| | Yesterday I stumbled across an Australian website that I found disturbing on so many levels. I hesitated about the title, "Pro Canna", which suggested it was a website about narcotic drugs, but it turns out it is not a pro-cannabis site. The author explains that his website is a parody of pro-ana.
http://www.freewebs.com/procancer/index.htm
Pro Canna (CaNnAz AnGeL): “I'm not mocking anorexia, bulimia, ednos, cancer...I'm mocking those twats who are Pro and are providing stupid and dangerous tips on the web. And also, why do we need like a hundred pro ana sites, they all have the same disgusting information on them anyway! Dont think you're special because you have "ana" and need to get all group mentality on us. You dont get the irony, most probably because you're a silly 14 year old on a crash diet you like to call "ana" cos its "cool". Or a 30 year old corn loving, bush voting, middle american.”
First of all, by comparing a psychiatric disorder to a physical illness, you demonstrate a shocking lack of journalistic integrity, and ignorance about physical and mental diseases. This is not a great example of irony. It is plain stupidity.
Cancer is a general term for more than 100 life-threatening diseases characterized by the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of malignant cells. These harmful cells may spread locally or through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of long-standing psychological, interpersonal, and social conditions. Scientists are still researching possible biochemical or biological causes of eating disorders. In some individuals with eating disorders, certain chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite, and digestion have been found to be imbalanced. However, in most cases, it seems clear that eating disorders arise from different psychological conditions.
The majority of pro-ana websites do not consider anorexia as a lifestyle choice. I have mentioned several times on my website that anorexia, bulimia, ed-nos and binge eating are serious mental disorders, so why does the author of “Pro Canna” spend so much time and effort to moralize about this topic?
I cannot speak on behalf of other websites, but the purpose of Pro-Ana Nation is to provide a support network for those who suffer from psychiatric disorders, and to spread awareness about these serious conditions. My website does not contain dangerous tips, nor does it display anorexia as an alternative lifestyle. I strongly encourage professional therapy because eating disorders are self-destructive. I have attended therapy sessions for years, in hospital, outpatient programs, in combination with psychiatrists, nutritionists and physicians, but I have not been able to recover. Anorexia functions as a coping mechanism. It numbs out my inner pain
“Pro Canna” ridicules the severity and complexity of eating disorders by strongly implying you can develop anorexia, bulimia, ed-nos or binge eating by visiting pro-ana websites. Displaying pictures of cancer patients in a parody setting, is not just inappropriate and disturbing, but only serves to further side track the issue of pro-anorexia.
Before lashing out against those who visit pro-ana websites by referring to them as “silly 14 years old on a crash diet”, perhaps you should take a critical look at your own website. Based on your astounding naivete, lack of knowledge, and writing skills, I think most people would be surprised to learn that you are older than the age of 10.
Your childish and discriminating remarks about Americans do not enhance your credibility. You are not superior to me or Americans in general.
A final note to the person who supports the website, and profoundly states that “if I could trade my eating disorder for cancer, I would, in a heartbeat. Cancer doesn’t take over your mind.”
How can you possibly judge whether is it easier to live with cancer compared to an eating disorder? If you could step out of your eating disordered world for a minute and spend time with cancer patients, you would hopefully realize what a devastating disease this is, both physically and mentally. Cancer can take over you mind, and it is not unusual that cancer patient develop depression and anxiety disorders.
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| | Posted 12/4/2006 7:46 PM - 636 Views - 46 eProps - 28 comments
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