Gluten? Get over it.

I wasn’t going to say anything about the new NASCAR ad that will be running during the Super Bowl because I didn’t want to appear “too sensitive” to gluten jokes. I mean, I’m an adult. I can take it.

Stupid gluten-free sissies, haha. 

Whatever.

But then my friend reminded me that adults making fun of other adults for being weak in the name of gluten only adds more fuel to the fire that is adolescent bullying.

Gluten? Get over it.

Did you know…

35% of kids with food allergies* have been bullied because of them. More than 20% report being bullied or harassed by a teacher or other school staff. 

Did you hear that? Not only are kids making fun of kids because of this issue, but adults are harassing kids over this too. At school!

And here’s the thing with the commercials and the TV shows and the comedy routines – The more we hear the jokes, the harder it becomes for our situation to be taken seriously. 

The more often comedians make fun of us, the easier it is for kids to justify shoving a roll in the face of their gluten-free classmate.

Gluten Dude put it so well (read his full post and watch the NASCAR ad here),

“You see…I don’t think we’re soft or weak as the ad implies. I don’t think we’re part of the problem. I think we’re a pretty strong bunch who just wants the world to move on to something else and let us handle our disease as we wish. The PROBLEM, as I see it, is the utter and complete lack of empathy so many in our society feel. Not just about gluten, but about so many things. We’ve lost the ability to feel for others who are in a situation that you just may not understand. It’s become easier to laugh at people than to care about them.“

So please, comedians and ad writers, I’m begging you. For the sake of the those who suffer, and because it’s just not funny anymore.

Gluten has jumped the shark. Move on.

*****

If you agree and would like to use your voice to make a change, click here.

Change.org_Logo

*****

*(Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease not an allergy, but same bullying effects apply.)

Link to food allergy bullying study.

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  • Emily @ Glitz Glam Gluten-Free January 28, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    I can’t believe that gluten is in the news again for such a ridiculous reason– I’m not sure why companies can’t think of another punchline then a serious illness. My concern is that the more people who work in restaurants here this stuff, the less likely they are to take it seriously and the more celiacs who get glutenized. That’s so horrible about 20% of kids being made fun of by teachers or other staff! It’s hard enough to deal with as an adult that I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for kids…

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:28 pm

      I know. It’s all pretty frustrating. Glad we can bring it to people’s attention this week though.

  • Mrs. Dude January 28, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    Beautifully stated.
    Enough is enough. Our voices need to be heard.

    Shouldn’t you be resting?!! Feel better friend

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Thanks friend, love ya.

  • tess a January 28, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    I’ve signed it, saddened by the lack of understanding……..

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Thanks Tess.

  • turner_bethany January 29, 2015 at 5:52 am

    Thank you for bringing this to your readers’ attention. The bullying needs to stop at every age.

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Thank you Bethany!

  • Ginny Ryan January 29, 2015 at 10:24 am

    Well said, kiddo. 🙂 I expressed my concerns on my page as well. xxIH

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Thanks Ginny!

  • luvstheburgh January 29, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Preach. My 7 year old daughter and I both have Celiac. She doesn’t know it yet, but we’re now estranged from my extended family due to bullying over the gluten ban in our house. (This became necessary because they felt that being careful was too much to ask. Really, they said that.) My friends in the celiac and food allergy communities tell me that this isn’t uncommon. So sad.

    Our friends have all been incredibly supportive and I’m so grateful for it. A little education and empathy could go a long way out there in the world.

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      “A little education and empathy could go a long way out there in the world.”

      Totally agree.

  • wreed22 January 30, 2015 at 5:58 am

    The rise of the Beta Males. The world cringes.

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:30 pm

      I’m not a male…

      • GrapeApe January 30, 2015 at 10:17 pm

        You sound very ignorant.

      • wreed22 January 31, 2015 at 6:45 am

        The Beta Males rise is not conditional on your sex. Best Regards.

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      • wreed22 January 31, 2015 at 4:13 pm

        Take a hike Mike.

        • Mike Carey January 31, 2015 at 4:29 pm

          Some people open their mouths and display their ignorance. You just did that – well done dummy!

          • wreed22 February 1, 2015 at 6:33 am

            Attention everyone: If you don’t provide Dr. Mike approval, validation, and warm fuzzies for un-solicited pitches, you are ignorant dummies.
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          • Mike Carey February 1, 2015 at 7:10 am

            As Ronald Reagan would have said, ¨there you go again¨.

        • Mike Carey March 3, 2015 at 10:15 am

          You continue to show your arrogance and ignorance. You should be on SNL.

  • Insanity January 30, 2015 at 7:14 am

    You are just proving the point of the ad….we have become extremely thin skinned babies. Get over it. It’s funny.

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s lame. And I’m just tired of it.

      Thanks for your comment.

    • Linda February 2, 2015 at 11:43 pm

      Why is it funny to make fun of a life saving diet?

  • Christian Washington January 30, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    So, you don’t find anything funny? Most (yes, most) comedy is at someone or something’s expense. Lawyers, husbands, flight attendants, redheads, etc., etc., etc. (I’m a redheaded lawyer with a peanut allergy. I would know.)

    I find it incredibly hypocritical that people are fine with any joke that doesn’t offend them. You’re only worried about feelings when they’re your own. Otherwise, you laugh. They’re just jokes, right?

    And when you are offended, your first reaction is to stifle someone else’s ability to speak or laugh. Either that or you attempt shame them publicly. Well, shame on you.

    Shame on you for being so easily offended.
    Shame on you for taking yourself so seriously.
    Shame on you for being so willing to rob people of their right to speech.

    What a bunch of insecure, pearl clutching, cry babies.
    It must be exhausting to be you or be around you.

    • InspiredRD January 30, 2015 at 9:26 pm

      “I find it incredibly hypocritical that people are fine with any joke that doesn’t offend them. You’re only worried about feelings when they’re your own. ”

      This doesn’t describe me in the least. But thanks for your comment.

      • Christian Washington February 12, 2015 at 9:20 pm

        “This doesn’t describe me in the least.”
        Sure it doesn’t.

        “But thanks for your comment.”
        You’re welcome.

  • Stephanie January 30, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Very well written. Thank you.

  • Dawn R. Crawford January 31, 2015 at 3:01 am

    I was not diagnosed properly and they found a T4 tumor in my small intestine that was positive for cancer, I am now on chemo. I don’t think this ad is fair to the millions suffering from Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity…… We don’t need this message misinforming people that we are “soft”….. Let’s educate not mock it, it is a real problem, I know!!

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