Troubling Blog Finds

Not long ago, I came across a website devoted entirely to the weight gained and lost by celebrities. Perhaps I was a bit clueless about this sort of thing. I frequent many blogs, from decorating to those of my friends, to art and fashion. I admit to reading sites to see what the stars are wearing, but to stumble across a site that is completely dedicated to criticizing celebs and remarking on every aspect of their bodies is cruel.

There's a disclaimer at the bottom which reads "All content on this website should be considered harmless speculation and gossip." How harmless is a site like that, though? There is such an unsettling feeling in this country lately concerning bullying. When it comes to the internet, though, these types of people think they can post anything they want to because they're hiding behind a computer screen. They tend to forget that there's an actual human being on the other side. They use their words as weapons. This is unacceptable.

When I was reading the content, I was struck by this so called harmless speculation and gossip. One topic of the day was looking at Jennifer Love Hewitt and suggesting she may have packed on a bit of weight. Another was making more comments about Jessica Simpson and Kelly Clarkson. Another post speculates that Mischa Barton continues to gain weight.

I stumbled upon another blog with its own "Celebrity Fat Watch" feature.

Believe it or not, these are just a couple among thousands out there in the blogosphere. What is it about our society that makes people feel it is OK to sit behind a computer screen and make comments about a size 6 actress looking "fat and bloated"? 

To call cruel comments like this "harmless gossip" is a bunch of B.S. Of course you can argue that people don't have to visit those types of sites or that we live where we have free speech, but I have to tell you that we live in a society where people feel they can be rude, hurtful, menacing, and disrespectful to one another. Words hurt.

I also would like to talk about the over 260,000 blogs that revolve which refer to themselves as "pro-ana." Do you know what this means? This means a promotion of the "anorexic lifestyle." As someone who had to go to counseling in the late 1990s because of my own eating "issues" shall we say, to think that women are giving other women tips on binging, purging, taking laxatives, tricking family members, etc....well, how can this be???

What I hope to accomplish with The Embrace Your Curves Project is to open up a dialogue about this. I want to hear from you. This isn't a plus sized blog. You don't have to be between a 12-28 to be here. It's not a weight loss blog. It's not a diet recipe blog. This is a place for regular, normal, real women with curves, with natural beauty, and yes--even flaws--can come. I think that we spend so much time trying to look a little younger, a little smaller, a little prettier, etc. that we overlook what really matters most.

Have a good night, friends. 

Homework: Go look in your mirror. Take a good look. You are beautiful, do you know that? Smile. Look at that smile of yours. Your curves are beautiful, as are you.