue, because you expect us to believe that you spent time in Japan and didn't see a single member of the 22% obese in Japan.

[smokymountainrain]

http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/wor...orldfat_5.html

In the United States, 75% of its citizens are obese. That's shameful. Only 22% of Japan's citizens are obese. Japan is ranked in the same neighborhood as countries such as Sudan, Namibia, and Angola.

You said you went to Japan and didn't see an obese person. I just made the observation that you must not be a fan of sumo wrestling.

Honestly, I couldn't give a rat's ass which country has more overweight citizens.

[SuperGabers]

I'd rather our citizens be fat and happy, than suicidal and skinny.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I take it you're not fan of a fairly popular sport there in Japan...

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that is one of the American sumo wrestlers.

[The Case for Reason]

Can you imagine how much better our country would be if only 22% of its citizens were obese? Lower health care costs, better sex, longer life span, less disease...

I for one won't put up with it. I'm not going to get all nationalistic over a country that is eating itself to death. I admire Japan.

[RobinFinderson]

I'd rather our citizens be fat and happy, than suicidal and skinny.

I don't think we are really any happier, but we are less suicidal. Personally, I think we are fat because of the reaction of free market forces to human biological tendencies -- we've evolved to crave high sources of fat and carbohydrates which appear relatively infrequently in nature, so our genetics tell us to scarf them down when they are available, to save energy for a rainy day. With the advent of cheap corn sugars and vegetable oils, terrible foods have become the cheapest source of calories available to most people. Pair this with high stress (which America has plenty of) and poor nutritional education, and low incomes, and you have a recipe for exactly what we have in America today. It is a serious problem, and not one I can imagine will ever go away unless we are willing to address it through policy.