Men unhappy with their bodies...

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by loki

What about fat people who don't feel bad. I know a few people who are overweight and don't give two hoots what other people think they look like.

Medical reasons. People should want to be healthy and fit, I think self-image body issues have a different root.

[Gnat]

Originally Posted by G-MAN2004

The only thing I'm not happy about is the fact that it's so hard to put weight on. Then I'm met with comments from people saying I'm so lucky and all this. Meh, lol.

same.

[Pheebs]

Although I agree with some of what you're saying CBS, your initial statement of "if you're not fat there is no reason you should feel bad" is a bit squeewy

I think you can be considered "fat" - or even "underweight" - very easily with all these BMI gumph. Rugby players are your key example here - despite being fit as a fiddle, half of them weigh a tonne and would probably be classified as obese with these silly scales fandangle gyms use today and thus unhealthy! Craaazyness. I hope no one listens to those types of measurements!

Though what you're saying about people having other issues causing them to have body image problems I agree on. I think so much of peoples problems stems from self confidence and knowing who you are - which nowadays seems to be quite hard to establish and be happy with. The media... I'll point a big pokey stick at them and say they're to blame for so much. Yes - many people thrive on it and should learn to step back and not take note of the pile of pants they're always issuing... but today it's almost impossible to do that. I hate hate HATE the media for what they do. To me, they should be skinned alive for the problems they cause so many people about body issues.

Men wise - I've said this to people before but look at James Bond. 30years ago he didn't have a tan, nor did he have rippling muscles and a perfectly waxed hunky chunky chest! Noo! He was you're bog standard everyday looking chap. Now... now we have all of the above. And it's like it in every film! Smoothly waxed hunks with abs that don't seem real! No wonder more men are having issues.

Equally with the above statement I think more men are willing to admit they have problems today as opposed to holding back and hiding it away.

Bah.

All very complex and equally sad at the same time

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by Pheebs

Though what you're saying about people having other issues causing them to have body image problems I agree on. I think so much of peoples problems stems from self confidence and knowing who you are - which nowadays seems to be quite hard to establish and be happy with. The media... I'll point a big pokey stick at them and say they're to blame for so much. Yes - many people thrive on it and should learn to step back and not take note of the pile of pants they're always issuing... but today it's almost impossible to do that. I hate hate HATE the media for what they do. To me, they should be skinned alive for the problems they cause so many people about body issues.

I'm not sure knowing who you are makes you happy, although I do think that some people think "I can't be confident because of this..." (whatever feature it is) without realising that the confidence is worth more than whatever feature about themselves they'd change.

The media give us what we want, point that finger in the other direction.

Re: Bond - why should it be any different for Bond when 'Bond girls' have always been hot?

[Pheebs]

Originally Posted by cleanbluesky

I'm not sure knowing who you are makes you happy, although I do think that some people think "I can't be confident because of this..." (whatever feature it is) without realising that the confidence is worth more than whatever feature about themselves they'd change.

The media give us what we want, point that finger in the other direction.

It's always an interesting question that - whether the media gives us what we want or shapes us to believe it's what we want. I think it's some of both but mainly the latter.

Afterall, if it wasn't the media showing us pictures of new trends and fashion and whether looking pale is in or out etc... would half of the people in the world be so obsessed with looking/dressing in these ways?

[loki]

Originally Posted by cleanbluesky

I'm not sure knowing who you are makes you happy, although I do think that some people think "I can't be confident because of this..." (whatever feature it is) without realising that the confidence is worth more than whatever feature about themselves they'd change.

The media give us what we want, point that finger in the other direction.

In regards to the last point i'm not too sure. I don't think the power of the media can be understated. They tell us to be different and they build it up through peer pressure. Your last point implies the media is there to serve us or am I reading that wrong ?

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by Pheebs

It's always an interesting question that - whether the media gives us what we want or shapes us to believe it's what we want. I think it's some of both but mainly the latter.

Afterall, if it wasn't the media showing us pictures of new trends and fashion and whether looking pale is in or out etc... would half of the people in the world be so obsessed with looking/dressing in these ways?

Yes, becasue there is a constant drive to compete with each other. The media merely shows us what 'society' thinks - and we have the desire to find out what 'society' thinks or else we wouldn't be looking at the media

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by loki

In regards to the last point i'm not too sure. I don't think the power of the media can be understated. They tell us to be different and they build it up through peer pressure. Your last point implies the media is there to serve us or am I reading that wrong ?

No one is forcing anyone to watch the media, the media is a servant to the desire of the people. If we didn't desire it, why would we spend money for it? If we didn't desire it, why would they not provide something else?

Heat magazine are scared ****less into printing what people want to read, they're not sitting behind their desks thinking "what shall we make them think today", all they're looking to do is give us what we want so we'll keep buying.

[Pheebs]

But then is it what we want or what we think we want after being conditioned by the media from a very young age?

Oh and for the record - I think Heat magazine is one of the biggest culprits to making people feel poop! Down with them!

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by Pheebs

But then is it what we want or what we think we're want and conditioned to want from a very young age?

I don't think we're conditioned to want anything. I can't think of any point someone has said to me that I should buy Heat magazine and feel bad because of it.

The only people that condition us are government, becasue they get paid regardless of what they do. The government are interested in conditioning us to be consumers, conditioning us to work.

Private companies merely give us what we want.

Oh and for the record - I think Heat magazine is one of the biggest culprits to making people feel poop! Down with them!

No, people are the biggest culprits of making themselves feel down - we pay Heat magazine for the ammo.