I’ve never had a huge standing in the issue on of Steroids. I don’t know anyone who uses performance enhancing drugs, nor have they affected my life in some way. My resolution was that it was the individual’s choice in whether he or she wanted to use steroids. However, the video featuring Bryant Grumbel interviewing a doctor about Steroids made some interesting points. I’ve been naïve enough to always believe that steroids caused many physiological and mental problems, but it was interesting to hear the other side of the story; a side that is as taboo as the drugs themselves.
The video works by focusing on one thing: the grown men who use steroids and aren’t affected by them. It makes anyone watching the video question the controversy surrounding these drugs and if they really are as dangerous as they are made out to be. What about the cancer, the heart problems, the increased bodily harm that steroids have caused for so many years? Apparently, it doesn’t exist. There are no bodies with autopsy reports concluding that prolonged use of steroids were the cause of death. Two men that were interviewed in the video have been using steroids for a combined sixty years, and there wasn’t a single thing wrong with them. The video makes the controversy surrounding steroids a large joke. However, there is something missing. The video mentions grown men using steroids, but what about teenagers, women, and children? While there aren’t many reports discussing the effects of steroids on women and children, we cannot forget them. This factor, when considered, takes away some of the effectiveness of the video. Someone who attempts to defend steroids would have to explain how they affect everyone, not just grown men. Are women also safe from the usage of performance enhancing drugs, and how will they fair twenty years later when they are still taking it? If it turns out that men have a high tolerance for the side-effects of the drugs and women and children don’t, then there is reason to pull the drugs from the market and fight against their usage. Arguments defending the drugs would not work if they only pertain to one demographic. A teenage boy will watch the two body builders and listen to the statistics, and he will probably think that he will be fine if he begins to take steroids. Without knowing how steroids affects him, the boy could end possibly up with medical problems and with the notion that he will never be as good as to two men who were perfectly fine after using the drugs.
Although, after listening to the two body builders interviewed in the video, I do think that steroids are capable of being used responsibly. We hear too many stories of people abusing steroids, thus causing the large stigma against the drugs. While I don’t support steroids, I can’t undermine someone who chooses to use them. As long as the drugs are being used responsibly, then the only wrong doings can be linked to whether using steroids takes away from the integrity of a sport or if there really are medical problems linked to steroids. Additionally, if tests are run on people who use steroids responsibly and on those who abuse the drugs, it could show how the drugs affect the body, depending on how they are used.
Steroid use, while I’ve never been affected by it, is something that I do not really like. I have always found them to be a little excessive, regardless of whether they worked. Personally, I condone the usage of steroids for medicinal reasons, but when used to enhance performance, I think it takes away from the potential of the user. When using steroids, it’s hard to look past the drugs and to see the athletes’ true capabilities. Either way, I’m still a little bothered with the knowledge that fourteen year old, high school freshmen are being tested for steroids. I can’t imagine that a young teenager would be already go as far as using steroids, but I’m not completely ignorant to the fact that it’s very possible. I do think that steroid testing should be used for underage users only because we are not completely sure how steroids affect a young age group. While grown men are supposedly fine, children might react horribly after a prolonged usage. Professional athletes should be tested so that the integrity of the sport and their performance remains. However, a test can’t determine the specific reason an athlete uses steroids. Besides being tested for drugs, athletes should be questioned about their usage of steroids and their history with them.
Dr. Hoberman makes a point by connecting steroid usage with the mentality that people want to be the best rather than perform at their best. Athletes, professional and non-professional, are capable of being influenced by the idea that if they aren’t the best, then there is no purpose to their competing. At this point, it is hard to tell where the glory is being derived from. Many people praise the athletes consistently win against their competition, and the losers are left with the sensation that if they are not up to par, they will not receive the same recognition, even if they have performed to the best of their ability. It is a mentality that is driven into the minds of everyone; a coach will yell at his team for making a mistake in a game or losing, and he will reward his team of they win. Overtime, the mind will only perceive losing as horrible as dying and winning is the only way to happiness and praise. Encouragement towards a team or athlete who has lost might change the perception of coming in second place rather than first; besides, if an athlete is discovered to be taking steroids, the stigma shines a dark light on the individual, and every win that was awarded becomes as horrible as the losses experienced in the past.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fight for your right to... party?
You would have to be very naive to believe that teenagers would avoid partying once they get to college. Georgetown University, known for their strong academics, is no exception. I understand why the school and the police would want to limit how rowdy the Georgetown parties become; when students are close to destroying the college housing and constantly disturbing the peace, there needs to be some restrictions so that no one is bothered. However, the new rules that Georgetown University are enforcing are having the opposite effect; they are pushing students away. It is safer to have students party in an area that is close and separated from any dangers or disturbances outside of the school. Students are going to move elsewhere for their entertainment, and as Camille Kolstad mentioned, she does not feel safe walking home from the bars at night. If students are distancing themselves from the school, it would be harder to reach the students if certain accidents were to occur. The amount of work it takes to keep party environments together is becoming strenuous due to the new regulations. How many twenty-one year old students want to spend their weekend babysitting students having a party? Kayleigh Brown, a sophomore at Georgetown University, mentions campus life relying too much on alcohol and the consequences, including students ending up in the hospital; still, "you can't just suddenly clomp down, put all these rules in after letting people do whatever they want for so long" (qtd in Kinzie). College kids will be what they are, and if there are going to be new regulations, they should be introduced over a longer period of time so students will have time to adjust. That way, they won't rebel against the administration that is trying to keep them safe and out of jail.
---
Let's face it, college can get a little crazy sometimes. Police aren't new to finding students having off campus parties in some house ten to twenty minutes from campus. It's perfectly normal until students begin to cause disturbances that could be easily avoided. "We would prefer that the college kids control their own actions . . . but if they can't or they won't, we'll lock them up," says Andy Solberg, a second district commander in D.C. (qtd in Kinzie). I completely agree with the fact that if young adults can't control how much liquor they shove down their throats or how wild they decide to get at a party, then they should have to deal with the consequences. It's similar to punishments when we were in grade school: if we did something wrong, we get our privileges taken away. As kids, we never tried to sign petitions just so we can get out of time out and play outside. Now, I understand that the rules are a little abrasive, but we want to avoid destroying private property and disrupting the peace of individuals who live on and off campus. Administrators work hard to keep campuses safe and lively so that students have a place exciting enough to keep them from excessively drinking; however, it's becoming a useless effort since students will drink until their livers give out, anyway. (qtd in Kinzie). The students can hate the police and school all they want, but their whining is not going to change the situation; they are causing problems that is dangerous for themselves and others. When the students of Georgetown University learn to party without getting the police involved every five minutes, then I'll agree that the school needs to relax on their partying laws and allow the kids to be kids.
---
Let's face it, college can get a little crazy sometimes. Police aren't new to finding students having off campus parties in some house ten to twenty minutes from campus. It's perfectly normal until students begin to cause disturbances that could be easily avoided. "We would prefer that the college kids control their own actions . . . but if they can't or they won't, we'll lock them up," says Andy Solberg, a second district commander in D.C. (qtd in Kinzie). I completely agree with the fact that if young adults can't control how much liquor they shove down their throats or how wild they decide to get at a party, then they should have to deal with the consequences. It's similar to punishments when we were in grade school: if we did something wrong, we get our privileges taken away. As kids, we never tried to sign petitions just so we can get out of time out and play outside. Now, I understand that the rules are a little abrasive, but we want to avoid destroying private property and disrupting the peace of individuals who live on and off campus. Administrators work hard to keep campuses safe and lively so that students have a place exciting enough to keep them from excessively drinking; however, it's becoming a useless effort since students will drink until their livers give out, anyway. (qtd in Kinzie). The students can hate the police and school all they want, but their whining is not going to change the situation; they are causing problems that is dangerous for themselves and others. When the students of Georgetown University learn to party without getting the police involved every five minutes, then I'll agree that the school needs to relax on their partying laws and allow the kids to be kids.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Paraphrasing
James D Lester offers a solution for students who use too many direct quotations when writing a research paper: they should limit the use of exactly copied material that was taken from sources, since 10% of the research paper should include direct quotations.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Your doll isn't buff enough.
The first article discussed the effects of action figures on the male body image, and how there seemed to be a correlation between the increasing size of the toys and muscle dysmorphia. The second article introduced an argument that action toys or Barbie Dolls had no significant effect on body image, and that blaming them was idiotic when actual human beings were just as guilty of creating body image issues.
The first article manages to present a viewpoint without taking the side of its own opinion. The tone of the article was intelligent, with all the necessary words indicating that the author or authors had definitely done their research. The research was enough to engage me in the idea of muscle dysmorphia being caused by the increasing and incredible body image of action figures over many years. I have always been aware of this argument, but the article did a great job with comparing the G.I. Joe and Star Wars action figures over time. Because the article is pure fact without any emotion or pathos, it presents an article with an opinion so unbiased that it cannot be completely disputed. However, the article stumbled in many areas. There was a feeling of redundancy the further I got into the article. At one point, I felt the author had restated the same idea in the same paragraph. For example:
“We hypothesized that action toys would illustrate evolving ideals of male body image in the United States… On both visual inspection and anthropomorphic measurement, it appears that action figures today are consistently much more muscular than their predecessors.”
The idea has been stated many times before, almost to the point where it’s pointless to express it again. Another thing that stood out was that the article made an incorrect statement about Batman.
“Some of these latter figures, such as Batman and The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, might not be considered completely “human”, in that they possess powers beyond those of a real human being.”
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers make sense, however, everyone who is aware of Batman and his comics would know that he is as real as any other human. Also, the article made a mistake with Han Solo, one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars saga. The article called Han Solo, Hans Solo; a mistake anyone can point out if they are familiar with the trilogy. While these two things may not seem like huge mistakes, the article might turn off readers of a younger generation who are familiar with these characters. These two characters could really play into pathos, but since the attempt failed, the article failed in providing effective pathos. The article just felt too jumbled with facts, even though they helped to solidify the author’s argument.
The Second article was straightforward. The author clearly stated her opinion and position on the issue, and that it was made the article more effective. The author’s tone was more understandable to a broad audience; it lacked a strong formality and carried a hint of irritation. The article delivered a strong punch by reminding readers that toys have not always been the problem with body image in America. Whether someone in the audience disagrees, the author made several effective arguments without the use of much logos.
“Now, instead of sending a dog-tagged doll that looks like your next door neighbor’s older brother into battle, it’s more like you’ve dispatched a cartoon superhero.”
The author makes a valid point by discussing war and action figures in the same sentence. The thought of a young boy fighting enemies can create a distressing image, but the idea of an indestructible man fighting crime still gives a sense of security to young people, and it probably always will. Either way, the article was directed towards a broader audience, probably one that can identify with toys on a more emotional level and has never been affected by the appearance or marketing of the dolls.
Toys have never had a significant impact in my life. Honestly, I grew bored of my toys after playing with them for a couple of hours; although, my fascination with my Barbie Dolls would be back the very next day. To me, they were nothing more than dolls that I could use to play out the silly stories in my head. I loved to dress them, and I loved to buy them accessories. But they were never more than dolls to me. I also had a couple of action figures, but being a girl, their image never impacted me the way they might have impacted a boy. I was too young and interested in other things to notice that the physique of my dolls were changing. I never noticed that Barbie’s bust was larger than average and that her waist was abnormally small. To me, they were plastic puppets.
The first article manages to present a viewpoint without taking the side of its own opinion. The tone of the article was intelligent, with all the necessary words indicating that the author or authors had definitely done their research. The research was enough to engage me in the idea of muscle dysmorphia being caused by the increasing and incredible body image of action figures over many years. I have always been aware of this argument, but the article did a great job with comparing the G.I. Joe and Star Wars action figures over time. Because the article is pure fact without any emotion or pathos, it presents an article with an opinion so unbiased that it cannot be completely disputed. However, the article stumbled in many areas. There was a feeling of redundancy the further I got into the article. At one point, I felt the author had restated the same idea in the same paragraph. For example:
“We hypothesized that action toys would illustrate evolving ideals of male body image in the United States… On both visual inspection and anthropomorphic measurement, it appears that action figures today are consistently much more muscular than their predecessors.”
The idea has been stated many times before, almost to the point where it’s pointless to express it again. Another thing that stood out was that the article made an incorrect statement about Batman.
“Some of these latter figures, such as Batman and The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, might not be considered completely “human”, in that they possess powers beyond those of a real human being.”
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers make sense, however, everyone who is aware of Batman and his comics would know that he is as real as any other human. Also, the article made a mistake with Han Solo, one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars saga. The article called Han Solo, Hans Solo; a mistake anyone can point out if they are familiar with the trilogy. While these two things may not seem like huge mistakes, the article might turn off readers of a younger generation who are familiar with these characters. These two characters could really play into pathos, but since the attempt failed, the article failed in providing effective pathos. The article just felt too jumbled with facts, even though they helped to solidify the author’s argument.
The Second article was straightforward. The author clearly stated her opinion and position on the issue, and that it was made the article more effective. The author’s tone was more understandable to a broad audience; it lacked a strong formality and carried a hint of irritation. The article delivered a strong punch by reminding readers that toys have not always been the problem with body image in America. Whether someone in the audience disagrees, the author made several effective arguments without the use of much logos.
“Now, instead of sending a dog-tagged doll that looks like your next door neighbor’s older brother into battle, it’s more like you’ve dispatched a cartoon superhero.”
The author makes a valid point by discussing war and action figures in the same sentence. The thought of a young boy fighting enemies can create a distressing image, but the idea of an indestructible man fighting crime still gives a sense of security to young people, and it probably always will. Either way, the article was directed towards a broader audience, probably one that can identify with toys on a more emotional level and has never been affected by the appearance or marketing of the dolls.
Toys have never had a significant impact in my life. Honestly, I grew bored of my toys after playing with them for a couple of hours; although, my fascination with my Barbie Dolls would be back the very next day. To me, they were nothing more than dolls that I could use to play out the silly stories in my head. I loved to dress them, and I loved to buy them accessories. But they were never more than dolls to me. I also had a couple of action figures, but being a girl, their image never impacted me the way they might have impacted a boy. I was too young and interested in other things to notice that the physique of my dolls were changing. I never noticed that Barbie’s bust was larger than average and that her waist was abnormally small. To me, they were plastic puppets.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Grrrr
What really makes me angry is when people refuse to understand or at least try to empathize with issues or ideas that other people have; whether they are psychological, physiological, emotional, inspired by the world, etcetera. While I understand the concept and benefits of looking at the bigger picture of things, there are also smaller details that can be overlooked that make up the basis of the issue. I also dislike when issues are only "black and white." There is always some sort of gray area in a problem.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Where do you run to for help?
“Pro-anorexia” has been floating around for several years, with both negative and positive reviews giving the term a notorious connotation. Coincidentally, I have been studying the single largest Pro-Anorexia community on the web for a year; it was one of the things that helped me make my decision to go into psychology. I made the decision to watch Pro-Anorexia in an attempt to understand the mindset of someone suffering from anorexia, bulimia, ED-NOS, or a variation of all the eating disorders.
1.To my knowledge, the Pro-anorexia community has been active for a few years, allowing boys and girls of any age to join and get support from people suffering from eating disorders. One of the biggest issues, in my opinion, that spawned from the web-site is: what is support to a person suffering from an eating disorder, and how far should that support go? The community name already sends a bad vibe, regardless of its intentions. “Pro-Anorexia” projects the idea that there are people in this world who support the actions and lifestyle of an individual suffering from an eating disorder. Nearly everyone is aware of the devastating effects of eating disorders, including the psychological and physiological traumas. What sensible person would promote such behavior? Whether individuals suffering from eating disorders abhor the lifestyle they must deal with, “Pro-Anorexia” is not a term that should be thrown around so carelessly in society. While searching through the community, I noticed several times that members would post with tips or ask for tips about how to lose a certain amount of weight, the number of calories in certain foods, and other things related to body image and weight. For example, a member on the popular Pro-Anorexia community posted:
“i heard that taking omega3 fish oil 45mins prior to ur workout, u burn more fat, is this true????”
While this may seem slightly harmless, one has to take into account how many people will catch onto this idea or habit. If that is one tip being handed out, how many more tips can be processed by one person? I have also noticed an alarming number of people posting images of thin models, celebrities, and normal people. The members of the site call these supposed muses, Thinspo. Now, there is nothing wrong with admiring a person’s body, but when one compliments a person on his or her ribs that stick disgustingly out of the chest, then that’s a bit of an issue. The posting of Thinspo can promote destructive behavior from anyone suffering from the disease, as well as people who are in the process of recovering from eating disorders. A member on the site had posted:
31 January 2009 @ 03:23 pm
sorry to be a post whore
some thinspo to get you all through the day =]
( thinspo )
Alarmingly, members on Pro-Anorexia are as young as eleven; at that age, many children can pick up on habits easily. Imagine a young teen catching wind of the tips older members are handing out or discussing. The disorder will intensify until there is little hope left for that child to be recovered before he or she is an adult.
Despite the idea that the site is used as a safe-haven for these people, I don’t buy the idea that it offers a suitable amount of support and stability. There are other reasonable places to seek help and care.
2.With a name like “Pro-Anorexia”, it’s hard to imagine that a community could be the safest places for someone who is stricken with one of the most misunderstood psychological disorders in the world. At first, I was completely against sites that cold condone the behaviors of an anorexic or bulimic person; that was before I actually became witness to how people interact in the community. I can’t deny that Pro-Anorexia gains a bad reputation because of its name, but I can say with an honest heart that the community is far from evil.
In an unforgiving world such as ours, I can imagine that this would be a lonely place for someone with an eating disorder. It’s hard to comprehend why an anorexic person doesn’t eat, or why a bulimic person can’t keep control his or her urges to purge food that was just eaten. Pro-Anorexia does not offer those answers, but it does offer a community where everyone is alike. The judgment and ridicule is scarce on the site. There are times when members will randomly post their encouragement and hope that the other members will feel well, like this post from a member:
25 January 2009 @ 05:58 pm
Because everyboody needs love ...
*hugs*
It seems like quite a few people here tonight could do with a hug
so i thought I'd attempt to give everyone one
^_^
xXx
Pro-anorexia has become a community of friendship and support for the boys and girls who join it. I have seen posts where girls will seek advice about familial issues and how to gain the attention of a boy. Everyone needs to know that he or she is understood and wanted; while eating disorders are difficult to grasp, we cannot forget that the people suffering from them are just as like anyone else. Pro-anorexia should remain despite its down moments; to some, the community is the only place they can call home.
3.Regardless of the viewpoints in the previous paragraphs, the only viewpoint I ever had for pro-anorexia has always been in middle ground. I had stated above that I have been studying the community and its members for a year, and doing so has formed an opinion unlike the two I had to write. When I first heard of Pro-Anorexia, I formed an immediate opinion based off the name and what it means by default. I’m not sure what drove me to research the community at that time, but I realized that it was a better way of understanding someone with the disease rather forming an opinion that I knew was completely biased. I never enjoyed having one-sided opinions on an issue, and after a couple of days, Pro-Anorexia began to open my eyes to eating disorders. The first thing I realized was that the site wasn’t what the name suggested. Pro-Anorexia wasn’t about promoting the lifestyle that an eating disorder brings. Instead, the community was a place for someone to find comfort and support from another person like him or her. When I noticed the direction of the community, I realized that no one truly understood what Pro-Anorexia was, except for the people who were on the site and had an eating disorder.
The first thing I observed had been the number of people who posted with every day issues, whether it was related to an eating disorder or difficulties at school. Pro-anorexia is a place for someone to find another person to talk to without the fear of being judged. I found a member had posted:
25 January 2009 @ 08:45 pm
i have a confession to make.
i have no idea what the fuck a pop tart is. americans always talk about them and they sound yummy!
enlighten me?
In the community, the mentioning of the pop tart would have been blanked out. The good thing about Pro-Anorexia is that the community takes itself seriously. While members are given the freedom to act normally among other members, the admins and moderators have established rules so that the community is run smoothly. The rules always explain details of how to post on the site so that no one has his or her disorder triggered by something another member has posted.
http://community.livejournal.com/proanorexia/profile#rules
The link I posted contains every rule for the site. Whatever the aim of Pro-Anorexia, the site makes sure never to promote the lifestyle, behaviors, and attitudes that are associated with an eating disorder. The community is a safe-haven and a home for many, but the main, underlying hope is that everyone will recover in due time.
Despite the understanding I have gained of how someone with an eating disorder thinks, I can’t get over certain aspects of the site and its members. I often find posts by members asking questions about calories and exercise habits that feed the psychological mess that is an eating disorder. It’s hard to ignore that members will always be triggered by the site and other members together:
24 January 2009 @ 02:28 pm
this website is great to find different workouts & how many calories are burned!!! It is great :) http://www.fatburn.com/free_tool_activity_burn.asp
With its ups and downs, Pro-Anorexia has taught me more about eating disorders than a book could have. I cannot say that I completely understand the mindset of someone with anorexia, bulimia, or ED-NOS, but I can say that I will never judge someone for their disease. Also, the site helped me to understand certain things about myself and the body dysmorphia issues that I have experienced and continue to experience at times. There is more to the eating disorder than meets the eye, and it’s safer to say that it is more of a psychological issue than a physiological disease. The beginnings of an eating disorder are different for each person, but I’ve noticed that there is always a control factor that stays with the person throughout the disorder. What I have learned most is how devastating the disorders can be; the community has show members in their rarest and rawest forms, and I have seen how fragile lives can become after suffering through years of turmoil. I would never want Pro-Anorexia to be abolished because of the safety it gives its members. Even if half of them are tempted to never recover, there is always a feeling of home that the members will have with Pro-Anorexia. However, if there is one thing I can change about the community, I would abolish the term Pro-Anorexia for something that makes a little more sense to me: Pro-Support.
1.To my knowledge, the Pro-anorexia community has been active for a few years, allowing boys and girls of any age to join and get support from people suffering from eating disorders. One of the biggest issues, in my opinion, that spawned from the web-site is: what is support to a person suffering from an eating disorder, and how far should that support go? The community name already sends a bad vibe, regardless of its intentions. “Pro-Anorexia” projects the idea that there are people in this world who support the actions and lifestyle of an individual suffering from an eating disorder. Nearly everyone is aware of the devastating effects of eating disorders, including the psychological and physiological traumas. What sensible person would promote such behavior? Whether individuals suffering from eating disorders abhor the lifestyle they must deal with, “Pro-Anorexia” is not a term that should be thrown around so carelessly in society. While searching through the community, I noticed several times that members would post with tips or ask for tips about how to lose a certain amount of weight, the number of calories in certain foods, and other things related to body image and weight. For example, a member on the popular Pro-Anorexia community posted:
“i heard that taking omega3 fish oil 45mins prior to ur workout, u burn more fat, is this true????”
While this may seem slightly harmless, one has to take into account how many people will catch onto this idea or habit. If that is one tip being handed out, how many more tips can be processed by one person? I have also noticed an alarming number of people posting images of thin models, celebrities, and normal people. The members of the site call these supposed muses, Thinspo. Now, there is nothing wrong with admiring a person’s body, but when one compliments a person on his or her ribs that stick disgustingly out of the chest, then that’s a bit of an issue. The posting of Thinspo can promote destructive behavior from anyone suffering from the disease, as well as people who are in the process of recovering from eating disorders. A member on the site had posted:
31 January 2009 @ 03:23 pm
sorry to be a post whore
some thinspo to get you all through the day =]
( thinspo )
Alarmingly, members on Pro-Anorexia are as young as eleven; at that age, many children can pick up on habits easily. Imagine a young teen catching wind of the tips older members are handing out or discussing. The disorder will intensify until there is little hope left for that child to be recovered before he or she is an adult.
Despite the idea that the site is used as a safe-haven for these people, I don’t buy the idea that it offers a suitable amount of support and stability. There are other reasonable places to seek help and care.
2.With a name like “Pro-Anorexia”, it’s hard to imagine that a community could be the safest places for someone who is stricken with one of the most misunderstood psychological disorders in the world. At first, I was completely against sites that cold condone the behaviors of an anorexic or bulimic person; that was before I actually became witness to how people interact in the community. I can’t deny that Pro-Anorexia gains a bad reputation because of its name, but I can say with an honest heart that the community is far from evil.
In an unforgiving world such as ours, I can imagine that this would be a lonely place for someone with an eating disorder. It’s hard to comprehend why an anorexic person doesn’t eat, or why a bulimic person can’t keep control his or her urges to purge food that was just eaten. Pro-Anorexia does not offer those answers, but it does offer a community where everyone is alike. The judgment and ridicule is scarce on the site. There are times when members will randomly post their encouragement and hope that the other members will feel well, like this post from a member:
25 January 2009 @ 05:58 pm
Because everyboody needs love ...
*hugs*
It seems like quite a few people here tonight could do with a hug
so i thought I'd attempt to give everyone one
^_^
xXx
Pro-anorexia has become a community of friendship and support for the boys and girls who join it. I have seen posts where girls will seek advice about familial issues and how to gain the attention of a boy. Everyone needs to know that he or she is understood and wanted; while eating disorders are difficult to grasp, we cannot forget that the people suffering from them are just as like anyone else. Pro-anorexia should remain despite its down moments; to some, the community is the only place they can call home.
3.Regardless of the viewpoints in the previous paragraphs, the only viewpoint I ever had for pro-anorexia has always been in middle ground. I had stated above that I have been studying the community and its members for a year, and doing so has formed an opinion unlike the two I had to write. When I first heard of Pro-Anorexia, I formed an immediate opinion based off the name and what it means by default. I’m not sure what drove me to research the community at that time, but I realized that it was a better way of understanding someone with the disease rather forming an opinion that I knew was completely biased. I never enjoyed having one-sided opinions on an issue, and after a couple of days, Pro-Anorexia began to open my eyes to eating disorders. The first thing I realized was that the site wasn’t what the name suggested. Pro-Anorexia wasn’t about promoting the lifestyle that an eating disorder brings. Instead, the community was a place for someone to find comfort and support from another person like him or her. When I noticed the direction of the community, I realized that no one truly understood what Pro-Anorexia was, except for the people who were on the site and had an eating disorder.
The first thing I observed had been the number of people who posted with every day issues, whether it was related to an eating disorder or difficulties at school. Pro-anorexia is a place for someone to find another person to talk to without the fear of being judged. I found a member had posted:
25 January 2009 @ 08:45 pm
i have a confession to make.
i have no idea what the fuck a pop tart is. americans always talk about them and they sound yummy!
enlighten me?
In the community, the mentioning of the pop tart would have been blanked out. The good thing about Pro-Anorexia is that the community takes itself seriously. While members are given the freedom to act normally among other members, the admins and moderators have established rules so that the community is run smoothly. The rules always explain details of how to post on the site so that no one has his or her disorder triggered by something another member has posted.
http://community.livejournal.com/proanorexia/profile#rules
The link I posted contains every rule for the site. Whatever the aim of Pro-Anorexia, the site makes sure never to promote the lifestyle, behaviors, and attitudes that are associated with an eating disorder. The community is a safe-haven and a home for many, but the main, underlying hope is that everyone will recover in due time.
Despite the understanding I have gained of how someone with an eating disorder thinks, I can’t get over certain aspects of the site and its members. I often find posts by members asking questions about calories and exercise habits that feed the psychological mess that is an eating disorder. It’s hard to ignore that members will always be triggered by the site and other members together:
24 January 2009 @ 02:28 pm
this website is great to find different workouts & how many calories are burned!!! It is great :) http://www.fatburn.com/free_tool_activity_burn.asp
With its ups and downs, Pro-Anorexia has taught me more about eating disorders than a book could have. I cannot say that I completely understand the mindset of someone with anorexia, bulimia, or ED-NOS, but I can say that I will never judge someone for their disease. Also, the site helped me to understand certain things about myself and the body dysmorphia issues that I have experienced and continue to experience at times. There is more to the eating disorder than meets the eye, and it’s safer to say that it is more of a psychological issue than a physiological disease. The beginnings of an eating disorder are different for each person, but I’ve noticed that there is always a control factor that stays with the person throughout the disorder. What I have learned most is how devastating the disorders can be; the community has show members in their rarest and rawest forms, and I have seen how fragile lives can become after suffering through years of turmoil. I would never want Pro-Anorexia to be abolished because of the safety it gives its members. Even if half of them are tempted to never recover, there is always a feeling of home that the members will have with Pro-Anorexia. However, if there is one thing I can change about the community, I would abolish the term Pro-Anorexia for something that makes a little more sense to me: Pro-Support.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Psychology Fallacy
"Oh, she's going into Psychology. All they do is try to fix people and their problems by relating them to her own issues. She must think she knows everything."
Hasty Generalization
Hasty Generalization
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Is running really that serious?
I’ll have to admit, the “spotting a dead body whilst running” ad interested me before I could realize what the ad was suggesting. Anything with a “dead body” is bound to draw anyone, no matter how morbid and disturbing the subject. The dark colors of the background with the frayed, dingy track shoes soaking in the light creates a nice tone; it conveys power and purity; it says that runners are tough beings who don’t mind getting a little dirty as long as they get their thirty minute run around the block. The ad referencing to prime time forensic analysis dramas was a good idea; many people can visualize an unsuspecting runner weaving in and out of a secluded park until he or she stumbles upon an abandoned body behind the trees. The plot has been done five million times before. I decided to check out the entire ad campaign, assuming that Pearl’s wittiness would make for a reasonable shoe ad. To my dismay, I was left with the impression that Pearl Izumi was completely biased and more of a bully than she probably wanted to appear. According to the store, Joggers set the sport two steps back, are weak, and weren't born with the backbone that runners are given. If that's the case, then Joggers shouldn't even bother with living.
Truth is, I don’t run. I despise running with a passion, and I prefer to find other methods to work out. The fact that I don’t even care for running has made me dislike the ad more. A large population of the country doesn’t run on a daily basis; morning workouts are usually accompanied by mild jogging. So, my question for Pearl Izumi is, “What gives you the right to put down individuals who prefer not to run?”. You can’t nonchalantly tell a person in a wheel chair that he’s below a person who can actually run. If Pearl Izumi really wanted to sell shoes, the company should reevaluate how it approaches its ads; instead of sensing the wit and humor the ad was probably trying to go for, I only noticed the ignorance and the insensitivity.
When I analyze the Pearl Izumi ad, the first thing I notice is how dark it is. Literally, poster is black; although, this gives me the impression that the black background represents a dark area, pathway, or idea. This definitely plays to the ad’s idea of a runner finding a dead body; a runner can find a dead body on a dark path in the morning or in the night, and dead bodies are always a dark subject matter to begin with. The shoes in the poster are dirty and have obviously been used. The dirty shoes give the impression that a runner is tough and someone who doesn’t mind a little mud to get the job done. Also, the ad mentioned that runners are more willing to run off track into the woods, which would explain the massive amount of dirt. What’s interesting, though, is that there is a single flood of light engulfing the dirty shoes; this can mean a couple of things. I mentioned before that the dark background could mean the runner always runs in the early morning; the light could be the early sunlight that is just visible as the morning really breaks in. From a lot of television shows that I’ve seen, the runner who finds the dead body always runs at a time when the sun is just rising, and it is light enough for the body to be visible. The flood of light also gives the impression that the shoes are angelic, the divine shoes of runners, or that running alone is in another league compared to jogging and that running is the only method. Either way, the light in that context is a little arrogant. The text in the ad is clear and white, so it’s very easy for anyone to read, and the way the text is formatted is appealing. In fact, the composition of the entire poster is appealing; it is clean, crisp, and the juxtaposition works well for the poster. Someone walking down the street would be more persuaded by a poster that is organized opposed to one that is cluttered and with a message that is not easily conveyed. The poster also does a good job of making black more appealing rather than a rainbow of random color. The pop culture references to the forensic shows was probably the best thing the poster did; society may not be able to relate to a dead body in the middle of a park, but it can relate to a dead body in the middle of a park on a television show. This is probably where the ad struck gold (if not the nerves of many people).
The ad seemingly promotes running and a healthy lifestyle. This might be a stretch, but the ad gives running a sort of attitude and confidence that jogging apparently doesn’t have. To me, the ad says to not be modest or meek, but to run and be a confident person about it. Runners take control of their lives, while Joggers continue to have life step all over them. Perhaps the shoes give a runner the attitude and confidence because the runner looks good while he or she runs a course. None of this may be true, but that is what I get out of this ad campaign; a confidence that has stepped over the very tall line into arrogance.
The Pearl Izumi ad literally discourages jogging. In fact, the entire ad puts down jogging so much that I couldn’t look past that to see the good of running. The ad alienates anyone who doesn’t want to run, but it focuses entirely on Joggers alone. Apparently, the Runners are the Goliath to the Joggers’ David (or vice versa depending on how one looks at it). I tried to find the marketing approach in putting down jogging, but it seems pointless. Runners and Joggers are doing the exact same thing; the only difference is that runners happen to move a faster and sharper pace. I could say that the idea of runners moving faster could be a clever way of conveying that they do get through life far differently than joggers; however, it’s idiotic. A jogger can easily increase his speed to a run, and a runner can slow down a little to jog. Either way, Izumi could have explained the Running v Jogging ad without the insensitive and ignorant approach it gave. If I’m going to run, I’m certainly not going to need her shoes to do it.
Despite how I feel about the ad, when I look at it, I can’t help but be attracted to the entire look of the poster. Aesthetically, it appeals to my eye, and whoever thought of how to put the ad together was very smart in his or her choices. While I can’t relate to finding a dead body on the ground, I do like the ads approach of using Television to connect to the power of running. As pretentious as the ad is, I can understand how running is so intense because of the visuals that the poster provided. The look of the poster and the pop culture reference are the only things the ad has going for it, unfortunately. I can’t connect to it logically, and since I don’t run on a daily basis, I don’t have a lot of experience or credibility to agree with the power of running. In the end, Pathos is the only.
When I look at both ads, the Pearl Izumi and the “I am what I am” ad, I regrettably like the first one; aesthetically that is. I had explained earlier how the first ad appeals to my senses, and it definitely continues to appeal to my sense more than the second ad. I don’t’ really want to see a man vomiting onto the hard concrete as he is stumbling over his steps. However, when I look past the initial visuals, I realize that I prefer the second ad to the first. Finding a dead body in an off-road run can be intense, but I find something more incredible about the idea of a man’s body literally shutting down because of how much work he’s forcing onto it. While pain is not necessarily a good thing, there is a power behind it that screams so much louder than pop culture references. Still, for the market, the first ad takes the win.
Truth is, I don’t run. I despise running with a passion, and I prefer to find other methods to work out. The fact that I don’t even care for running has made me dislike the ad more. A large population of the country doesn’t run on a daily basis; morning workouts are usually accompanied by mild jogging. So, my question for Pearl Izumi is, “What gives you the right to put down individuals who prefer not to run?”. You can’t nonchalantly tell a person in a wheel chair that he’s below a person who can actually run. If Pearl Izumi really wanted to sell shoes, the company should reevaluate how it approaches its ads; instead of sensing the wit and humor the ad was probably trying to go for, I only noticed the ignorance and the insensitivity.
When I analyze the Pearl Izumi ad, the first thing I notice is how dark it is. Literally, poster is black; although, this gives me the impression that the black background represents a dark area, pathway, or idea. This definitely plays to the ad’s idea of a runner finding a dead body; a runner can find a dead body on a dark path in the morning or in the night, and dead bodies are always a dark subject matter to begin with. The shoes in the poster are dirty and have obviously been used. The dirty shoes give the impression that a runner is tough and someone who doesn’t mind a little mud to get the job done. Also, the ad mentioned that runners are more willing to run off track into the woods, which would explain the massive amount of dirt. What’s interesting, though, is that there is a single flood of light engulfing the dirty shoes; this can mean a couple of things. I mentioned before that the dark background could mean the runner always runs in the early morning; the light could be the early sunlight that is just visible as the morning really breaks in. From a lot of television shows that I’ve seen, the runner who finds the dead body always runs at a time when the sun is just rising, and it is light enough for the body to be visible. The flood of light also gives the impression that the shoes are angelic, the divine shoes of runners, or that running alone is in another league compared to jogging and that running is the only method. Either way, the light in that context is a little arrogant. The text in the ad is clear and white, so it’s very easy for anyone to read, and the way the text is formatted is appealing. In fact, the composition of the entire poster is appealing; it is clean, crisp, and the juxtaposition works well for the poster. Someone walking down the street would be more persuaded by a poster that is organized opposed to one that is cluttered and with a message that is not easily conveyed. The poster also does a good job of making black more appealing rather than a rainbow of random color. The pop culture references to the forensic shows was probably the best thing the poster did; society may not be able to relate to a dead body in the middle of a park, but it can relate to a dead body in the middle of a park on a television show. This is probably where the ad struck gold (if not the nerves of many people).
The ad seemingly promotes running and a healthy lifestyle. This might be a stretch, but the ad gives running a sort of attitude and confidence that jogging apparently doesn’t have. To me, the ad says to not be modest or meek, but to run and be a confident person about it. Runners take control of their lives, while Joggers continue to have life step all over them. Perhaps the shoes give a runner the attitude and confidence because the runner looks good while he or she runs a course. None of this may be true, but that is what I get out of this ad campaign; a confidence that has stepped over the very tall line into arrogance.
The Pearl Izumi ad literally discourages jogging. In fact, the entire ad puts down jogging so much that I couldn’t look past that to see the good of running. The ad alienates anyone who doesn’t want to run, but it focuses entirely on Joggers alone. Apparently, the Runners are the Goliath to the Joggers’ David (or vice versa depending on how one looks at it). I tried to find the marketing approach in putting down jogging, but it seems pointless. Runners and Joggers are doing the exact same thing; the only difference is that runners happen to move a faster and sharper pace. I could say that the idea of runners moving faster could be a clever way of conveying that they do get through life far differently than joggers; however, it’s idiotic. A jogger can easily increase his speed to a run, and a runner can slow down a little to jog. Either way, Izumi could have explained the Running v Jogging ad without the insensitive and ignorant approach it gave. If I’m going to run, I’m certainly not going to need her shoes to do it.
Despite how I feel about the ad, when I look at it, I can’t help but be attracted to the entire look of the poster. Aesthetically, it appeals to my eye, and whoever thought of how to put the ad together was very smart in his or her choices. While I can’t relate to finding a dead body on the ground, I do like the ads approach of using Television to connect to the power of running. As pretentious as the ad is, I can understand how running is so intense because of the visuals that the poster provided. The look of the poster and the pop culture reference are the only things the ad has going for it, unfortunately. I can’t connect to it logically, and since I don’t run on a daily basis, I don’t have a lot of experience or credibility to agree with the power of running. In the end, Pathos is the only.
When I look at both ads, the Pearl Izumi and the “I am what I am” ad, I regrettably like the first one; aesthetically that is. I had explained earlier how the first ad appeals to my senses, and it definitely continues to appeal to my sense more than the second ad. I don’t’ really want to see a man vomiting onto the hard concrete as he is stumbling over his steps. However, when I look past the initial visuals, I realize that I prefer the second ad to the first. Finding a dead body in an off-road run can be intense, but I find something more incredible about the idea of a man’s body literally shutting down because of how much work he’s forcing onto it. While pain is not necessarily a good thing, there is a power behind it that screams so much louder than pop culture references. Still, for the market, the first ad takes the win.
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