Pro-ana. If you’ve never heard of this term before, then you, sir or madam, are a lucky person. Ana is short for Anorexia. Yes, that’s right, there actually exists people in this world who promote and push a horrific, potentially deadly eating disorder. Back in 2004, the popular web comic “Something Positive” stirred the hornet’s nest with a series of strips about this movement.
Copyright RK Milholland, that magnificent bastard.
This time it’s internet-darling Pinterest’s turn. The image-heavy site has begun shutting down so-called “thinspiration” sites. Pinterest also updated its terms of service to note that users may not post content that “creates a risk of harm, loss, physical or mental injury, emotional distress, death, disability, disfigurement, or physical or mental illness to yourself, to any other person, or to any animal.” Let me just say good for them.
Now, I feel bad for mocking them at the staff meeting.
As a member of the Orthodox Jewish community, where matchmaking is very much the norm, it’s not uncommon for girls (and yes, men too) to obsess over their physical appearance on an unhealthy level and for it to be supported by the adults in their lives. Israel has even gone so far as to ban advertising that could be seen as pro-ana.
This ad was banned in the UK for the same reason.
My hat is off to Pinterest as well as Tumblr, which has announced a similar policy. Yes, people in America are trending too fat and there are serious health issues involved, but that doesn’t mean that the opposite extreme is in any way healthy and is not just as harmful. Don’t go online and don’t ask a bunch of strangers if you’re too fat or too skinny. If you honestly feel you’re too big, speak to your doctor. If you don’t have one, get one.
Actual, real people in your life are willing to help you and support you. Don’t let idiots lead you down the wrong path.
“Yes, people in America are trending too fat and there are serious health
issues involved, but that doesn’t mean that the opposite extreme is in
any way healthy and is not just as harmful”
Actually this isn’t remotely true, obesity is far more serious and more harmful than anorexia. Anorexia is one of the most treatable disorders in existence; not only is it usually relatively easy to spot developing, it’s usually quite treatable and has an extremely low mortality rate (11 per 100,000 cases IF you have it). In contrast, obesity kills 300,000 Americans a year. The threat of anorexia is way overblown.