I can't stand the recent trend in TV shows which features eating contests or people eating enormous amounts of food. I don't know why it is such a big thing here. I never really enjoyed it, but lately I find these shows truly offensive.
The latest offering in the gluttony celebration is a woman in her early twenties (I think). She is a "gal" and maybe 95 pounds soaking wet. Her little TV schtick is to have eating contests with huge grown men. While flicking through channels today I saw a caption that said she ate enough serving of meat to feed 16 people. I didn't stay on the program.
Some context might be helpful here. A "gal" is a kind of Japanese girl sub-culture. Usually they wear lots of make-up, dye their hair brown, wear really short skirts or clothes that are supposed to cute (and tarty?). In age they range from junior high to young twenties. They are not well-known for their intelligence or articulation. Maybe, for some, it is part of the act. Some "gals" grow up, go to university and get jobs.
Maybe it is amazing that this slim girl can eat so much food, and I suppose that if she has her moment of celebrity and makes some money from it then good for her. I can't really appreciate it as a talent. This young girl isn't the only one to make some kind of living off this. It's disgusting to watch people eat way, way,way more than they need to not because they are hungry but to entertain others.
What I find even worse is that most of the time people are just shoving food down their throats and not even able to really taste or enjoy it. I was talking with a friend of mine who has strong Buddhist leanings and she mentioned the idea of being mindful of what one eats. Programs or contests like this are exactly the opposite. Mindless.