Facebook stupidity

[synaesthesia]

Why is the average Facebook user wielding an IQ well under the 3 figure mark. Most of them are gullible enough anyway "Post this to your profile to see what happens in this amusing video!" and worse "Become a fan of this to see who's stalking you!" but the most recent one is just classic.

 

As most will have noticed, there's been a cartoon thing going around - apparently to "raise awareness of child abuse" we've been asked to change profile pics to that of our favourite cartoon from childhood. Of course on it's own it does no good, so I added bits to say don't just do that, donate as well. For instance, my last few eBay sales put 10% each in their direction. Not much maybe, but it's no skin off my nose.

This isn't a recent thing, it's been done before but not on this scale.

 

Now, today some absolute moron has decided to post that this whole fad was started by a paedophile ring as they are more likely to get kids to add them as friends if they have cartoon pictures. That may or may not be true, however HOW GULLIBLE HAVE YOU GOT TO BE TO BELIEVE THAT.

 

It's simply not true. There is no source cited, and never will be. Some people post to their profile that it was on "the news" - what news station that is I have no idea, because there is no citations anywhere.

 

I'll tell you exactly where it started - of course there are trolls on the internet, and if you know your "memes" then you'll probably be aware of "Pedobear". Someone has used that as an excuse to start dodgy rumours. Trolls will be trolls will be children. It's a joke to them, I don't personally mind - it's not hurting anyone and it's far tamer than anything Frankie Boyle will spout.

 

Nnngh, sorry bit of a rant there. The gullibility of these people shocks me. I had to explain "pedobear" to my own mother as a result but not to worry!

 

Some things to point out as a result of my rant.

1. No, I'm not a paedophile, even though I will continue to show my profile picture of Button Moon. I like Button Moon.

2. It doesn't matter what some people are saying about it - continue to do it. More to the point though, does it raise awareness about child abuse? Probably not. But if it means a couple more people donate a few pounds, it's worth it. Donation will do more than nothing though, so dip into your pockets, whether it's an online donation or passing a charity worker in the street.

3. Yes, this is a "fad" in itself - if you don't want to do it, don't. But the same goes for everything on facebook - just because your mother, daughter, uncle or best friend's brother says something doesn't make it true. They've probably just copied and pasted it from a long line of sheeple who also have no clue.

 

I feel better now

[featured_spectre]

My argument with these things is rather than changing a picture, why not donate instead?

 

I already have 3 donations of £2 a month set up for the following

 

NSPCC

Cancer Research UK

Luton and Dunstable Neo Natal Ward

 

Only reason for those is I have been affected by each charity at some point in my life for the better.

 

This is just peoples classic case of slactivism!!!

 

Slacktivism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia < for reference

[synaesthesia]

Indeed it is. Never-the-less, it's good fun. I for one have much enjoyed remembering some classic kid's cartoons as a result, but without the status it's absolutely meaningless. And the message itself is meaningless without doing something about it - i.e. donation of your time and/or money. I don't do charity too much myself, however when something comes up that touches me, I'll go for it. Friend of mine ran the Great North Run for Prostate cancer, so I donated. Movember was the same thing again, so donated to a couple of friends that got involved. I have kids, and there's nothing that I hate more than the idea of child abuse. It's good to remember these causes and donate as appropriate. I think properly organised this sort of thing could be a genuinely good fund-raiser, particularly if done during the likes of Children in Need.

[TechSupp]

I had to shake my head when my daughter told me of the change your picture on your profile thing. Though she had done something good, but tried to tell her the reallity is that it made no difference at all unless people as mentioned follow it up with a donation etc. but as usual its just a feel good factor thats empty. Its about raising awareness she said....no its not...its about doing something that makes a difference, putting your hand in your pocket not changing a picture and feeling better! Totally agree with Synaesthesia. Wasnt there some 'stars' a week or so ago that were stopping posting on Facebook to raise awareness or something? Would have been better off just digging into their pockets and doing something solid. Slaktivism! Perfect!

[teejay]

This is one area though where raising awareness is just as important as raising money. If one person on Facebook by doing this actually gets round to reporting a child they're concerned about and that child gets saved from an abusive situation, then it's all worthwhile.

[dalsoth]

Couldn't be bothered to click to change my pic. Too much hassle. Thank god I have my passwords stored in an addon or i would never log in. Same for this site. Gettin real lazy. Surprised myself typing this. Charity is good though. There will always be those who are gullible online, from the "send this message to everyone you know and hotmail will donate a pound to charity" rubbish to the newer versions on facebook. Magicians is a funny film i love those two guys, its on now, ITV1.

[AngryTechnician]

Cartoon Profile Pictures On Facebook To Fight Child Abuse - Geekosystem

 

It originally had nothing to do with child abuse, paedophiles, or anything else whatsoever - it was just a fun meme that become distorted due to the usual "Chinese Whispers" method by which these things spread.

[kevbaz]

i think its fun having all these old cartoon pics, gone for D&D myself

[Guest salan]

Mighty mouse here lol

Well we sponsor a child all the time. Have done for years.

We sponsor them until they are adult then get a new one to sponsor. On our 5th child now.

We pay for meds, schooling etc.

What do do though is we decided to not have much (any) contact with the child as we do not want to change (detrimentally) their development.

They must become who they are not what we want.

Alan

[Andrew_C]

Well, if nothing else, it has got three forums that I read talking about it, so maybe it has done some good of itself.

 

Oh, Foamy. If you don't know Foamy, DON'T look at work!

[AyatollahPies]

Is Foamy like Goatsy?

 

(Something else NOT to look up whilst at work)

[Andrew_C]

No. He's a squirrel with a really bad attitude and a human girl that does rude things for money. To say he's opinionated, is to understate things somewhat!

[timzim]

Couldn't be bothered to click to change my pic. Too much hassle. Thank god I have my passwords stored in an addon or i would never log in. Same for this site. Gettin real lazy. Surprised myself typing this. Charity is good though. There will always be those who are gullible online, from the "send this message to everyone you know and hotmail will donate a pound to charity" rubbish to the newer versions on facebook. Magicians is a funny film i love those two guys, its on now, ITV1.

 

Time for some Prozac, fella - you're sounding like Eeyore.

[localzuk]

I'm really not sure what the issue is here. People will be thinking about this subject, and feeling more inclined to act. You can be guaranteed that NSPCC will see an increase in donations from this, as it is effectively a free advertising campaign! It will also make people take an interest and heighten their thinking about child protection and maybe a child will be helped by all this.

 

Anyone complaining about it simply needs to think it through. And the Daily Mail can shove their 'the NSPCC didn't create this' article where the sun doesn't shine, as the NSPCC have clearly said they didn't create it but are thanking people for doing it on the own official NSPCC page!

[synaesthesia]

My only complaint is the chinese whispers syndrome making sheeple believe it was started by a paedophile ring. It's the same sort of syndrome that causes people to believe that homoeopathy works. Edited December 6, 2010 by synaesthesia

[localzuk]

My only complaint is the chinese whispers syndrome making sheeple believe it was started by a paedophile ring. It's the same sort of syndrome that causes a group of white men to believe that gollywogs are offensive to coloured people or that homoeopathy works.

 

What? Diluting a poison in a fluid until it is no longer actually there to cure a disease doesn't work!?! Next you'll be saying that crystal healing and tarot cards don't work either!

[MK-2]

What? Diluting a poison in a fluid until it is no longer actually there to cure a disease doesn't work!?! Next you'll be saying that crystal healing and tarot cards don't work either!

 

don't be so stupid, of course they work. now i've dealt you two 7's and death, are we playing tarot poker or not!!

[Fatmas]

Woah Woah Woah... Our crystal ball works when it's clean.

[witch]

It's the same sort of syndrome that causes a group of white men to believe that gollywogs are offensive to coloured people

 

Couldn't let that one go...I lived in the West Indies for a time and also was in a serious relationship with a black guy for 4 years and let me tell you that many black people do find gollywogs highly offensive - given that they hark back to a time of slavery and caracature the look of a black person...

They also find the word 'coloured' offensive as well

 

Sorry, I know this is irrelevant to the OP but it is important to me

[synaesthesia]

My apologies - I know what it's original meaning is/was and that no black person I've ever met finds them offensive (not that I've asked them all!) However it may be an older generation that does. Times move on and so should society - one of my favourite examples of this is the swastika, something just about everyone will recoil in horror if they see without having a clue what it actually means.

Ah well - no offence was meant by any means; it was an example and probably a bad one due to my binary mind.

 

Edited the original post just in case.

Edited December 6, 2010 by synaesthesia

[browolf]

HOW GULLIBLE HAVE YOU GOT TO BE TO BELIEVE THAT.

 

pretty normal going by the reaction of various friends.

[powdarrmonkey]

pretty normal going by the reaction of various friends.

 

Ack (though maybe I have more sensible friends, or I'm more exclusive about them, because only a handful have bitten this time).

[GrumbleDook]

Hey ... some of these things aren't always word of mouth things .. some are completely true.

 

I heard today that if 1000 people thank me for this post I will be replacing Michael Gove at Dept of Education. Go on ... you know you want to!!!!

[synaesthesia]

* thanks and hopes - bearing in mind I'd probably have done the same if a strategically shaved monkey posted the same thing

[mac_shinobi]

I did it because

 

1. Brought back some good memories ref the cartoons I used to watch

 

2. Free publicity for them which as above they may of had some donations from people and I did post a link to the donation page and the NSPCC facebook group - admitdly afterwards but I still did it.

 

Either way Im sitting on the fence with this one as it didn't really bother me and it was only a case of changing a profile pic, not like someone asking me to jump off a cliff or ought.