Appalled by food

Today's advice column:

DEAR ABBY: Many people in the world appear indifferent to human suffering and the serious problems our planet is facing.

I am appalled when I see TV shows about food contests in which mounds of food are piled in front of each contender, who then wolfs down enough to feed five or six people.

Evidently the audience enjoys the spectacle. They cheer and applaud the winner as if he was a hero. Do they never think about the millions of people who are starving? I would appreciate your comments. -- PRAGMATIST IN N.Y.

DEAR PRAGMATIST: No, I doubt they consider that while they are stuffing themselves, others are literally starving, nor have I heard that the sponsors have donated a portion of the proceeds to feed the hungry.

She seems to have a conceptual misunderstanding about food. Eating more slowly will not solve the planet's problems. Obesity is a bigger problem than starvation.

The fat people are the ones who eat excessive amounts of food, not the competitive eaters. Gurgitators do not necessarily eat more than anyone else. They just eat more quickly.