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Original poster

Pictures of migrant children on fb

263 replies

FuryFowler · 02/09/2015 20:54

Has anyone seen these pictures, of poor poor children washed up on the beaches of Libya and Greece, drowned from their failed crossing.

I know the pics are there to shock but it's devastating to see Sad

I signed a petition the other day, which had a pic of a drowned child on the front page. I signed and shared but then felt uncomfortable about sharing such a graphic picture.

It's makes me cry what is happening there, but was I U for sharing?

OP posts:
Chillyegg · 02/09/2015 20:59

Usually I'd say yes however awareness needs to be raised I've just sobbed at that picture of that poor baby boy. That could so easily be my child it's horrendous and we as a nation should do something. I'm writing to my MP. Those poor people those poor children and idiots think their fleeing to get handouts and benefits. Boils my piss .

ThisFenceIsComfy · 02/09/2015 20:59

I find them horrendously upsetting every time I see them. At first I was horrified but then I realised the situation is horrifying and people need to wake up to that.

Original poster
FuryFowler · 02/09/2015 21:05

I'm fortunate enough not to have many uneducated idiots as fb friends who just don't give a shit and think about looking after their own.

I have a lot of fb friends sharing them and generally sharing awareness of what is going on. I feel that this is needed for those who are ignorant, but it is just devastating and my heart aches for those children. Yes the pic of the poor toddler is awful!
It makes me appreciate my own children more and my life In general.

OP posts:
LunchpackOfNotreDame · 02/09/2015 21:06

Yabu ish

Kind of sticking your fingers in your ears and going 'la la la not happening' really people need to realise these are human beings, desperate human beings that are dying to flee their homes as they see that as preferable to staying.

That said I do feel everyone should be given the choice of whether they view those images or not. Censorship and decency seems to no longer exist these days what with these images and the isis films being so freely available. Imagine a child coming across them.

Ubik1 · 02/09/2015 21:07

The pictures are everywhere. I'm torn - it's great

Sighing · 02/09/2015 21:08

I just got back from a holiday in Bodrum and Kos. The pictures are graphic and perhaps the sunk lifeboats and life jackets on the shoreline are enough. But I still lost my cool in the passport line over a woman telling her son that the syrians were just trying their luck and should stick it out in syria. Perhaps no amount of human tragedy can impact on some radars.

Ubik1 · 02/09/2015 21:08

To raise awareness but it seems disrespectful to the children and their families too.

I just hope some good comes of it.

Littlecaf · 02/09/2015 21:12

They are awfully upsetting - the first time I saw it, I thought it was too strong for facebook however a number of my friends have shared now, I've signed a petition & donated money and now they are factual and part of raising awareness, so on balance, I feel they need to be made public in such a manner, even if they make me uncomfortable.

Most of my RL and facebook friends are generally sensible, however there are a number of (typically old school friends) who share Britain First and similar type anti immigration/refugee/asylum seeker type posts who need to see that they are wrong in their racist, nationalistic views.

Diggum · 02/09/2015 21:14

I don't know the answer.

It seems so cruelly intrusive to be sharing such devastating photos on a forum (FB) that hosts such vacuous brain candy much of the time. When placed alongside that it seems very wrong. As if those poor children are yet more click bait.

That said I did see the pictures of that little boy. He was the same size and with the same dark hair as my own DD who is sleeping in utterly peaceful innocence upstairs. I cried my heart out and it did spur me to make a donation to UNICEF, tiny amount of difference though it might make.

Does that make it worth sharing? Maybe it does. If it raises money and gets people hounding their politicians to offer sanctuary to these poor souls. But not if people just gawp and do nothing.

Original poster
FuryFowler · 02/09/2015 21:17

A friend has just set up a local collection point for Calais. Which will be delivered in October. I am donating as much as I can as they need things! They need help! I feel guilty if I just share but don't do anything such as donate.

OP posts:
LunchpackOfNotreDame · 02/09/2015 21:18

Looking in the daily fail the poor mite now has a name. Aylan Kurdi and he was 3. He died alongside his brother.

Original poster
FuryFowler · 02/09/2015 21:19

Yes diggum this is what I hoping by sharing, but I don't want to offend anyone :/

OP posts:
LunchpackOfNotreDame · 02/09/2015 21:19

Sorry meant to say his brother was 5 and named Galip

BalthazarImpresario · 02/09/2015 21:20

Very harsh however there are many appalling attitudes around the migrant crisis. It needs to be seen to wake people up

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 21:21

I think we should be made to look - it's horrible but it real and it's happening now to people like us

we shouldn't turn away

JeffreysMummyisCross · 02/09/2015 21:27

The Daily Fail is fucking sickening. Even more than usual. There are people actually red-arrowing comments that express compassion for that poor, poor child. I have never been more ashamed to be British.

Maisieknew · 02/09/2015 21:27

I am positive no one, no one at all, believes a toddler deserved to drown!

No - i'd rather not see, I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do much as I wish there was, and seeing it will make no difference.

Radiatorvalves · 02/09/2015 21:28

I think Cameron's stance is wrong, but that Angela Merkel and Yvette Cooper may be on the right track. We do need to do something. These desperate people need support...they won't be reliant on benefits in the long term. I am sure tat most would contribute positively in the long term to our economy. In the short term we need to work with European partners and take a sensible number. Yes it would be great if we could stabilise Syria....but I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon.

Petradreaming · 02/09/2015 21:31

We need to share and share again. Until the UK take notice and act. It is appalling to see how this government are side stepping the issue. Great Britain. A shameful episode in her history.

car0line123 · 02/09/2015 21:31

We've been told for weeks, for months even, about the catastrophic human situation, but people seem to need a graphic photo to suddenly getting upset.

On the other hand, people are scared in this country, well, because they are already being refused medical treatments or urgent medical procedures, the NHS being at breaking point.

So maybe a graphic photo will help. I am sure we will see a lot more of these, before the media will lose interest. Hopefully someone will get help out of this.

Radiatorvalves · 02/09/2015 21:31

But Maisie, you can. You can write to your MP. I hate the images, but seeing the reality of what is happening may shock people and politicians into action.

TalkinPeace · 02/09/2015 21:31

What good does signing an electronic petition ever actually DO?

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/09/2015 21:33

I don't put pictures of my own DC on FB so I probably wouldn't share ones of someone else's poor, dead child. Noe much younger than my DD. I can't begin to imagine the pain of families that have to choose this journey.

However, there are some people who need to be confronted with their own idiocy and lack of empathy. I posted on a friend's wall when she was posting good articles about the migrants. One of her friends started on about it and he actually had the front to say that if he were living in a war-torn, famine-ridden hell-hole he would stay because he is the kind of person who makes things better and would fight for his country utter, utter knobber.

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 21:33

What good does signing an electronic petition ever actually DO - force a debate in the HOC!

petition.parliament.uk/help