LET THEM TYPE

                                                                  LET THEM TYPE

In class on Thursday October sixth we as a class look at the very complex topic of self-help forums. The topic of the forum was anorexia and how society has labeled it. However, before we can fully dive into this topic we must take a step back discuss what platforms we are talking about. The biggest plate form for this issue is social media, with sites such as Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Pinterest all located at the center point of these self-run forums. Now the tern for the movement who is against the act of anorexia BUT still an advocate for an open dialogue on the topic is called being Pro-Ana. This title at first was a hard thing for me to understand I can admit that I was quick to judge by the suffix pro which Dictionary.com tells us means “indicating favor for some party, system, idea, etc., without identity with the group” (www.dictionary.com/browse/pro-) so you could see how I was confused by nature. Here we are talking about a group who is here to fight the stigma of anorexia but yet still is in favor of it? That makes no sense, and in reality I was right. It didn’t make any sense, in fact these forums are quite the opposite they are in no way for or promoting the notion of anorexia instead conversely they standing to allow freedom of dialogue about these topics.

(Photo From Bing Images)

Once I was understood this I really started to listen to learn. I am not well versed in this topic but I think it is a dreadfully serious one that needs addressing. During the discussion Lili mentioned that in believe in France(?) they have decided to block all social media post with the hashtag #ProAna attached to it. This is surprising and concerning. Online communities are built allowing the members/users access to connections and collaborations that they would never have before. With these communities there are both positives and negatives much like any other society. I am weary of the message that this sends to other online groups, that if their agenda is not in line with the localized government then they will be forcible shut down. And this is a scary thought to me,