Wii call girl fat; parents offended, demand ban
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/Wii call girl fat; parents offended, demand ban Saw this a while back. Some people are so "offended" by things I don't know how they get through life.
Oh, and by the way, Wii fit called my wife obese! She's actually a petite size, but she was 8 months pregnant at the time! It instantly blew her Mii up like a beach ball (Which looked pretty accurate at the time) I found it hilarious,... she found it amusing, but still whacked me over the head for laughing at her.
Oh, and by the way, Wii fit called my wife obese! She's actually a petite size, but she was 8 months pregnant at the time! It instantly blew her Mii up like a beach ball (Which looked pretty accurate at the time) I found it hilarious,... she found it amusing, but still whacked me over the head for laughing at her.
Life's tough, if you can't take being called a name then you should seriously sit down and figure out some stuff. I used to have a very high voice 4-5 years ago. I got names for that but it didn't bug me.
The paper, if they wanted to act responsibly, should have told her parents to stop giving her candy and Maccas.
Wow, that's kinda stupid....
It doesn't have anything to do with being offended or insulted. The issue is that it's extremely irresponsible for a videogame to be determining people's health, particularly since the Body Mass Index is widely acknowledged as a pretty poor system of comparison for many people. It's this kind of ill-informed amateur advice which leads to eating disorders. It is also not recommended for kids that young to go on a diet unless they're morbidly obese anyway. Frankly, this was a rather predictable outcome, and someone at Nintendo should have seen it coming and removed this "feature" in the name of being responsible.
Now none of that means that banning the game is justified, it's just a stupid and very irresponsible thing to do.
Now none of that means that banning the game is justified, it's just a stupid and very irresponsible thing to do.
haha. Still, I'm amazed at how big a lot of kids are these days, especially when most of the adults from their parents right through past retirement tend to be damned good shape.
the Body Mass Index is widely acknowledged as a pretty poor system of comparison for many people.
My lord people love discrediting things they have a problem with, logical or otherwise:
Some argue that the error in the BMI is significant and so pervasive that it is not generally useful in evaluation of health.[15] Due to these limitations, body composition for athletes is often better calculated using measures of body fat, as determined by such techniques as skinfold measurements or underwater weighing and the limitations of manual measurement have also led to new, alternative methods to measure obesity, such as the body volume index. However, recent studies of American football linemen who undergo intensive weight training to increase their muscle mass show that they frequently suffer many of the same problems as people ordinarily considered obese, notably sleep apnea.[16][17]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index
this was a rather predictable outcome
The Japanese due to their culture are not so easily offended (re: lazy sue-happy in-it-for-the-monney grubbers).
I wish more games would call people fat to get kids to go outside every once in a while.
People need to get a grip when playing games but seriously things like this can make people turn anaorexic/bulemic so it needs to be done with more care.
If you're offended or "psychologically" hurt by something as trivial as an inaccurate weight/height BMI evaluation, I'd tend to think it's more your own fault than the game. You're going to have a pretty hard time going through life if you can't handle something as simple as this. Not that it's the girl's fault for being upset, but that the parents would try to blame Nintendo for this is ridiculous. For example, if a child is frightened at the sight of spiders, blaming the spider for being ugly gets you nowhere.
That said, I agree they should probably add a little disclaimer saying that BMI is often very inaccurate due to variations of muscle mass, water retention, etc., etc.
That said, I agree they should probably add a little disclaimer saying that BMI is often very inaccurate due to variations of muscle mass, water retention, etc., etc.
did it say she was ugly too ;)
"when you were born," pipped up the official nintendo spokesperson Mii "they slapped your mother. thank you thanak you, i'm here all week."
me im tall/lanky skinny and very underweight im not annorexic or bullemic or anything else, i just eat crap food and have a different metabolism to everyone else (perhaps working 12 hours in 3 deg c has something to do with it? but i was skinny when i started, so perhaps not)
you kinda brush off most but not all school based comments about such things, but i drew the line walking home from school and having strangers pop their heads out of moving cars just to shout obsceneties for no good reason
"when you were born," pipped up the official nintendo spokesperson Mii "they slapped your mother. thank you thanak you, i'm here all week."
me im tall/lanky skinny and very underweight im not annorexic or bullemic or anything else, i just eat crap food and have a different metabolism to everyone else (perhaps working 12 hours in 3 deg c has something to do with it? but i was skinny when i started, so perhaps not)
you kinda brush off most but not all school based comments about such things, but i drew the line walking home from school and having strangers pop their heads out of moving cars just to shout obsceneties for no good reason
This is unbelievable (although I believe it). How dare they call for a ban. The family will probably be after a hefty compensation payout next.
"Please step off the Wii fit, you're breaking it."
one at a time please
"For multiplayer, please purchase a separate unit"
The family will probably be after a hefty compensation payout next.
Nintendo would probably counter-sue for flippant use of the word 'hefty'. "An error has occured. Re-calculating gravity. Please wait."
Keep 'em coming! :P
Keep 'em coming! :P
Not that I normally care what the Daily Mail says, in this case I feel there's a valid point. A contributing factor to anorexia is tied up in how others percieve you, and how an "ideal" of being skinny is presented culturally. It's fair enough if a Wii calls a fat person fat: it's not going to come as a surprise.
However if a Wii, with it's purely objective viewpoint, calls a normal average-weight girl fat (and she is of average weight, if you read the article), it's quite possible she would take that as an authoratitive judgement. After all, it's based purely on maths rather than someone's opinion. And that, to me, seems like it could be harmful to a girl with fragile self-esteem.
I don't think there's a well-known disorder that can result from people saying "hah, you've got a voice like a girl". I'm going to put your first sentence down to you not quite understanding the problem.
That said, I don't think the game should be banned at all. Someone just needed to spend a little longer thinking about this particular feature.
However if a Wii, with it's purely objective viewpoint, calls a normal average-weight girl fat (and she is of average weight, if you read the article), it's quite possible she would take that as an authoratitive judgement. After all, it's based purely on maths rather than someone's opinion. And that, to me, seems like it could be harmful to a girl with fragile self-esteem.
Life's tough, if you can't take being called a name then you should seriously sit down and figure out some stuff. I used to have a very high voice 4-5 years ago. I got names for that but it didn't bug me.
I don't think there's a well-known disorder that can result from people saying "hah, you've got a voice like a girl". I'm going to put your first sentence down to you not quite understanding the problem.
That said, I don't think the game should be banned at all. Someone just needed to spend a little longer thinking about this particular feature.
Don't blame the Wii, blame the stupid BMI system. The Wii didn't actually call her 'fat', btw - it just uses the official BMI terms.
Yeah, but none of that really matters. The girl doesn't know that, all she knows is that the program thinks she's fat. It's a computer, it wouldn't be saying that just to be mean. So, she takes it on board. Assign the blame wherever it's due, I'm just pointing out the effect.
This isn't like "games as murder simulators". Killing someone with a button and thumbstick is nothing like going out, buying a gun, aiming at a random person in the street and pulling the trigger. In this case there's a direct link between a young girl's self-esteem and using the software. The effect is immediate, and the consequences can be serious.
This isn't like "games as murder simulators". Killing someone with a button and thumbstick is nothing like going out, buying a gun, aiming at a random person in the street and pulling the trigger. In this case there's a direct link between a young girl's self-esteem and using the software. The effect is immediate, and the consequences can be serious.
Sure, but she must've known what program was for. Would it have been better if it lied and said 'wow, you're the perfect weight!'?
Yeah, but none of that really matters. The girl doesn't know that, all she knows is that the program thinks she's fat. It's a computer, it wouldn't be saying that just to be mean. So, she takes it on board. Assign the blame wherever it's due, I'm just pointing out the effect.
I think we all understand the effects, and that they may have been harmful in this case, but that's not the issue (it certainly is an issue, but you can't undo that).
The issue is that the parents are making a big deal and casting blame from a matter that shouldn't have been a big deal in the first place.
Again, consider my analogy: If the sight of spiders emotionally distresses a child, it doesn't help to blame the spider for being ugly, regardless of how severe the effects were on the child.
Sure, but she must've known what program was for. Would it have been better if it lied and said 'wow, you're the perfect weight!'?
Except that would have been a pretty accurate response. She's a normal healthy weight. That's my point.
Did no one read the article? Many posters here seem to have assumed that the girl was indeed fat, and that the parents are going on about how terrible this game is that it called their fat daughter fat.
Yes, I read the article. We only have the parents word that she's not over weight. They could be in denial.
Anyway, The BMI is at fault here, not the Wii. That's my point.
Anyway, The BMI is at fault here, not the Wii. That's my point.
I wouldn't be offended to be called fat by something called the "Wii".
Anyway, The BMI is at fault here, not the Wii. That's my point.
Using a flawed metric is surely the responsibility of the company using it. I do like the idea of Wii Fit being calibrated for the Japanese frame and calling every Westerner fat, though. :D
Strange. I actually tried looking up the facts of the article. It said she's a 4 ft 9 in 10 year old girl who weighs 6 stones (84 pounds).
According to about.com http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcare/a/tallbutfat.htm the average 10 year old girl (in 2002) is 4 ft 8.4 inches and weighs 88 pounds.
I was expecting her to by some 'Wall-E' style 180 pound kid. Not an 'average' kid by government standards. I'm shocked to say this but maybe the family has a point.
According to about.com http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcare/a/tallbutfat.htm the average 10 year old girl (in 2002) is 4 ft 8.4 inches and weighs 88 pounds.
I was expecting her to by some 'Wall-E' style 180 pound kid. Not an 'average' kid by government standards. I'm shocked to say this but maybe the family has a point.
My lord people love discrediting things they have a problem with, logical or otherwise:
I'd be more worried about people who think Wikipedia is a reliable source of unbiased expert testimony in any given field. I mean if your argument relies on something written on a site which has been reporting the death of Vernon Kay all week, I'm thinking you're struggling for good evidence.
The Japanese due to their culture are not so easily offended (re: lazy sue-happy in-it-for-the-monney grubbers).
Well of course, it's not as though Nintendo has divisions in the US, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Germany, et al.
Did no one read the article?
Don't be silly. All they need is a ridiculously skewed eight word summary from someone who either didn't read it himself or didn't understand it, and they're off.
each time i read this title i keep on thinking that someones wii has a thing for fat call girls ;)
Dustin: Good point. I just used a BMI calculator for the numbers given in the article, and it calculated a BMI of 18.2. The calculator also states a health BMI for a girl that age is between 14.2 and 20.3.
I can't understand why the Wii game would call a BMI of 18.2 "fat", other than I guess differences between Japanese and most westerners as Sledge said.
However, regardless of who or what is responsible for the incorrect "offensive" weight evaluation, it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that the evaluation was taken as an offense or caused emotional distress. This is a matter solely between the parents and the child, and personally I think it's ridiculous the parents would try to blame anyone but themselves.
I can't understand why the Wii game would call a BMI of 18.2 "fat", other than I guess differences between Japanese and most westerners as Sledge said.
However, regardless of who or what is responsible for the incorrect "offensive" weight evaluation, it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that the evaluation was taken as an offense or caused emotional distress. This is a matter solely between the parents and the child, and personally I think it's ridiculous the parents would try to blame anyone but themselves.
I think that it's our moral obligation to tell people who lack reality their current state.
I think that it's our moral obligation to tell people who lack reality their current state.
Did you even think about what you just wrote, or do you just like typing?You have no right at all to go around calling a 10yr old "fat" - even moreso when they're below average weight for their age. Aside from that, you have no right to go around picking fault with anyone unless you yourself are perfect, which I doubt you are.
I should have added a little more text to that. The truth is that if no one does something to improve a current situation then you are guilty. There are consequences to calling up people on things and you will be considered an A hole. Fitness wise I see too many fat kids, in the long run this will hit them in all kinds of mental and health issues. Do you want to just let them be? or give them a reality check soon so they work on issues and prevent going on their whole lives with health problems that will shorten their life? No one is perfect, but you can always work towards becoming better.
In the given 10 yr old situation the BMI is not the perfect way to measure physical fitness, since you may have a good amount of muscle and or have a bone structure that ads weight to your body. I guess it's much tougher or even cruel to let kids know because it can traumatize them for life if you tell them directly (like the game did). Does that mean they should recall all Wii Fit units and sue Nintendo? no, the product is a game and should be taken as such.
I have had my share of reality checks, they work very well.
In the given 10 yr old situation the BMI is not the perfect way to measure physical fitness, since you may have a good amount of muscle and or have a bone structure that ads weight to your body. I guess it's much tougher or even cruel to let kids know because it can traumatize them for life if you tell them directly (like the game did). Does that mean they should recall all Wii Fit units and sue Nintendo? no, the product is a game and should be taken as such.
I have had my share of reality checks, they work very well.
Fitness wise I see too many fat kids
Me too but I don't hit them over the head with a newspaper and go "Oi! You're fat!". in the long run this will hit them in all kinds of mental and health issues.
Everybody who is overweight has (or will have) mental and/or health issues? What rot! Do you want to just let them be?
Yes. Their life is their business - not mine or yours. No one is perfect, but you can always work towards becoming better.
You seriously need to stop digging that hole of yours. Being skinny does not make you a better person. Me too but I don't hit them over the head with a newspaper and go "Oi! You're fat!"
That one is funny!
Yes. Their life is their business - not mine or yours.
True. Parents and close relatives should care.
Being skinny does not make you a better person.
Neither does being fat. It all depends what field you end up investing your time at.
Yes, I read the article. We only have the parents word that she's not over weight. They could be in denial.
What, so we should take your word for it over theirs? That seems entirely reasonable.
Anyway, The BMI is at fault here, not the Wii. That's my point.
Wait, so the parents were in denial about how heavy she was, which would make the BMI result actually correct, not at fault. Unless they weren't in denial (more likely), and they gave the correct figures, which, if you bother to check them against the BMI, show that she is normal and healthy. Either way, the BMI is not at fault.
Did you honestly read the article before you first posted? Because it really seems like you didn't, and then said a load of contradictory stuff like "yeah, well, the parents are probably in denial" to justify what you'd said.
I can't understand why the Wii game would call a BMI of 18.2 "fat", other than I guess differences between Japanese and most westerners as Sledge said.
5 seconds of research (there's that dirty word again, guys) tells me that the Wii fit board weighs you, rather than having you input your weight, so it seems likely it just got the weight measurement wrong. After all, the Wiimote isn't exactly a precision instrument.
Has anyone here actually got wii-fit, can you check please fi it does indeed call you fat for having a BMI of 18.2. The instructions should probably say to double check your weight against a second set of scales if you feel the wii fit board is wrong.
Did you honestly read the article before you first posted? Because it really seems like you didn't, and then said a load of contradictory stuff like "yeah, well, the parents are probably in denial" to justify what you'd said.
5 seconds of research (there's that dirty word again, guys)
Lets try not to resort to "I'm better than you" arguments/insults here, okay?
Anyway, I said it before, and I'll say it again:
regardless of who or what is responsible for the incorrect "offensive" weight evaluation, it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that the evaluation was taken as an offense or caused emotional distress. This is a matter solely between the parents and the child, and personally I think it's ridiculous the parents would try to blame anyone but themselves.
If something this trivial offends you to the point of trying to sue/ban, then in my mind it's just as ridiculous as trying to sue McDonalds for "causing" gross obesity.
Now if you want to debate about what caused the incorrect reading, go right ahead, but you're not going to find much to argue about.
Another situation where games should carry an IQ rating rather than the age rating, at least then stupid people wont give games like GTA and Doom a bashing every time they decide to go out and shoot people.
2ps worth,
-If the girl was indeed fat and the game told her so then this -IS- a good thing and maybe the brutal truth will make a difference.
-If the app's data is wrong then it is not a good thing and the company deserves bad PR and hounding.
Not much more to say really.
-If the girl was indeed fat and the game told her so then this -IS- a good thing and maybe the brutal truth will make a difference.
-If the app's data is wrong then it is not a good thing and the company deserves bad PR and hounding.
Not much more to say really.
Agreed with Danman.
As opposed to... the Daily Mirror?!? Yes, actually, in this instance I think wiki has more credibility.
Hmmm, likely to be seperate articles AND moderated by completely different people. I fail to see the link you are trying to 'argue' there.
And what difference does that make? We're all human beings. Just because sumos are commonplace in western society does not mean they are any less fat.
You sound like you're fat. Are you fat? I'm sorry; I didn't realise. Fatty.
I lol'd. I might take that up. Right after I take up some Judo or something...
You never know what not-fat person might be listening. Tehehe
Being fat IS a health issue in itself. I can't believe you just asked that question.
Much like that guy who just got stabbed in an alleyway somewhere.
No, it makes you a much less fat person.
This doesn't sound like me at all; but in this case I would be happy to give Ninty the benefit of the doubt.
I'd be more worried about people who think Wikipedia is a reliable source of unbiased expert testimony in any given field.
As opposed to... the Daily Mirror?!? Yes, actually, in this instance I think wiki has more credibility.
I mean if your argument relies on something written on a site which has been reporting the death of Vernon Kay all week, I'm thinking you're struggling for good evidence.
Hmmm, likely to be seperate articles AND moderated by completely different people. I fail to see the link you are trying to 'argue' there.
Well of course, it's not as though Nintendo has divisions in the US, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Germany, et al.
And what difference does that make? We're all human beings. Just because sumos are commonplace in western society does not mean they are any less fat.
Don't be silly. All they need is a ridiculously skewed eight word summary from someone who either didn't read it himself or didn't understand it, and they're off.
You sound like you're fat. Are you fat? I'm sorry; I didn't realise. Fatty.
Me too but I don't hit them over the head with a newspaper and go "Oi! You're fat!".
I lol'd. I might take that up. Right after I take up some Judo or something...
You never know what not-fat person might be listening. Tehehe
Everybody who is overweight has (or will have) mental and/or health issues?
Being fat IS a health issue in itself. I can't believe you just asked that question.
Yes. Their life is their business - not mine or yours.
Much like that guy who just got stabbed in an alleyway somewhere.
Being skinny does not make you a better person.
No, it makes you a much less fat person.
What, so we should take your word for it over theirs? That seems entirely reasonable.
This doesn't sound like me at all; but in this case I would be happy to give Ninty the benefit of the doubt.
Has anyone here actually got wii-fit, can you check please fi it does indeed call you fat for having a BMI of 18.2.
I don't have that low a BMI. In either case a BMI of 18.2 is actually slightly underweight, even for a Japanese person, so it would be incorrect to call said person "fat". Being fat IS a health issue in itself.
Not really no. A fat person who exercises regularly, is much healthier than a skinny person who doesn't. No, it makes you a much less fat person.
Which isn't necessarily healthy either. You need fat to survive. You want the truth! You can't handle the truth.. fatty.. skinny.. whatever you are!!!11!1!!01!
Place her on a out-dated broken scale that shows your weight 3 times as much as it really is and then get mad at the company because it's incorrect... smells like an idiot to me.
If you can see that you're skinny.. then you're skinny.. if you're fat.. then you're fat. If the Wii had eyes then it might give a better reading.
Place her on a out-dated broken scale that shows your weight 3 times as much as it really is and then get mad at the company because it's incorrect... smells like an idiot to me.
If you can see that you're skinny.. then you're skinny.. if you're fat.. then you're fat. If the Wii had eyes then it might give a better reading.
Lets try not to resort to "I'm better than you" arguments/insults here, okay?
If people would rather jump to a conclusion than actually check their facts, I will point it out. If people are concerned about feeling insulted, I would encourage them to collect some facts together before posting, so that it doesn't happen. This is not in reference to you.
Anyway, I said it before, and I'll say it again:
regardless of who or what is responsible for the incorrect "offensive" weight evaluation, it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that the evaluation was taken as an offense or caused emotional distress. This is a matter solely between the parents and the child, and personally I think it's ridiculous the parents would try to blame anyone but themselves.
If something this trivial offends you to the point of trying to sue/ban, then in my mind it's just as ridiculous as trying to sue McDonalds for "causing" gross obesity.
regardless of who or what is responsible for the incorrect "offensive" weight evaluation, it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that the evaluation was taken as an offense or caused emotional distress. This is a matter solely between the parents and the child, and personally I think it's ridiculous the parents would try to blame anyone but themselves.
If something this trivial offends you to the point of trying to sue/ban, then in my mind it's just as ridiculous as trying to sue McDonalds for "causing" gross obesity.
And as people here have "said before", it's not about being offended or causing offence. Why should the parents blame themselves for the potentially damaging effect an error in the game can have on the fragile self-image of some young girls? This whole thing is about the wider issue of eating disorders, not being offended. In a world where normal-weight girls feel they have to be thinner, a game calling a normal-weight girl fat is adding to that problem, no?
Still it does make me laugh that Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum chimes in saying that it's terrible that children are being called fat. Considering that "obese" is one of the other classifications given by the game, I'm not really sure where Tam's coming from. Seems a safe assumption that he would mostly deal with obese and fat people and children, so... what does he call them? You'd think a Forum dedicated to Obesity wouldn't then skirt around the issue with euphemisms.
If people would rather jump to a conclusion than actually check their facts, I will point it out. If people are concerned about feeling insulted, I would encourage them to collect some facts together before posting, so that it doesn't happen. This is not in reference to you.
No, it's obviously directed at me. I don't know why you keep resorting to insults but they're not appreciated.And no, of course I didn't do any research into this. I've got better things to do with my time, thanks. Good God, it's a silly little story on an internet forum for which I made some off-the-cuff remarks. If you don't agree with me then fine.
This story seems to have hit a sore spot with you for some reason. I don't know what that may be but kindly keep your holier-than-thou attitude and insults to yourself.
Bottom line, if someone comes along and calls you fatty, it's well out of order, whether you are or not. If you're doing a BMI test, then FAT is a valid classification, and yes, occasionally there will be something wrong with the measurement, but it's not reason to file suit. She probably entered her height wrong or something.
If you're doing a BMI test, then FAT is a valid classification
No it isn't. The classifications are Underweight, Normal (should probably be average, but I digress), Overweight and Obese. That's true. Where did the word fat come from? Does Wii Fit actually use this word? Or has this been a generalisation made via the media/parents and the game perhaps used the term overweight? There's no way to actually know.
Wii Fit doesn't use the word "fat" - it uses the classifications mentioned by Flameduck - believe me, it reminds me I'm "overweight" every time I play it :-)
How come this kind of thing doesnt get banned and whip up the media?
Welcome to the machine.
Not that i think neo-brainwashing the nation to all be the same is a bad idea or anything.. (i am an upstanding, "compliant" and obiedient "citizen"), but I actually like a woman with a -bit- of a bum myself. :/
Plus I think suing could be a bad precident for indie developers because it would efectively render the "No warranty of suitability for purpose and the limitation of liability (ie none - use at own risk)" clauses in a standard EULA more or less completely void.
Welcome to the machine.
Not that i think neo-brainwashing the nation to all be the same is a bad idea or anything.. (i am an upstanding, "compliant" and obiedient "citizen"), but I actually like a woman with a -bit- of a bum myself. :/
Or has this been a generalisation made via the media/parents and the game perhaps used the term overweight?
I wouldnt be surprised, the press love a good witchhunt.Plus I think suing could be a bad precident for indie developers because it would efectively render the "No warranty of suitability for purpose and the limitation of liability (ie none - use at own risk)" clauses in a standard EULA more or less completely void.
Why should the parents blame themselves for the potentially damaging effect an error in the game can have on the fragile self-image of some young girls? This whole thing is about the wider issue of eating disorders, not being offended. In a world where normal-weight girls feel they have to be thinner, a game calling a normal-weight girl fat is adding to that problem, no?
Yes, it could possibly agitate the problem, but I believe the problem shouldn't be there in the first place. A girl with a fragile self-image should trust her parents' or doctor's opinion of healthy weight more than some random video game she played. I'm not blaming the girl for this, since it's not her fault, but it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that this situation exists.
I don't have that low a BMI. In either case a BMI of 18.2 is actually slightly underweight, even for a Japanese person, so it would be incorrect to call said person "fat".
18.2 on the "skinny" side of the acceptable adult BMI range, but for a 10 year old girl, it's almost perfectly normal (look it up). For adults, BMI should be between 18 and 24, where 20-22 is ideal.
No, it's obviously directed at me. I don't know why you keep resorting to insults but they're not appreciated.
I didn't actually insult you. I asked if you had read the article, because your comments directly contradicted it. Then your comments contradicted yourself. I'm just not a big enough person to let that go ;)
And no, of course I didn't do any research into this. I've got better things to do with my time, thanks.
Honestly, I could spare the two minutes to look at a BMI chart and put the article into perspective. It's not like I was turning libraries upside down or anything.
This story seems to have hit a sore spot with you for some reason. I don't know what that may be but kindly keep your holier-than-thou attitude and insults to yourself.
Again, I didn't actually insult you. As for the story hitting a sore spot, I kinda thought my issue was pretty clear: people not reading the article.
Sorry if you felt insulted, no hard feelings. :)
Yes, it could possibly agitate the problem, but I believe the problem shouldn't be there in the first place. A girl with a fragile self-image should trust her parents' or doctor's opinion of healthy weight more than some random video game she played.
I agree... and disagree! If a girl has a fragile self-image, she can't necessarily rely on the opinions her doctor or parents. Especially not when she would place more weight with her peers and the media. At that age, those things can have an awful lot of pull.
I'm not blaming the girl for this, since it's not her fault, but it's certainly not Nintendo's or BMI's fault that this situation exists.
Absolutely, but that doesn't mean they don't have to do anything about it. For example, it's not Google's fault that there's porn on the internet, but it still introduced safe search, because it knows that's a more fruitful course of action that attempting to clean the internet. Not that I'm really suggesting a specific course of action for Nintendo, because I would put this down to a one-off glitch with the hardware. Having said that, a parental control to remove the BMI function might be something worth thinking about (I've not played Wii fit... maybe that's integral to the game?).
But then, where do you draw the line? You can't bow to every single complainant about every little thing.
The problem is in the way a lot of kids are brought up to think they are the center of the universe. Just because their parents think so doesn't mean squat to anyone else, and they need to get a reality check. These days kids in many schools get certificates for behaving well at school during a particular day, and teachers are encouraged to go to great lengths to avoid suggesting someone is a failure.
Too many people like this kids parents seem to think they are entitled to something, and probably bought up the kid in the same way. Sometime discipline and tough love is a good thing.
It's not good if a system gives inaccurate information, it could cause a eating disorder but neither should a parent sue. Just take the game away, and make a complaint. These kids are never going to survive real life when they leave school if they don't compete and experience failure. How else are they going to take pride in their success and strive harder.
No surprise that so many end up on state benefits quite happy to be a burden on society, expecting the government to nanny them.
Too many people like this kids parents seem to think they are entitled to something, and probably bought up the kid in the same way. Sometime discipline and tough love is a good thing.
It's not good if a system gives inaccurate information, it could cause a eating disorder but neither should a parent sue. Just take the game away, and make a complaint. These kids are never going to survive real life when they leave school if they don't compete and experience failure. How else are they going to take pride in their success and strive harder.
No surprise that so many end up on state benefits quite happy to be a burden on society, expecting the government to nanny them.
Actually they can not sue anyone anyway. They should read the manual that comes with it instead of blame others for their intellectual / reading shortcommings
And Wii Fit gives pretty accurate data. Given you enter the correct height, it will only call you overweight if you are (I know for sure, I am and it reminds me of it every now and then ^^)
Also, for example, if you think that beeing 70kg at 1.5m is slim and fine then you are in first position stupid and off reality and in second position overweight.
And Wii Fit gives pretty accurate data. Given you enter the correct height, it will only call you overweight if you are (I know for sure, I am and it reminds me of it every now and then ^^)
Also, for example, if you think that beeing 70kg at 1.5m is slim and fine then you are in first position stupid and off reality and in second position overweight.
Actually they can not sue anyone anyway. They should read the manual that comes with it instead of blame others for their intellectual / reading shortcommings
Tell that to my local council who got sued by a jetty jumper for injuries relating to a jetty that is 'too short' despite the clearly visible 'shallow waters' signs posted along the jetty.
I actually lost 20lbs in the last couple of months. Only thing that changed is that I've barely done any game dev and focused more on illustration. Sitting all day long at the easel drawing and painting instead of the puter. Maybe traditional art uses more energy.