Never dealt with an eating disorder
anonymous
June 29 2004, 10:45:08 UTC
Anna-
You have obvioiusly never dealt with an eating disorder, or been close to anyone who has because you wouldn't dismiss it as readily. No, it's not cancer, but yes, it is real and not something someone just says, oh, eating disorder today. It's not that simple, and I would have thought someone as smart as you might be a little more understanding.
Re: Never dealt with an eating disorderennifralphieJune 30 2004, 14:31:39 UTC
I have to agree with that first comment. Maybe your problem with this, like my problem with this, is that Mary Kate's eating disorder is passing for news. I know in Europe there is a more conservative distinction between the public and private spheres. Eating disorders, so far as I could tell, were never big news in Italy. That is not to say they aren't a real problem.
There is a very fine line between something one "freely chooses" and something that one does compulsively because of various environmental factors. I would think that after reading Foucault, and claiming to understand it, you would have realized that power exerts an influence over our everyday habits, our self-conceptions, and our worldly actions such that "freely choosing" becomes highly contentious.
Re: Never dealt with an eating disorderannasuiteJuly 2 2004, 14:35:29 UTC
Ennif,
I'm glad you understood that part of my concern with this "issue" is the inappropriate and unnecessary media attention.
I reject your slights concerning my capacity to understand Foucault. Perhaps I was more enamored by Foucault's idea that power is always in a relation than you were. In addition, I believe in human agency and while I understand the profound force social and other actors make up in contemporary society, I still reject the idea that we are unable to make decisions of our own will.
I realize the problem with an eating disorder is larger than advertising campaigns, but I have never been one to resign myself to my situation. If a person chooses an eating disorder there is more wrong with her than just wanting to be impossibly skinny. But she should nevertheless not be treated like a victim. What kind of fucking encouragement would that be?
Re: Never dealt with an eating disorderannasuiteJuly 2 2004, 14:27:54 UTC
Liz,
My freshman year roommate was bulimic and I was very well aware of it. Though we weren't particularly close I was struck and saddened by the society I live in that compels young, intelligent, and attractive women to take up an eating disorder. I understand that an eating disorder is a serious affliction. My issue with pathologizing something like that is that it makes the person with the disorder a victim. It removes their own responsibility for their life. As mentioned in my post, I believe smoking to be a similar affliction though not with the same psychological implications. To summarize, I did not intend to trivialize eating disorders but rather point out that the cause lies not only in our society but also in the "patients" themselves.
I refute your attacks on my intellect/understanding and your basic assumptions.
I was most certainly not attacking your intellect, in fact, I was saying that I think you're smart, so don't take that as wrong. And yes, it seemed as though you were lacking in understanding. For once, I'm going to have to agree with Pablo. To say that people have an absolute choice is just flawed. There are a million factors involved, choice comes in somewhere, but not soon enough to be able to just up and choose not to, otherwise it wouldn't be a disease, which it is.
I totally agree with the fact that it is not news.
Comments 6
You have obvioiusly never dealt with an eating disorder, or been close to anyone who has because you wouldn't dismiss it as readily. No, it's not cancer, but yes, it is real and not something someone just says, oh, eating disorder today. It's not that simple, and I would have thought someone as smart as you might be a little more understanding.
The end.
-Liz
Reply
There is a very fine line between something one "freely chooses" and something that one does compulsively because of various environmental factors. I would think that after reading Foucault, and claiming to understand it, you would have realized that power exerts an influence over our everyday habits, our self-conceptions, and our worldly actions such that "freely choosing" becomes highly contentious.
Reply
I'm glad you understood that part of my concern with this "issue" is the inappropriate and unnecessary media attention.
I reject your slights concerning my capacity to understand Foucault. Perhaps I was more enamored by Foucault's idea that power is always in a relation than you were. In addition, I believe in human agency and while I understand the profound force social and other actors make up in contemporary society, I still reject the idea that we are unable to make decisions of our own will.
I realize the problem with an eating disorder is larger than advertising campaigns, but I have never been one to resign myself to my situation. If a person chooses an eating disorder there is more wrong with her than just wanting to be impossibly skinny. But she should nevertheless not be treated like a victim. What kind of fucking encouragement would that be?
--Anna
Reply
My freshman year roommate was bulimic and I was very well aware of it. Though we weren't particularly close I was struck and saddened by the society I live in that compels young, intelligent, and attractive women to take up an eating disorder. I understand that an eating disorder is a serious affliction. My issue with pathologizing something like that is that it makes the person with the disorder a victim. It removes their own responsibility for their life.
As mentioned in my post, I believe smoking to be a similar affliction though not with the same psychological implications.
To summarize, I did not intend to trivialize eating disorders but rather point out that the cause lies not only in our society but also in the "patients" themselves.
I refute your attacks on my intellect/understanding and your basic assumptions.
--Anna
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
I was most certainly not attacking your intellect, in fact, I was saying that I think you're smart, so don't take that as wrong. And yes, it seemed as though you were lacking in understanding. For once, I'm going to have to agree with Pablo. To say that people have an absolute choice is just flawed. There are a million factors involved, choice comes in somewhere, but not soon enough to be able to just up and choose not to, otherwise it wouldn't be a disease, which it is.
I totally agree with the fact that it is not news.
The end.
-Liz
Reply
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