Parental Mistreatment!

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 7:59 am

Just picked up our local "rag." In the business section is an article and picture. It is about an ice cream shop that opened last month in a very small town about 20 miles from here. The picture is of the children of the owner! I say "CHILD ABUSE!!!!!!!" Four kids 18 -16 - 13 -7. together they could form the interior starting offensive line for any pro- football team!!
It ought to be illegal to let kids get that "fat." And they are all standing there holding ice cream cones and smiling! They are all four soooo obese it is disguisting!!! I will bet we have not heard the end to this !
Just had to vent!!
Deborah

Merinda · Post by **Merinda** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 5:27 pm

HI Deb ,

Yes child obesity is a topic of discussion here currently , they are trying to ban fast food advertising during childerens television viewing hours , it is already restricted.
I think its up to parents to restrict the amount of junk food their child consumes.

It sounds a strange way of advertising , obese kids promoting icecream , you would think that it would turn kids away from icecream.

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:06 am

This such a hot topic that some people by banning commercial of say McDonalds and such during kids program will suddenly make kids thin again. I do not beleive this is so. Commercial do not make people do things they can only suggest that you buy from them and there competter. It is up to the human to have self control.

Jessie

Kersten Lee · Post by **Kersten Lee** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 5:31 pm

Your right Jessie, this is a sticky wicket, I do disagree with you on this one though. I do believe in free speech but I don't believe that is what we have in this country at this time. Media organizations are consolidating into monopolies for the stated economy of scale. There are reporters all over this country that tell how the editors control political and sensitive information. This was always true, but now the news is beginning to be controlled by a very small number of CEO's. Most people do not have nor want to read and search for political truth or social truth. The fact that over 90% of national campaigns are won by the candidate that raised the most money is enough to show most people why and how our country's politics are contaminated by special interest groups. Those who have the most money to contribute and most times are contributing to both major political parties, are doing so to have their foot in the door. Not most times because of an overwhelming desire to do the best for the most people. Polititians say they work for us. I'm sorry most don't.

We are changed by the constant advertising sound bites we are bombarded with. I do agree it is up to each of us to investigate and understand, but without competing views it is impossible to be up on all issues as communication has shrunk the world and so many things can't be explained or understood sometimes even in hour interviews let-alone a sound bite.

The science and documentation is there how we are affected by constant advertising. The proof is also there how fast food has helped us to believe that eating fast food is healthy. Witness Kentucky Fried commercials that tried to make us believe deep fat fried chicken is a health food, which commercials they withdrew after public ridicule. This is not an even playing field especially as our children are concerned. McDonald's and others like them hire numerous science and sociological people to help create desires in us and our children in our conscience and unconscience.

One parent at work told me a story of his 3 year old son. He has an old pickup for garbage duty and a brand new one for show. He asked his son if he wanted to go for a ride and when he went to the old truck, this three year old said, I'll stay with mother, I don't want to ride in the old truck anymore. This three year old already is learning class distinction. The trip had little to do with spending time with his dad and everything to do with the comforts of a new truck. My feeling was he should have talked of the value of the old truck and asked his son again to come with him because he wanted his son to be by his side.

I don't believe a lot of parents and definitely our children have free will in all these matters. This goes to forcing tobacco companies to advertise the negative affects of smoking as they sell our children on smoking's benefits. Look to the statistical evidence of obesity and it's affect on our society. I contend there is not a level playing field. I do believe, like you, we all must be informed and responsible for our own well fare. In the end, we will have the world we want and deserve or the world that a few would give us.

Also in leaving, I must state there are a lot of causes for obesity, the same as for cross-dressers. One size does not fit all.

Just my opinion,
Kersten

Lorna · Post by **Lorna** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 5:41 pm

Wow. That is definitely very sad indeed.

Unfortunately, with the internet, the Playstation 2's, the X boxes and the game cubes, so many children today just aren't very active at all.

Forgive me for sounding like everybody's parents with the classic "when I was your age" routine, but when I was a kid I would catch a whooping to my backside from my dad if it was a nice day out and I was inside watching TV.

The bottom line is that I honestly feel that it is every parent's individual responsibility to monitor their children. It sickens me whenever I hear of people bringing children into the world and then failing to give them the proper guidance.

It's sick. And it's sad.

SophieLawson · Post by **SophieLawson** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 5:55 pm

Lorna wrote:Forgive me for sounding like everybody's parents with the classic "when I was your age" routine, but when I was a kid I would catch a whooping to my backside from my dad if it was a nice day out and I was inside watching TV.

Yep, I can remember those days as well

Dad used to smak me and my sister and leave red hand prints on our butts lol And I always used to get my Dad going, turn that computer off and get out and do something lol

Sophie xx

Jessie · Post by **Jessie** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:00 am

I want to add a follow up to all this. I am seeing a lot more of parents who are not only both working because they both want to which I think is good but they both have to just make by and some times one or the other may have to take a second job just to get buy. This may make it harder to raise kids and make the good decision for them. This is just a thought.

Jessie

Alexandra · Post by **Alexandra** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:56 am

parents that disregard the health of their kids isn't cool, but lets not assume that this was happening with the people in the pictures . . . perhaps the kids inherited a weight problem from their parents and they were taking in their first ice cream in months as a reward for following through with a healthy diet campaign for an entire month.