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Original poster

To wish people wouldn't post things on SM headed "Lost my little girl today..."

108 replies

CurlewKate · 17/09/2023 16:05

...and mean their dog or cat? My SIL did it yesterday- and for an awful moment I thought she meant one of my nieces. Obviously I quickly realised I wouldn't have heard like that- but it was a a real shock for a second. People do it on here too...
Just me? Is everyone quicker on the uptake than me?

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 17/09/2023 16:08

I'm with you on this.

Unless posting in a very specific pet forum, it's insensitive.

I think though, that it's a habit only of those who are still quite young and perhaps do not yet know anyone who has been bereaved of a child.

MixedTocopherols · 17/09/2023 16:10

My mind does go to the worst thing for a nanosecond but I've learned to almost immediately remember that people are attention-seekers, and that in the case of actually losing a child, almost no one would be straight on SM writing a post like that.

bellac11 · 17/09/2023 16:10

You can wish it.

But you cant police people's language.

Im not on social media mind you (unless this sort of thing counts) because of the bullshit people come out with and twee language and affectations about all sorts......

Helpmepleaseimbusy · 17/09/2023 16:11

Some people don't have family and their pets are their family. Let them be.

LuckOfTheDrawer · 17/09/2023 16:12

I agree actually.

LilyLemonade · 17/09/2023 16:13

I agree.

And yes (some) people do go straight to social media, they need to share the news and it’s a fairly easy way to tell everyone.

Alstroemeria123 · 17/09/2023 16:13

I tend to agree with you. I automatically think it’s a child.

JaneJeffer · 17/09/2023 16:18

I agree. There was one on here last month something like my boy died today which I thought was about a child.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 17/09/2023 16:18

I don't think you can police the way people grieve.

MrsKathyFraser · 17/09/2023 16:21

Lots of people use this type of language. I can imagine saying something similar when my dog dies because I'll be deeply sad and she is my girl.

saraclara · 17/09/2023 16:25

It drives me mad on this site, when OPs with titles like this appear on active. I don't even know any of you in real life, but it makes my heart lurch.

I haven't dared say so until now though, because anything that can be spun to sound anti-dog, gets jumped on. I love dogs, but I wish people wouldn't do this.

FuckingHellAdele · 17/09/2023 16:28

I think it would only be a problem if there was a genuine chance that a person might actually announce a child's death in that way. If there is, I've never seen it.

Live and let live, people mean no harm.

BonnyHonny · 17/09/2023 16:28

I agree.

And people can grieve their pets as much as they like.

But the anthropomorphism of pets is ridiculous.

It can be a beloved pet but was never your child, son, daughter, boy or girl.

You weren't their Mum or Dad. Your human children weren't their siblings.

If you wanted to say that as fun within the family then that's fine as a joke. But otherwise, don't.

Johnnylewis · 17/09/2023 16:28

MrsKathyFraser · 17/09/2023 16:21

Lots of people use this type of language. I can imagine saying something similar when my dog dies because I'll be deeply sad and she is my girl.

Try not to though

Dacadactyl · 17/09/2023 16:29

I think it's ridiculous too

Comedycook · 17/09/2023 16:31

I agree....I've seen this before and my first thought is thinking that their child has died. It's horrible

PoshPineapple · 17/09/2023 16:32

I don't go into panic mode, because I honestly think if these people had actually LOST a person (ie. died), I very much doubt they would use such a blatant title to broadcast it to the world.

Would they?!

Namechange423 · 17/09/2023 16:33

Completely disagree with you I’m afraid.
Pets are family to a lot of people. My mother openly admits losing her pets was harder than losing my sibling for her personally. That’s how she feels and that is not wrong.
My dog is my boy and I love him more than I love my partner or anyone else in the world.

Comedycook · 17/09/2023 16:35

Namechange423 · 17/09/2023 16:33

Completely disagree with you I’m afraid.
Pets are family to a lot of people. My mother openly admits losing her pets was harder than losing my sibling for her personally. That’s how she feels and that is not wrong.
My dog is my boy and I love him more than I love my partner or anyone else in the world.

Your mother said that?! That's obscene.

TheChosenTwo · 17/09/2023 16:35

Totally agree with you op, animals are not children. Well, not our children anyway.
Much loved family pets, sure. But not children.

MrsKathyFraser · 17/09/2023 16:36

@Johnnylewis no.

BonnyHonny · 17/09/2023 16:37

Namechange423 · 17/09/2023 16:33

Completely disagree with you I’m afraid.
Pets are family to a lot of people. My mother openly admits losing her pets was harder than losing my sibling for her personally. That’s how she feels and that is not wrong.
My dog is my boy and I love him more than I love my partner or anyone else in the world.

Wow.

But still, he's not your boy. He's your dog. He can be your most loved dog that you love above all humans but why can't you call him what he is? Your dog. A boy has a human definition.

saraclara · 17/09/2023 16:38

Namechange423 · 17/09/2023 16:33

Completely disagree with you I’m afraid.
Pets are family to a lot of people. My mother openly admits losing her pets was harder than losing my sibling for her personally. That’s how she feels and that is not wrong.
My dog is my boy and I love him more than I love my partner or anyone else in the world.

I'm sorry, but something about that is very wrong.

PosterBoy · 17/09/2023 16:38

Who would announce the death of a child that way? Surely noone.

If you are prone to literal thinking then I can see it might be one of a thousand daily things people say that causes you to double-take, but we generally don't police language for the literal-minded. Hence expressions like 'I'll kill you'.

Jeffreybubblesbombom · 17/09/2023 16:39

I 100% agree..many time my hearts skipped a beat when I've seen these headings..
Why not put " lost my dog/ cat/ hamster/ rabbit today"