Pro-ana websites and blogs should be shut down because of the negative message it sends to all of its viewers. It gives its readers and participants the idea that it is ok for them to feel this way and by writing how they feel and having others agree with them makes their thoughts ok. Instead of encouraging those that are having these feelings to seek help it encourages them to post their feelings and thoughts online so that others can see what they are experiencing. By them seeing that others are feeling the same things makes them feel that they actually fit in. They want people to understand how they feel to a certain degree but they also like having that little "dirty secret" that only they know about. In the reading Clairgirl says, " I kind of want people to understand, but i also like having this little hidden thing that only I know about, like-- this little secret that's all yours." I feel like the pro-ana websites encourages the kind of thinking that its ok to keep this kind of secret but in actuality it is not. Its not healthy in any shape or form. People with this problems seriously need professional help and if they are being told that its ok to feel this way they are putting their lives at stake. Davis from the reading says, "When young women get into the grips of this disease, their thoughts become very distorted, and part of it is they believe they're unique and special. The sites are a way for them to connect with other girls and to basically talk about how special they are. And they become very isolated. Women with eating disorders really thrive in a lot of ways on being very disconnected. At the same time, of course, they have a yearning to be connected." Women that are feeling isolated and disconnected do not need other people that are experiencing the same things to be their guide. Its like the blind leading the blind. These sites provoke them to continue in their ways. Therefore instead of talking to others about how special they think they are they should be seeking out professional help to get their lives and health back in shape. 

I think that pro-ana websites and blogs are a positive thing and should be encouraged. It promotes support and lets girls know they are not alone in the situation. It builds friendships and trust. People with these diseases need a support system and these sites provide that. "The members of a few sites send bracelets, like friendship bracelets, as a symbols of solidarity and support." This sort of act lets these women know that they have support and that they are not the only ones experiencing these feelings and thoughts. It gives them hope that they are not outcasted as they feel they are. It makes them feel better to know that they are part of a group and not isolated. Futurebird says, "What I'd like people to understand is that it is very difficult for people who have an eating disorder to ask for help. What a lot of people are able to do is to say, well , I can't go to a recovery site and ask for help. I can't go to a doctor or a friend and ask for help. I can't tell anyone. But I can go to this site because it's going to make me worse. And instead what I hope they find is people who share their experience and that they're able to just simply talk." These sites provide better support than recovery sites would. Recovery sites sometimes look down on people for saying certain things but when logged in to a pro-ana site you can voice your feelings and not have to worry about being judged about how your feeling. These sites simply validate that these girls are not abnormal and at this time in their life is what they need. They need to know there are others out there that feel the same way and are going through the same things. These sites are a positive thing that can help these girls realize they are not crazy and that they are not alone. 

I think that these pro-ana sites and blogs can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. While it promotes support it also doesn't encourage these girls to seek out professional help. These feelings are dangerous and could possible lead to death. On the other hand these sites lets one see that they are not alone in this world and that they have others out there that know how they feel and can relate to them. "A place where a group of for the most part very unhappy and in some part very angry girls and women come together to support each other in sickness rather than in health." These sites lets one's own uniqueness and individuality come through and encourages them to feel comfortable with themselves. Although these sites can be supportive they cannot give these girls the help they sincerely need to get better.