The online version of Men’s Fitness magazine recently posted an article by writer and TV personality Jordan Burchette titled “NY Comic Con: Flabby Versions of Your Favorite Superheroes!”
Yes, that’s right. Yet another journalist taking a cheap shot at costumers. These types of articles are the laziest type of tripe. They hold an individual up to ridicule for the world to see and to laugh at. It’s what I refer to as grabbing the low-hanging fruit. Going for the easy prey.
Funny. Just yesterday I was having a discussion online regarding today’s apparent utter lack of journalistic integrity thanks to the bottomless pit known as the Internets. A sad commentary and part of the reason that there is so much mindless pap that passes for content these days.
Mr. Burchette describes the costumed convention-goers in his article as “…doughy, sickly, weak, infirm or, in the most impressive examples, morbidly obese.”
Thinking someone looks ridiculous in a costume is one thing, but to berate someone because they are sickly or infirmed is more than mean spirited, and the whole tone of the article borders on hate speech.
And I know this will come as a surprise, but in researching some of Mr. Burchette’s other work, I don’t see him lampooning any “morbidly obese” pro football fans who strip to the waist, paint themselves in a rainbow of team-spirited colors and let their 300+ pounds of fandom fly free.
Dressing up as one’s favorite character and attending a convention is really no different than tossing on a jersey and attending one’s favorite sporting event. It’s a social opportunity for fans to express their fandom among like-minded individuals.
Frankly, I’m surprised to see this made it past the editors of Men’s Fitness Online. I’ve subscribed to their magazine and found it to be informative, inspirational and humorous. In fact, their Mission Statement from their website reads:
Men’s Fitness reaches young, performance-driven men by using a unique editorial format that mixes fitness with fashion, grooming, sports and other pastimes that comprise an active lifestyle. Men’s Fitness gives guys everything they need to get results — in the gym, in the boardroom, on the field, in the bedroom.
Apparently a large part of the Men’s Fitness "unique editorial format” includes berating people you feel superior to in order to prop up your own flagging self esteem.
Conversely, one would think that as inspiration to their readers, Men’s Fitness would spotlight fans who do spend countless hours in the gym just so they can more closely resemble their three-color counterparts…but where’s the humor in that?
Mr. Burchette’s article also includes a number of photos that serve to make his point. However, with the exception of one photo where the characters are looking directly at the camera, all of his examples appear to have been taken in secret, with people unaware they were being photographed. One wonders if he walked up to these people afterwards, asked their permission to use their photos and introduced himself as a reporter who plans to use their likenesses to humiliate them all across the World Wide Web.
Both Jordan Burchette and Men’s Fitness have an opportunity here to do the right thing and apologize. A simple statement blaming poor judgment would go a long way.
Jordan Burchette's original article can be found here:
http://www.mensfitness.com/lifestyle/entertainment/ny-comic-con-flabby-v...
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