Remember that recent scandal where a photographer who recreated an old sunscreen ad using her daughter got banned from Facebook for a day for posting that picture?
I blurred those pictures but you can still find both versions on the link to the article I shared above.
Some people couldn’t have cared less about it; to them, that was just an innocent photo of a little girl’s behind meant to replicate a caricature(!!) of another little girl’s behind.
What’s so wrong with that?
But you see, I was outraged. And even more so when the biyatch went as far as explaining that the smiley she used to cover the original actually means, “kiss my a**.” Now I wasn’t just going to wallow in my outrage all by myself; I had to let photographer Jill White know what was wrong and why.
So I sent her this (still reply-less) email in early July that goes over why her “haters” (who aren’t really “haters,” but just people who are justifiably concerned for her kid’s welfare–she’s welcome) feel the way they do and asks her to revise her response towards us:
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Dear Jill,
I’m one of the thousands/millions who found out about the outrage caused by Facebook’s potential removal of your account because of a picture you posted of your daughter. I’m also part of the segment who thinks that while you don’t deserve the ban, the original picture does.
…
I’m emailing you as the daughter of a woman who volunteers at local jails and develops life skills programs for inmates. My mom’s heard incredible stories from police chiefs on the matter, and I wanted to pass at least one of them on to you.
One situation she told me about when I shared your story with her is that pervs will not only keep a photo of a kid on their computer but also print it and PROMOTE it to other pervs. So when Pervert B sees the photo, they’ll ask Pervert A if they “have” that little boy/girl, and Pervert A will say something like, “No, but I do have/know of someone similar.”
Awful, right? Those people don’t deserve to live and yet they do. And you know what’s worse? Many parents out there are unknowingly feeding their obsession.
You may have told us to “kiss my butt” with that emoji (as I saw on your Today Show piece) but I think that’s a little excessive when all we’re doing is expressing concern. It seems to many of us that you didn’t imagine the dangers of such a picture, so please don’t blame us or Facebook for knowing more about them and wanting to inform you. After all, it takes a village to guarantee our kids’ safety. I’m not a mom, but even I’m perturbed when I see compromising pics of kids posted by seemingly naive (though well-intentioned) parents.
While it’s true that the girls in the picture are adorable, that particular pose or private part of a toddler’s body shouldn’t be publicized. Nothing is private in social media and I hope none of your FB friends who saw the original picture have contacts who might have come across it (because you and I both know that Likes/comments aren’t private either) and done unspeakable things with it.
Most parents know how to raise their children best, so they don’t mean to impose their ways on others. But what’s striking is when someone isn’t even aware of the dangers of some of their actions. That’s when, I feel, it’s time for other parents and non-parents to step in and say, “Hey! Don’t you know this and that can happen? Why would you show your kid’s butt/your kid in a bathtub/your kid doing X online?”
So please reconsider your response to our “outrage” as many of us do know what we’re talking about. Frankly, I think you’re brave for going out there but I also know kids don’t ask for the repercussions of their parents’ or perverts’ actions, so I’m “sorrynotsorry” for wanting to prevent something disturbing from potentially happening.
Have a great Monday/week and best of luck with your family and business. All your other pictures are definitely perfect.
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[Bolding not included in original email.]
What’s wrong with showing a little decency and defending our kids against something as vile as child pornography? So you’re welcome, Jill White!
What did YOU think of the image when you first saw it–and/or of the reaction that it got?
I actually didn’t hear about that, although I agree with you that the internet is the LAST place you should be posting photos with ANY child nudity – you never know what it’s going to be used for by someone else! I follow a blog where the author’s completely harmless and very gorgeous wedding photo got “stolen’ off her site and used for a magazine article. I can imagine feeling mad enough just at that, let alone the fury of finding out someone is using your photographs for something evil. :/
xox
giedre
Wow and I hadn’t heard about THAT! That’s also terrible. And by a magazine, no less? Did she retaliate or what did she do?!
Thanks for commenting as always, dear!!