Big As Life

I just almost don't know what to say about this.

I opened up the Sunday Washington Post last night, and was quite taken aback by the picture on the front page of the Style section.

I've had issues with weight for most of my life, admittedly never this severe (and funny enough, I wrote the rant that referenced the 500-pound man BEFORE I read this piece.) so I have compassion for the struggle.  But I'm still not sure that this man's nearly naked body needed to be displayed on the front page of the Style section. I'm not even sure it should be anywhere in the paper, but Style seems especially incongruent. It just seemed like a weird placement. I know it's human interest (at least I guess that's what you'd call it...) but I can't get my mind around it. Ever since the video of Terri Schiavo ran so many times that I can STILL see it in my mind without even closing my eyes (although thankfully I only had to see the footage of her stomach WITH THE FEEDING TUBE IN IT once, due to a freak viewing incident while on the elliptical trainer) I've been really wondering about our need to see everything in this country.

There is value of reading about this man's struggle - knowing there are people out there who suffer mightily is good for us, I guess, as it keeps life in some kind of perspective. And I'm a true supporter of freedom of the press. But I'm not sure that seeing him in this state in a rather fluffy section of a major newspaper is useful for anyone, including him. There seems a lack of dignity in it, for him, and a muddling of the issue, for the reader.

"There is nothing funnier to watch than a fat man dancing in bed," says his wife, bizarrely. The article itself is actually one of the saddest things I've ever read, and I find the family's squalid living situation of much more interest than anything else. Why aren't they getting help from a shelter, now that they're hooked into some kind of social service support? Is there any talk of support for the sister, who is developmentally delayed? I understand that it's all very complicated, and having worked in the social service field myself for quite a while, that it doesn't always move that fast - I just wonder, in a way - what's the point? The first question any editor (or good writer) should ask, is "why am I telling this story?" And from this one, I don't get any answer for that. It's not clear. Do I feel sorry for John after I read it? Yes. Am I shocked that he refuses surgery, while totally supporting his right not to have it? Absolutely. But am I also sitting here going, "Now what?" Yep.

Maybe the point is that Oprah or Maury Povich (who I'm amazed hasn't found this guy yet - but it's only Monday) doesn't always swoop in to save the day with life coaching and a personal chef. Maybe that's it. Maybe I'm answering my own question. But the thing is, that point could be made without that photo. And I'm leaning towards thinking that it should have been. 

But, as the saying goes, I could be wrong.

Comments

[Michael]

Disturbing! ... as the picture panders to my own prejudices about weight, not merely being overweight -- most of us fight that struggle in our lives -- but my problem is with understanding the obesity issue where self control, self esteem and dignity take leave of the body and mind ... I did not read the article, but I did wonder how he had not lost weight since he has not walked since '98 (or whatever date they mentioned) ... that means he can't go anywhere to get food to consume so there must be some medical reason that I haven't bothered to research ... but the foto did remind me of my new pet peeve -- people too fat to walk are getting handicapped parking privileges when some walking might do them some good ... so put the fat parking far from the door ... then I lose it when they go in the store and get the electric carts so they can fill the basket with Krispy Kremes, processed foods and high calorie/high sugar addictive foods as we dodge them in the aisles ... and don't forget the diet coke. yes, the picture was disgusting and yes, the placement in Style was weird -- but then at least it wasn't in the Magazine next to the food review.