Blog #3

What would you say about giving drug users, addicts, and dealers a public forum to share with one another the best ways to use drugs, sell drugs and get high?  Pro ana websites and blogs are no different in concept. These websites and blogs give young women an outlet for destruction. These girls are promoting an unhealthy way of living life that can ultimately lead to death. Young girls should be encouraged to always think of themselves as beautiful no matter what weight they are. These girls believe that beauty is solely based on outward appearances. These sites give the girls a forum to post up their height, weight and daily eating habits so that others can help them figure out the best eating disorder instead of helping them figure out how to lead a healthier, happier lifestyle. 

There is no doubt that the users of the pro ana websites and blogs suffer from a variety of different kinds of depression and anxiety about their looks. In Mim Udovitch's article, "A Secret Society of the Starving", one of the user reveals that the site was a way for her to connect with people in similar situations as her. These girls are desperate to hear from people who are experiencing the same thoughts and fears about their weight, and through this site they know that they are not the only ones and there are other people with similar mindsets. The users of these websites develop close relationships to the point where they can actually expose to one another their true feelings. While the habit itself is undoubtedly very unhealthy, the website itself is not at all. 

Within the past few decades, eating disorders have become a huge problem among young teenage girls. They are a huge problem that is now connected to psychological issues with their body image and self esteem. While these diseases are incredibly unhealthy and can cause major problems, sites that provide a public forum for young girls to connect to one another about their issues can be a good way of girls to develop close relationships with people they can relate to. With the support that these sites provide, the girls can show the public that these eating disorders are very serious, and passing judgement only causes more problems. The good part about these sites is that they are open to the public, so if people who knew something about these disorders and could contribute positively to the girls, they could just as easily post up some helpful information about these disorders.