I consider myself a food blogger. Better yet, I consider myself a health food blogger. So imagine my surprise to read from a misguided author at Marie Claire magazine (Mom, it’s one of those that we make fun of in the grocery check out) that health bloggers, specifically 6 ladies whom I read often, are partially to blame for present and future sufferers of eating disorders.
I guess I was absent the day that MC decided that personal bloggers are responsible for the ills of the country. I mean, if I think hard enough, I could be blamed for people who reuse dirty diapers so they can buy Le Creuset pots. Or maybe I should stop posting my hatred of beets because people who LOVE beets may feel like they are being profiled and in danger of persecution. I guess this article also means that people who do NOT like to run will feel personally harassed because I preach about how much I do love it. Maybe they feel that I’m crowding their personal cyberspace?
Where does it end? Bloggers write about what works for THE BLOGGER. I write about ME. Kath writes about her life. Caitlin about hers and so on. One commenter had the audacity to suggest this to Meghann:
I think that if you are a popular blogger such as yourself, you do have a responsibility to make sure that you are careful when you write about food and exercise.
Ummm why? Why should they be careful about what they write about their life, assuming they aren’t writing about making meth or how to cheat the IRS? If I wanted to write about how the Mayonnaise and Cilantro diet makes me feel like a new person, then it’s my right to do so. These ladies and most health bloggers have disclaimers if they are not RDs. The READER has the burden of responsibility, not the blogger.
Give me a break Katie Drummond, “Misspickles”. Go snack on something. Stop looking for people to blame for YOUR eating disorder and look in the mirror first.
Link to article- Please don’t go buy it. I would rather not even give it a hit to read it, but it’s the most fascinating piece of fluff I’ve read in a while.
Lee
Tuesday 5th of October 2010
I think people should be able to write what they want, like you said. These bloggers all say that's what works for them. Their blogs are about them. They are not out to educate the world on how to be healthy, they don't have any responsibility.
Tina
Tuesday 5th of October 2010
I love your wit! :D Mayo + Cilantro Diet. Surprisingly, people probably would do something like that if it actually existed.
And agreed that we should have freedom to write what we wish. We do need to be mindful of how it is PRESENTED, but still write what we feel. And I think all those bloggers present themselves as just sharing their personal lives and what works for them.
Momma
Monday 4th of October 2010
Keep the blogs coming. They help me to think about healthy eating. Some days I think healthy and some days I do follow your advise and actually eat healthy.
Amanda @ BakingWithoutABox
Monday 4th of October 2010
I totally agree. We write about us, our lives, our food choices, and our health choices. If I decide to eat fried chicken and red velvet and wear my fat pants one weekend, that's my choice. Not that I'm telling a reader to go do it. Thanks for getting that out there. I'll avoid the article, unless it's to tell my friends to avoid it. And beets. Must avoid the evil beets.