re: 'Dangers of Pro Anorexia Websites' Article

[MotorTink]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 2:25pm

To write an article and entitle it "Dangers of Pro Anorexia Websites", one would have to think people believe there are actually positives to this. Just like cause is to effect, on to off, etc... People must think something is somewhat positive to warn that there are dangers. Did people not know Anorexia/Bulemia are dangerous? Let alone websites promoting it??? Sorry, I'll stop my tangent for now. This is an article that I found on the main page of msn.com withthe above title.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16098915/site/newsweek/

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 3:02pm

That must be just the link title MSNBC is giving it, because that's not the title when you pull up the actual article.

The thing is, there are people who find benefit in pro-Ana and pro-Mia sites, as they're called.

Edited to add: And the article seems to be about the dangers of such sites to people going through treatment.

Updated On: 12/8/06 at 03:02 PM

[MotorTink]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 3:15pm

Valid points Kringas. I know it was only the name MSN gave it, but it was on the main page. I have a big beef with how media sources "tag" things.

Not only going through treatment, but I find it dangeous to anyone. It is just like the websites with step by step instructions on how to kill youself, etc. Giving step by step istructions or even "helpful" tips like this article points out, to teenage girls about how to be anorexic/bulemic is appalling.

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 4:24pm

I have a big beef with how media sources "tag" things.

Understood.

And these sites are dangerous, although I'd hasten to add that those who buy what these sites are selling were probably already predisposed to (or already in the thick of) the pathology of anorexia. I'd imagine that reaction that you are having is the reaction that most people do when they encounter these sites. I could be wrong, though.

Although I suppose all teenage girls (and probably to some degree, many grown women) are susceptible falling prey to eating disorders.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 4:26pm

And you can actually add boys/men to that also. I know of several teenage males (gay & straight) that had eating disorders. It's a part of life that will never go away, but I hate to think that people are promoting it (to me websites like that are just promoting and glorifying the disease).

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 6:23pm

there was an episode of Boston Legal covering a pro-ana woman and her mom who was trying to protect her. The daughters lawyer was also pro-ana and was actually winning the case until the website the daughter ran was brought into the picture as an "endangering the welfare of minors" countersuit.