Sunday, November 16, 2008

Blog etiquette

We bloggers tend to share nearly everything about our eating habits and a good bit about our lives online...however healthy or unhealthy they may be.  

But what do you do when you notice clearly disordered eating?  As a recovering (pretty darn recovered, but it's a lifelong thing) anorexic, I know the signs, the thoughts, and the guilt that goes with disordered eating.  So when I see it bared for the world to see in a blog, I can't help but want to say something.  

I'm not sure it would do any good and I don't want to start any s*!t with someone I don't really know...  but I know that without someone, somewhere doing something, these people will end up really sick.

What do you think?  

9 comments:

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

I've often thought the same thing and my conclusion is that it's better to reach out to the person via email if that's possible. It saves the person the public confrontation about their possible eating disorder and would allow you to be more expressive about your own story if you care to share it (you've been pretty forthright about your battle with anorexia in the past).

Alicia said...

I'm so glad you've written about this. I never know what to do in such cases, so I... don't do anything... Which is probably not a good idea either.

laura said...

i noticed a couple of bloggers that seemed overly obsessed with portions and their weights in the veganmofo feed. i wouldn't have the first idea what i could say to these people that would help. maybe if you can use your experience to reach out it might get through.

allularpunk said...

i've got a history with an eating disorder myself (though am 'recovered' as well as i can hope for) and have noticed this on some blogs as well. i actually find that i can't read these for the most part... because they trigger my own freshly healed disorder. maybe if you could send them a caring email... let them know where you're coming from and that you can offer support if they'd like it. i know that i would have probably appreciated a similar email when i was at my worst moments. knowing someone out there cares and recognizes the behavior may be the turning point they need to recover. you never know.

Anonymous said...

I totally get what you're saying. I've stopped reading several blogs because I was beginning to be upset by the eating disorder-related or eating disorder-like talk. A gentle e-mail to the blogger seems to be a kind, caring thing to do, but if he/she shows no signs of getting help or recognizing his/her issues, then I would just stop reading their blog.

CB said...

i agree- say something. you never know if you can be the impetus for change. the worst that can happen? they, who you only know from blog land, are mad at you.

and definitely use email, not comments. maybe phrases like "you use language like i did when i was suffering in my anorexia" then you identify their words instead of calling them out.

Liz said...

Great suggestions everyone- I think a non-confrontational email is the way to go. Thanks a ton!

Anonymous said...

it's interesting that you have this posted because i expressed my feelings to another blogger that reminded me of myself when i had an eating disorder. i told her that i was just worried and didn't like seeing my old problems in somebody else.

i hope this helps!

Sheree' said...

I have one blogger that really worries me and have yet to say anything. maybe I should shoot her an eamil too. I don't want to see anyone suffer when there is help for these types of lifelong issues