sterbo

make it illegal?
Oh yes, I'm sure that'll fix the problem...



France targets anorexia in media
Ms Bachelot said promoting anorexia was not freedom of expression

The French National Assembly has passed a groundbreaking bill which seeks to criminalise the promotion in the media of extreme thinness.
The bill targets pro-anorexia websites and publications that encourage girls and young women to starve themselves.
It will affect websites, fashion houses, magazines and advertisers.
If approved by France's upper house, those found to have encouraged severe weight loss could be fined up to 45,000 euros and face three years in prison.
French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the proposed law would help stop advice on how to become ultra-thin being spread through pro-anorexia sites on the internet.
"Encouraging young girls to lie to their doctors, advising them on foods that are easier to regurgitate and inciting them to beat themselves up each time they eat is not freedom of expression," Ms Bachelot told the assembly.
'Death messages'
"These messages are death messages. Our country must be able to prosecute those who are hiding behind these websites," she said.
Jacques Domergue, a lawmaker supporting the bill, said that the intention was to send a strong message to society.
"It is necessary because we know now that we have a risk to some part of the population, young girls, who are pressed by different types of lobbies and the risk is increasing."
The law could also affect the fashion industry and magazine editors who publish photographs of extremely thin models.
If the bill is passed by France's upper house, the Senate, in the coming weeks offenders could face jail sentences of up to two years and 30,000 euros ($47,387; £23,980) in fines.
A three-year term and 45,000 euros in fines could be sought against offenders if the incitement was found to have lead to death.
The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says that with 40,000 anorexics in France, many parliamentarians feel the law cannot come soon enough.

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SpiralArchitect

What ever happened to thinking for yourself?

Oh yeah, it went away with 'subtetly and honesty'.

"I encourage you to shoot yourself in the face" Isn't that freedom of expression?

Don't you have freedom of thought? I mean, this seems like as simple as logic gets. I understand the massive pressures from the media and society to be extremely thin, but I would think that a woman would somehow realize what she is doing isn't right somehow. I don't know, maybe they just don't care -- in that case, it's their life.

How about seriously educating your citizens on the dangers of extreme thinness/anorexia/bulimia/related disorders instead of trying to make it illegal. That seems a lot more reasonable...

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Darque Pervert

I agree...
However, the majority of citizens don't want to be educated.

Sad but true.

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Life is always a spiral. It's the choices of the individual as to whether that spiral is aimed up or down.

WeedGod

What's next? Outlawing obesity? Maybe they'll outlaw cancer as well.

Vicki

They can't outlaw cancer because they back big tobacco.

It's all about our personal rights. It seems like more and more of our personal rights are being taken away, or questioned. Questioning the right to bear arms even. It's insane. Making a plant like marijuana illegal is just another example.

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Be kinder than necessary as everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
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Those that forget the past are condemned to re-live it.
"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of compassion and pity,
you have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man."
~ St. Francis of Assisi ~

WeedGod

If they want to outlaw a plant, I nominate poison ivy.

disheartenedwamerica

Someone very, very close to me used/still does have an eating disorder. She is very intelligent and hard working, but the issue of food has always escaped her. She realized it was bad for her, but still continued. Eating disorders are called that for just that reason, they are disorders. Unfortunately not all women can ignore the social pressures, or the stress of life. I am not saying I agree with it because it makes me deeply sad to know she struggles with this, but I love her and will always help her.

Much as some people are overcome with addiction to drugs, so too do women or men, face a disturbing challenge of an eating disorder. I don't agree with the steps France is taking as they really won't effect anything drastically, but please remember, girls who do this don't do this because they like it, they do it because it is a disorder. Sorry if this seems rude, but this issue is very personal too me.

The education idea is a very good one though, which I agree with you. I hope we see more types of education like this for young woman before they can develop this type of issue.

newcarcaviar

Cut and paste Spiral's reply directly into this one.

Everyone's seriously gone "ban-crazy" with everything. If some people don't like something, ban it. End of story. How about some education and reasoning?

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Shine on, Syd. 1946-2006

Freedom_User

To me... It's sick. I think people need to re adjust there standards. My mom had this same problem after she had my brother. She, I think was going through a mid life crisis. What I have learned through the whole ordeal was... It's a sickness. Why make a sickness illegal? It's education that is key for these types of things.

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The feds continually use and twist this simple clause as an excuse to expand their own power - at the expense of our liberty.

"If you shot a ton of pot to the Sun, will it burn up and get everyone high?"