Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Children's pictures.

So, for those of you who don't know, I do not have children. Therefore, I know, I am supposed to be silent and not have any opinions on discipline, breast-feeding, or anything. Until I've pushed one out, I am supposed to sit and not have any judgements about how people are raising their children. I understand that.

But that's not who I am. I am a teacher and control upwards of 200 children throughout the week. For 6+ hours per day, which unfortunately is much longer than a lot of my students' parents control their own spawn. You know, bed at 8pm, getting up at 7, at school by 8, parents home at 6. I have done copious amounts of reading and know quite a lot of people with children - I think I am intelligent and passively absorb ideas and advice. Never mind the child development study I've done in my last 9 years of study at university.

Most of the time, I don't mind that I am expected to be quiet. I know it's my place as a non-breeder. But, I have to post this. I must have a little rant.

I am sick and tired of seeing people post pictures of their children on the net. If you want to do that, that's fine - I've posted a few of my friends' kids on Facebook in my friends only albums with their written permission (I know some of the laws you see). What I am truely sick of is the hypocritical nature of these women.

It's like they think, "If I hide my child's name, then I can put a photo of him/her on the open blogosphere no matter what it is showing."

I stumbled across a post yesterday where the woman had posted about potty training (which she had started at 3!) and had accompanied the post with a naked picture of her son sitting on the potty. So, no penis, but still! I mean come on.

She may have thought, it's ok, there are no names, so paedophiles cannot do anything to my son. No, they can't. Except "Save As" and use the picture as an aid. There are gross people out there you know. This is where I see the hypocrisy coming into the fore.

I guarantee you that the many of these women would be demanding of the death penalty and naming and shaming a man/woman who had abused a child. By posting your child's picture, you may be enabling this.

If you choose to post a picture of your child, please remove the hypocrisy - name your child, don't use some cutesy nickname and be aware that someone may want to use the picture in an impure way.

And think on this - you may not care about this. I understand that. But think about how embarrassed you were when Mum and Dad took naked pictures and put it in your photo albums. Not only have you allowed your family and friends to see this, you've embarrassed them in front of the entire world.

Think Mothers. Think.


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Not totally just my own opinion:



 """Appropriate representation

Ensure that all children in the photograph or image are appropriately dressed. Care should be taken not
to print or broadcast any images that may be used for the sexual gratification of others, for example,
images of naked or semi-dressed children or those that display young people emulating adults.

Do not publish images that are likely to cause distress, upset or embarrassment to the child – either
now, or in the future. Consider whether the image portrays the child or young person in a demeaning
way, or if it could be seen to exploit the child in any way."""" --

 Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (2010) Tips for parents on photography of children and young people. [Online] Queensland Government. Available: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/pdf/publications/brochures/children-and-the-media/Corporate-Fact-Sheet3.pdf 

2 comments:

  1. Okay - do you mean all photos or merely naked/innappropriate photos?

    It is not clear in your post.

    If all, then I am guilty of it. But guess what. These people can be in the park or at the beach or anywhere and can snap random pictures undetected. You can walk around, let paranoia dominate your lives, or you can try to retain some of the innocence and faith.

    Our local paedophile (yes, he was charged, jailed and is now back out) was a local retired minister. His wife taught/teaches (now tutors) young children. Should school photos be banned because he accessed them for his carnal sick pleasure?

    JMHO.

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  2. I mean mainly the naked/inappropriate ones.

    I know they can be anywhere. The hypocrisy gets to me. How many children have I seen running around naked on a beach, to parents who would be in the lynch mob?

    I have no issue with posting pictures of your children as long as they're appropriate, and the decision has been made in understanding of the fact that they could be used for nefarious means.

    I hope that clears it up.

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