Not sure why this bugs me so much

[SipsTea]

I have friends who have taken photos (on the sly) of random members of the public with the purpose of posting said photos on social media to mock them. Some have removed/cropped out any identifying attributes, others haven't.

In both cases, it makes my stomach turn, especially at the thought of someone doing the same to me or family or friends etc etc.

I've called out these "friends" and, more often than not, been told to wind my neck in as they are just 'bantering', being "lighthearted" etc.

So, AIBU to think it's a horrid thing to do? And AIBU in calling people out for doing it? Frankly, I think it would be much easier to sit on my hands and say nothing and just quietly unfollow/unfriend them.

This isn't really a question about the validity of social media. It would still make me shudder and I would probably say the same thing if a friend were showing me photos in person that were taken under the same circumstances.

I can totally understand someone recounting something or someone that made them laugh, but somehow taking a photo just seems a step too far (or is that hypocritical?)

YANBU. Really vile behaviour. Shows a worrying lack of empathy.

Drop them, that's vile and extremely childish.

Think it's time you found new friends. They seem horrible.

'Banter' is a euphemism for 'being an arsehole'. This person sounds horrible, I couldn't be friends with someone who did that.

Wondering if they'd find it so funny if they were the subject of humiliating photos. I'm guessing not. Drop them, they sound like childish idiots.

Unless you like arseholes you probably need different friends

YANBU in any way and it sickens me too

There have been many groups set up on Facebook, for different areas of Liverpool, namely 'Spotted in X-area' etc which are for the sole purpose of doing this exact thing

I find it rather sad, in fact quite pathetic but what I find worse is that I've reported these said groups to Facebook on numerous occasions but get a message back to say they will not be closing them

yanbu, your friends are wankers.

I'd ditch them.

You're absolutely right - it's a bloody awful thing to do. There was one I saw of a girl on an escalator - she was a bit overweight, wearing leggings, leggings weren't exactly thick material, etc etc - and I just thought "you poor woman". And if she'd come across it, she'd have known it was her - why the fuck anyone thinks public humiliation like this is OK is beyond me.

YANBU
Although I was tempted to take a photo for style and beauty of the amazingly ill judged arse the same size as mine in flesh coloured leggings,

However, I didn't. She was happily shopping with her DP/H and two DCs. Why on earth should she be put up for ridicule.

That said I'm amazed her preteen daughter hadn't told her her top was too short.

YANBU

I had a friend that, when online dating, would put up the pictures of the men she went out with on her blog and mock them, relishing her description of how they had failed to live up to her expectations. It was really mean of her.

Your "friends" are utter ar$eholes!

that's really horrid behaviour on their part!

mind you, on the news etc when the cameras are scanning the crowds of people walking down a road and they are lingering on the fatter people's bellies or bums while the narrator goes on about the obesity problem. I do think, gawd, poor them, what if those people or their friends recognise them from that invasive filming! Don't get me wrong, I am fat (size 18) but I don't want to be shown on TV as an example of a fat person when I am out and about doing the shopping!

It's totally vile and be careful - it's easy to judge someone by their choice in friends. Drawing attention to someone's appearance speaks volumes. The way people dress is just an aesthetic and if it doesn't match mine then ... meh. No sense in revealling my own idiosyncrasies by commenting or mentioning it

My brother's boyfriend has a bit of a cruel SOH. He will often show me a video of someone falling over, burning their hair off with a heated appliance, singing out if tune or whatever and wonder why i've not fallen about laughing.

Yanbu. Those friends sound deeply insecure. I would ditch anyone in my life like this if i could.

Can you report the photos to Facebook or whichever social media site they are on as inappropriate.

I always report the photos. Some get taken down (thankfully, sometimes by those who put it up in the first place), some don't.

And I'm pleased to say that most of my friends would not dream of doing this. Such a shame that the one or two who do are actually very nice people in other respects.

I guess the answer to your question is that it probably bothers you because you are a decent human being who doesn't get her kicks from cowardly humiliating strangers. If the friends of yours who do this really are otherwise nice people then carry on trying to show them how scummy their behaviour is. How would they feel if they saw a picture of someone they cared about posted on one of those pages?

Funnily enough, they have no answer to that ...

This response to one of those mocking photos really made me smile.

I think those 'friends' are on dodgy ground legally, if they show the faces of their poor victims. Not absolutely sure of the legal ins and outs, but will check with some photographer mates. In any case, your 'friends' are nasty, spiteful a-holes to do this and I'm surprised at FB allowing it.

It's just a form of bullying really, not brave enough to say it to the person being photographed (or even be open about taking their picture). You don't need friends like these, or to become "guilty by association". Bloody cowards.

Your friends are really shitty, they probably aren't as nice as you think they are OP- hopefully this will be the only way they show it to you though.

Awful friends, dumpable offence. I don't even like those birthday cards that use real people's photos from the past.