Most of us are used to driving through our town and casually taking note of the signs that dot the community. Sometimes they advertise an upcoming festival; other times, a local book drive. And some even post motivational messages, meant to encourage or inspire everyone who drives by. It's mostly PG, family-friendly stuff — after all, they're meant to be read by people of all ages. But recently, Jessica Baudin-Griffin and her 13-year-old daughter, Bria, drove through the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, and were stunned by what they saw.
Outside the Leefield Community League was a sign that read "Tired of being fat & ugly? Hit the gym and just be ugly!"
WTF?
And that's not all — on the other side, the sign read "I wish everything was as easy as getting fat!"
If you're seething with anger right now, I am right there with you. My nostrils areĀ flaring just writing those words. But here's the thing: It actually wasn't the first time Baudin-Griffin had seen the jaw-dropping signage. Photos of it had been making their way around social media for days, with most locals admonishing the messages.Ā
As she later wrote on Facebook, Baudin-Griffin was incredibly "disappointed" that the town would permit such a message but assumed it had been taken down shortly after hearing the public outcry. That's why she was shocked to see them still plastered up for all to read days later and decided she couldn't let it go without saying something herself.
Baudin-Griffin stepped out of her car, had her daughter snap a photo, and then took to Facebook to sound off.
"This is NOT humour!" she wrote in her July 25 post. "This kind of messaging only perpetuates body shaming culture. This is NOT the messaging I want my daughter or any child to read."
Although some may have defended the whole "it's only a joke" thing, she wasn't buying it.Ā
"Our words and language MATTER!" she continued. "Children learn through what we model. We teach them how to treat others. We teach them how to speak to others and themselves."
To her point, part of that education comes from the environment we immerse them in — and who on earth would want their kid thinking fat shaming is funny? Or better yet, how would they feel reading that if they themselves struggled with a weight problem?
She's far from the only person to take offense over the sign. In fact, a lot of people are straight-up furious about it.
"What in the actual F is this?" commented one woman on Baudin-Griffin's Facebook post. "And whoever thought this was a joke, needs to go back to the drawing board!"
"Wow!" wrote another. "I am so shocked to see this sort of messaging. I thought as a society we had moved away from body shaming. EveryBODY is unique, special, amazing and beautiful! Thanks for sharing and bringing light to this in your community!
"My house is only a couple blocks away and I have to drive by this sign every. single. day," wrote another woman. "I go between raging and wanting to burst into tears."
Honestly, you can't blame her. I'd do the same.
Baudin-Griffin's own 13-year-old daughter was offended by the sign too, and told CBC: "It made me feel like if I entered into that community there would be a lot of judgment and hostility toward people. If people see it enough they'll start to believe it. So that can make people feel very unhappy about themselves."
Those are the words of a 13-year-old girl — and yet, believe it or not, the person behind the signs is a full-grown man. A full-grown man who apparently doesn't see what all the fuss is about.
Wil Tonowski, who serves as president of the community league, says he's been collecting one-liners like these for years to use on the signs.
"Sometimes these messages are humorous and sometimes they're a little bit edgy," he told CBC. "The vast majority of people, they understand and they get it. And some just don't."
(Ahem. That's right — the rest of us just "don't get it.")
"You almost feel like saying, 'Look, if you don't like the sign close your eyes as you drive by,'" he continued. "It might not be that safeĀ but at least you won't be offended. Or go home a different way if it's so horrible."
Um. What?
Tonowski, who is a former police officer, apparently thinks we all just need to CTFD about the sign already.
āIn my opinion, far too many people are too sensitive, too politically correct and they donāt know how to laugh at themselves anymore,ā Tonowski told CTV News.
āI think itās funny when we say, āI wish everything was as easy as getting fat,'" he continues, "because as soon as you stop focusing on what youāre eating every day and how much youāre moving, itās easy to put weight on."
OMG, guy. You are missing the point!
The signs are reportedly down now and have been replaced by other slightly sassy messages.
The first reads āI can tell if people are judgmental just by looking at them" — which is perhaps a little snarky, but it's way better than what was on there before. The other side of the sign? It reads "A seminar on time travel will be held here two weeks ago."
OK, fine. I'll give that one a laugh. Just as long as no one brings back the fat shaming.
