**CONTENT WARNING** SeaHow to deal with horrific images

[lavenderdillydilly]

I just saw a video of a little girl in Gaza who was bombed with a white phosphorus containing bomb by Israel. The surface of her entire face was burnt off so that no features remained. There were no eyes, nose or mouth... it looked like brown crumbly mud. It is the most horrifying thing I've ever seen. There is a journalist called shaunking on Instagram and he is documenting what is going on in Gaza. It's all over social media. I can't avoid it and I can't sleep because it's so upsetting. I literally feel like I need therapy.

And yet you feel the need to come here and describe it in gory graphic details, for others to presumably have the same reaction, at gone nearly 3 am at night.

I have not seen this. Was it on IG? 😢

Shaun King is a bit of a reactionist who is really good at showing imagery that serves a specific purpose. I follow his work closely re the Black Lives Matter movement here in US. He’s known for his shock factor videos, which garner interest so I’m not surprised he’s shared this.

What is Sea How?

No is forcing you to use social media. Sorry but I have no sympathy, especially as you've come here to spread the gore even more and explain it in detail. Just delete your damn account, if you have to use it for work then don't scroll through the bloody newsfeed and just post what you have to post.

No one*

Funny how I've managed to avoid these videos. Stop pretending you haven't been looking and getting off on others misery from the safety of your lounge.

how to deal with these images and the information? first off by not looking and not searching.
by realizing you can no longer believe anything which you see or read online.
by focusing on your life and assisting others locally and demonstrating kindness to your neighbors.
it may sound naive to ignore but sadly this is what you need to do to maintain your own health. no good will come from you immersing yourself in this matter. and absolutely nothing you do will have any affect on any government action.

It is really hard to look at, I've struggled with images and videos I've seen, for me it is important to see so that I don't dehumanise the people suffering into blank numbers or stats and also because the typical news channels aren't truly showcasing what is happening in Gaza (as they aren't allowed into Gaza without IDF approval and can't broadcast without the IDF approving footage) what has helped me is taking a step back and thinking of things I can do to help, eg writing to my mp or educating myself on the history and culture of the Palestinian people.

Also, following Gazans like Motaz or Plestia who show moments where people have tried to bring glimpses of light into this dark time (such as a video of children using a missile crater as a slide or finding relief playing with stray cats) has really showcased the strength of the Palestinian people and the hope that they have for life. They truly are a resilient people.

Shaun King is not who you want for reasonable fact-checked reporting OP.

This.

I’m sorry you’ve experienced this OP but you need to put a content warning in your title. I just read your description without expecting anything so graphic and it doesn’t help for others to have the same shock without being able to mentally prepare.

Please put a trigger warning on this.

This thread is the epitome of western privilege. Asking for trigger warnings because you had the trauma of reading about a little girl's fatal injuries?

What do you need a trigger warning for? Is it bringing back memories of your own child's face being blown off by Israeli missiles? 🙄

I think these images should be shown on news channels; as horrific as they are people need to see what our country is supporting.

I'm so sorry for the description. I was really upset when I wrote it and didn't think. I'm really struggling with the reality of it all. I feel extremely privileged we're in this country.

But they are just children. I don't understand why the world's governments aren't doing anything. We welcomed ukranians into our homes when they went through much less.

You can avoid it, I’ve not seen any videos showing those horrors.

I haven't been seeking it out at all. The people I know have shared them. They're in my WhatsApp groups and Instagram. I think it's hideous to say that I've been "getting off on others misery". Absolutely hideous. There are such disturbing things happening. You'd be a psychopath to get pleasure out of it. What a nasty thing to say. There are some soul destroying things happening to the most vulnerable and innocent in our society. Nobody is getting any pleasure out of it. And if they are, they need to be sectioned.

Edited for typos

PLEASE put a content warning in the title and add a question mark. I opened with trepidation thinking it might contain some advice for how to process of you had accidentally seen upsetting images. I wasn't expecting a graphic description.

As for advice - unfollow the problem accounts, and put some time and effort into searching for cute cat memes to adjust your algorythm. What good does traumatising yourself do?

Why the F are you in WhatsApp groups with people who share this stuff? That's NOT normal. Message anybody who is sending that shit to cut it the hell out immediately, and leave and block if they continue.

It's trauma and grief fondling.

It truly is awful. Channel these feelings into looking properly into what you can do to help, let that shock and rage compel you to take action. Are you writing to your MP daily calling for ceasefire? Have you donated to the places that can access Gaza? You are allowed to censor these horrific images though, yes there is an element of privilege within that but you're also only human.

Don't apologise, you did nothing wrong. If people want a sanitised view of the war they should stick to Newsround!

Sorry I've reported the post and asked MN to edit the title.

We want a content warning on a mumsnet thread, that's all.

Traumatising ourselves over the atrocities does nothing to help anybody.

It's my baby group and group at work. They're pre-existing groups that people are sharing these things.

So what? If you find the group unique and useful for baby stuff, message the group asking that they either stop posting the sickening content or set up a seperate group for those who do want to share and see it. You do NOT need to tolerate upsetting images of children being harmed in a baby group for fucks sake, that's the very definition of a place that should be free from shit like that. It's not relevant to the purpose of the group.

The same goes for the work group. It's not about work, if they want to share it with colleagues who do want to watch shit like that then they set up a seperate group just for that and keep the main group to it's main purpose. I've left my work's WhatsApp group for far lesser crimes; I was sick of getting messages on it while I was on holiday.

You do not have to tolerate people sending you traumatising videos.