To find tales of Good Deeds on FB quite unpleasant?

[GreatWhites]

I'm on a FB page for teachers and there's a post currently running about a teacher who has made welcome packs for refugees. The poster goes into detail about how all the refugees cried and were so touched by the children's kindness... They even said 'thank you' in English.

I know that it was a kind thing to do- it just smacks of rich Victorians going out to visit the poor as a lesson.

Have Syrians not gone through enough without being used as a tool to get 1.4k FB 'likes'?! Or am I mega cynical?

[JuicyStrawberry]

YANBU. If you're cynical then I am as well.

[Sirzy]

I get you, often the posts are more "look at me" than anything else

[MrsJayy]

Is that not that virtual signaling i read about on mumsnet? Yes it is a bit cringy i guess but folk to like to be melodramatic don't they

[brasty]

I totally agree, just make the welcome packs, no need to shout about it.

[HattiesBackpack]

I get you OP, it's all a bit Lady Bountiful isn't it. Charity work and good deeds are very very important, but they shouldn't be paraded about.

[MrsJayy]

Yanbu though yes refugees have been through enough

[hoopdeloop]

I think I may be on the same FB page and had a similar thought when I saw it

[BigGreenOlives]

One of the reasons to report on the action/good deed is to encourage others.

[Witchend]

"Washing your clean linen on public" I think is from Look Back in Anger, which describes it.

It's no different from on here where someone posts "Aibu to do something nice" so they can get lots of posts saying how wonderful they are (unless it is a Samaritan Shoebox in which case they're beyond the pale).

Most people meanwhile do plenty of kind thing because they want to and don't ned mass appreciation.

[GreatWhites]

There's definitely a scene in a classic novel where the protagonist goes to visit Dreadfully Poor Children and is very touched.

They always seem surprised that poor people/ children/ refugees have manners, as if they were expecting them to growl at them or something.

[Flumpernickel]

It really does my head in too, but I cannot seem to put my finger on why.

Yanbu.

[steppedonlego]

I sit on the fence. Yes it can appear to be a bit virtuous, but it can also inspire others, I've copied a few ideas that I came across on Facebook as and when I saw them. I think it depends on the person and how it's framed.

[GahBuggerit]

Urgh, a friend put a massive post on fb how her child gave their pocket money to a homeless person and posted a fucking picture of her DD handing the money over. The poor bloke looked like he wanted to shrivel up. I felt so sorry for him being used like that. Her DD was duckfacing aswell as if it wasn't bad enough.

Yanbu, I hate this.

[WillowWeeping]

The fact is not enough people "help" and there are thousands of people that need support. If someone else's post encourages someone else then that's a good thing surely?

[blubberball]

Gahbuggerit, that is definitely wrong to post a picture. Poor bloke. :(

[GreatWhites]

GahBuggerit oh no, how awful. Poor poor man.

[AirBiscuitEater]

YANBU. Hate all this "let's go feed a homeless person and video it in order to gain likes". 'Tis utter crap.

[TigerShark]

I think the whole 'like' thing has become pretty narcissistic in most cases. Actually, this week I have started to comment only if I appreciate something (and comment if I don't appreciate something, but that's a different kind of comment...)

[GahBuggerit]

the way it was worded it was clear it was just for show to be all " oh look how kind my DD is"

Hmm, that'll be the same DD who was given detention a few weeks later for bullying then? Good stuff

[cdtaylornats]

My optician collect glasses to sent to refugees. He advertises it on his facebook page - otherwise he would be limited to customers who see the sign in his shop (and that's after they get new glasses)

[iamavodkadrinker]

It's a very modern thing. People can't just do a good deed, everyone else has to know what a good person they are.

[Pagwatch]

I dislike immensely Facebook posts about how an utterly amazing kid took another kid with Downs Syndrome to the prom .
I've seen two or three of those

Fuck off.