Club Bounce: Big Sexy

They need some lovin too

I get it. I was once a big girl myself. To each his/her own. But what is with the intro from that Brian dude? His "commentary" was neither cute nor appreciated. It makes it into a joke rather than real life acceptance.

this is great! in a society where everyone has to be "perfect" (whatever that means) it's necessary to have a place where you can be yourself and feel good about it!

I love this pod, nice work Carlos.

i love big women!!!

meat is for men......only dogs like bones! [insert chuckle]

I can dig this! :D

blackdaylight, i really like what you said... i am ganna use that!

its really good that they promote healthy body image.

honestly the hottest thing in a girl in my opinion is self confidence. i love it when my girl thinks good about her self, she looks so happy and its just shows so well. :)

I think those women are perfect--they love themselves and that truly is perfection.

Self-confidence is sexy! What a great pod! I love the fact that you have showcased some great people whose confidence really shines through. When media is bombarded by thin blond women, it is nice to know that there are other models being showcased on Current TV.

these girls are beautiful and their size has nothing to do with it. the douche guy who introduces it makes me not want to watch current. his comment, "you would think there would be more attention on the buffet than the bar" or something like that is just idiodic and disrespectful. just because these girls are not a size 2 it doesn't mean that they are always looking to eat something. i really hate that guy for what he said.

ok, so this pod kinda bugged me. i mean, what would happen if an exclusive club opened up for skinny girls ONLY? it would never happen 'cause it'd be SO wrong! going out should be about spending time with friends and having random make-out sessions - not women banding together based on their physical appearances, right? i mean, it happens all the time of course, but it's not something that people brag about or advertise so openly because it's immature and shallow.

AND, if the emphasis here is on body acceptance, then why the conclusion: a place to party while you're in the process of trying to 'get' perfect?

oh, wait, was this pod a joke? good one...

Ah, you forget that there are quite a lot of clubs that are exclusive and accessible only for skinny girls. So many clubs have a doorman or doorwoman walk up and down the line, taking the pretty skinny girls to the front of the line, making everyone else wait. Often, they just try your patience until you give up and don't go in. Sure, not everyone in the club is skinny, but the majority are because of the selection process.

Just cause a racist doesn't call himself a racist doesn't mean he isn't one. Anyway, who said that Club Bounce would turn you away just cause you are skinny.

I'm all for body acceptance but...are these women healthy?

There is a middle ground between anorexic and diabetic.

I dont know that any of the women said that they were trying to "get perfect" (as Britta suggested). They did acknowledge that obesity can present health challenges (and for that reason, primarily) they support weight loss (but not bc they too beleive, "skinny is perfect").

I thought this pod raised another interesting question: Is happiness only to be had in artificially constructed environments like this one? That is to say, don't we all seek out envirments (e.g., church, the bar, the gym) that put us together with people that share some of our basic assumptions?

Is happiness only available when we carve out and create these artificial places?

I think that this is one of the best ideas. At the same time that I dont think it should be "big girls only", I like that they advertise that there will be big girls there. Most clubs I've been to, most of the guys there are looking for skinny beautiful women and are mean and cruel hearted when they see a women of size...and the girls aren't that better. As a bigger women, I spent a lot of time not enjoying myself and getting snubbed. The fact that there is a place where I can enjoy myself without being judged is very appealing.

Very interesting point, BooksBrown. I think you might be right. Humans rarely accept the environment as is. When was the last time you saw someone living in a cave? Everything from houses, nations, religions, schools are all constructions to lump people of similar opinions or behaviors together. But I think as much good these constructions provide, it is important to recognize their limitations and flaws so that we continually strive for better and better constructions. Isn't that how civilization evolves?

kunnikr,

There's clearly a sociological component to 'happiness.'

Part of the reason people are able to achieve happiness is bc they IGNORE/DISCOUNT criticism from outside groups.

But, we typically think people who ignore voices from the outside are somehow, "irresponsible" or "deficient" or something like this.

But what if this irresponsibility or deficiency is JUST THE THING that allows us to be happy.

Or to put it more strongly, How can a person experience happiness WITHOUT ignoring important facts about the world?

Happiness isn't something you strive for. It just "happens." I think when we are aware of the criticism of the outside world and understand the important facts about the world and still choose the positive act, we experience happiness.

I think if you live in a bubble ignoring the realities around you, it is easy to stay happy and choose what feels right and good, which in turn makes you happy. Eventually, that bubble will burst and you'll become a cynical miserable person that doesn't see the point in being good.

However, when you examine the negative and acknowledge it, but still choose the positive...your happiness has longevity and isn't simply in the moment. This is often harder to do, but more worthwhile.

Ignorance IS bliss, but then that bliss can be taken away from you at any moment. If you find bliss after acknowledging the negative and outside criticism, people can't take it away from you.

Kunnikr,
I think there is a lot of truth to what you said. Although, I'm not sure we shouldn't strive for happiness. I think happiness is an intentional state, as opposed to passive.
Happiness doesn't come upon me as much as I draw it out of me.

But with regards to ignorance as bliss, I wonder if there are two types of ignorance. A passive ignorance wherein you dont know X because you've never encountered/experienced X and a more intentional ignorance where you refuse to grant weight to an otherwise disturbing fact.

I can see how happiness grounded in a passive ignorance might be tenuous as people can burst your bubble with unhappy news. On the other hand, if we master the art of active ignorance, where we acknowledge but dont weight uncomfortable facts, our happiness is more secure.

This might help explain the elusiveness of happiness, as it requires a psychological commitment to refuse what you would normally accept as troubling. In order to get to that place, it might require a sociological component wherein you actively commune with those of a like mind (a la Club Bounce).

What do you think?

I find the active ignorance interesting, but I still think acknowledgment is a better word. I think people like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., needed to acknowledge the negative in order to know what positive to strive for and make themselves happy. And they found contentment in the process, knowing each little step was a victory in the right direction rather than focusing on how far they still had to go.

I do think that there is a sociological component to finding happiness. However, I do not believe there is a REQUIREMENT for a sociological component to reach happiness.

I view the sociological component as training wheels until I can find that strength to find the validation within myself irrespective of my context. Again, this is how I believe happiness can have longevity.

We all use our friends and family to validate our actions and thoughts, but at some point, if I don't want my happiness dependent on others, I have to realize that I can validate myself and I don't need my friends and family to validate my actions and thoughts. I believe this is what occurs when we learn to self-love and that benefits everyone because when you free yourself to love yourself, you inspire others to do the same, spreading both happiness and love. And I'm not saying this is easy, I'm always leaning on my friends and family for support, but I try to make sure I'm not dependent on them and they are not dependent on me--rather I'm interdependent so we can all continue to grow and become stronger.

Allowing context to determine your happiness is giving away your own strength, but there is nothing wrong with looking to others to find the strength to be happy within you. I think learning to love yourself and be happy is a life process, and most people will need the sociological component to grow, but I don't think it is a requirement for happiness.

I know this was a little abstract, I apologize. If it doesn't make sense, BooksBrown...feel free to ask me to elaborate.

Kunnikr,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I'd like to focus on something you said:

{MLK and Ghandi} found contentment in the process, knowing each little step was a victory in the right direction rather than focusing on how far they still had to go.

I guess what I'm interested in is the "rather than focusing on how far they still had to go" part of the equation. In order for them to be content (which isn't really the same thing as happiness or joy) they had to sharpen their focus on one thing (intermittent victories) and soften their focus on other things (persistent miscarriages of justice). That sounds a lot like active ignorance, doesn't it?

My problem is one of remaining happy in the face of unhappy circumstances. It seems in order to be happy I have to refuse to give the uncomfortable news any weight (as well as hang out with people who reinforce those ideas and practices that do make me happy). And if this is the way to happines (actively ignoring bad news) then I'm afraid we arent getting the message out loud enough.

i thought this pod was really great. it exposes part of something that a lot of people aren't really exposed to. i think its wonderful that something like this is out there because everyone is the same...we all want to meet people and have fun and its great to find people with things in common and go out and have a good time.
this was a great depiction of these women, they all seem great!

I think it's great that Club Bounce provides and atmosphere where people who can be ostracized or made to feel different have a place where they can belong. I might have to check out the Ladies Room Chronicles. It looks really risque.

This pod is great in the way that it shines light on people we know exist, but the media never shows us these people having fun. Everyone needs time to recreate, no matter what size you are. I think that the location of Club Bounce is also very crucial since it's in LA, a city where everyone seems to strive for that perfect skinny body. The velvet rope scene of the trendy clubs in LA is so ridiculous-you never know for sure if your going to get in, no matter who you are. You usually have a better chance of getting if you are female and have the "look" that the door person considers "sexy."
I can relate to these women in a way that I like to know there is a place for me to go to have fun on a regular basis without being judged. I think that's the power behind this club- the idea that there's a place for acceptance.

Ay, whatev whatever. Club Bounce is whats up. People just want to be accepted for who they are not who you think they are trying to be. At Bounce no one will get mislabeled as trying to be Paris or Beyonce. The ladies of bounce are just being themselves. Yea sacajess, there's a place for acceptance.

A cool pod - it showcases something different and yet deals with a social issue. Terrific pod.

Great work Carlos! I love this...:)

what a great topic and a great piece. congrats carlos.