Jim Morrison, fat activist
April 3, 2013 3:52 PM Subscribe
"It’s terrible to be thin and wispy, because, you know, because you could get knocked over by a strong wind or something, man." Via Dangerous Minds.
For those of you wondering just how fat he means by fat, Morrison was 180cm tall (5' 9") so a weight of 185lb gives him a BMI of 27.3, making him merely "overweight".
For those of you wondering just how fat he means by fat, Morrison was 180cm tall (5' 9") so a weight of 185lb gives him a BMI of 27.3, making him merely "overweight".
Seems like a good place to link this letter to the editor from my local paper.
posted by michaelh at 4:13 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by michaelh at 4:13 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Mr. Ho Hos Rising.
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:17 PM on April 3, 2013 [27 favorites]
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:17 PM on April 3, 2013 [27 favorites]
five two one, baby
one inch, five
no one here gets
out alive
98.4, baby
BMI
gonna make it, baby, if we fry
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:20 PM on April 3, 2013 [11 favorites]
one inch, five
no one here gets
out alive
98.4, baby
BMI
gonna make it, baby, if we fry
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:20 PM on April 3, 2013 [11 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, this is an interesting post. Do not turn the thread into the Same Old Fight. It doesn't deserve it. If you have questions about this request, hit us up on the contact form.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:34 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:34 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
180cm is 5.9 feet, not 5 feet 9 inches. So Jim Morrison had a BMI of about 25.8 when he described being "fat" as positive.
posted by crayz at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by crayz at 4:36 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Did Jim Morrison ever do anything that Jim Morrison didn't like?
posted by box at 4:43 PM on April 3, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by box at 4:43 PM on April 3, 2013 [5 favorites]
I have mixed feelings about Jim Morrison, but as a formerly skinny guy, who's now around 230lbs. at 6ft 1, I'm actually kind of enjoying my chubby self. People get out of my way more, among other things.
posted by jonmc at 4:44 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 4:44 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
You men eat your dinner
Eat your pork & beans
I eat more chicken
Than any man's seen.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:50 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Eat your pork & beans
I eat more chicken
Than any man's seen.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:50 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Willie Dixon wrote that, Wabbitwax.
posted by jonmc at 4:52 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 4:52 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Did Jim Morrison ever do anything that Jim Morrison didn't like?
Choke to death on his own vomit?
posted by Sys Rq at 4:53 PM on April 3, 2013 [11 favorites]
Choke to death on his own vomit?
posted by Sys Rq at 4:53 PM on April 3, 2013 [11 favorites]
That was Hendrix (and Bon Scott and countless others).
posted by jonmc at 4:54 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 4:54 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yeah, and it's not really about food either, but Morrison sang it. I would note as well that neither Willie Dixon nor Howlin' Wolf were known for being thin and wispy.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:56 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wabbittwax at 4:56 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wait, that was Jimi Hendrix, wasn't it? Well, vomit blood, then.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:59 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 4:59 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Morrison officialy died of a heart attack, but most people agree that it was probably drug (cocaine or heroin) related.
posted by jonmc at 5:00 PM on April 3, 2013
posted by jonmc at 5:00 PM on April 3, 2013
I had always assumed Jim Morrison had choked on his own vomit like everybody else but now I've learned (from the wikipedia of course) that his cause of death is unknown or at least in dispute.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:01 PM on April 3, 2013
posted by wabbittwax at 5:01 PM on April 3, 2013
Without DNA testing, there's really no way to prove just who's vomit he choked on.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:05 PM on April 3, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:05 PM on April 3, 2013 [17 favorites]
I just went from 260lbs down to 175lbs in a little over a year and strong winds feel about the same to me now as they did before.
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?
posted by Lizard at 5:08 PM on April 3, 2013
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?
posted by Lizard at 5:08 PM on April 3, 2013
He looks like a hirsute Rob Reiner in the photo. Also: Is anyone else getting ads for McDonald's on the DM page? No, really.
posted by scratch at 5:09 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by scratch at 5:09 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just went from 260lbs down to 175lbs in a little over a year and strong winds feel about the same to me now as they did before
It's weird though, if you're a 40+ year old guy with a goatee showing some gray and a beergut and a deep voice, people (even people who could probably kick my ass) will give you space.
posted by jonmc at 5:12 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
It's weird though, if you're a 40+ year old guy with a goatee showing some gray and a beergut and a deep voice, people (even people who could probably kick my ass) will give you space.
posted by jonmc at 5:12 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
I searched, failed on youtube for a clip where they are on an airplane and Jim Morrison (played by Val Kilmer in the movie) is exposing his belly to one of his bandmates and proudly boasting of his mammal nature.
(Illuminate hippybearsignal.)
posted by bukvich at 5:15 PM on April 3, 2013
(Illuminate hippybearsignal.)
posted by bukvich at 5:15 PM on April 3, 2013
(Illuminate hippybearsignal.)
Heh. The first time I was ever asked out by a gay guy, he bore a striking resemblence to Morrison, only minus the beerbelly and with a leather jacket and a Soundgarden t-shirt.
posted by jonmc at 5:17 PM on April 3, 2013
Heh. The first time I was ever asked out by a gay guy, he bore a striking resemblence to Morrison, only minus the beerbelly and with a leather jacket and a Soundgarden t-shirt.
posted by jonmc at 5:17 PM on April 3, 2013
Did you spoon, man?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:23 PM on April 3, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:23 PM on April 3, 2013 [8 favorites]
I seriously don't care for the Doors or Morrison normally but this makes me like him a little bit more than I did. Thanks for the post!
posted by ifjuly at 5:23 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ifjuly at 5:23 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Seems like a good place to link this letter to the editor from my local paper.
Oh god, that's the Rockford Register Star, isn't it?
posted by mykescipark at 5:30 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh god, that's the Rockford Register Star, isn't it?
posted by mykescipark at 5:30 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Why was Jim Morrison buried in a coffin that was ten feet long?
...
Because they had to make room for his dunce cap.
- Neil Hamburger “Hot February Night"
posted by wcfields at 5:41 PM on April 3, 2013 [5 favorites]
By 1960s standards, Morrison is a big guy. Today he's HWP; a picture of reasonable health and self control.
posted by i_have_a_computer at 5:50 PM on April 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by i_have_a_computer at 5:50 PM on April 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Do thirteen year old girls still go through a Jim Morrison phase, or has that gone by the wayside? I always sort of thought of the Doors as being Led Zeppelin for pubescent girls.
posted by padraigin at 6:24 PM on April 3, 2013
posted by padraigin at 6:24 PM on April 3, 2013
I just went from 260lbs down to 175lbs in a little over a year
Just FYI, that's how I got to have my gallbladder surgically removed.
posted by maxwelton at 7:54 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Just FYI, that's how I got to have my gallbladder surgically removed.
posted by maxwelton at 7:54 PM on April 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Isn't it in poor taste to post what read like single sentence weight insults onto the front page?
posted by Winnemac at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Winnemac at 8:24 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Isn't it in poor taste to post what read like single sentence weight insults onto the front page?
Not if the insults are directed at people who aren't overweight. If Jim Morrison said it was terrible to be fat and used derogatory adjectives about fat people, now that would be in poor taste for Metafilter.
posted by crayz at 8:31 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not if the insults are directed at people who aren't overweight. If Jim Morrison said it was terrible to be fat and used derogatory adjectives about fat people, now that would be in poor taste for Metafilter.
posted by crayz at 8:31 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
C'mon c'mon c'mon now lunch me babe...
can't you seee that I am not afraid...
Where is that pasta that you made?!!
Why won't you tell me the re-ci-pe..
posted by Skygazer at 8:39 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
can't you seee that I am not afraid...
Where is that pasta that you made?!!
Why won't you tell me the re-ci-pe..
posted by Skygazer at 8:39 PM on April 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Mod note: There is a MeTa thread, please feel free to go there to talk about topics that are not the topic of this thread.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:22 PM on April 3, 2013
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:22 PM on April 3, 2013
I had a Doors phase at the end of middle school and first couple of years of high school, which culminated in watching the first hour or so of The Doors with my dad, until Val Kilmer was crawling on all fours wearing tight pants and no shirt (maybe making animal noises?) and I decided it was time to turn the movie off because I was increasingly uncomfortable.
posted by ChuraChura at 9:31 PM on April 3, 2013
posted by ChuraChura at 9:31 PM on April 3, 2013
I enjoyed the video, thanks for posting.
posted by wallabear at 10:05 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wallabear at 10:05 PM on April 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?
Let's talk wind speed.
When whole trees are in motion and it is difficult to walk against the wind...winds are between 30 and 40 mph.
When twigs break off trees or the wind generally impedes you from walking...and slight structural damage is done to chimneys or shingles...estimate winds between 40 and 55 mph. Start reporting to NWS if winds reach this level!
Doesn't seem calibrated by weight of the observer. Bummer.
posted by medusa at 10:30 PM on April 3, 2013
Let's talk wind speed.
When whole trees are in motion and it is difficult to walk against the wind...winds are between 30 and 40 mph.
When twigs break off trees or the wind generally impedes you from walking...and slight structural damage is done to chimneys or shingles...estimate winds between 40 and 55 mph. Start reporting to NWS if winds reach this level!
Doesn't seem calibrated by weight of the observer. Bummer.
posted by medusa at 10:30 PM on April 3, 2013
That was his real speaking voice? Oh my. He was a charmer. One can wonder with that interview, if Jim wasn't missing being healthier. Was he drugging to avoid food and stay skinnier at the request of his label?
posted by Goofyy at 12:00 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by Goofyy at 12:00 AM on April 4, 2013
(In case I did, I didn't mean to imply it was his weight that made it a nervous viewing experience)
posted by ChuraChura at 3:51 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by ChuraChura at 3:51 AM on April 4, 2013
I'm sure it's just me, but I see an 'in 20 years' image of Tom Brady in the article pic.
posted by drowsy at 4:16 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by drowsy at 4:16 AM on April 4, 2013
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?
That sounds like a good question for What If? XKCD.
Anyway, I'm not seeing anything controversial here. I'm seeing someone who has a positive attitude about their own body despite being considered overweight. The world could use a lot more of that sentiment at the same time that it could use less actual obesity.
Because I'm about to make a career change, I went clothes shopping this weekend and bought a bunch of stuff that I look pretty damned sharp in. I kind of feel the same as Jim.
posted by Foosnark at 4:57 AM on April 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
That sounds like a good question for What If? XKCD.
Anyway, I'm not seeing anything controversial here. I'm seeing someone who has a positive attitude about their own body despite being considered overweight. The world could use a lot more of that sentiment at the same time that it could use less actual obesity.
Because I'm about to make a career change, I went clothes shopping this weekend and bought a bunch of stuff that I look pretty damned sharp in. I kind of feel the same as Jim.
posted by Foosnark at 4:57 AM on April 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
Lizard: "I just went from 260lbs down to 175lbs in a little over a year and strong winds feel about the same to me now as they did before.
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?"
1) Eponysterical.
2) Well, was he in Chicago?
posted by symbioid at 6:35 AM on April 4, 2013
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?"
1) Eponysterical.
2) Well, was he in Chicago?
posted by symbioid at 6:35 AM on April 4, 2013
When I was in high school, I was 5'8" and 240lbs. I much prefer my current 5'8", 165lbs, thankyouverymuch. There was nothing positive about my high school weight. And, I assure you, big round guys are just as easy to topple as a skinny, wispy guys.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:10 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by Thorzdad at 7:10 AM on April 4, 2013
I would note as well that neither Willie Dixon nor Howlin' Wolf were known for being thin and wispy.
Some folk built like this
Some folk built like that
But the way I'm built
Don't you call me fat
Because I'm built for comfort
I ain't built for speed
But I got everything
All good girls need
posted by Rangeboy at 7:36 AM on April 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
Some folk built like this
Some folk built like that
But the way I'm built
Don't you call me fat
Because I'm built for comfort
I ain't built for speed
But I got everything
All good girls need
posted by Rangeboy at 7:36 AM on April 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
These "blankonblank" videos are pretty great.
posted by beau jackson at 7:48 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by beau jackson at 7:48 AM on April 4, 2013
Val Kilmer has taken his role too seriously.
posted by stormpooper at 7:51 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by stormpooper at 7:51 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Jim Morrison, fat activist
Being attracted to fat isn't really fat activism or even fat acceptance. Also talk is cheap. People say things to be provocative or interesting.
And there is something to what he's saying... for guys. He was talking about himself. Body mass (either fat or muscle), like height, contributes to physical dominance. Like he says, he felt like he could more easily knock other people over. On the whole that physical dominance is really important to female sexual choices (height, at least, plays a huge role in female dating choices). And, if I remember right, there was a study several years back that showed a correlation between male body mass and female partner orgasm.
On the other hand, I seriously doubt Morrison's statement that "fat is beautiful" had any real relevance to him for women. I'm sure we could track down the photographs of women on his arms, and see how many overweight ones we can find. (of course, not very many young women were overweight back then.)
posted by dgaicun at 8:08 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Being attracted to fat isn't really fat activism or even fat acceptance. Also talk is cheap. People say things to be provocative or interesting.
And there is something to what he's saying... for guys. He was talking about himself. Body mass (either fat or muscle), like height, contributes to physical dominance. Like he says, he felt like he could more easily knock other people over. On the whole that physical dominance is really important to female sexual choices (height, at least, plays a huge role in female dating choices). And, if I remember right, there was a study several years back that showed a correlation between male body mass and female partner orgasm.
On the other hand, I seriously doubt Morrison's statement that "fat is beautiful" had any real relevance to him for women. I'm sure we could track down the photographs of women on his arms, and see how many overweight ones we can find. (of course, not very many young women were overweight back then.)
posted by dgaicun at 8:08 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
"It’s terrible to be thin and wispy..."
This should be as unacceptable as saying it's terrible to be fat.
Insulting thin people is not fat-acceptance.
posted by rocket88 at 8:29 AM on April 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
This should be as unacceptable as saying it's terrible to be fat.
Insulting thin people is not fat-acceptance.
posted by rocket88 at 8:29 AM on April 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also, here is Jethro Tull's 1969 rejoinder to Morrison. Thus beginning their acrimonious rap battle, that ended in Morrison's tragic drive-by shooting death in 1971.
posted by dgaicun at 8:39 AM on April 4, 2013
posted by dgaicun at 8:39 AM on April 4, 2013
This makes me wonder exactly how windy would it have to be to knock a 185lb person off their feet. Any takers?
At 6' and 215 lbs. (my weight for almost all my adult life, and I wasn't fat) I was knocked off my feet and rolled a short distance once, when I came walking around a corner of the JILA building, then the tallest on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Winds were gusting at well over 100 mph at the time.
posted by jamjam at 9:39 AM on April 4, 2013
At 6' and 215 lbs. (my weight for almost all my adult life, and I wasn't fat) I was knocked off my feet and rolled a short distance once, when I came walking around a corner of the JILA building, then the tallest on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. Winds were gusting at well over 100 mph at the time.
posted by jamjam at 9:39 AM on April 4, 2013
Nobody said "let me eat all night in your soul kitchen?"
I'll go for the cheap laugh.
(I'm fatter than Jim Morrison, so shut up.)
posted by entropicamericana at 10:29 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll go for the cheap laugh.
(I'm fatter than Jim Morrison, so shut up.)
posted by entropicamericana at 10:29 AM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
"I just went from 260lbs down to 175lbs in a little over a year and strong winds feel about the same to me now as they did before.
Yeah, this wind thing is a total red herring. The wider you are, the more area to catch the wind. If you are thin, wispy, and aerodynamic, it seems like you would be better off in high winds.
As a formerly chubby guy who's now pretty thin, I like thin a lot better, though, to be honest, yes, I do think I am very slightly more likely now to be blown into the ocean by gale-force winds.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:10 PM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this wind thing is a total red herring. The wider you are, the more area to catch the wind. If you are thin, wispy, and aerodynamic, it seems like you would be better off in high winds.
As a formerly chubby guy who's now pretty thin, I like thin a lot better, though, to be honest, yes, I do think I am very slightly more likely now to be blown into the ocean by gale-force winds.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:10 PM on April 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is a math error in the post. 180cm is 5' 11" which gives a BMI of 25.1.
25 is within the normal weight range. At most he was about half a pound over normal.
It is wrong to suggest he was overweight or fat.
posted by bystander at 3:52 AM on April 5, 2013
25 is within the normal weight range. At most he was about half a pound over normal.
It is wrong to suggest he was overweight or fat.
posted by bystander at 3:52 AM on April 5, 2013
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