Comments on: Big Bad World

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:04:50 +0000

“Then what? Curl up in the corner? Or walk past it, head held high because you finally know who you are?
This is reality.
I’m a realist.
You must go elsewhere to be coddled.
Because girls, if you take this away from me, well… this blog is no longer a blog. It’s just another pat on the back, that eventually pushes you into the water to see if you can swim.
You can swim.
I know you can swim.
So, I keep pushing.
My hope is that one of those pushes will be the spark you need to get on with your life.”
Ironic that you use that comment to justify posting triggering content, yet you don’t see the ultimate irony–
Try flipping this around as something that could be said by any one of the advertising executives that you bash and complain about each and every single day.
At what point does personal responsibility come in?
When do you stop being an angry victim, helpless to stand up to all this media crap, and find something to do with your life?

By: Rosie

Rosie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:08:04 +0000

I’m so tired of being the victim MamaV, I’m so tired of being seen as just wanting to be a victim when in fact I am truly suffering. I definatly agree with the reality you choose to expose, because in the real world thats still how things are, what with the biggest loser being 5’7″ or 5′ 6″ i think and weighing in finally at 117 pounds. She was applauded for that while I just thought about how that exact number was my first “goal weight” in the beginning of this hell. I need to fight and I need to cry and I need to thank you for this blog that always puts a smile on my face. Yesterday, (btw i know i need to learn how to transition into different topics haha) i suffered my first panic attack. Hopefully my last since it was triggered from lo carb monsters, over exercisising to burn over 1000cals and from purging my only meal before i started my work out. I don’t know how i’m still alive. But your blog lets me see much more than the usual, the calorie counting and the photoshopped models, I see that I can’t give up in this world obsessed with being thin. I’m still fucking scared and apprehensive about it and its hard to take responsibilty but I need to grow up already. I’ve been stuck, unable to learn for the past years because all I’ve got is a Master’s in ED and nothing to show for it, sickening but not even a tiny bod.

By: Jera

Jera — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:22:15 +0000

I have been reading through this blog (and by the way, it’s wonderful) and this post compelled me to comment. Thank you for what you wrote MamaV. I hate hearing people complaining about “triggers” and expecting others to accomodate them by censoring themselves apparently. The real world, people I know, people who love me, my own head; those are the sources of the worst triggers, not a website with so-called “thinspirational” photos that are accompanied with educational information, critical and reflective commentary and a space for discussion where people can speak their minds and put the photos in its proper context.
I differentiate between “pro ana” sites and informative sites like these. In no way are EDs promoted here or normalized. I don’t see any “dieter’s psalms”, Carolyn Costin’s “thin commandments” or calorie count guides around here. I see posts of issues concerning eating disorders and body image.
And if “thinspiration” photos draw “pro anas” here, at least they’re in a place where they could learn something and maybe over time seek out different kinds of support.