"A Secret Society of the Starving"

At first glance, the picture of the girl on the blog made me sick to my stomach. No way should anyone that skinny still be able to breath. Then, after reading the text “A Secret Society of the Starving” it made realize that the idea of bulimia and anorexia went further then just throwing up after eating and not eating at all. These girls are completely obsessed with the idea of being thin and are willing to make their lives difficult, and even death an option, in order for that to happen. Although Clairegirl and Futurebird say the websites are a way for them to discuss everything that is happening inside of them, they should be shut down. The websites are kind of like forming a cult for girls and women who have eating disorders. For example, Claire says that she goes on after a long day at school because “I don’t have to worry about them judging me for how I feel”. I think it is great they feel they can have that type of support, but these girls and women are sick. They need to get support from the people that love them and that can get them help. They don’t need to get support from other people that are sick because they are just feeding them the same bull crap they think and that isn’t the slightest bit healthy. The two girls say they can’t rely on their friends and family because they will just look at them like they are sick and not understand them. However, it is the truth; they are sick! They need all the help they can receive and by relying on these websites, it is feeding into their sickness.
The kind of stress these girls are putting on their bodies, it is surprising they haven’t lost a lot of friends through this website and even their own lives. That is one of the strengths of this websites and it is what makes this not completely downright wrong. All these girls are going through something that most people can’t even fathom about. The type of support they receive from this website is like non-other. They are all going through the same struggles in life, so why wouldn’t it make sense to talk to people who have the same problems. Futurebird says that she feels like she can’t go to anyone because they won’t understand her problems. She doesn’t want other girls who are younger than her to have those same problems, so she writes about the website “…what I hope they find is people who share their experience and that they’re able to just simply talk.” For her, she doesn’t want girls to go through the experiences she has alone. So, the website does have its benefits because it could prevent girls, who are already depressed and low, from committing suicide or hurting themselves further.
Anorexia and bulimia are two extremely dangerous eating disorders that affect girls and women in many different ways. Some take it to the extremes and some just do it to “fit into a bathing suit”. The websites aren’t the best form of a support group because the girls on the website feel like it is the only place for hope. However, they need to know that their family and friends are people they can turn to as well. The website doesn’t help in that aspect because they all have fears of revealing their problems to loved ones. The website shouldn’t just be between girls who have problems. They should allow people who are trained professionals to help them through the website. Otherwise, the website is a very extreme form of a support group. These young girls and women need help from professionals, not other people are just as sick.