Pro-ana websites - your opinion?

I definitely don't think that these sites are a good thing - they should be banned, in my opinion. Eating disorders are very dangerous conditions that almost every woman today is at risk of developing, by being exposed to the constant barrage from the media that makes women feel as if they need to look like super models in order to be loved and accepted. We get enough of these messages every day from the media around us, we do not need to have sites that are actively promoting the development of eating disorders! Sure, support for recovering anorexics is important, but joining a site such as this might well just cause the person to relapse again. We should rather be starting websites that are celebrating women as beautiful, in whatever shape or form they may be. Maybe that would help to prevent the development of eating disorders.

I think this is a very touchy subject for the very reason you mentioned: we do have the right of free speech. A lot of people feel that it's a slipper slope. If you can limit this form of free speech what else can the government restrict? And then is it really freedom of speech after all? On the other hand, obviously as parents we don't want our children to have problems with this and we want to protect them from these sites. Clearly pro-ana sites could definitely inspire even thin girls to feel that they should be thinner in order to be more successful or more beautiful or more attractive and not only is that the case, but once the idea is in their head it can be difficult to persuade them otherwise. I think the best thing that can be done is to put it in the hands of the parent. Ultimately, try to keep an eye on what your children are doing and where they're going so if you notice them going to a site like this then you can combat it early on. This might seem like a lot of work to some or an invasion of privacy, but you need to decide what's more important: the welfare of your child in case they do stumble on a site like this or letting them do what they want. Of course, a good way to avoid it is to have conversations with your children about this issue so that if they do find a pro-ana site then they are already aware about it. But being able to ban the sites? I've seen sites that are so much worse (like the Westboro Baptist Church site) that obviously can't be banned because of freedom of speech/religion so in light of that I honestly can't see a valid justification to ban them.

As has been stated, you can't shut down every website that deals with eating disorders. However, if you are truly asking about "pro-ana" sites, they are generally not support sites. Pro-ana sites are triggers. People suffering from eating disorders use those sites to support their condition. They view the photos, the posted calorie intakes and body measurements as a yardstick of their own state. What they see triggers them not to eat ... to persevere with their eating disorder in spite of any attempts they may make (or the people around them may make) to get help. I worked as a moderator in an online community that had eating disorder forums. The girls (predominantly female members, although there were a few boys) would try to sneakily share the URLs or names of pro-ana or mia sites and we aggressively removed them. The participants were allowed to post for discussion reasons but websites were completely forbidden (as were calorie counts, measurements, eating diaries, etc). Nothing that would trigger them was permitted. Given my druthers, no, I would not allow pro eating disorder sites of any kind. I would be completely upset if I found one of my daughters visiting such sites (especially in conjunction with any form of obsessive dieting or compulsive behavior). I would never consider pro-ana sites as a source of weight loss tips. Those affected by eating disorders to the point of using those sites have NO desire to lose weight in a healthy way.

I heard about those websites on Dr Phil or something, but I never really heard of anyone I actually know using them. As for me, personally, I have always been underweight, and people sometimes ask me if I have an eating disorder, or comment on my weight. I can't gain weight even if I try to, and I think it is just as rude to call someone skinny as it is to call someone fat. It's rude, it really is. And it is harder for me to be able to accept myself just as I am, because I know that people are discouraged to be as skinny as I am. But we all know not eating is just the wrong way to lose weight. It's common sense, isn't it? In a way, because it is so forbidden, I'm sure it makes it seem glamorous, all of the celebrities are doing it. Nowadays, there are plenty of campaigns promoting beauty in all sizes. Yes, supermodels have to be thin, but that's just because they are a canvas for the fashion they model. Girls can be very beautiful even if they are overweight, big boned, thick, thin, big, small. I don't think there is much of a reason to try to ban those websites, because it is not really the root of the problem. The problem is that it is so hard for a woman to feel beautiful as it is. But physical beauty is just one part of a woman. I think the root of the problem is the lack of role models. Female role models. Maybe it's because we don't have female roles. What makes a woman respectable? Is it because she is beautiful? Does she have to be a good wife or homemaker? Does she have to have a successful career? Be a good lover? It's just so hard to define what a woman needs to be, but the part about physical appearance is easy. When I have a daughter, I would want her to be well rounded. I would teach her to stay in shape, because even if she isn't tiny and thin, staying toned and healthy is always beautiful. I'd teach her to wear makeup when she was old enough. But most importantly, I'd teach her to be intelligent, and to think. She would never have time for that petty anorexia stuff. She's going to be strong, and beautiful. I've only known one girl who had bulimia, actually. I could never respect her because of that. Because it's a very stupid thing to do. I can't help it. I'm out of sympathy for people with eating disorders. I've seen them so much on television, and the disease is just so overly glamorized and hyped up. I know it's a "disease" and they really can't help but think they're overweight, but my unborn future daughter is just too good for that.