Semi-porn photos from PETA

[run2run]

Beware. PETA, the animal rights organisation, has a campaign against hunting or something that features nude actors in photographs. I found some of these photos, and other unpublished ones, in my daughter's room. I contacted the police (my daughter is 12 and got them through the post) and the police said that one of the photos is from this organisation "PETA" and that the person in it has been sending similar photos to people, including children and teens, as part of his support for the PETA campaign. I find this vile. An actor or public personality should not send semi porn photos to children no matter what the cause. The police said they are investigating other complaints but just be ware. Pornographic photos and sexually suggestive photos can be found in many places.

A famous actor has been sending pornographic photos addressed personally to your child?

Are talking about the Ink not Mink campaign?

Hardly pornographic.

Although I do despise PETA.

Also, if they came through the post, how is it internet safety?

Some of the photos are also on the PETA website, and linked to various other websites. My point is that kids access these websites and send the links to other kids via Facebook.

As for whether some of them are pornographic, the fact is that they were deleted from websites run out of the USA after action from the US government.

Clarification: I did not say a "famous actor" was involved. I said a nude actor. I have no idea if he is famous or not or even acting at the moment or not. Maybe he is a model. The real issue is that the were male photos, some of which have been found to offend public decency (at least in the US according to the police) and are now making their way around websites accessed by children.

And yes, what happened is that my d found the original photo on a website, did some searching, contacted the individual or his site or whatever, and subsequently received additional photos. I found some to be objectionable. The police said one of them came from PETA. They seemed concerned and I frankly didn't feel it appropriate to query the detective on why they were.

Well, I looked at them online and I see nothing pornographic about them and think the police over reacted.

Yes, people are naked in them. That doesn't make them porn. It makes naked people.

And perhaps your daughter shouldn't have FB as she is obviously not using it responsibly. Also? She's under age. Their age limit is 13 and you say she is 12.

I wouldnt describe those pictures as being 'porn' or even 'semi-porn'.

Run2Run: I have worked with CEOP. The photos you are referring to no longer appear on the PETA website (the commentators above could not have viewed them as they aren't there, so they must be referring to something else).

However I'm afraid the comments above miss something important. Sending photos of naked people to children, via internet or the post, is a crime regardless of whether the photos are pornographic or semi-porn. This is established law. It also does not matter if your child mis-represented her age, as the burden rests on the sender. If your child did receive these photos in the mail, the police must investigate as you cannot send such materials to a child under any circumstances. If you have further questions, please contact me, the police or CEOP.

I'd just add to the above that I am a bit appalled that some people on this thread seem to think that it is OK to send "naked" (or semi-naked) pictures to children. It says something. You said your child had "got them through the post". In my opinion and in the opinion of the law, that is a far different matter from having her find them on the web, and is why the police are concerned. I certainly don't think the police "over reacted" when confronted with a situation where a child received naked/semi-naked photos in the post. Under the law, they should investigate any instance of a child receiving something like this.

Did you post about this somewhere else here the other day?

run2run

Frankly, I think you're being absurd and should try to get a perspective!

It's almost beyond belief that you contacted the police about your daughter sending off for, and subsequently receiving, some ever-so-slightly provocative publicity photographs from PETA.

Among the other things to do with animal welfare, PETA campaigns against the use of animal fur and skin in clothing. That's why they target their campaign at and using the fashion industry.

Jesus! - I don't believe I'm having to explain this to you! You see the rather clever idea is to try to make us think about skin. Animals are naked, we're naked - skin! Then there's the fashion link. You know - attractive young people scantily-clad and all that. Sheer filth in my opinion! (irony)

Of course the police seemed to you to be concerned. You are so they would have to be too, wouldn't they? In such a high-stakes case as this it was also entirely appropriate that you didn't ask the attending officer of the wider ramifications.

Here's a couple of things to think about: -

Have you noticed there's rather a lot of sexualised imagery around? Did you know that although human bodies can do sex, they can do other things as well? The PETA campaign is sort of ironic because it uses naked bodies in an attempt to make you not buy stuff. It uses body images for something positive. They are not sexualised images at all, except in an ironic way. Why when you're naked in front of your daughter do you not find it embarrassing? It's something along these lines.

There are some real child-protection issues in the real world that the police, CEOP's and like agencies have to deal with. They are under-resourced and it's a very challenging and difficult job - but it's also important. Why are you even considering wasting their time about a PETA leaflet?

The entire teacup worth of issues in all of this are entirely within your power and province as a parent. Talk to you daughter about them. If you want to complain about PETA publicity material write to PETA expressing your concerns.

I see nothing wrong with the photos, but are you sure the person sending them knew your child is only 12? I think that makes a difference.