For Papua New Guineans and friends of PNG in the USA, Canada, Central America and South America as well as the Caribean islands. Say hi, post a message or query, or make an announcement. This board is for all the wantokz in the Americas.
I am also at a loss to understand why these postings where deleted. Individuals go to the effort and time of making a contribution to a particular posting and the find the whole thing deleted, what a waste of time and effort that is for us.
May I ask for what reason this particular post was deleted?
Erratic PNGScape moderation & the American obesity discussion
June 29 2007, 12:27 AM
I reckon the problem is that the moderators don't have the time to devote to what is ultimately a very important position of power. Thus, they make mistakes sometimes without realising.
The problem is that people start perceiving these mistakes as being abuses of the moderators censorship power. Perceptions ALWAYS are as important as realities in the ways people interact with each other. For moderators to dismiss the perceptions of PNGScapers ultimately creates more damage and digs the moderators even deeper into the holes they accidentally created.
I've also gotten the impression over time that at least some of the moderators don't have the time (or maybe the ability) to thoughtfully reflect on how their actions will be perceived. I don't think any of them have actually considered whether erratic censorship or censorship without explanation ultimately serves the greater interests of PNGScape more than it hurts those interests.
Naturally there were a few people who were trying to crush discussion of the topic about fat/obese Americans. There always are such people about but they had mostly faded away (besides they can always be ignored). Tather than spend the time to realise that, I suspect the moderators used the few belittling comments as their rationale to crush the entire discussion.
The moment moderators start moderating postings according to their own personal values is when the very nature of objective moderation is lost, and the moderator's credibility starts being destroyed.
I'm impressed that both pros and cons posters of this discussion have come together here to question the wiseness of this censorship. Removing the postings served no one except perhaps one moderator's sensitivities.
At least this posting is preserved for posterity (hardly looks like something that would be censored):
To those in the know - Why are Americans so incredibly fat/obese?
June 26 2007 at 8:11 PM Average, normal PNGean (=thin)
I've seen pictures of people within crowds in America, plus reports back to me from those who have been to America. They say, without exception that America is full of fatty fattys, and I'm not talking just a little overweight. People who are so incredibly overweight they have to shop at supermarkets using little motorised carts (I guess that gives them the chance to become even fatter). I have now read that the obesity problem is out of control, that even toddlers are close to double the weight of what they would normally be and primary school kids are looking like balloons.
All this in a world where literally hundreds of millions of people go hungry at night (including some in America), and hundreds of thousands are literally starving. All this in a country that considers itself to be highly educated!
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that obesity is not good for your lifespan nor for a healthy life with minimum medical problems. This makes me wonder why so many Americans have allowed themselves to become telly tubbies so fat that they could be used as bouncing balls?
Anyone there in America, please let me know what the REASON is for this problem.
Are Americans too STUPID to realise that obesity is bad for you?
Are Americans too LAZY to exercise to cut down on their weight?
Do Americans have some kind of FAT SICKNESS that hasn't yet spread to Europe and the rest of the world?
Whoever posted this is very naive. as cute pointed out. It is not just american that are fat. gees you must be a very narrow minded person in your little corner. Look at some of our island people not to mentio australians. Fast foods are becoming the problem in all societies - no matter what enthnicity you are.
Only vain and ignorant people and racist person would have posted something like this pointing at Americans.
Happy_butt em bikpela meri na fat tu...olsem planti Americans and sampela PNG manmeri wok or skul long hia tu joinim ol by eating too much junk food and visiting McDonals too often. Correctim mi sapos mi wrong!
Yeah I'm a big Woman,yet don't eat much junk Food or eat fast Food 3 times per Day.It has been at least a Year since I've eaten at McDonald's.I simply don't care for junk.Like I mentioned in reply few Day's ago.Big doesn't = unhealthy.I have a Friend who's Mother is a normal weight and has high Cholesterol.She controls with Diet and a Statin lowering Drug.She eats out (Sonic,Applebee's etc) at least once or twice per Week.I'm big,but don't have Cholesterol issues.I use Organic Coconut Oil,Unsalted Butter,and extra Virgin Olive Oil in cooking.If anyone is interested in using Cholesterol lowering Butters check for Benacol and Take Control.They can be bought at Wal-Mart.They contain natural Statins found in Cholesterol lowering Medication.
If it's in a Person's Gene's to be big they are going to be.I didn't eat junk as a youngster and was of a bigger size.I come from big,big boned and tall People on both sides.
Why don't you get yourself over to the following web site and see how Americans compare in their OBESITY with many other people, even from DEVELOPED countries, throughout the world.
OBESITY-follows the genes. If your family history's is "obis" you will still be part of it. There is no solution to these giant problem. It is a generic condition without ramification. Therefore, watch what you ate, be selective when you buy, and finally stay away from the SWEETS. Those are the some of a major idea that contributing to obesity.
How this answers why Americans have become the world winners in fatness? Question isn't about individuals or what genetics they have. Whats makes the country outdistance all others in balloon balls????????????
Obesity should be discussed without prejudice. Its a disease of the mind and body and unfortunately is overcoming normal society all over the world. Growth hormones fed to foods(such as cattle and poultry) that we eat on a daily basis and in conjuction with the convience of fast food restaurants on every corner of the block dont make the choice of healthy eating any easier. Being "big boned" is unforunately sometimes used to soften the blow of accountability. Although being big boneded is a genetic condition in which one can not avoid, some parents use this excuse to constantly feed their children an unhealthy diet. This is an issue that america and other global countries are highly aware of and in america in some cases is considered a form of abuse. America is a rich country in comparison to other countries. Not only monetary but resources are easily accessable and exercise is not a priority. In a world of fast moving industrialized economy, its easier to stop in at a McDonald's as opposed to cooking a healthy meal at home. Please take into prespective that not all americans are overweight and generalizing is truely unfair. Along with genetics, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, hormone growth products injected into our foods, not only is america at risk of abesity but as is the globe.
Its true not only americans. Look at PNG, many of the palimentary's use to have belly sticking out. This is a sign of obesity where many pngean confusing off. Why are we blaming other part of the world without realizing png too. Our leaders, include old men and young men still carrying obesity around. Especially png male generation this days. Just looking at their belly, you can easily notice what they carry around.
Obesity is a major problem in most developed countries. Australia is also becoming a country with obese people as latest survey shows. Too much fatty food and not enough exercise is why, not just Americans, have weight problems.
Could you check the statistics on how many MORE fat people are in America than any other nation? US would be ahead in the statistic side of things. yes, other countries are coming right behind, but I do believe that if we just state the statitistics of the matter there are more overweight people in the United States!
what i understand is that three factors contribute to obesity, genes, diet, and the environment. We simply cannot attributed all forms of obesity to a single factor because most of the three are at play to make people become obese. Some people inherit genes that make them big but eating unhealthy foods means that they can (not always) become fat or obese. The environment, including lifestyle, has a significant influence in people's health. Doing physical exercise and physical work can help prevent or reduce obesity but it is important to eat healthy food.
There has been some cases of obesity in PNG, the Wanigelas of Koki, and many public servants are indeed obese. Its best to stop pointing to America as an obese country and try help our own people by educating them to be responsible.