Child Abuse Discussion

This is a copy-pasted dialogue between some high school friends of mine. Names will be avoided, although it's not hard to see who's talking.

It all began with this.
"
Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (Dec. 6), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign to fight child abuse."

Here is what some of my friends have to say via Facebook:



M.C.
Well I was originally going to keep my opinion to myself, but since this meme has reached my wall, ( and that's what it is now a meme) I'm going to voice my opinion about this whole cartoon profile pic nonsense. First off if ppl think that changing their profile pic on facebook will in anyway help prevent child abuse that's just sad, I'm all for making a difference and doing what u can to better the world,
but changing what your avatar is on a website and then claiming that it will stop child abuse, how the hell will that have an impact on the abuser, what is he gonna think, "oh boy, ppl are changing there profile pics on facebook, I better stop hitting my kid" this partially has turned into an excuse for ppl to feel good about themselves without putting any effort in what so ever.
My next point is how this most likely started. My money is some bored internet troll started this on the Internet and spread like wildfire, so in essences like half of the users on facebook got trolled, but it also seems that it might have been a child abuser, who changed his profile pic to get kids to friend him on facebook,
there apparently is an investigation going on, but I say that just media hype and its just more likely to be someone trolling. My third small point is just the fact that child abuse awareness month is April, not November....
So yea that's my input on this whole ordeal, if u guys want to keep up the whole cartoon charade, be my guest but I dont plan to feed the ego of some troll, or for that matter get sone kind of self satisfaction of "helping" when in fact I'm not doing anything close to the sort.

G.EK.
dude im just doing pokemon December like i have for the past 3 years here at this school. totally agree with you on all points. but at the same time people changing their profile pics and such doesn't make it a bad thing. hell its about bring out awareness not out right stopping it. people aren't stupid enough to think that if everyone dose it things will change. its more of a show of support to people that are abused letting them know we want to help them bah bah bah. you seem a little hyped up about this to my guess is people are giving you a hard time for not changing your pic and for the first time in a while looks like people have finally got under your skin. love ya buddy see you for Christmas.

M.C.
oh this is not directed at anyone person and i know pokemon December is going on too, its just its really annoying how people actually think that changing their profile pic on facebook actually will make a difference when it honestly will have no effect on the actual issue of child abuse at all, if people really cared they should go volunteer at a crisis center, or start up rallies for awareness and prevention. Changing your profile picture to a cartoon and patting yourself on the back thinking hey i just helped stop child abuse, is not productive in the least bit, in actuality since like 75% of facebook users have changed there pics, the online pervs, and child molesters also have a perfect camouflage to friend young unaware kids, thus increasing the risks to them. but all in all, what really does make me upset is that people actually do think that it is helping, when in actually they are doing nothing at all. :/

M.L.A.G.
whoever thinks that changing your profile pic to a cartoon character is actually going to stop child abuse is stupid. i (and most other people i'm guessing) are doing it to raise awareness. yes, i find it sad that in order to raise awareness on such a cause has to be done on facebook. however, this is what our society has come to, and if it means more people will start to realize that it happens way more than one thinks, then yes. i will change my profile picture.

M.C.
see that's all well and good, but the only part i disagree with is that most people are stupid and they actually do think it is going to stop child abuse, OR they are doing it cause everyone else is doing it, but even still the whole concept is just nuts, what is making awareness on facebook going to really accomplish though, it wont make the abusers stop abusing for sure, the people who change their pics are obviously alrdy aware that child abuse exsists (and honestly i'm sure everyone alrdy does, you would have to live in a cave to not know about it), and what is the next step after chaging your pic, nothing, i mean what this whole meme is saying is "i want people to think i care, but i'm to lazy to really do something productive", which in turn means they dont really care. raising awareness to people who are alrdy aware, is not productive in the least bit.

P.B.
main point i shoudl make
WE ALL KNOW THERE IS CHILD ABUSE, i dont care how stupid people may say they are but its obvious that there is child abuse
its like saying the sky si blue, sad. I dont know if putting on cartoons will make people more aware, since it has nothing to do wiht it, give money, at least have a picture that has to do with child abuse! duh
god
be a social worker if you want to help

Dzmitry:
M.C.:"their profile pic on facebook actually will make a difference when it honestly w…ill have no effect on the actual issue of child abuse at all"
Not true, you can't predict the impact. Did you know that several groups and associations (NSPCC) got contacted and had coverage and media over them. All this "uproaring" is great. More people are aware of the issue.

G.EK
like i said the whole things about awareness and that helps make a difference

M.C.
I'm sorry but i don't buy this, "awareness" argument, i mean how can anyone not be aware that there is child abuse in our society, its one of those topics you really cant be that oblivious about. i'm saying if ppl really did care enough about this issue then do something productive to reduce/stop it, dont change your profile pick and call it a day.

S.V.
actually, there are people out there that are in denial or are not aware of having been abused. especially if its by someone they know and trust, they will see it as normal even if they did not want it. its the same with domestic violence. and its these people that are difficult to get through. but yes, changing your picture may not bring instant change and if they want change they should actively do something, but showing support is a start.

P.B.
this is not a way to get though to those people though
most of them have been in the system for awhile and still go back, and the point of being in denial is saying a truth and pretending it isnt there
like this
this wont help anyone in denial, also i doubt anyone is for abuse unless they are teh ones committing it
my social work class and internship exploded with anger aobut this today

X.F.
At one level, yeah, people want to feel good. But I doubt anyone really thinks this will stop child abuse. People want to reminisce and they want to reminisce with their friends. Have you noticed the amount of talk on profile pics because of this trend? The so called "good factor" is only something superficial.

P.B.
course, a lot of them are working in crisis centers with children who are being abused, and we were talking about how people feel like they make a difference, you knwo we make the difference, and if people really volunteered instead of just saying they cared, we would be ablet o see the difference in at least one kid, which is what is important
the individuals, becuase they dont care how much you support them or are aware, but they care if you show up and listen to what they have to say

M.L.A.G.
i still don't understand why people are so angry about it. you say oh, it's stupid because people think that just by changing their profile picture they think they're making a difference. but aren't you being just as ignorant, assuming that the people think they're stopping child abuse (by changing their picture), even though they might not necessarily think that? nor do i think it's fair to judge that this won't help anyone in denial. it's a long shot, sure, but I feel (in my own very biased unprofessional opinion) that one of the factors that kids are in denial is due to that they don't understand what it means. they've probably ignored anything they've ever heard, because frankly, child abuse isn't really something that's discussed often. i certainly have not ever been taught about it in my education. but when you seem something on the internet posted 100+ times, it becomes hard to ignore, and maybe (and this is a big MAYBE) that kid will begin to understand what's happening to them.
i do agree that i think it's sad that most people don't really help to the extent that would be more agreeable, but it's unrealistic to expect them to volunteer. that would be putting faith in a utopian society, which I dont' think exists. people have their own lives going on, and a lot of them might be going through something just as bad, or even worse. also there are a lot of causes people might want to volunteer for, but might be harder to help the people involved, if you don't actually understand the experience of it. personally, i think something like child abuse is one of them. also, you can't take care of others if you can't take care of yourself. it's probably rather selfish, though I'm not trying to be, but I've found that I personally can't do it. And if we can't expect people to volunteer, but we can get people to raise awareness (even if it is via Facebook), then I say why not?

M.C.
awareness, awareness, awareness, thats what everyone keeps saying. I say again though awareness for who? i mean i know about child abuse, everyone who has commented on this post knows, hell i think everyone over the age of 10 yrs old in this country is already aware of what the word child means, and what the world abuse means, put it together you have a straight up definition of child abuse, for those under the age of 10, I doubt this facebook stunt wont even make any sense to them, and also if the ones your trying to make aware are the children being abused, what makes you think a controlling abusive parent would allow them on facebook to begin with?

Dzmitry:
M, you're making an assumption that everyone is "like you". NOT everyone is aware about child abuse. NOT everyone is aware that there is still slavery going on in their own states. There are people who openly support Sarah Palin (and were supporting her throughout). United States is comprised of many many layers of society with various subject knowledge. It's easy to assume everyone is "smart" when living in New England, educated, attending some form of higher education.
Children over 10 are aware?? They're aware of climate change and pollution and living greener, because that's what on news. NOT child abuse.

M.C.
im not making that assumption at all, i am the one that takes the stance that unless you prove to me otherwise, your dumb as a rock, cause lets face it, most people are stupid. But to not know what child abuse is, i mean thats a stretch right there, not to mention if they are to that degree of idiotic then i doubt they will be able to comprehend the whole connection of changing ones profile pic to a cartoon >>>> help spread awareness for child abuse, to me it already seems like a weak connection. but this all draws away from what the really problem is, and thats people thinking they are really making a difference when there not, there is even a term for it now, Slacktivism, its all on the basis that its easier to feel good, than do good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacktivism

and not to mention that also this whole cartoon thing has become a huge joke across the web, in which i feel its now causing more harm then good, i mean look at some of these things,
personally i find some of them funny and show how ridiculous all this is, but some of them are kinda... not for the faint hearted

http://i.imgur.com/Drw9c.png
http://i.imgur.com/6sGNQ.png
http://gawker.com/5705561/facebook-users-defeat-all-child-abuse-by-changing-their-profile-pictures
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/efhjq/how_the_hell_does_changing_your_profile_picture/
http://i.imgur.com/No1BU.jpg

M.L.A.G.
m.c., please re-read your first paragraph of what you just posted. you are contradicting yourself. you say that you're not making the assumption that everyone is smart/like you/has achieved some education (as dima said), yet you are at the same time making the assumption that "most people are stupid". also, for the future when you're going to make an argument, i'd highly suggest avoiding using such a source as wikipedia, especially for this particular one. wikipedia is a web site created by a bunch of random people writing down whatever they feel like, whether or not the "facts" are true or false. if you're going to make the argument that "most people are stupid", maybe you shouldn't use a source that is made from random people's thoughts, beliefs, and possible misconceptions.

M.C.
m.l.a.g., its not a source, this isint a formal essay i'm doing for college, i posted that up there so people can see a definition for a term that is being given out to those that take part in these pointless memes, to feel good about themselves, while in actually they have to put no effort in what so ever. wiki was just a quick link i found to do that, i mean i could start writing in MLA format and source some quotes and spend hours and hours writing all this formally since that seems to be bugging you, but unfortunately i don't have the time currently to do so, so i think a simple link to wiki will suffice for a simple definition. and from my own experiences, using the internet that definition given on wiki summed it up well, now if you would care to tell me a different definition for the term Slacktivism, that contradicts the was its being used, then lets here it. But i doubt you've ever heard of it before this since its an internet term for people who take part in the actions by which this whole cartoon profile pic thing represents. And as for the contradicting myself, i didnt in the least bit i said i'm not making the assumption that dima said, that everyone is like me, the assumption to properly make is that people are dumb as shit, and I'm saying that even still, they would know what child abuse is, and for those few who dont have the brain capacity to comprehend what child abuse is, also wont comprehend that the reason people are changing their profile pic to cartoons is for child abuse awareness, which in turn like i have said before, alot of people are doing it because its a fad, and almost all the rest do it for self satisfaction and the feeling like they have done something, when in fact they have not.

S.G.
(i'm sorry to interrupt this conversation, but i felt that i had to)
1) you are assuming that because not everybody is like you, they are automatically stupid. which is stupid. just fyi. and you really can't assume that everybody knows about child abuse, just like you can't assume that everybody knows about any other issue. also, if they aren't aware of the issue, it is somebody's job to educate them, and just because that education might occur through facebook doesn't lessen the value of said education.
2) if you are assuming that everybody is stupid, you can in no way use wikipedia as a source for anything. if you are using it as a definition, then it is a source - not a formal essay source, but it's a source for your thinking. seeing as wikipedia is made up of contributions of all of these 'stupid people,' you trusting it really doesn't make any sense. and you can argue that people are stupid only if they don't know about child abuse, but there's no way for you to know if those wikipedia contributors know about child abuse.
3) activism is important, but so is awareness. awareness brings media attention, which brings money. it tells people they're not alone, that somebody cares. it means that you can do something that may not have as much of an impact as volunteering, but you can't deny that this entire debate about profile pics has put child abuse at the forefront of at least the facebook-using community. and if you're this mad about the profile pics, then you should be just as mad about the breast cancer statuses or any effort to raise awareness anywhere. you can say that facebook is silly all you want, but it reaches millions of people and is a damn good way to raise awareness.
4) this entire argument is ON FACEBOOK! where's your activism? where's your getting out in the community and saying this is wrong? the fact that you are so upset about this and chose to communicate your feelings via facebook just proves that facebook is an effective communication medium. you're upset that everybody is just changing their profile pictures, but unless you are doing something that i am unaware of, then you're not doing anything at all.
5) i don't mean to be bitchy, and i'm sorry if i come across as such. i just really disagree with what you are saying.

M.C.
S.G., 1. going with the assumption everyone is stupid is the safe assumption because then you can actually have people who wouldn't know about child abuse, (even that is a stretch), since assuming people are mildly intelligent or even intelligent would mean they would know what child abuse is easily, i'm saying for the purpose of the argument that the assumption that "everyone" is uneducated/ dumb/stupid sets the stage so that the extreme examples can be discussed, which in tun is all we are discussing since the extremes are the ones who do not know what child abuse is, and you claim that this whole awareness thing is to bring education to those few people who dont know know what child abuse is?, where is this education, where is the information, cause all i see is the same meme posted over and over again, and then a bunch of cartoon characters, yea that really gets the point across........ I have not seen anyone link to any child abuse awareness sights,

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.shtml
(just to show they are out there)

nor link to trusted Charity's who support children who r abused
, all i see is a fad of people doing nothing and using twisted reasoning to feel good about them selves, and thats what i have a problem with.
2. Like i said above its not a source, its just there so anyone reading this can get a better understaning of the SLANG WORD Slacktizism which is a term that has been created on the internet to describe these kind of fads/trends, i'm not stating facts created by others just allowing people who are not well versed in that term get a better understanding if it doesn't make sense, its not like i'm quoting wiki for a date or relative fact about this issue at all, its there simply for those who wish to understand a term that i'm sure most don't understand. And its not like i'm "trusting" it its that i know what the term means, and so its not like its wrong at all, sense i read the definition that it has for the term,(and i keep saying term, because its not a proper dictionary word, it is infant slang so don't even start arguing about that) and i agree with the post on wiki on the stated definition since that is how that term is used on the web to describe people who get that feeling of accomplishment from doing nothing productive, for instance changing there profile pic on facebook to a cartoon character and calling it a day.
3. I have a few things to say about this, but i'm not going to repeat myself about the whole "Awareness" thing and who exactly this brings awareness too, but rather how about all those people and kids who are on facebook and where abused? and they got over it, and went on with there lives and now have to be reminded everyday they log on that they themselves were abused just because people are following a fad, (and then those few who actually think they are spreading awareness), i mean dont you think this whole thing is bring back horrible memories from when some people where abused as kids, that frankly they prob just dont want to think about, that they already dealt with that problem and dont want to be reminded of it? Or are those people also the ones you want to bring awareness too so they can relive it? And as for me being mad about breast cancer statuses and awareness and any other topics of the sort, yea its the same exact thing, except for when they actually try to make a fund raiser to support those who have cancer, or have been raped, or have aids, when there looking for people to donate or volunteer, thats fine, and productive, but when it takes the route this whole meme has takin and dont show anything productive from it, its jus ta clear case of slacktizism and it makes me a little sick to think people actually feel good about themselves by just changing their facebook avatar.
4. there are clear cut differences with what i'm saying and this whole "child abuse awareness meme". I am just voicing my opinion on this whole matter, i'm not going around and saying HEY THIS WHOLE CARTOON PROFLIE PIC MEME IS A WASTE OF TIME, EVERYONE SHOULD PUT THEIR PICS TO REAL PEOPLE THAT WAY ONLY REAL PEOPLE WILL BE ON FACEBOOK BY SUNDAY HELP FIGHT THIS MEME, STOP NEEDLESS TROLLING ON THE INTERNET!!!!, on everyone's wall (although maybe i should... j/k) And the fact of the matter is I don't care truely enough about this argument to go around a preach to people, and start showing awareness against showing needless cartoons as a symbol of awareness for child abuse, or any difficult topic for that matter. All i'm doing is sharing my opinion, on my own facebook page and having a healthy discussion/argument with friends, if this really is making anyone angry or really furious, you can just not read this, or post for that matter, (in case someone hadn't realized that yet) And for that matter i'll be completely honest, i can say i honestly don't care much for the issue of child abuse, or cancer, or abortion as of right now in my life. I mean i know its bad, and if i was every around someone who was abusing there child or hurting someone for that matter, yea i would step in and try to help, BUT i dont find myself in my life right now going out into to world to help with any of those situations, and i can tell you that making my profile pic into a cartoon and tricking myself into thinking that hey I'm helping stop child abuse by spreading awareness, is not an illusion a plan to set for myself so i can have a false sense of doing something good, when in actuality I'm not. And this doesn't just go for me, this is basically everyone one i know, the only people that i know of (and I'm sorry to those of you who actually do productive work to help people, i'm just not aware at this time that you do.) are P.B. and S.V., P actually works at a psych ward and gives help to those who require it, and S while they might not be abused, for the longest time has worked in work shops and centers for kids that need a remodel or someone to listen to them, or hey just a friend. So I say good job to you two, cause you guys actually are making a difference. And to anyone else there who is doing something productive to do there part on what ever issue it is, that i am not aware of.
5.I also dont mean to sound rude to you or anyone S. but i just don't agree with people thinking that they can changing their profile pic to a cartoon and just then feel all warm and fuzzy inside like they did something productive to help, since in all they really dont care cause if they did, they would actually be doing something more productive about the issue, which is y i say this whole thing has turned into a fad/meme.