social responsibility and individual responsibility, redux

[firecat]

keryx has posted in her own journal a very interesting theory in response to my "social responsibility and individual responsibility" post (And here's the version she posted to her blog.)

Comments

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Interesting comments; I've pointed to Keryx's essay in another discussion I'm following, on alcoholism. Thanks.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks for the link. I'm sure someone somewhere actually has done some real research on the subject... if it's that obvious to me, there must be a sociologist out there who sees the same thing.

Re: social responsibility etc, redux

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

In a way I think it parallels a "problem" I'm more familiar with.

1. Something (eg homosexuality) starts out as morally wrong. You can't really have much in the way of a rational argument about that.

2. Then they are seen as sick. But once something goes into medicine then science (eventually) takes over and rational thought can be applied.

3. Once science has spoken social integration can begin.

We are somewhere in the middle of 1-2 for fat acceptance. Fat people were seen as morally inferior slobs lacking in self control. Then obesity became a disease. Which after study reveals that it is possible to be "fat & fit" etc. Sooner or later there will be progression to social integration. I do see the current obesity scare as a step in the wrong direction. But I think people are a little more aware of the fat acceptance movement etc.

Of course, someone asked me my due date the other day which always makes me cynical about such acceptance. (He said, "Oh I'm sorry. I just thought as young and fit as you looked that belly had to be a pregnancy. Please take it as a compliment." *sigh*)