Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?

crfische · December 2010

This is popping up all over my newsfeed:

"Change your FB profile to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal? To not see a human face on FB until Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse & copy and paste to your status to invite your friends to do the same."

Dude, you guys know I hate child abuse. I deal with that stuff for a living. But what does not seeing a human face have to do with fighting child abuse? I'm all for awareness, but a cartoon?

One would think that you would WANT to give child abuse a face, ya know?

Help? I feel like I'm missing something.

emilyinchile · December 2010

Nope, you're not missing anything. It's just as dumb as "if you make a statement about where you put your purse and make it sound like there's a sexual innuendo, you're fighting breast cancer!"

crfische · December 2010

Why are people so annoyingly stupid?

strlzfan11 · December 2010

I saw this a couple weeks back, but the purpose behind it was to help you remember the happy times of your childhood (or something along those lines).

[Deleted User] · December 2010

A few people have that on mine, too.
Just random Facebook shenanigans, I say.

emilyinchile · December 2010

Oh Fish. If only I knew the answer to that one.

arbolita · December 2010

I saw someone post something similar, but it had nothing to do with fighting child abuse - it was to have a weekend full of nostalgia.

Though speaking of FB/Child Abuse, a friend of mine saw this on their newsfeed, and it still has me incredibly disturbed:

A child says to his Mom "Mommy, I colored your sheets with lipstick".With anger she starts to hit her child till he was unconscious. Then she regrets what she has done and, crying, said to her child "Please open your eyes." But it was to late, his tiny heart had stopped beating. When... she walked to her bedroom the sheet said 'MOMMY I LOVE YOU.''Copy and paste for an hour to say ENOUGH WITH CHILD ABUSE

crfische · December 2010

Remember the happy times of your childhood and rub it in the face of people who had shitty childhoods? That makes solid sense.

Birdie1483 · December 2010

Ugh I hate those almost as much as I hate the

"Post this to your status or your friends will think you're a baby killer and kick puppies"

crfische · December 2010

Well, Tree. That's just sad.

ohwhynot · December 2010

Fish, I double dog dare you to ask that person, directly, how this is going to help in the fight against child abuse. I'd like to see that person's answer.

shortee426 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:adf89252-10b7-4d84-9b57-7c349a546f66">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]I saw this a couple weeks back, but the purpose behind it was to help you remember the happy times of your childhood (or something along those lines).
Posted by strlzfan11[/QUOTE]

<div>Yup. I saw the same thing a few weeks ago. Here's the problem with FB: People become FB "friends" with 110318952306 random people whom they haven't spoken with since middle school. So when I, for example, decide to make up a stupid "cut and paste this stupid message as your status or you'll die of cholera in 14 minutes" all my 8 bajillion friends are going to put it up, and then their 8 bajillion friends are going to post it and I've just made everyone on FB look like an ass.</div>

crfische · December 2010

The God ones drive me nuts. I'm a Jeebus lovin' woman, but I'm pretty sure that He'll understand if I don't post my beliefs in my facebook status. I won't go to hell.

"95% of people are to ashamed to repost this because loving God isn't cool!!!"

Ooorrrr maybe they don't repost it because it's really stupid?

arbolita · December 2010

I only repost things that have to do with velociraptors. Those are important.

crfische · December 2010

Own, I'm constructing a facebook status as I type to you.

strlzfan11 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:067b862b-dd8f-49d1-902c-5b9ba869329b">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]The God ones drive me nuts. I'm a Jeebus lovin' woman, but I'm pretty sure that He'll understand if I don't post my beliefs in my facebook status. I won't go to hell. "95% of people are to ashamed to repost this because loving God isn't cool!!!" Ooorrrr maybe they don't repost it because it's really stupid?
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

I'm with you on that one.

[Deleted User] · December 2010

I also saw this a couple weeks ago, and it was about childhood memories or something. I just ignore them all!

Loopyseven · December 2010

I did the purse thing... but I've reformed and sworn off all FB chain statuses. (stati??)

ohwhynot · December 2010

ARbolita, that's an urban legend:
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/fingers.asp

I mean, child abuse certainly does occur, but that story just rang false for a few reasons. I snoped it, and sure enough - it's a horror story but it didn't really happen.

danieliza1127 · December 2010

There's also another one I keep seeing about a Battalion that's under fire or something...have you guys seen that one? I'm sure it's total BS though, the way it's spreading. it just makes me feel bad for the real guys over there. Like you guys said, what is posting it in your status really going to do??

arbolita · December 2010

I know it's not true. It disturbs me that many people are reposting it as a way to stand up against child abuse. Way to distort the reality of child abuse there, asshats.

baystateapple · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:067b862b-dd8f-49d1-902c-5b9ba869329b">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]The God ones drive me nuts. I'm a Jeebus lovin' woman, but I'm pretty sure that He'll understand if I don't post my beliefs in my facebook status. I won't go to hell. "95% of people are to ashamed to repost this because loving God isn't cool!!!" Ooorrrr maybe they don't repost it because it's really stupid?
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

My mother sends me those "pass these on or you're ashamed to admit you love God" emails. I can't stand them. I don't think Jesus keeps tabs on what I do or don't send on to people. I doubt that's the gold standard of Christianity.

ohwhynot · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:39f4a8f6-2052-4784-888a-36306c2f99a4">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]Own, I'm constructing a facebook status as I type to you.
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

How I adore you! That's perfect.

SarahPLiz · December 2010

My status from this morning, sfter getting in to an argument on a friend's status :

Sarah Actively participating in your community, educating yourself about human trafficking and the child sex trade, and donating to efforts to help victims recover, are the only ways to help end child abuse. Don't be deceived by a false sends of participation in an effort. Changing your profile picture does nothing but make you feel better about your own inaction in the real world.

Sarah Seriously. FB is not god and status messages are not appeals to a higher power. FB is a network of people who can only change the world only if theyy actually do something about it OUTSIDE of FB. Stop being lazy about causes you supposedly care about!

ohwhynot · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:eaeb7a76-93d0-4cf1-b1ec-0643b17dbbfe">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]I know it's not true. It disturbs me that many people are reposting it as a way to stand up against child abuse. Way to distort the reality of child abuse there, asshats.
Posted by arbolita[/QUOTE]

Oh I'm sorry. My apologies to you - I misunderstood your post.

baystateapple · December 2010

Go you, Sarah P. Tell it like it is.

SarahPLiz · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:fecfe32c-2193-457b-babf-201b2c732b4b">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]Go you, Sarah P. Tell it like it is.
Posted by baystateapple[/QUOTE]
Seriously. If people aren't already aware that child abuse exists, then its because they don't WANT to be aware of the world around them. Being horrified once a year in your FB status does not help abused children one bit. It makes me sick that people may forgo some other type of community service because they already feel like they participated.. on FB<div>
</div><div>An appeal for awareness without a plea for an action that takes an actual step towards solving the problem is a worthless appeal.
<div>
</div><div>Maybe if I put a picture of a pony in my status, there will be one waiting on me when I get back from Kauai?
<div>
</div></div></div>

crfische · December 2010

I changed mine to this:

Someone please tell me what changing your profile picture to a cartoon to not see a human face until Monday has anything at all to do with child abuse prevention? Seems to trivialize the issue a little bit, don't you think? I'm going to take a more straight forward approach to raise awareness. LETS STOP CHILD ABUSE. Give this a read: www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics" target="_blank">http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics. I think it hits home a bit more than a picture of my favorite childhood cartoon.

Stackeye210 · December 2010

My sister changed her profile picture and I was wondering why. Now I know. She also input her shoe size before and where she keeps her purse or whatever. She's always made me roll my eyes, even before facebook.

mkrupar · December 2010

Perfect response SarahP. All those things drive me batty. I just gloss over the statuses that say things like "If you are against such and such" or "If you're for such and such". I don't think people realize that sitting on their butts typing about issues isn't doing anything to fix that issue.

I hope you write a great response Fische.

ETA: And you posted your response while I was typing. Hopefully someone pays attention to that.

baystateapple · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ok-facebook-am-missing-something?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cfae1211-b7e4-4a30-9fc2-2a19aaf88232Post:77ec51c4-6817-4dbe-a50d-6ba57478a927">Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something? : Seriously. If people aren't already aware that child abuse exists, then its because they don't WANT to be aware of the world around them. Being horrified once a year in your FB status does not help abused children one bit. It makes me sick that people may forgo some other type of community service because they already feel like they participated.. on FB An appeal for awareness without a plea for an action that takes an actual step towards solving the problem is a worthless appeal.<strong> Maybe if I put a picture of a pony in my status, there will be one waiting on me when I get back from Kauai? </strong>
Posted by SarahPLiz[/QUOTE]

In that same vein, if I put a picture of a house and/or a new car as MY profile picture, does that mean H and I will get them? *sigh*

You're absolutely right. DOING something is one thing. Running around yelling about why we all need to be aware, without taking real action, is quite another.

Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?

Re: Ok, Facebook. Am I missing something?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards