EAT! G21 ASIA G21 Digital Internet Postcards JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. You'll be glad you did. Jokes, updates, the whole she-bang goes straight to your e-mail box. Be part of the In-Crowd! IMPORTANT! If you joined our Mailing List between 26 May and 24 October, 2003, OR if you sent us notification of a change of e-mail address during this period, please send a blank e-mail to "Subscribe@g21.net" GLOBAL*BEAT HOT LINKS IRISH EYES MY GLASS HOUSE NY STATE (Of Mind) POWERSSOUND RDR TABLOID HART VOX POPULI RECOMMENDED DAILY REQUIREMENT ARCHIVES. LAST WEEK's EDITION MEET THE G-CREW! These are the people behind this jam-band every week. HOME TABLE OF CONTENTS & BACK ISSUES |
This past week I received a few responses to an article I wrote many months ago that showed how ridiculous these websites were that promoted Anorexia and Bulimia otherwise known today as Ana and Mia. It's not like I was taking a risky position by saying encouraging eating disorders is wrong. (What's next? An article that says crime is bad). So I never expected much response from this article. However the eating disorder mafia (I didn't know there was one either until I wrote the article) has consistently attacked me because I dare make fun of these websites. I have tried to be nice in a few of my responses but it does not seem to help. So now I think it's time for the writer to strike back against a few of the responses I received this week.
First there was Tashira who said, "If you have never been diagnosed with an ED, I really don't see as to why you would even think of commenting on the subject." So much for freedom of speech. From now on, let's pass a law that only people with a particular disorder can comment on people with that disorder. Who cares if it leaves all the fat jokes to Louie Anderson.
She furthers responds, "Persons with ED's have in fact recovered from these Pro Ana/Mia sites. If you were to go into one of them for a brief moment, that will indeed become apparent. Of course there may be some posts supporting these diseases, but not of fault of the moderators, only members (such as I), who have decided they are not ready for 'recovery'." That's good to hear that the moderators are not at fault for encouraging this behavior and only people like yourself. You must be very proud. By the way, when do you decide if you are ready for recovery or not?
Next there was Stacy, whose letter started off, "Please don't disregard this email. I am an educated person." As you know, an idiot like myself only responds to people with doctoral dissertations. (Actually this was one of the nicer letters but with that wise-ass comment I probably turned her off too). Since her letter was fairly thought out, I will try to respond in kind.
She stated that, "Most Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia sites are support groups."
The key question is, are they supporting the person or the disorder?
There is a big difference between supporting someone so that they can get better and enabling or encouraging them to get worse.
A lot of these sites I went to gave descriptions for young women of how to hide this disorder from their friends and family. They also showed extremely bony pictures for these women to aspire towards. It's like going to a website for alcoholic support and finding a picture of a person face down on the curb holding a bottle of Gin.
She also compared these sites to diet information you would get from Weight Watchers or Woman's Day magazine - except they had a lower calorie intake.
I can't say I am familiar with either of these diets but if either of them encouraged not eating at all or throwing up your meal, I would consider them just as bad as these websites.
Just because they're a corporation would not make this any more sensible. She further asks, "But really, is this article a joke?" Not as big a joke as some of these websites.
Then there was Jon who wrote, "I have determined you should become a Christian (if you are not already). It is a waste if you do not become a Christian, if you have already turned off your brain." Then follows a whole bunch of reasons why Christians are stupid.
At least I give these other people who wrote letters credit for originality. Jon just sent me one of those joke emails that get forwarded throughout the Internet that you delete in you mailbox.
Maybe you should start your own religion where all your followers can forward joke emails throughout the Internet and never have a creative idea of their own.
By the way, Jon, is your letter the sensitive guy routine for meeting women? You want to show what a caring guy you are that you respond to that evil writer who dares say that websites that enable Anorexia and Bulimia are wrong? I guess, Jon, according to you, we should have more of these sites. Maybe even throw in a few to promote drug use? (I only used this as an example. Everyone who is pro-drugs does not need to respond to this. I have enough letters with the eating disorders.)
Finally there was Allison who wrote, "I am more than thrilled that you have such a 'sensitive moron' to write about an eating disorder." I guess I'm improving cause my wife calls me an "insensitive moron." Maybe one day I can improve to male chauvinist pig. She also asks, "Did he ever have an eating disorder? One of the lucky 10% of males?" I'm not one of those lucky ten percent of males who have an eating disorder. I'm just one of those lucky males who happens to have massive heart disease, diabetes, and muscular dystrophy running through my family -- if that makes you feel better. If I had any more illnesses in my genetic code, President Bush would label my sperm a weapon of mass destruction. (Not that he would ever find it though).
She also adds, "I have never once heard anorexia be known as a choice unless you happened to stumble across the most ignorant wannabe anorexic there ever was."
Well, if it's not a choice, how come Tashira above says she's not ready for recovery?
So I guess when she decides to recover that would be a "choice." So technically you are calling her an "ignorant wannabe anorexic."
Now that I got that catfight started maybe you two should exchange email addresses so that you write nasty emails to each other instead of me.
The best comment from Allison was, "Someone get him a bumper sticker that reads 'Save skinny girls ... kill fat chicks!'"
Imagine having this bumper sticker on the road? Like I don't have enough problems driving in New York already.
She ends with, "I hope one day this place will find a decent writer who is enlightened and tries to save peoples lives ... " Well there was a person who tried to save peoples lives and that was Jesus Christ and Jon over here is making fun of him and his followers.
The amazing part about this, Allison, as someone who states they have fought with anorexia and won, is that you would attack me instead of these websites that encourage this behavior. This is like going after Ralph Nader for writing "Unsafe at Any Speed" instead of the automobile companies.
One day I could hope to be as good a writer as H.L. Mencken. It seems I don't have his cunning and flattery in answering letters yet. After many months of reflection and many letters about these Pro Ana/Mia sites, all I can say is, "Upon further consideration, I still think I'm right."
NEW YORK, NY, USA - Famous writer and occasional curmudgeon H.L. Mencken tried personally responding to all the letters he received regarding his articles. However once his popularity grew he found this to be nearly an impossible task. He then figured out a response that would satisfy everybody who commented on his articles. He would write, "Upon further consideration, you may be right." I have reviewed H.L.'s response and just don't think I'm ready to go there yet.
Sorry Jon, I am not a Christian, just a Jew. But I'm sure you can find jokes to show why Jews are stupid, too, since you are the only intellectual on this earth.
G21 Columnist STUART ALTMAN is now fearful of walking the streets of Manhattan because he has received death threats from anorexic and bulimic women who own lethal weapons.
WEB SITE PICK OF THE WEEK: We don't have one this week. Oops!
| MY GLASS HOUSE | THE PREVIOUS EVENT | COMING ATTRACTIONS | THE WRITERS/GUIDELINES | |