I am writing an essay about if the media influences eating disorders.....what do you think?

It's okay shade...just another radical automaton with the illusion of free-thought.

Syd: Media does not just refer to commercials. It refers to every form of information dissemation - newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, books, the Internet, posters, graffiti, whatever. It includes independent newspapers, flyers and murals put up by protestors, public access television...or is PBS evil, too?

You're not being serious, are you?

The media is evil, its designed to make you want to consume. We should stand against this horrid thing that is taking over our libes...

I tried it. I thought if I couldn't be strong, I should be skinny... Turns out I'm skinny anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by Sphinx:
The people I've known who had eating disorders were acting on self-loathing or as a way to feel in control; it had almost nothing to do with wanting to be skinny.

Exactly... when I struggle with eating disorders, that was my reason, not because I thought I was fat.

The people I've known who had eating disorders were acting on self-loathing or as a way to feel in control; it had almost nothing to do with wanting to be skinny.

I think everything is blamed on the media because its the easy way out. I said this in another thread, but I think the problem is really in society itself, and its not the media's fault for protraying what our society is.

I dont really think the media influences girls to be anorexic as much as skinny girls in general at their own high school. I mean in the magazines they make it look nasty to be really skinny, but when you see someone at your own school that looks almost perfect to you.. You tend to wonder. The magazines just gives you an idea of what you can do. Even though excercising is the way to go

ABSOLUTELY!!! I'm kind of annorexic, like I don't eat when ever I get the chance, but it's not like I'm going to die. And I take the blame for this, it was my decision, but honestly if it weren't for the media, I probably never would have heard of eating disorders. And with out seeing the pictures in their magazines, I wouldn't be inspired to try it, because of how well/fast it worked for them.

Most likely when some girls see the stick figure celebrities out there they want to be like them...

I'm not sure how well this would help, but I saw today that the latest issue of People magazine is about celebrities with eating disorders, and there's a story about people who actually have them. You can try starting with this.