Sick

If these people would try and laugh at themselves, like starved was doing(the main character has an eating diorder in real life), maybe they would feel better and try and realize that their problem is not as bad as they might think....

Yes, phillatio, let's give them some pot. That will solve their problems. While we're at it, let's make them alcoholics, since we all know beer puts on the pounds.

And hyperjon9, I do not appreciate the personal attack. I've read reviews of the show, I've read quotes from the show, and everything about it has totally turned me off. If it is in fact, "a very, very serious show", then I do not think it's appropriate for them to be inserting "funny moments" about eating disorders. For instance, I saw a scene where they said someone at 5'10" should weigh 120lbs. That's not only not funny -- that's dangerous. What if someone with an eating disorder was watching that? They could definitely be influenced by that; even someone without an eating disorder could take those words to heart.


"There are some things you just don't make fun of, and eating disorders are one of them."

I am in the same position as "bored558", I have never seen the show and also have no desire to. As the mother of a "17 year old daughter suffering with anorexia" I cannot see for the life of me what anyone would find funny about a person feeling so bad about themselves that they would go so low as to eat "dog food" yes dog food because they feel they do not deserve to eat anything better.

Or experience all the anxiety that comes with just sitting down and trying to have a small bite to eat. The high anxiety that will not let them sit for any period of time because they feel they have to exercise or get fat. Doing 10,000 sit ups a day on a marble floor or walking every waking moment until blisters and sores come on their feet.

Until you walk in the shoes of these kids, and live the horror every morning of going to wake up your child and not knowing if they would be alive or dead. Please do not continue to watch this sick show "Starved". I spoke to my daughter about the show and she was disgusted how someone would find any amusement in watching this show. Do you not think that my daughter would like to be normal and not sick with this awful deadly disease. She tells me all the time that if she would have known how things would have worked out she would have chosen another path. Please pray for my daughter, Alison, and all other girls and boys with these terrible, sickning eating disorders.

[deleted]

"I admit I've never seen the show, but I have no desire to. There are some things you just don't make fun of, and eating disorders are one of them. An eating disorder is a life-threatening DISEASE, not the making of sitcom material. Plus, it's highly possible that some people will take what these characters say seriously (i.e. from what I've read, 5'9" and 140lbs is fat, and 5'10" and 120lbs is healthy). I'm glad they cancelled this show. While I personally have never had an eating disorder, I know people who have and I sincerely doubt they would find a joke about all the pain and stress they've gone through -- the fact that they could have starved themselves to death, for God's sake -- very funny. I know I wouldn't."

Guess what, *beep* I have seen the show, and I have an eating disorder, so I think I'm a little more qualified to speak on the matter than you are. You're doubts, however sincere, are very, very misplaced, because the occasional 'joke' from someone who's been there about all the pain and stress that make up the personal hell that is my everyday life is actually very relieving, and makes me feel a lot less alone. Also, the series shows how what one may regard as a little problem that can just be ignored can consume and ruin your life, ending mariages, friendships, and carrers. as well as the occasional life. And as for the '5'9" and 140lbs is fat' bit from the show, that came from a character suffering from annorexia, which means he has a distorted image of not only himself, but others as well. It's not the stating of an opinion or a fact, but rather an illumination of some of the thinking that fuels eating disorders and is caused by them.

Hell, if you had at least seen the show and then condemned it, despite the fact that you don't know *beep* about eating disorders, I don't think I'd be as mad. But jesus... you make me sick.

While reading this I had to think of the times where I have just had to laugh and make fun of the heartbreaking and troubled times in my life.

We make fun of many tragedies in our lives and the world around us.

Comedians make fun of drugs, addicts, infidelity, mental and physical abuse, racism, RACES themselves, being fat, being ugly, being religious, being gay, ad infinitum......

So, this DISEASE is perfect sitcom material just like Seinfeld putting Jewish and Holocaust jokes in and All in the Family made bigot jokes and how people love to make fun of junkies and alchoholics.

Relax.

Laugh at yourself. Laugh at others.(while making sure you know your own faults and frailties)

I DO.

Oh wow. Oh wow.

Honestly, I don't really see what's so great about television programs depending on others' misfortunes so amusing. For instance, my little brother is severely mentally disabled and I know there are a few shows/movies out there that mock victims like my brother. The solution is easy: I don't watch them.

That being said, "Starved" disgusts me, but not as much as some of these other members on this board who are saying that eating disorders are diseases of vanity and the like, or that this is helped by humor. Before any one jumps my throat, let me just say that I am recovering from an eating disorder (ED-NOS), basically anorexia with purging. I lost weight, exercised 3 hours a day, and ate about 800 calories a day (which is a lot compared to most anorectics). I had to go through therapy to learn not to fear food-- I was having anxiety attacks every time I tried to eat peanut butter, for Christ's sake. Anyway, I just wanted to say that eating disorders rarely are the result of someone wanting to be beautiful. Maybe it starts out that way, somebody wanting to lose a few pounds, but it's much more about obsession, control, and feeling so damn horrible about yourself that the only way you can increase your self-esteem is through food (or lack of) and weight-loss. I looked much better when I wasn't struggling with this, because the more weight you lose, the fatter you feel-- your mind starts to play horrible tricks on you, and you start to compete with yourself and feel like a failure. You don't want to be pretty-- you want to be in control, which equates to being thin.

I think the main problem with "Starved" is that eating disorders are so easily triggered. Every time I read about someone going on a diet or running a marathon, I get incredibly jealous and want to go back to my old ways, but know that I can't because I don't want to get sick again. Imagine what some of these victims would do if they saw characters on television (they could flip it on accidentally) engaging in behaviors that they enjoy/enjoyed, such as purging or overeating. It would also perhaps make sufferers feel even more ashamed of their behavior and refuse to get help, which could lead to severe medical consequences.

"I like weird. I like weird a lot."- Jeremy Sisto, "May"

You have never seen the show so you wouldnt really know what it was about. I admit the show had its funny moments, but i actually took it seriously. It had some serious parts and to me it didnt make fun of eating disorders, although it did make light of it at times. The show made me cry in a few episodes. Especially the last one. When Sam messed up and started binging again it was very sad. The show in no way to me made eating disorders seem cool. They were struggling people, and they were trying to get better.