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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Maisieknew · 02/09/2015 21:35

Every single one of those is financial ghosty except the last one (e petition).

I can do that but not infinitely. And there are other just as worthy causes I support - I can't keep giving money, money, money. Nor can many people I imagine.

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/09/2015 21:39

Maisie I know a couple of people who volunteered their time to help newcomers with English. Not immediately helpful to the people suffering NOW. But it does help make people feel welcome and included once they are in the UK.

SippyDippy · 02/09/2015 21:40

That little boy on the beach....words fail me.

So many dead refugees already, David Cameron doesnt want them to come in. looking at it all makes me think holocaust

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 21:40

there are a number of groups (mentioned in that article) taking clothes donations etc

Moreshabbythanchic · 02/09/2015 21:41

I know its in all the papers but how would you feel if it was your dead baby being passed around all over facebook? Even three yr old babies deserve respect. RIP little fella.

Maisieknew · 02/09/2015 21:41

And if you can't do that

And as you say, horrific image there - it won't help the baby will it?

It's just horrible. I have a regular donation to amnesty but I find their emails awfully upsetting and maybe it makes me a hypocrite but I can't bear it.

MorrisZapp · 02/09/2015 21:46

I don't think images of dead children should be shared on social media.

Radiatorvalves · 02/09/2015 21:48

I have just sent my MP an email. I will be watching for his response... We need to work with European partners and offer these poor souls asylum. Ignoring the problem is not exactly working.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 02/09/2015 21:50

Can I just say again this little boys name is Aylan and he was 3. He died alongside his 5 year old brother Galip.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 02/09/2015 21:51

People on the DM are looking at a picture of a dead 3yo and saying they are pleased?

Really? Fuck me. Thing is you know people can be awful, but I thought most people felt that young children were "innocent" and shouldn't die if it can be helped. That's a real eye opener, and a horrifying one.

Florriesma · 02/09/2015 21:51

If your ur op so am I. I have just shared. Sadly I do have Facebook friends who need educating. As for sharing that poor little boys photo..He's on the front page of 2 newspapers. His poor mother is probably also dead. But if it happened to mine I would want the world to know the injustice.

I hope that in some.small way his image helps someone else to rethink their position. It is only by making the government's position untenable through publicity that we can prevent other small children like him.

TalkinPeace · 02/09/2015 21:51

ghosty
A debate in the House of Commons achieves what exactly?
Politicians love petitions and marches because they allow the populace to let off steam and then they can be ignored.

Maisieknew · 02/09/2015 21:52

I understand what you're doing by emphasising his name but the child in the picture has I suppose become representative of all the suffering families.

It is terrible but what on earth to do I simply do not know and it makes me feel guilt and sadness over something I have no control over.

firefirethefairsonfire · 02/09/2015 21:59

"I have never been more ashamed to be British."

Me too.

Did you see that poster the other day who was posting statements of Hitlers on the Daily Mail under these articles and was getting lots of green arrows. The rhetoric was comparing refugees (Jews) to animals and saying that we (Germany) would fight until the end. It was horrible, gut-wrenching.

These images need to be shared. There but for the grace of whatever go ALL of us.

marmitemofo · 02/09/2015 22:00

I don't think pictures of dead children should be shared on social media. I think it is hugely disrespectful to the dead and dehumanising. It's making a political point out of a dead child who is nameless and has essentially been reduced to something people can look at, feel sad for five minutes, sign a petition and/or donate some money and then go back to their ordinary lives. Think about it if you have DCs. Would you want their dead body plastered all over the internet, no recognition of who they were, no respect for your grief? I think it's appalling. I'm not judging those who do it, I understand its coming from good intentions but I think it's misguided. Sorry if this sounds a bit strongly worded but I really think people need to think about what it really means to plaster a picture of a dead child all over the internet.

plinkyplonks · 02/09/2015 22:03

I shared the Independent article giving people the option to view the actual image. I get so much ignorant, disgusting vitriol posted on my timeline (usually by Britain First supporters) that sometimes people just need to be reminded these are human beings we are talking about. Someone's mother, father, daughter, son. Please consider signing the petition petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105991

TalkinPeace · 02/09/2015 22:06

But the petition will achieve nothing.
Direct emails to your MP and to Theresa May will have more effect

firefirethefairsonfire · 02/09/2015 22:07

I think it's the total opposite of dehumanising.

I don't put any pictures of my DC on FB. But as already said above...

"But if it happened to mine I would want the world to know the injustice."

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 02/09/2015 22:10

I agree, the world needs to be shaken and made to look. Someone needs to put that poor boys photo on a placard and trail 5 paces behind David Cameron with it at every opportunity.

Samcro · 02/09/2015 22:10

The govermnet do not give a shit about vulnerable people in this country, do you really think they will care bout thee vulnerable people

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 22:14

maybe sharing it means his life was not taken in vain - maybe if it changes attitudes and increases aid and support then some good comes from such a senseless waste of a small life

we should look

we should not look away

these are people

they are dying

they need out help

Maisieknew · 02/09/2015 22:16

Looking changes none of that but upsets people and makes them feel bad.

I don't see what purpose it serves, I really, genuinely don't.

SaucyJack · 02/09/2015 22:18

I think anyone who doesn't want to see should just be very grateful that all they have to do is click a small cross in the corner of the screen and turn away.

These are people's babies dying. Sharing their picture won't bring them back, but it seems to be what's needed to make us all wake up to the horror.

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 22:19

it makes people act - I've seen it - I'm now helping my mum find a local group to donate clothes to and planning on going to London next weekend to shout loudly that I care

doing nothing also changes nothing - you have a choice - you can act and you can change even in small ways

ghostyslovesheep · 02/09/2015 22:20

I think anyone who doesn't want to see should just be very grateful that all they have to do is click a small cross in the corner of the screen and turn away

exactly