to think that there is is a lot of MN drivel when babies...

[grolier]

and civilians and Sunday Times journalists are being killed in Syria? Surely we should be up in arms about this slaughter and not whining about MILs and DPs and parents evenings and the like. That as well, of course, but what how can anyone watch or listen to the news or read the papers and not feel there is something bigger going on here that morally we can't ignore?

Just because people are talking about other things does not mean they are not 'aware' or worried or angry or whatever..
You have no idea what other people do or feel in RL op.
I have worries/ concerns about world affairs but it is not [usually] what I come to Mumsnet for.

There is always something awful and heart breaking going on in the world at any given time.

Do you suggest no-one talks about anything else?

As a distraction? Because however awful and important these global issues are, what's happening in your own house with your own children is also important to you? Because MN is often used as escapism? Lots and lots of reasons - none of which diminish the importance of real world events.

You'd have to get adele off the top spot news story wise first. And who knows? Perhaps Cheryl Cole has a new lipstick out.

Yes I agree with you actually. But I had a look around for a thread on the subject and .. nothing. . not here not in Chat... don't you think we should be talking about it? Governments are reluctant to act for their own political and economic purposes. MN is generally very quick to get up campaigns to influence government on certain things. Why not this?

who says we're ignoring it?

So - instead of starting this 'oh dear you are all so dim' thread, why didn't you start a thread in news (where it belongs)?

Sometimes, grolier we are too concerned with other things like our parents spiralling into the gloomy depths of dementia to take on the challenges in world affairs, and sometimes we like the escapism of chatting about inane things with 'friends' on the internet.

It's not a "you are so dim" thread. It's a genuine "why aren't we up in arms about trying to influence our government and the governments of the world to take action" thread. To stop them killing babies and suchlike.

Yes Chipping makes a good point OP

Why don't you go and start a thread about Syria in the News topic?

OK. Clearly IABU. Sorry.

Well I have been talking about it to friends and on Facebook - it makes me feel ill for those poor people. Watched Marie Colvin report in tv last night and now we heat she has been killed. It is awful. It sounds too true when people say there is not enough help going on because there isn't oil to worry about...

Something MUST be done - but who will do it?

so, what are YOU doing about it then?

anything we can help with/support alongside of you, OP?

erm op have you had a look in the 'in the news' section?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/1412490-Marie-Colvin-killed-in-Homs

and yes, YABU in wasting your energy on having a pop at everyone here instead of putting it to better use elsewhere as Chipping and Worra and others have said.

Where's your thread then OP? Looking, but cannae find it.

hear

I know what you wanted to say op - but could have worded it better

The governments of the world are trying to take action actually. There's this thing called the UN and there's also the Arab league. But Syria has some fucking scary mates and no one really wants to upset them what with the uk not even having an aircraft carrier to its name anymore.

And at a personal level sometimes it's just too much. To know people are suffering and you can do nothing, nothing at all. I turn my face to the wall about it sometimes. Shoot me.

Umm well I am a long-standing activist with Amnesty and do other support work with a humanitarian organisation, so I guess I do generally try and do something. Geez, I didn't say you couldn't have a life, and even chat about it on MN, I just said, why aren't we caring about these atrocities.

And your evidence that people don't care is what exactly?

No you didn't OP. You talked about "drivel"
There's usually someone who says "why are we worried about this when there's so much worse going on in the world?"
Well by that logic a thread must not be started unless it's about world peace.