NationStates Jolt Archive

Thinspiration videos are basically montages of thin if not skeletal women, often with pro-anorexia slogans. The idea behind seems to be to fortify some people's will by showing people who have 'achieved' such builds. Some of the videos have been flagged as inappropriate.

What's your opinion on these? Should YouTube allow videos which encourage eating disorders?

It would be particularly interesting if anyone with anorexia or who knows someone who does could offer their thoughts.
I've heard (mainly from TV documentaries I'll admit) that the idea that anorexics are trying to be like their cat-walk idols is incorrect, so where do these videos come in if they actually have any effect?

Some examples:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-aia-kwk2L8&mode=related&search=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hplN3IEuuo4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TT0ZfH5-waA

Hotness.

If people can see your shoulder blades as well as the entire shoulder structure and if they can actually make out the Iliac and the Iliac crest of the Pelvic then you're too skinny and need to eat.

ooh The Kooks haven't heard those in awhile...

er anyway these people are very, very bad because they always steal your chips (fries) and are always tired

If people can't make out your crista iliaca, you are beyond fat... or, live in the USA. Whichever.

I don't mind if I can feel the hip bones, but I would like to feel a little meat on them as well, not much. I find fatness disgusting too, but I also find skeleton body equally disgusting.

If people can see your shoulder blades as well as the entire shoulder structure and if they can actually make out the Iliac and the Iliac crest of the Pelvic then you're too skinny and need to eat.

If people can't make out your crista iliaca, you are beyond fat... or, live in the USA. Whichever.

I'm male, 14, weigh about 80 pounds, and I eat plenty and healthy, and exercise a lot, and I'm still really skinny. This summer, in fact, I was in Michigan and I had a huge root beer float, and then had an oreo milkshake, and my cousin said "I'm impressed, Christopher, but why can I still see your bones when you have your shirt off?"

I don't get it, really. Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about being fat for a long time like many Americans!

SNIP

welcome to the ectomorph club!

feel free to enjoy the bad ass swimming and endurance skills (along with the ability to eat like a horse and laugh)

Ewww. What unpleasant looking bodies. Spines popping out, sunken bellies, toothpick arms, knock knees, and hip bones that look like you could cut yourself on them. I do not find these attractive in the least.

But the crista iliaca remains visible pretty much until the rolls on your stomach and sides/back are sufficiently enormous to drape over and hide it. That's not a casual level of fatness.

ugh...are you trying to make me throw up? *gets image out of head*

I don't mind if I can feel the hip bones, but I would like to feel a little meat on them as well, not much. I find fatness disgusting too, but I also find skeleton body equally disgusting.

But the crista iliaca remains visible pretty much until the rolls on your stomach and sides/back are sufficiently enormous to drape over and hide it. That's not a casual level of fatness.

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.

welcome to the ectomorph club!

feel free to enjoy the bad ass swimming and endurance skills (along with the ability to eat like a horse and laugh)

Just wait till we hit 30 :(

I can't watch the videos because I'm under 18 (actually only about three months away from being 18).

But I'm slightly underweight and can see my shoulder bones and hip bones (they look pokey to me) pretty well and five of my ribs (possibly could see more but the breasts start getting in the way at that point) on each side. I feel like I eat enough. I usually eat somewhere between 1400 and 1800 calories per day. I'm not really sure how I could eat much more than that unless I went on an eating spree or something...

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.

what kind of sandwich?

Just wait till we hit 30 :(

? (http://handbook.abovetopsecret.com/wizard/blogimg/unemp-skeletor-01.jpg)

Skeletal = just... ew.
Naturally skinny (i.e., thin, but you can't see ribs/shoulders/etc.) = hot.

I can't watch the videos because I'm under 18 (actually only about three months away from being 18).

I'm about 2 months older than you *buys alchohol with almost old enough line*

Skeletal = just... ew.
Naturally skinny (i.e., thin, but you can't see ribs/shoulders/etc.) = hot.

you like it when you can't see a womans shoulders :eek:

you like it when you can't see a womans shoulders :eek:

I think he means shoulder blades that don't jut out like giant mountains.

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.
I feel that as a man, a sandwich is ALWAYS in order due to this useful advice. Cheers, Kat!

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.

Can being too thin mess that up? Because mine came about two weeks late last time.

I'm about 2 months older than you *buys alchohol with almost old enough line*


I was mostly just explaining why I couldn't watch the videos.

Alcohol isn't legal here at 18, and I wouldn't want to drink any anyway.

That's so hawt. I used to have a poster promoting anorexia, it said something like "boys only like skinny girls" or something. When I see that self-induced suffering and the responses it generates it's a lollercoaster of drama.

This shit should be banned. It might as well be snuff.

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.

What if you never started and you're 21? Can I still have a sammich?



As for being too thin, if I can see your ribs when you lie down, you disgust me. And not in a fun way.

I'm male, 14, weigh about 80 pounds, and I eat plenty and healthy, and exercise a lot, and I'm still really skinny. This summer, in fact, I was in Michigan and I had a huge root beer float, and then had an oreo milkshake, and my cousin said "I'm impressed, Christopher, but why can I still see your bones when you have your shirt off?"

I don't get it, really. Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about being fat for a long time like many Americans!You are fourteen. That is perfectly normal. That is why they say these chicks have the body of an LB.

If you're so thin that you've stopped menstruating, a sandwich is in order.A wedding cake is in order.

I'm afraid to watch those videos - they'd probably make me want to eat, and I don't need to want to eat more than I do. :)

I can't watch the videos because I'm under 18 (actually only about three months away from being 18).

But I'm slightly underweight and can see my shoulder bones and hip bones (they look pokey to me) pretty well and five of my ribs (possibly could see more but the breasts start getting in the way at that point) on each side. I feel like I eat enough. I usually eat somewhere between 1400 and 1800 calories per day. I'm not really sure how I could eat much more than that unless I went on an eating spree or something...You have a rough idea how many calories you eat?

You have a rough idea how many calories you eat?

I eat pretty much the same food every day, except on weekends. It's not too hard to figure out. I eat poptarts for breakfast with skim milk, which is like 400+whatever the milk is (80 or something), then for lunch I have an Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly (210), an oatmeal creme cookie thing (about 120 or so), and apple juice (about 80). Then afterschool sometime I have some sort of snack that is usually around 300 calories. Then for dinner I have whatever mom makes, but not always all of it. So dinner is mostly what would change it... or on weekends or days when I get food from Subway.

I eat pretty much the same food every day, except on weekends. It's not too hard to figure out. I eat poptarts for breakfast with skim milk, which is like 400+whatever the milk is (80 or something), then for lunch I have an Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly (210), an oatmeal creme cookie thing (about 120 or so), and apple juice (about 80). Then afterschool sometime I have some sort of snack that is usually around 300 calories. Then for dinner I have whatever mom makes, but not always all of it. So dinner is mostly what would change it... or on weekends or days when I get food from Subway.You eat the same thing every day. Doesn't that get, um, old? I just eat whatever the fuck I want, when I want to. *eats a bowl of chocolate chips*

Oh, well.

'Too thin' girls are several orders of magnitude better looking than too-fat girls.

I'm quite sure that the country has bigger problems than girls emulating beauty.

One of the nice things about living here where I do is that the vast majority of people are slender.

There is a difference between being skinny, and actually starving yourself to be thinner. The two are not remotely the same thing.

I can't watch the videos because I'm under 18 (actually only about three months away from being 18). I Can !!!
:p:p:p:D

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1334/1244437969_1795f08f39.jpg

http://product.ebay.com/I-Am-America-And-So-Can-You_ISBN-10_0446580503_ISBN-13_9780446580502_W0QQfvcsZ1388QQpdqueryZIQ20AmQ20AmericaQ20Q28AndQ20SoQ20CanQ20YouQ21Q29QQsoprZ60204 400

Added a poll. It'd be interesting to see the proportion of opinions.

Of course they should be allowed! Why shouldn't they?

I only skimmed the shit but I saw a number of attractive and a number of unattractive models. No big surprise. The phrases are probably the most obnoxious, as with any kind of "inspiration" fad. "Drink more water and tea." Fuck you! I'm going to drink soda, and lots of it!

Of course they should be allowed! Why shouldn't they?
Encouraging a mental illness?

Encouraging a mental illness?

Last I heard, wait-loss isn't a mental illness.

Even if so, think of how many fucking depressing videos are on youtube that could be removed with that same reasoning. It "incourages" mental illness!

Psychologically, just about anything can incourage a mental illness, but this isn't a sound argument for nihilism.

what kind of sandwich?



? (http://handbook.abovetopsecret.com/wizard/blogimg/unemp-skeletor-01.jpg)

Any kind really, but a nice lean turkey sandwich on 100% wheat bread with lettuce, tomatoes sounds good -- protein, but lean.

Can being too thin mess that up? Because mine came about two weeks late last time.

http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr112000/menstrualcycledysfunction.html

I'm sure Fass can tell more about that.

Last I heard, wait-loss isn't a mental illness.

Anorexia is a mental illness though. With one of the highest death rates of any mental illness, if not the highest.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=27&sectionId=6
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/1079435.stm

Even if so, think of how many fucking depressing videos are on youtube that could be removed with that same reasoning. It "incourages" mental illness!

Psychologically, just about anything can incourage a mental illness, but this isn't a sound argument for nihilism.

Pro-anorexia videos aren't just well-meaning videos that can unintentionally encourage mental illness, they specifically encourage an eating disorder.

where is the "hows about we let people live there own lives" option on the poll :confused:

Encouraging a mental illness?

symptom not illness (though I'd say this comes under cultural relativism as the other ideal is nice plump women who can cook)

Any kind really, but a nice lean turkey sandwich on 100% wheat bread with lettuce, tomatoes sounds good -- protein, but lean.

can it be lightly toasted with added ham?

I'm male, 14, weigh about 80 pounds, and I eat plenty and healthy, and exercise a lot, and I'm still really skinny. This summer, in fact, I was in Michigan and I had a huge root beer float, and then had an oreo milkshake, and my cousin said "I'm impressed, Christopher, but why can I still see your bones when you have your shirt off?"

I don't get it, really. Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about being fat for a long time like many Americans!

Ya wee lil bastard, one of these days your metabolism will stall, and the fat people of the world will rejoice!

Anorexia is a mental illness though. With one of the highest death rates of any mental illness, if not the highest.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=27&sectionId=6
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/1079435.stm


Yes, it is. So?

Pro-anorexia videos aren't just well-meaning videos that can unintentionally encourage mental illness, they specifically encourage an eating disorder.

I didn't see anything in those videos that was all, "starve yourself to death."

Even if that's exactly what they said, for ten minutes straight, I don't think that's a compelling reason for censorship. I should be able to incourage mental illness if there is freedom of speech.

Yes, it is. So?

You seemed to be under the impression that this was just about weight loss.

I didn't see anything in those videos that was all, "starve yourself to death."

Even if that's exactly what they said, for ten minutes straight, I don't think that's a compelling reason for censorship. I should be able to encourage mental illness if there is freedom of speech.

Encouraging mental illness should not be allowed. It ruins people's lives and is a blight on our society. Should we be allowed to encourage mental illnesses like suicidal tendencies?

You eat the same thing every day. Doesn't that get, um, old? I just eat whatever the fuck I want, when I want to. *eats a bowl of chocolate chips*

Well my snack varies, and so does what I have for dinner. But I have school, there's a specific time when I'm supposed to eat.

You seemed to be under the impression that this was just about weight loss.

And I am. You see, you really need to prove that these videos are "incouraging mental illness" as opposed to the more normal, healthy, accepted and legal advertisements for weight-loss products. Or anything else for that matter.

Encouraging mental illness should not be allowed. It ruins people's lives and is a blight on our society. Should we be allowed to encourage mental illnesses like suicidal tendencies?

Censorship should not be allowed. It ruins people's lives and is a blight on our society.

I should be able to make a youtube video that says, "Everyone must remain comotose and stare at walls all day, not even moving for your thorazine shots." There should be nothing illegal about that. Otherwise where do you stop? EVERYTHING INCOURAGES MENTAL ILLNESS. Including censorship. It's driving me crazy.

And I am. You see, you really need to prove that these videos are "incouraging mental illness" as opposed to the more normal, healthy, accepted and legal advertisements for weight-loss products. Or anything else for that matter.

You know they actually present themselves as being pro-anorexia?

Censorship should not be allowed. It ruins people's lives and is a blight on our society.

I should be able to make a youtube video that says, "Everyone must remain comotose and stare at walls all day, not even moving for your thorazine shots." There should be nothing illegal about that. Otherwise where do you stop? EVERYTHING ENCOURAGES MENTAL ILLNESS. Including censorship. It's driving me crazy.

Censorship isn't inately bad, mental illness is. YouTube censors lots of stuff, and videos encouraging mental illness should be among them. At the very least they should be flagged as inappropriate, as should any video promoting self harm - whether it's slashing arms or starving oneself.

meh, it's not really hard to find that stuff anywhere else so banning it wouldn't do much. And if you are encouraged by that stuff you're probably already anorexic.
Anyway, most of the bones in my shoulder are visible and I'm anything but anorexic. When I gain weight it's mostly my belly. Maybe I should start doing some sports or something.

You know they actually present themselves as being pro-anorexia?

Didn't know it. That's fucked up.

Censorship isn't inately bad, mental illness is.

And yet while what you desire is a clear case of censorship, what I desire (free speech) has at best a tenuous link with actual mental illness.

YouTube censors lots of stuff, and videos encouraging mental illness should be among them. At the very least they should be flagged as inappropriate, as should any video promoting self harm - whether it's slashing arms or starving oneself.

The links in the OP I clicked on *were* flagged as inappropriate.

I feel that as a man, a sandwich is ALWAYS in order due to this useful advice. Cheers, Kat!

Note the important word: STOPPED. ;)

can it be lightly toasted with added ham?

Sounds good to me.