PrettyThin

I receive emails regularly that make me question this site and my involvement in it. Emails that show another side, and plea or debate and often implore an understanding that would bring this site to an end. I think it's a good thing, being asked to rethink what you're doing. I'm sharing them with the community for those who want to hear it. For those that don't, I encourage you to just ignore this page.

The email addresses and names of the individuals have been removed to allow for their privacy, and to allow people the comfort of continuing these kinds of emails if they feel they have something to say.

My sister died of an eating disorder. You made it ok for her to starve herself. I'm scared for your members.

Upon doing a google search for "Pro Ana", yours was one of the first sites that appeared.  Now, please know that this is not hate mail, just my insight.

I am a female, almost 30 years old, I think I'm very attractive but need to lose a few pounds, and obviously I was searching for the term for a reason. I don't want to be anorexic. I want some motivation to eat healthier, and I suppose I have a morbid curiosity about the pro ana sites out there.  I have seen first hand what society's ideas of beauty have on the females that I know, and even a male who is close to me.

I'm not sure why I'm writing. I guess I'm just shocked that one of the first sites I look at from the search results would be a 30 year old man. I don't want to lecture you. I'm not hateful or anything like that.

I just really want to make sure that you know what you are doing to young women by having a site like this. I think you are probably a really nice guy with self esteem issues, like mine. But I still think that we shouldn't be publicizing our issues and horrible answers to them to our youth.

I don't get touched by much. To be honest, I'm an alcoholic loner. I have a great job and am quite attractive when I'm about 20 lbs less than this, but I still feel a responsibility to NOT endorse my way of life. So it floors me to see that you are a grown up, and yet blatantly endorsing that way of life.

Despite what you feel may be good decisions for your own health, I hope that you keep those private and support a healthier lifestyle.

For example, I'm a 28 year old successful female, yet a crazy alcoholic. Just because I am living this life does not mean I should start a website about the powers of getting trashed every night.

Please re-evaluate your choices. Especially since the majority of your web traffic comes from young girls.

Be a responsible grown up. If you choose to ruin your life like I do, don't glamorize it.

(follow up letter - Friday, March 5, 2010 9:19 PM)

I already messaged you.  I told you how I felt.

Since my previous message, I have had more time to peruse your site. And I am feeling disturbed.

I'm not upset at the content of your site. I expected worse considering I googled "pro ana".

However, upon learning that the founder and manager of this site is not a 15 year old girl, and seeing the content, I just want to express my sincere disappointment that an "adult" would endorse this.  As I said in my previous comment to you, I am a alcoholic. If I ever create a website to promote and endorse my problem, I hope that the world will have ended by then.

If you are truly a grown man of 30 years old, then I must tell you that there is a reason you are single. And it has NOTHING to do with your weight or looks. It has 100% to do with the fact that you have zero self confidence, and that you are a pied piper to all of the confused kids out there.

Please get some help.

Regards,

Ka****

p.s. This is not your "hate mail". This is a concerned opinion as to how you are molding our kids. Please cease and desist your irresponsible child abuse.

--------------My Reply-----------------

This site is disgusting! I have struggled with body issues my entire life and I have had problems with anorexia before. I am healthy now and really happy with my beautiful curves. Your idea of beauty is disgusting! In most cultures they celebrate curvy women! I can't even fathom that there is such a thing as a pro eating disorder website! Who ever created this repulses me! Why would you promote something that kills people!? How can you sleep at night knowing you give girls the tools to kill themselves? You are a horrible person! Fuck you and your thinspiration!!!!!!!

I am fat! I admit it. even my mom has called me that before and i know that my mom wouldn't do anything to hurt me on purpose. Any ways my name is Autumn and i am 13 years old. My friend Madi and i are sick of seeing the "skinny popular girls everywhere we turn our heads." So we have been trying not to eat rarley anything. I know that you cant just say ok now im gonna become anerexic but we are still gonna try. We have only eaten a couple of theese cheeto things and gave/threw the rest to are friends. We threw our cover lunch on the ground just incase are friends were worried. we are also vegitarians so its hard to hide not eating meat and not eating at all around them. I am in dance, i dance two hours every monday, i do basket ball 4 2 hrs and gymastics. WE NEED TIPS!! plzzzz e-mail me back!! well gtg burn off some calssss byeeeee

I recently came across you Pro Ana website. I have to say I was absolutely disappointed at the message you are sending to young women who struggle with their body image.

I have a young daughter and want her to love and respect the body God gave her. That means eating. It doesn't mean stuffing her face with cookies and candy. Or starving herself. It means a healthy body image and physical strength. Im sure you already know the bad things that come with denying your body food.

You will die eventually and you will look bad. You have a disease and need to get help. I truthfully pity you and I feel so bad for your parents. They are watching their child kill herself slowly. I honestly hope you can find God and learn to love and respect what he has given you. I honestly do not like you because there are so many people who are starving and wish they could live in the US and have access to food and water. So with that said honestly I hope you get help because there is more to life than being thin. And please do not write back or anything cause I will not respond to you there is no justification for your sins.

This site disgusts me. Young girls will see this and think it's okay to just be skin and bones, but it's not. I suffered from anorexia in my early teen years, because I thought I had to be 'perfect.' What happened? I NEARLY DIED. I had a heart attack at the age of sixteen. And I still thought I was too fat for a while after. I am now a British size ten- I have boobs, and curvy hips, and I am so much more beautiful now than then. Beauty is not sharp hipbones and jutting ribs, beauty is health and happiness, and love for yourself. Please, seek help and turn your life around before it's too late.

You should be prosecuted for managing a site like this, providing a forum for people suffering from a mental illness to compare notes on the best way to eat nothing and harm their bodies. What the fuck is wrong with you?????

Here's a story for you: your website is fucking sick. You are very sick and need serious help. Your site is promoting a life-threatening illness. A lot of my muscle is destroyed thanks to this monstrosity of a disease. I have been in the hospital before due to my severely restricted eating. People die from this illness all the time.