This past weekend I was at a trainer conference in Newport Beach. This is where top trainers from across the globe (and me) gather to talk about all things fitness. This was limited to an elite 40 trainers (and again, me) who are a pretty brainy bunch, but things can get a little juvenile at times.
Yes indeed, my kind of group.
At one point early on in the weekend there was a crowd gathering around one of my trainer buddies, Steve, and laughing hysterically. Steve is usually a pretty funny guy anyway, but I had to see what was going on.
Turns out he had found a new iPhone App: FatBooth.
FatBooth instantly lets you see what you’d look like fat- I mean really fat.
The app page says…
Tired of diets?! Get fat instantly with FatBooth. What would you look like with a "few" extra pounds? And what about your friends?
Yeah, just a few pounds alright.
So Steve was taking pictures of some of the fittest people in the county and transforming them within seconds to Jabba the Hut.
It became the on going joke of the weekend – who looked the most ridiculous. I can safely say it was not me – others looked far more ridiculous.
Here is what my 4 year old son Nate looks like transformed through Fatbooth’s fattening filter:
And here is his slightly older father…
Not stellar pictures of either of us to begin with, but the “afters" are, well, yikes.
So here’s the thing: Is this a harmless little app or is it an offensive electronic joke aimed at fat people?
I will confess that I am not opposed to offensive jokes- I think they tend to be the funniest. My humor has often times been labeled as offensive – and I’m fine with that. In my defense I will say I try to make fun of everyone equally. Yes, I’m an equal opportunity offender.
But what I am opposed to is being mean.
And there is a line. So does Fatbooth cross that line? Weigh in below (get it?) Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think.
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Joshua Carter, CPT |
PS: To my knowledge there is no “ThinBooth” but I am working on a beta version.
Hey Josh,
Are you sure you used the right app for your after?
(I know your still getting a handle on the awesome power of the i4)…
I think you may have incorrectly downloaded “GHBooth”
or “Inge de Bruijn circa 2000 Booth”
or maybe even “StalloneBooth”.
Regarding offensiveness…nah..only offensive thing is the lack of a plan,support and willpower to avoid the vast quantity of advertised high calorie, high fat , sugar loaded franken foods that supposedly make our life easier.
cheers
Bryan a.k.a. 11pounds down in 18days C-Diet soldier…
Not offensive, although I avoided Steve like the plague so I wouldn’t have to face my fat me…
I think it’s actually a reality check…without self-control over what we eat and dedication to a workout plan, that fun little app picture can be the “real” you in the blink of an eye.
I think if you look at it for what it is…. just a fun way to kill time and have some laughs… then all is well. Don’t get me wrong, I can see how it could touch a hot button for some people, but life’s too short to take things so seriously.
In the words of the joker, “why so serious??”
In the words of 50 cent, I like this app “like a fat kid loves cake”
Yeah, that’s a fun little app as long as you’re “having fun” and not “making fun”…
BUT what we really need is the Carter Fitness App, where it shows your before picture and creates an AFTER picture of what you WILL look like if you STICK TO THE PROGRAM! Talk about motivation!
Offensive? No, it’s the modern day equivalent of fun house mirrors
Now, if the application displayed the same image submitted with the text “You are fat” then I would be offended.