'But what about Syria'. Would I be unreasonable to tell this woman to go and fuck herself?

[Runny]

I have a Facebook friend who I think it's fair to say has some very extreme political views that she's not afraid to air. Normally I think live and let live, but she really gets her knickers in a knot over things like the Western bombings of Syria, refugees, Israel etc. I should say I'm also against the bombings in Syria and have donated to refugee charities.

Since the Paris terror attacks she's become very vocal about how Western media organisations ignore the terror attacks that happen in the Middle East, lots of 'why don't we change our FB profile pics to Palestinian flags' and the like. I let that go, even though I think she's talking out of her arse and it's blatantly obvious why our media focus on stuff happening in Europe. Since then with every terror attack that's happened she's posted similar stuff, even when the Westminster attacks happened the other week. This person lives in Central London so it bloody happened on her died doorstep and she was still at it even then!

Then yesterday arrived, my feed was full of comments about how awful and horrific the events in Manchester were. She was uncharacterstically quiet for most of the day, then late afternoon she posts a status 'I weep for the children, children everywhere'. What followed was a load of guff implying it was a 'false flag' designed to rig the election in the Tories favour. I hate the Tories as much as the next person, but come on that's just lunacy!

She's been at it most of the night, posts about fucking Syria, don't forget about Syria. Seriously, there's a time and a place for her crack pot opinions, and I really want to comment telling her she's a fucking insensitive idiot for spouting this now. WIBU to do this? She seems to have a complete empathy bypass. I'm so angry reading her posts, she posts this guff just hours after children have been blown to bits at a pop concert. What the hell is wrong with her?

I hate the Tories as much as the next person, but come on that's just lunacy!

Excuse me? Are the Tories and Tory supporters not even people now?

(I know it's slightly off topic but I really dislike this creeping use of insults against anyone one disagrees with).

You could always unfollow her posts.

Or you could accept that your views are different from hers and use it as a chance to challenge what you think yourself, but that does seem unlikely from your posts, so maybe the first one.

She'd have more of a point had she left the false flag stuff out. Those certainly exist, but realistically she can have no idea whether the attack was one or not, and with that in mind is simply irresponsibly bullshitting.

Also must disagree with the posts saying if Syria was happening in Europe there'd be more interest. When it was, there wasn't, not really.

Ignoring the false flag stuff I think she's right really, just expressing it badly.

People living in Damascus probably don't care quite so much about Manchester as their local school either, and as a consequence it probably isn't essential for media aimed at them to focus on it all day.

Life is full of people pointing out the obvious as if the world will be shaken by its discovery. I would probably post something undetectably sarcastic and leave it at that.

People saying "there's a time and a place for such comments" isn't it exactly when people are feeling sad for children dying in the UK that it's appropriate to remind them of worldwide atrocities going unchallenged?

""posts about fucking syria""

I'm glad that someone else picked upon that, you are disgusting for that alone.

I agree that yesterday wasn't the time to air it,but she's right.

I'd include Turkey, as well, unlike Syria,most people have been there on holiday,but you don't see the reaction that you got when attacks happen in Paris (which most of my peer group haven't visited.

68 children were killed last month in Syria, among 123 dead, but there isn't ongoing news coverage.

the helicopters went over my house yesterday and last night, ferrying the children to AlderHey from Manchester, I think of the children in the other countries who won't have the same medical care and will be just suffering in pain,still among the bombing. (or rather I try not to).

posts about fucking syria Seriously OP? YABU

Apologies, what does "false flag" mean?

OP I don't understand that reference but as to the rest of it your friend was probably upset by the nature of the media rolling coverage which I think most of us agree was pretty gratuitous.
You are right though, she could have given people a day or two to get over the initial desire to talk/think about it.

I agree with your friend, media is selective about what we see in the west. People do forget about what is happening elsewhere in the world. It's her face book, she can post what she likes .If you don't want to see her posts then unfollow or de friend her. Be a grown up . To me you're coming across as a bit of a twat , but there you go.

Manchester was horrific - yes of course it was.

But all to often we view these attacks in the west as something that "happens to us" in isolation. But people are killed by suicide bombers in Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere every week - it is a common occurance and often not seen as newsworthy - it happens all the time.

It's not just something that happens "to us" - people, children are targeted all over the world. All of it is a big sick problem, perpetrated by utter shits.

And it's not something that happens to us in isolation - unfortunately our foreign policy over many years is a big part of the reason why we are targeted.

Oh I see, sorry, she was suggesting that someone who wanted the Tories to win staged this attack?

That is awful, YANBU.

Why is it 'disgusting' to point out that yesterday was not the time or the place to post pictures and other memes about Syria? It absolutely wasn't appropriate at all.

She's got a good point to be honest.

And I find your references to 'fucking Syria' highly offensive.

Good lord I missed the 'fucking Syria ' reference. You've outdone yourself there op , I hope this thread is removed.

I totally agree that there is not enough coverage about Syria.

But the woman reminds me of the runner who told my eight year old, who was struggling with a very bad stitch at Parkrun and crying (whilst still running) to "Stop crying because the children in Syria would love to be doing this, if their arms and legs hadn't been blown off". Completely out the blue, never met the woman before, hopefully never will again.

Some people basically just take it too far.

Another point is that yes, children die in Syria. But I'd bet my last penny that children aren't deliberately targeted in Syria.

In the Manchester Arena bombing the terrorist's target was young girls and homosexual young men. Degenerate people in his ideology's view. He walked in and saw children, families and people who had had a lovely evening and blew them to smithereens. It wasn't a bomb dropped on anonymous people, some of whom happened unfortunately to be children.

Well she's not wrong is she? There are mothers grieving the loss of their children for the same reasons, only we don't seem to give a shit about that.

You might be right that it was bad timing but she isn't a 'crackpot'.

But I'd bet my last penny that children aren't deliberately targeted in Syria.

Well you'd lose that bet.

It wasn't a bomb dropped on anonymous people, some of whom happened unfortunately to be children.

Anonymous people?! So in your view, if they were only "collateral damage", it's not as important or horrific. These anonymous people all have families and lives and hopes and dreams.

All terrorism and war-related deaths should be treated with the same respect.

"If having an strong opinion makes me a 'goady fucker' then so be it."

It's not the having of a strong opinion that's the problem.

It's the way you have slagged off all those dying in horrible ways in other places.

Yes, one person was tactless in her timing, but in substance she was absolutely right.

You can win the point about timing. But you are coming across as very self-centred. And to some, goady.

But I'd bet my last penny that children aren't deliberately targeted in Syria

Well you'd lose that bet.

You're right. They are deliberately targeted by Assad's henchmen (who kill little children with nerve gas) and by ISIS who have no qualms in killing small children, raping young girls etc.

Where have I slagged off other people dying in horrible ways?

Or are you just being offended for the sake of it?

Sorry but I agree with her. There are bomb attacks and children dying in attacks everyday in the Middle East and Afghanistan/Pakistan. There are mothers crying for their lost children everyday, but they're not reported or given as much importance over here. It's because it's not relevant to normal people here. A few years ago there was a terrorist attack in an army school in Peshawar, Pakistan. Little children as young as 5/6 were gunned down by fucking terrorists. I still tremble with fear thinking about it because that's where my roots lie. I bet hardly anyone knows about it over here. So yes, children ARE targeted. Malala Yousafzai? She and her friends were targeted.

If you're getting annoyed by her posts then block her. I can understand it can get annoying if something isn't relevant to you. But she's right.

And please don't say "fucking Syria". It sounds so disrespectful.

I think it is very simple THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR TERRORISM by anyone, anywhere.