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How do you think Karen Carpenter would respond to the "pro-ana movement"?

I don't think she would have gone for that at all or approved. I think throughout her disease, she didn't enjoy what she was doing and wanted to find a way out, but it was hard to fight her demons.

Pro-ana is being proud about being anorexic and trying to use it was a lifestyle choice. Those ones don't seem to want to find a way out of the demons.

i used to be right into pro ana pro mia all that sorta stuff years ago but its....i dunno, its sad. i don't think Karen would have been into it at all, even though ppl use her as thinsperation. i used too.

pro-anna is also about egging each other on, encouraging people to stay in the ED and giving each other tips etc. Whilst in treatment, Karen encouraged other people to get well, ya know. She wouldn't have wanted anyone else to go through an ED. Having ED friends and supporting each other and leaning on each other through it is totally different than being part of an pro-anna 'movement'!! That's my 2 cents anyway!!
Edited by cazzy79, 11 June 2007 - 01:24 PM.

I think that if Karen had gotten better, she would have spoke out about it a lot, and she would say that "they don't know what they are getting themselves into, and its nothing to take lightly" or something along those lines, its the same message that she sent out in death, why can't Karen alone be enough reason for people to realize how serious it is

That is an interesting question.


I think Karen having developed anorexia at age 24, probably wouldn't have gotten much comfort out of the pro-ana movement, which is mainly composed of very young girls, who have a hard time admitting they're ill and probably aren't old enough to process what an eating disorder is. Nobody "approves" of the pro-ana movement, but I don't think the people in it are awful people pretending to be anorexic; for the most part, they're just very young anorexics who find it easy to be tough and 'in control' online but who are terrified in reality.



Because it's an illness, and being aware of the illness doesn't make it go away. It's not like people have a choice to fall into it, you know? If you're susceptible and the conditions are right, you probably will, no matter how serious you know it is. There are people whose siblings have died from it and yet they still develop it afterwards. They have awareness, they just can't stop it. Part of it is even genetic.



They like to pretend that's how they feel about it, anyway.

Yes, Karen´s death is itself a strong message spread around the world. I live in Uruguay, if you find my country on a map between Argentina and Brazil, you´ll realize we´re trully miles away, and as far as my country is from US, Karen´s struggle and tragic ending is well known by everybody here, and a reminder of how serious issue ED is.
The subject that she was the first celebrity in dying from AN, makes this message even stronger. Amazing how ther´s light even in the darkest darkness.

hehe i have to admit, me too.

Because it's an illness, and being aware of the illness doesn't make it go away. It's not like people have a choice to fall into it, you know? If you're susceptible and the conditions are right, you probably will, no matter how serious you know it is. There are people whose siblings have died from it and yet they still develop it afterwards. They have awareness, they just can't stop it. Part of it is even genetic.
[/quote]
True dat! You sure don't ask for it!!

ok i don't know why it isn't quoting it like it usually does...wierd?? anyways that first quote is a quote by polarbear...


another thing-now that would be totally cool if she did speak out about her struggle if she were to recover and what not but something about her makes me think that she wouldn't do that. i have this gut feeling that she would've completely kept to herslef about it, i don't know that's just what got from everything i know about her. im prolly wrong tho.
Edited by KC#1fan, 11 June 2007 - 06:36 PM.

It was written that she had planned to share her story about eating disorders on talk shows, after her recovery. I am sure she would have done it. SHe would have gotten an enormous amount of publicity. I mean, take a look at Cherry Boone O'Neill, singer Pat Boone's daughter. She wrote a book called STARVING FOR ATTENTION and it gained national attention, was a bestseller, and she did the talk show circuit. Now if Karen had done that too...her story probably would have been INTERNATIONAL...which is the reason why, when she died, ANOREXIA was this scary, bizzarre disease, and I was 11 and I remember hearing about it.

Cam

I only thought she was ever used as an example of anorexia. It's shocking to hear someone has used ehr as a thinspo.


Did you get thinspiration of the 74-78 Karen or very ill Karen?

sorry if i offended you.

I don't find it shocking that she was, and still is, used as thinspiration. Most skinny celebs and models are, especially those who have or have had eating disorders.

I find this all sad, really. Poor Karen died and all, but some folks find inspiration in that?

I feel nothing but empathy for those who have had eating disorders, because I reckon it just never truly stops. For example, a someone in AA can totally try and circumvent being around liquor, but someone in recovery for an eating disorder cannot quite do that, you know?

Shucks, I have a gal pal who has had issues with eating disorders since the sixth grade. Poor gal struggles with that, and she cannot even have children due to these struggles she has had. So, again, I have nothing but empathy.

But, I reckon someone would be in need of some real help if Karen was their pro ana role model. I know that this with the pro ana and all is just quite something else, but it is just heartbreaking.

It would be, like, having Ozzy Osbourne as your drugs taking (not that I am condoning drugs taking) role model, you know?

I am trying to weigh my words carefully and not accidentally offend anyone. Please pardon me if I was not able to be less blunt or if I used the wrong terms about this with the pro ana and stuff.

its not something that you do & find a problem with, in your mind it isnt wrong, its just something you do.