Need your thoughts for Radio London, please, about PETA's 'Baby P' poster

ruby - course you would, so would I. But organisations like PETA are, I think, trying to challenge the mindset that there is a huge dividing line between the way we treat humans and the way we treat other animals.

I don't agree with them on many things - I eat meat and wear leather and I think that banning zoos these days is simple wrong-headed. But it isn't a bad thing to constantly bring these issues to people's attention.

Hi All

We'll be talking about this poster on BBC London 94.9fm's Drivetime with Eddie Nestor tonight between 5pm-7pm.

We'd love your thoughts, so if you fancy listening in and making a comment on air then we'll be very pleased to hear from you!

Thanks and happy listening

Anna O'Neill
Reporter
BBC London 94.9fm

Is it only being used in Haringay?

I wouldn't have known who this man was from the picture if not for the thread title.

However, if it is being used in Haringay then I would expect the local population will be more aware of who this man is and what he has done.

In which case I think it is very lazy and, personally in rather bad taste, to link the case of Baby P and to PETA's cause.

Actually I think it is lazy and in poor taste wherever it would be used.

There is a statistically significant relationship between cruelty to animals in childhood and subsequent violent crime as an adult. I kind of get what they are saying.........but it is done in a way that is uncomfortable and exploitative. Indeed I am not sure the guy had ever been prosecuted for violence to animals - is it possible that they are slandering him?? Or making up the story to suit their needs? Of course, he may have abused animals, but do they know that for sure?

It is just an immature and ethically questionable way of trying to communicate an important argument. Shame on them.

It is too much.

It almost feels like bullying.

Every day people don't need telling how to treat animals and children.

Some social workers need telling though.

If someone can casually torture an animal - chuck a kitten out of a top floor window for example - do we not think they need to be deterred or punished. It's not the automatic next step to be torturing children but regardless of that, do we really want to accept that kind of attitude and behaviour?

I do not think that Thing's face should be seen by innocent kids/people. It (he) is sick and we should not have to look at it !

By said on Mon 12-Oct-09 14:21:33
I'm thinking about creulty to children, not animals, when looking at that. So, as a campaign, it doesn't work for me. Plus, think it's pretty cheap.

But that's the point of the campaign, isn't it? You're supposed to think about cruelty to children and that, even if you don't give two shakes of a rat's tale [pun not originally intended, but what the heck] about cruelty to animals, reporting/catching people who abuse animals is helping to avoid future cruelty to children. This is being specifically aimed at people who aren't fussed about animal cruelty, and isn't even attempting to outrage them about animal cruelty (which is what surprised me).

No ruby - they promote the ethical treatment of animals generally, including in farming.

I don't think it's such a terribly contentious idea TBH. Cruelty is cruelty - the fact that is is carried out on non-human animals doesn't make it unimportant.

TBH, if the thread title hadn't said 'Baby P', I wouldn't have known who this man was. I think people would report cruelty to animals anyway. More so than cruelty towards a child, sadly.

You don't have rights to your own image, by and large -- the photographer does (with certain limitations and exceptions). And I imagine (disclaimer: don't know for sure but it seems to be how these things work) that in this case the headshot was released after the trial by the police with a general license for use and redistribution.

PETA have no shame. I despise them.

Tbh I wouldn't have known who the guy was if I had just seen it in the street, and thus I would completely ignore it as more pointless PETA crap.

I honestly don't think this will gain PETA any sympathy from non-supporters. Quite disgraceful and revolting hijacking of such a sad tale imo.

It is true, though -- if you can bang someone up while they are still torturing animals it makes it more difficult for them to move onto torturing children (and even if they do they are flagged up in the system).

From subject line of this post I expected something a whole lot more contentious (although clearly it's proving to be contentious as it is). And it surprises me coming from PETA.

looks like a police custody shot to me

I wonder who, if anyone, owns the copyright on that photograph and if they gave permission for it to be used in this way? Suppose they must have.

i mean if i were ever convicted of a crime - do i forfeit the rights to my own image?

I can't say I would have made the association between the man and Baby P if it wasn't for the title ... perhaps more of a cheap shot than actually shocking ...

Honestly, I think it's a bit subtle and therefore not very good or shocking. Just a bit crap.

I'm thinking about creulty to children, not animals, when looking at that. So, as a campaign, it doesn't work for me. Plus, think it's pretty cheap.

I don't like it. IMO it is belittling what that man has done to human beings. Not that animal cruelty isn't awful but it isn't comparable to what he did to children.