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Saw this earlier:
(For the blind: Left side, a woman who is anorexic in appearance. Right side, a woman who is overweight. Caption on left says "Calling this ugly is just as offensive as..." Caption on right says "...calling this ugly.")
I'm sorry, but I just don't see the comparison. I suppose if the woman on the left were incapable of gaining weight for some legitimate medical reason, then calling her ugly would be offensive. But if she's anorexic, I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to express my opinion that anorexics are ugly. Sure, it would be rude to call her ugly to her face, or via email or what have you, but in my own personal space I can damn well say what I damn well please, and I don't see how expressing such an opinion in my own personal space is in any way the same thing as someone expressing the opinion that fat people are ugly. Fat people get that way either because their bodies hold onto fat like mad, or because they've become emotionally addicted to food. Anorexia, on the other hand, is something people choose to start up. Regardless of its status as an eating disorder, it is in no way the same kind of mechanism as overeating. It takes conscious thought to decide to stop eating. It's one thing to think you're fat no matter how thin you are, it's another thing altogether to act on that and stop eating altogether.
I do think it is sad that such a disorder exists, and I do try to be compassionate with such people when they know they have a problem, and are seeking help to overcome it and return to a healthy weight. But I've seen far too many people online who are unrepentant in their belief that anorexia is super awesome, people who deny they have an eating disorder and are, in fact, proud of being anorexic. This is not at all like being proud of being somewhat overweight... this is like weighing 1000 pounds or more and proclaiming that absolutely everybody should be just as morbidly obese as them. It crosses the line from acceptable pride to leading a dangerous example. It's akin to absolutely ruining yourself on drugs, and making it your mission in life to tell everyone in the world just how awesome it is to be a complete wreck of a human being from drugs.
So, to the person who made this image, FUCK YOU.
(For the blind: Left side, a woman who is anorexic in appearance. Right side, a woman who is overweight. Caption on left says "Calling this ugly is just as offensive as..." Caption on right says "...calling this ugly.")
I'm sorry, but I just don't see the comparison. I suppose if the woman on the left were incapable of gaining weight for some legitimate medical reason, then calling her ugly would be offensive. But if she's anorexic, I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to express my opinion that anorexics are ugly. Sure, it would be rude to call her ugly to her face, or via email or what have you, but in my own personal space I can damn well say what I damn well please, and I don't see how expressing such an opinion in my own personal space is in any way the same thing as someone expressing the opinion that fat people are ugly. Fat people get that way either because their bodies hold onto fat like mad, or because they've become emotionally addicted to food. Anorexia, on the other hand, is something people choose to start up. Regardless of its status as an eating disorder, it is in no way the same kind of mechanism as overeating. It takes conscious thought to decide to stop eating. It's one thing to think you're fat no matter how thin you are, it's another thing altogether to act on that and stop eating altogether.
I do think it is sad that such a disorder exists, and I do try to be compassionate with such people when they know they have a problem, and are seeking help to overcome it and return to a healthy weight. But I've seen far too many people online who are unrepentant in their belief that anorexia is super awesome, people who deny they have an eating disorder and are, in fact, proud of being anorexic. This is not at all like being proud of being somewhat overweight... this is like weighing 1000 pounds or more and proclaiming that absolutely everybody should be just as morbidly obese as them. It crosses the line from acceptable pride to leading a dangerous example. It's akin to absolutely ruining yourself on drugs, and making it your mission in life to tell everyone in the world just how awesome it is to be a complete wreck of a human being from drugs.
So, to the person who made this image, FUCK YOU.