The Darker side of MFP?

Ophidion
Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
in Chit-Chat
No this is not going to be another Post about thread etiquette,1200cals or diet soda.

I have been on MFP for around 90 days and still consider myself a newbie so forgive me if this is familiar Territory.

So I was on MFP doing the usual logging,looking at post's for advice,a giggle etc and came across a post that led me into something that I'm not completely naive about...having met several people that have suffered from it, it is constantly covered on TV for shock value and there are whole websites dedicated to eating disorders.

Eating Disorders...specifically Anorexia nervosa. I will explain as best I can without naming individuals and trying my best not to sound judgmental or uncaring about sufferers, please forgive my ignorance on this subject if it happens unintentionally.

So a post was put up by an individual, I am not going to be too specific, and any way to get a fuller picture of said individual I looked at their profile and this is where the real shock came in...their FL consisted of young women and I mean young I doubt half of them were of the age of 18yrs and all were at dangerously low body weights.Firstly you struck by the profile pics displaying with the same amount of pride as some profile pics in which members are happy to show new muscle growth these individuals were parading skeletal limbs,rib-cages,pencil thin wrists etc

Secondly the next thing that struck me and I do mean struck me it hurt to read was the proclamations and I do mean mission statements and once again I cannot be too specific as I do not wish to cause any unnecessary grief for these individuals...about how they were trying to hit goal weights akin to birth weights and how they were aware that this lifestyle would kill them but aslong as they were skinny they did not care etc etc you get the picture.

Thirdly I started unraveling the thread going from FL to FL and let me tell you it was vast, an endless parade of young women starving themselves to death slowly a virtual slide show (similar to holocaust photos) of these sick...no insult intended they are sick, individuals supporting this self destructive behavior and I don't mean healthy ED support to get over it, they are obviously influencing and maybe even actively encouraging through PM's this lifestyle.

Now I like to think I am not a complete idiot, I know this problem exists but going into this endless who's who FL was much more confronting than going on Thinpos, it was like walking into a house full of these people and they were all sharing techniques on how to reach this withered state and showing off their brittle features, except for the house contained hundreds, nay probably thousands of sick individuals not random images but real profiles of young women killing themselves.

I do not blame myfitnesspal for any of this, ultimately it is our responsibility to look out for ourselves and our friends and they have put in age restrictions, warnings, guidelines etc But it has become evident to me that these individuals are using this site to gather in groups to compare and share results,tips and goals. Is this not a perversion of what this site is intended for.

The title was just to get your attention I don't think MFP is the problem, I don't know if there is a solution. I have sent reports and emails to MFP to make them aware of this situation if they are not. *sigh* I have absolutely no concept of how to deal with this issue, not ED"S as a whole but the use of MFP as a meet and greet, it is beyond me but if you had seen these profiles like me you probably would have been asking yourself why hasn't a red flag gone up! How do so many self-destructive profiles exist side by side and nobody is noticing.

Sad and a bit lost by this experience.

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • I_am_Kara
    I_am_Kara Posts: 2,593 Member
    I have noticed this myself and it is saddening :frown: Hope MFP or someone will talk some sense into these girls.
  • Justjamie0418
    Justjamie0418 Posts: 1,065 Member
    :indifferent:

    It is very sad.
  • Willowana
    Willowana Posts: 493 Member
    Well said, Ophidion. I have seen this too and flipped through the FLs from one to the next. It makes me so sad when I see all those beautiful girls that will go to great lengths to destroy the beauty they possess naturally at a healthy weight. What a terrible affliction to suffer from. I wish there was a way I could show them what they're worth.
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    Old News Dude...let it goooooooo!
  • Lindz2323
    Lindz2323 Posts: 261 Member
    I had also come across this before... =/ very sad..
  • AlteredSkates
    AlteredSkates Posts: 123 Member
    bump because It may be old news but still important...very sad.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I had the same reaction when I first joined. It's overwhelming and tragic and there's absolutely nothing you can do. The people that need to be involved are these children's parents, teachers, physicians, and counselors.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • catrinaHwechanged
    catrinaHwechanged Posts: 4,907 Member
    I had the same reaction when I first joined. It's overwhelming and tragic and there's absolutely nothing you can do. The people that need to be involved are these children's parents, teachers, physicians, and counselors.

    This. 100%
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    If it's not here, it will be someplace else. Since this can be easily hidden from sight, you are probably only now realizing just how pervasive this disease is. I have several friends who suffer from anorexia, and it doesn't get much better with age. It is a lifetime struggle with most of these people.
  • mego07
    mego07 Posts: 234 Member
    This is absolutely terrible. I have only came across a few and it is always so worrisome. Unfortunately, as one mentioned before, that even if we were to block them, they will find other ways to be on the site and look for others to encourage their lifestyle.

    Also, sorry to ask, but what is FL? I just think of Florida.
  • louloulou
    louloulou Posts: 64 Member
    What surprises me is that they are able to resister on the site with such pro anorexic user names. Surely these should be refused when they try to sign up under such a name?

    It would be great if MFP had a zero tolerance for pro- Ana activity by closing accounts of members who are registering with pro- Ana names or posting photos that are clearly anorexic.
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    This is absolutely terrible. I have only came across a few and it is always so worrisome. Unfortunately, as one mentioned before, that even if we were to block them, they will find other ways to be on the site and look for others to encourage their lifestyle.

    Also, sorry to ask, but what is FL? I just think of Florida.
    haha FL friends list

    Thanks everyone for the reply's..

    Agreed...The people that need to be involved are these children's parents, teachers, physicians, and counselors.

    Also once again sorry if I am stating the painfully obvious or rehashing an already gone over topic, but like I said I do consider myself a newbie.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Friends List.

    Yes - it's a worrying state of affairs, but each user is an individual, and will hopefully be getting some help as such. There's not much more MFP can do - threads that are blatantly pro-ana etc are flagged and blocked, and the vast majority of users here will spot any concerning statements and respond to them sensitively.
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    What surprises me is that they are able to resister on the site with such pro anorexic user names. Surely these should be refused when they try to sign up under such a name?

    It would be great if MFP had a zero tolerance for pro- Ana activity by closing accounts of members who are resistering with pro- Ana names or posting photos that are clearly anorexic.

    This ^^^ went through my head over and over again, surely there must be a way to monitor such pro anorexic user names as this would be one of the methods they are using to find each other.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    It is extremely sad, although I don't read posts by people who have EDs. It's usually pointless to argue with them, although of course if you're boasting about wanting to weigh 72 pounds in a forum, someone is going to feel obligated to respond. EDs are well publicized now and people are either going to get help or they're not.

    On the topic of things over which we have control, I wish people here would not conflate eating 1200 calories a day -- MFP's recommendation for aggressive weight loss -- with having an ED. 1200 does not even qualify as a Very Low Calorie Diet.
  • PlayerHatinDogooder
    PlayerHatinDogooder Posts: 1,018 Member
    All I can do is not add them when they send me a request and let them know that I won't stand by and watch why they do this to themselves.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Thank you for caring but no one can care for your own body and do something about it except yourself. They have to want to change.
  • feast4dabeast
    feast4dabeast Posts: 96 Member
    When I joined here over a year ago I was really annoyed and angry at the diet and lifestyle choices that some people on my list were making. However, as time has went on I have realised that I am not able to change the world. In some cases people who have been my friends have been working to recover from EDs and in those cases I have been very supportive. However, I am not willing to have friends on my list who are making dangerous choices (what appears to be in a virtual world anyway) and if I see those patterns emerging I will message and let them know how I feel. If my advice in that case is not taken seriously or I get a backlash from it I have and will delete. Despite all good intentions this website is about your own progress first - if you can take someone with you that is great.
  • LaurenLPitt
    LaurenLPitt Posts: 22 Member
    I think it's a good idea to report anyone who seems to be pro ana and try not to encourage their behaviour. The more we all promote healthy lifestyles, the more likely people will be influenced positively :)
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    It is sad, and it's good to know that some people out there really care...all you can do is pray for them and hope they get the help they need. I do agree with reporting them, too.
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    Thanks once again for all the reply's and this will be my last one.

    Just wanted to add that I have no false illusions that I can save these people if they don't want to help themselves and am over my initial shock of my experience.I guess what I took away from this experience for myself is that if I see some troubling behavior the least I can do besides not condoning it, is to report it and the person/persons involved and hope that inevitably at the very least the ease at which these people are abusing themselves with this program will be minimized to some extent, an example being passing on the previously mentioned suggestion of not allowing people to use obviously ED and Anorexia pro user names making it harder for these people to find each other.

    Your suggestions and views were very welcomed and don't worry I will not let this consume me but instead let it strengthen my resolve to remain healthy and increase my fitness levels.

    PS Apologies, I know my grammar is atrocious to say the least.
  • Olivia
    Olivia Posts: 10,137 MFP Staff
    Dear Posters,

    I wanted to thank the OP and others for expressing their concerns for members on the site who may be struggling with an eating disorder. The staff at MyFitnessPal care deeply about having a site that is a safe, healthy, and supportive place for our members and our guidelines include:
    3. No Promotion of Unsafe Weight-Loss Techniques or Eating Disorders
    a) Posts intended to promote potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, including non-medically prescribed supplements or MLM products will be removed without warning.
    b) Profiles, groups, messages, posts, or wall comments that encourage anorexia, bulimia, or very low calorie diets of any kind will be removed, and may be grounds for account deletion. This includes positive references to ana/mia,]purging, or self-starving. Our goal is to provide users with the tools to achieve their weight management goals at a steady, sustainable rate. Use of the site to promote, glamorize, or achieve dangerously low levels of eating is not permitted.
    c) Photos intended to glamorize extreme thinness will be deleted.
    d) Those seeking support in their recovery from eating disorders are welcome at MyFitnessPal.

    Please report concerns about specific members to the MyFitnessPal staff so that we can review the situation and take the appropriate follow-up action. The best way to report members is to contact us via the Contact Us form: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/contact_us

    Alternatively members are also welcome to send me a private message.

    With Respect,
    Olivia
    MyFitnessPal Community Manager
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