Pictures of sick child in hospital on FB?

[TheWomanWhoMisplacedHerHusband]

Close-up shots of very sick child sleeping/with drip in arms/trying to smile for camera with balloons people have given them with updates like 'thanks for the balloon they cheered her up a bit' taken by parents have come up on my feed (they don't know what's wrong with child yet).
Aibu to be a bit shocked at these?

Mitzyme I am sorry to hear your daughter had meningitis. Awful disease.

OP, I agree with you and don't think you are being unreasonable. FB may be a form of support for parents going through hell with sick kids but you don't have to post their photos on it - I don't think they will thank you for it in years to come!

Not understanding the need for Facebook support does not lessen my empathy or compassion in RL or on Mnet for others.
However this is AIBU and I am not rude just honest.
Yes Anne meningitis is a horrendous illness.
No Internet allowed in our ICU.

Oh, and before anyone accuses me of not understanding being in a completely shite position - I can assure you I absolutely do, I just don't share it online and for those who don't have 'years to come' for whatever reason, I am so so sorry but still believe its not right to put photos on FB.

I personally would feel uncomfortable with this , surely you can update without photos ?

MrsDevere - yes, I have read the thread and stand by my comments.

MrsD - for me, it is not about hiding your child away, it is about protecting them. Would you want photos of yourself bald with ng tubes and god knows what else plastered all over facebook without your permission?

Facebook as a lifeline. Heard it all now.

Is rude. It is not even about photos on fb, it is specific to someone talking about how talking to other parents on fb helped them when their child was in hospital - how is that not rude!

Shall, do you object to any pictures of children on fb? Because I don't think my 3 year old has given permission for any photos of him to be on there (the only one in hospital was on Christmas day with his sisters opening presents - hope that is ok?)

Hazey - actually, yes I don't really like photos of kids on FB and don't post any of my own kids as I do believe they have a right to privacy. Maybe that is down to my mistrust of it - warranted or not. Mrs D has completely twisted my words and deliberately misconstrued what I was trying to say. I won't even try replying as she has hidden the post anyway. Suffice to say I certainly do not find photos of sick kids disgusting!

I also think that the situation the OP was originally referring to is far removed from some of the cases and examples being used on here. As I understand it, the child the OP was talking about was just in hospital temporarily and the photos that were posted were not the only ones the couple would ever have of their sick little one.

I personally wouldnot put ANY photos of children on FB. Just as I don't put any photos if myself or anyone else.

And I would do the same whether the child is ill or not.

I do agree that you can't have a rule for a healthy child and a rule for a sick child, ESP when you are talking about long term illness.

I can understand why people would want to post about your child and how it is a life line. I don't understand why some people post about their sick child with no care for privacy settings.

I have care for privacy settings. I live away from my family - TBH it's the cheapest, most convenient way for me to communicate. I like pictures. I love taking photos and sharing them, of all sort of things. I am immensely proud about how my darling DS is coping with his treatment and I want to share it, I also feel happier preparing others for a difference in his appearance - he is currently losing his hair for example. I am not a very private person I will admit. We all have different levels of privacy we're comfortable with.

I wish I had had facebook on my phone when ds2 was hospitalised at 3 weeks old.

He slept pretty much constantly, and as ds1 was a toddler, (now ex) dp could only visit for a short time before ds1 was bored. Other people popped in, but never for long, and only during visiting hours. After then I was on my own. Even the TVs turned off at 8pm as it was a children's ward (even though I was in a private room). I spent hours just sat there, too worried to read/sew, just wishing i could talk to someone.

I would have posted photos too, in fact I think I have since. Although almost 7 years later we dont know what was actually wrong, much like the family in the op.

to all those who have lost, or have sick children.

Twunk, I think you have summed it up very neatly in your last sentence.