They're getting to be a big controversy.

Do you's feel like they are good for people with disorders to get support and share they're stories?

Or do you feel like they are bad for people with a problem and that it enables them?





sp
[Edited 3/1/07 8:32am]

What are they?

susannah said:

Pro anorexia.

Its for people with eating disorders.

Most of them claim to be a support group.

But its questionable wether they're supporting recovery or supporting actively having an eating disorder, since a lot of them allow you to trade tricks and stuff.

SureThing said:

I see

Well, as Ive never heard of them (!) all I can really say is that I understand your need to question it....put afflicted people in there together and yeah, they probably will support each other keeping the disorders.

Sorry if that sounds judgemental...

pro-anna?

well, personally, i never found her to be that entertaining other than the reality show, but i suppose pro- and anti-anna sites are okay.

susannah said:

Yeah, well they claim eating disorders a life style choice rather than a disorder, and share tips, post pictures of their 'THINspiration', post weight, secrets to getting out of eating around family, and so on.

Then there is also Pro Mia sites, for 'PRO BULIMIA'.

But then if someone on the site decides to go into recovery, they are supported.

So it's hard to determine wether they're good or bad.

Just curious what you guys thought.

SureThing said:

Thats good, that they will still support each other if someone recovers, as you say. Although it must be like quitting smoking and hanging around with a bunch of smokers....perhaps not the most effective way to stay recovered...

Meant to say, the bit in bold -- :shudder: I dont like the sound of that
[Edited 3/1/07 8:59am]

i don't believe in censoring things, but i think these web sites should have an age verification feature or even require a credit card/payment on top of that. i know kids can find a way around anything, but at least this would make it harder for them to access info like this.

Anx said:

Yeah, they do ask if your over 18, but there is no credit card or anything like that.

This one has a pretty good warning, before you enter.
www.pro-ana-nation.com

I think that would be like being for pro-drug abuse or pro-suicide sites.
It's just the way and speed you're killing yourself.

littlemissG said:

Yeah, that s the argument.

But I'm sure there are websites recovering alcoholics and drug addicts too.

But if you take a bunch of sick people and put them together they're gonna encourage and harbor and protect the sickness.

The thing is. None of these people are in denial. They are openly saying either

I CHOOSE to have an eating Disorder, and I want to talk about it, to other people like me

OR

I have an eating disorder and I CHOOSE to get help.

Isn't it a GOOD thing that these people have someone to talk to, who UNDERSTANDS?

They are choosing to suffer this, isn't it better they DON'T suffer or silence?

Or isn't it?

well, i'm hoping the people in recovery from eating disorders aren't sharing a web site with people who are saying "i am a skeleton and I THINK IT'S GREAT!"

i'm all for the recovery web sites. the pro-eating disorder web sites can go screw themselves.

they're sickening

SureThing said:

They are bullshit, masquerading as support sites. I think they enable people with eating disorders. They glamorise eating disorders and I think promote them, thats my opinion on them. I wouldnt want my teen (if i had one) spending time on a pro-ana site.

..
[Edited 3/1/07 9:19am]

SureThing said:

No it isn't.
How are they helping each other?
Tips on how to destroy yourself better is not understanding or help.
If I buy drugs for an addict because I UNDERSTAND withdrawl is hard, is that help?

What if this was a cutter's website and the give each other tips on how to get the most pain and blood without getting caught, is that HELP?

Do these people discuss their motivation for starving themself until they look like holocust survivors, lose hair, and pass out?

Do they ever say this is a good thing because I was just ugly and fat when I was 5'5" and 90 pounds?

Anx said:

Well, there are support groups where they are verty strict in that your not allowed to post any numbers, and if you relapse and admit it, you are asked to leave.

But then there are also sites where when you go into recovery you are shunned from the site.

And then there are ones where people in recovery co exist with people who are pro.

And they have avatars of like Colista Flockhart and Mary Kate Olsen.

SureThing said:

that's ill

littlemissG said:

Yes and Yes.

I think they are bad too, don't get me wrong.

But these people CHOOSE to do this. They LIKE it.

So why not let them have a site?

Obviously I know the answer to this, because we don't want young girl/boys learning tricks of the trade.....

but, I dunno. I'm torn.

SureThing said:

Cutters also CHOOSE to cut themselves because they LIKE it. It doesn't make them well.

i'm torn too.

i mean, if i had a kid and he or she were frequenting a pro-eating disorder site, i'd flip out and be all evil fascist restrictive parent about it. i would.

but in general, there are SO MANY negative web sites out there - how to make bombs, or sites glorifying drug use or racist sites - if i say "BLAH BLAH sites should all be banned!" then it opens the door to all the other evil sites out there. and to what extent can the internet be censored? should it be? i really don't know. at some point, i think content control should be legislated in the home.

JustErin said:

Hmmmmm. Yeah. Your rite.

I'm jsut torn.

Still there is also research being done, and it has been proven that eating disorders are in your genes. They found a gene.

So then, SOME (I know not nearly all) of these people can't help it.

So okay, wouldn't that be like a site for people who are balding, or diabetic or something?

Anx said:

Stop.


Although, this is true.

Parents need to watch what there kids are up to.

And also a parent should ALREADY know if theyre kid has a problem with out checking out the history on the family PC.

I mean, C'mon.

SureThing said:

I just checked out that site and it's pretty weird. They seem to talk about how to be a "healthy" anorexic or something.

SureThing said:

You mean a site for diabetics that encourages them to not take their insulin or to eat all the foods that makes them ill? Or saying that refusing medication and making the appropriate lifestyle changes needed, so that you lose a limb will make you hot and attractive?

Come on.

SureThing said:

what? i'm being totally serious!

and YES, it shouldn't take snooping on the computer to figure this stuff out. i mean, if my kid looked at it once because they thought it was a freakish idea for a web site and they were curious, i'd be all "really? what was it like?"

but let's say they bookmarked it

minneapolisgenius said:

Mhm

They do have something for everyone though.

Where do you think I got all those weight loss tips I gave yous yesterday?

We can all learn from this.

I recently read about a model who died from complications arising from Anorexia.

Anx said:

Well, I never know when your being sarcastic. And I mean NEVER.

So you think it's a bad idea?

They also wear braceletes, like those Cancer/ALS/HIV ones.

Check this out.

http://expage.com/realthinspo


And HERES some GOOD news.


"10 An occasional binge doesn't hurt, in fact it's quite beneficial if you have reached a plateau (stopped losing weight). Your body will think you have stopped starving yourself, and you will drop at least a pound overnight! Just don't binge too regularly!"

JustErin said:

Hmmm. Yeah. You're rite.

I guess I don't make a good point.