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Do you find this pic disgusting or beautiful?

This pic is ...

  • Disgusting

    Votes: 5 15.2%
  • Beautiful

    Votes: 17 51.5%
  • Other, please explain

    Votes: 11 33.3%

  • Total voters
    33
  • Poll closed .

kenny

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Part of BBC's story:

This photograph of a father holding his son in the shower has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook in the last fortnight. But over the same period it's also also been taken down by the social media platform more than once before ultimately being reinstated each time. Why?

In some ways the picture appears to show a fairly everyday scene. A dad cradling his severely sick child in his arms. Except in this instance, they are in the shower and both naked. The picture was posted on social media by the photographer Heather Whitten who lives in Arizona in the US. It shows her son Fox and her husband, the boy's father Thomas Whitten.

For many viewers the image is a touching portrait of parental care and affection. The reason that father and son were naked was because Fox had Salmonella poisoning for which he would soon after be hospitalized.

"Thomas had spent hours in the shower with him, trying to keep his fever down and letting the vomit and diarrhea rinse off of them both as it came," Whitten wrote in her post accompanying the photo.

"He was so patient and so loving and so strong with our tiny son in his lap... I stepped out and grabbed my camera and came back to snap a few images of it and, of course shared them."

But for some people the image is inappropriate at best and at worst has undertones of paedophilia. Whitten has been surprised by this reaction and was shocked when people posted negative comments about what was for her a beautiful moment.
"There is nothing sexual or exploitative about this image," she wrote in the initial post. "I was taken aback by how many people missed the story or didn't even look past the nudity to find the story."

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36322279

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Gypsy

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Personally I think that the "dirty" in that picture is in the viewer's minds.

I don't think it's a beautiful picture though either. I think it's heartbreaking. That kiddo looks so sick. Poor little guy.
 

siv1

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I see the pic as beautiful, but I can also see how it could be disgusting. My first thought was favorable.... just of a father holding his child and thought it was sweet and showed a father's love. But after reading your post I noticed that the child's long hair and could be perceived as a girl sitting on a naked mans lap, I could see it as not favorable. I personally try to see the good in things and didn't see any wrong with it.
 

Laila619

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Neither. I don't have a problem with it, but I don't find it beautiful either.
 

JaneSmith

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Voted other. Posting reply before reading anything. Looks like a tired young kid having a shower with a parent. I have baths and showers with my offspring all the time.
 

maccers

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Beautiful. I see the love and care of a father for a tired/sick child. And that was before I read the background to it.

I wonder if those who find it disgusting are the same people who think breastfeeding in public is wrong because breasts are sexual.
 

lknvrb4

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I don't think it is either, I just don't find it an appropriate picture to post on social media.
 

missy

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I'm not sure so I voted other.

I don't find anything about it repulsive but I also don't find it beautiful and I find it upsetting the baby was so sick. Not sure why the mom is taking the photograph and if it were my baby I would be too distressed to take the photo since the baby was so sick. I am meh about seeing an adult man in the shower on social media. But I don't have strong feelings either way about this.

Maccers, FWIW, I think breastfeeding in public is different than photographing an adult in the shower and posting on Facebook.

Sonnyjane, that photo of the mom and baby is different IMO because you don't see the body. And the photo was taken by her 5 year old so no other motives there unlike why did the mom take the photo of the father and son in the shower when her son was so sick? IDK something about that fact bothers me...feels a bit exploitive somehow....whereas this photo you shared feels different since it was taken by a child.
 

Trekkie

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I don't personally find the picture upsetting, but I can definitely see how it can be triggering.
 

momhappy

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The photo doesn't disturb me, except for the fact that it's a private moment turned public. I'm just not a fan of over-sharing (like the birthing video a couple recently shared on FB).
I feel the same about breastfeeding. I breastfed both of my kids, but when I was in public, I was very discreet about it (covered completely at all times). It's not that I think breasts are entirely taboo/sexual, but we consider them "private parts" and that's what makes it uncomfortable. Discreet breastfeeding in public is easy (you throw a small blanket over your shoulder), so I don't see the purpose of letting it all hang out in public? I know that some people believe that you need to openly BF in public in an effort to make it more acceptable/normal, but I don't agree and that's not to say that I think it's "wrong" - it's just not my personal preference. I can choose to look away, so it's not that big of a deal, but I'm not a fan of the in-your-face attitude that some seem to have about it.
I don't have any issues with parents showering/bathing with their babies/toddlers (even opposite sex parent-child wouldn't bother me).
 

Puppmom

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Neither. If that were my husband and child, I may find it beautiful but I feel neutral about that particular photo. It's pretty insane to me that anyone would see anything sexual in that photo though. But I did not think of it from the perspective that Trekkie mentioned.

Sometimes I really think people need to get a grip. Maybe I'm just really hard to offend...
 

smitcompton

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Hi,

Neither. I find it typically weird of people with cameras that always feel the need to photograph themselves or those closest to them to say "aren't we special". Another snowflake. I find is bit embarrassing for her to think of taking a picture when her child is so sick. I admit it beats me.


Annette
 

telephone89

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I'm neutral but lean toward the side of beautiful. It actually grosses me out that people thought it was disgusting - like what are they thinking?!
 

kenny

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I'm a photographer.
Not pro, but serious.

Photography serves many purposes including journalism, science, casual family pics, art, pornography.
Often the photographer had one thing in mind yet the viewer "sees" another.
Same with poetry.

Sometimes the best art intentionally has many interpretations and gets people to think and to talk.

In the mind of photographer the subject of this pic was love.
It's easy to take a pic of love when it's obvious, like two lovers holding hands on a beach at sunset.
Sometimes love's not so obvious, but it's clearly there but you have to look through upsetting and disturbing things to see it.
A pic of those same two lovers holding hands in a war zone after a bombing run takes on a depth and poignancy.

I recognize her understanding what she was seeing and reaching for the camera was a brilliant act.
That picture will stay famous forever, and was likely a career-changing act.
 

monarch64

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Provocative and beautiful.
 

Arcadian

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Heart breaking. By posture of the tike, he's not very happy. I wasn't for sure why until I read the article however.

Provocative? yes sure. Naked man and a kid that may or may not be female child. A child that age, its hard to know exactly the sex unless you see the private bits, you know?

Also, much as its not said, our society is highly sexualized so you know where many folks minds will go to first.

Now that said, it was also clickbait. That website knew what they were doing by putting up that image, and good or bad (for them all good because it increases traffic) they did so full well knowing people would be on it like white on rice.
 

kenny

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Arcadian|1463774560|4034121 said:
... it was also clickbait ...


Clickbait!?!
No Wai!




OMG, who would post clickbait?!?
Anyone who posts clickbait should be shot at dawn. :angryfire:

... Of course anyone who clicks on clickbait is innocent and pure. :saint:



:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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monarch64

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Arcadian|1463774560|4034121 said:
Heart breaking. By posture of the tike, he's not very happy. I wasn't for sure why until I read the article however.

Provocative? yes sure. Naked man and a kid that may or may not be female child. A child that age, its hard to know exactly the sex unless you see the private bits, you know?

Also, much as its not said, our society is highly sexualized so you know where many folks minds will go to first.

Now that said, it was also clickbait. That website knew what they were doing by putting up that image, and good or bad (for them all good because it increases traffic) they did so full well knowing people would be on it like white on rice.

When I say "provocative" I do not mean it in a sexual way. I mean that it provokes a reaction, and mine happened to be sadness because the first place my mind went was fear for the child's life/child's health is in danger/child is ailing, hurt, possibly in pain. It elicited that protective urge in me. I don't see anything sexual about it whatsoever, but I understand that some may go there in their minds.
 

E B

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momhappy|1463747379|4033942 said:
Discreet breastfeeding in public is easy (you throw a small blanket over your shoulder), so I don't see the purpose of letting it all hang out in public? I know that some people believe that you need to openly BF in public in an effort to make it more acceptable/normal, but I don't agree and that's not to say that I think it's "wrong" - it's just not my personal preference. I can choose to look away, so it's not that big of a deal, but I'm not a fan of the in-your-face attitude that some seem to have about it.

A lot of children don't like having blankets over their heads while eating. They'll tear it off repeatedly, which attracts even more attention. I know this because two of my three did.

To answer Kenny's question, I find it beautiful. Nudity/breasts are not inherently sexual, and this father was smart in addition to soothing. Good for him.

For those who haven't seen it...

a427250753aacf9400a5f8db4411be35.jpg
 

Arcadian

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monarch, I meant provocative in a more general sense, which runs the spectrum of emotional responses. Hopefully you don't think I was trying to put you on the spot.


LOL@ kenny. At least they're better than yahoo.com (who likes to have an image on the front page but when you click into the story, no picture to be had.)
 

kenny

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Arcadian|1463777500|4034148 said:
monarch, I meant provocative in a more general sense, which runs the spectrum of emotional responses. Hopefully you don't think I was trying to put you on the spot.


LOL@ kenny. At least they're better than yahoo.com (who likes to have an image on the front page but when you click into the story, no picture to be had.)


Everything we click on is 'clickbait'.

:D
 

monarch64

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Arcadian|1463777500|4034148 said:
monarch, I meant provocative in a more general sense, which runs the spectrum of emotional responses. Hopefully you don't think I was trying to put you on the spot.


LOL@ kenny. At least they're better than yahoo.com (who likes to have an image on the front page but when you click into the story, no picture to be had.)


Gotcha, I just wanted to clarify since that word can mean different things to different people. :))
 

jaysonsmom

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I definitely did not find it disgusting, I just thought it was natural. My husband showered with both my kids (boy and girl) up until they were about 5 or 6, and old enough to make comments about his body. I was squeamish with young babies, afraid they would slip out of my arms, so and the bathing ritual just naturally went to my husband from the day my son came home. My husband helped raise his niece with his parents, and he was really good with baby care from day one, so it never dawned on me that people would find bathing with one's own child disgusting. as far as puke and diarrhea clean up, also always my hubby!
 

momhappy

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Arcadian|1463774560|4034121 said:
Heart breaking. By posture of the tike, he's not very happy. I wasn't for sure why until I read the article however.

Provocative? yes sure. Naked man and a kid that may or may not be female child. A child that age, its hard to know exactly the sex unless you see the private bits, you know?

Also, much as its not said, our society is highly sexualized so you know where many folks minds will go to first.

Now that said, it was also clickbait. That website knew what they were doing by putting up that image, and good or bad (for them all good because it increases traffic) they did so full well knowing people would be on it like white on rice.

Had that been a female child it wouldn't have made a bit of difference to me. I don't have an issue with parents (of any sex) bathing/showering a baby/toddler (of any sex).
 

momhappy

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jaysonsmom|1463791012|4034233 said:
I definitely did not find it disgusting, I just thought it was natural. My husband showered with both my kids (boy and girl) up until they were about 5 or 6, and old enough to make comments about his body. I was squeamish with young babies, afraid they would slip out of my arms, so and the bathing ritual just naturally went to my husband from the day my son came home. My husband helped raise his niece with his parents, and he was really good with baby care from day one, so it never dawned on me that people would find bathing with one's own child disgusting. as far as puke and diarrhea clean up, also always my hubby!

This was pretty much our scenario too - DH bathed the babies (boys and girls) and we showered with them up through the toddler years.
 

Gypsy

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I am not a parent. And I agree that I personally would have considered this a private moment and not shared it on social media.

I have no issue with parents (of either sex) showering with their kids. None at all. There is no shame in the human body. Or in parents caring for their children.
 

Arcadian

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momhappy|1463793712|4034250 said:
Arcadian|1463774560|4034121 said:
Heart breaking. By posture of the tike, he's not very happy. I wasn't for sure why until I read the article however.

Provocative? yes sure. Naked man and a kid that may or may not be female child. A child that age, its hard to know exactly the sex unless you see the private bits, you know?

Also, much as its not said, our society is highly sexualized so you know where many folks minds will go to first.

Now that said, it was also clickbait. That website knew what they were doing by putting up that image, and good or bad (for them all good because it increases traffic) they did so full well knowing people would be on it like white on rice.

Had that been a female child it wouldn't have made a bit of difference to me. I don't have an issue with parents (of any sex) bathing/showering a baby/toddler (of any sex).


I don't have issues with it either, I bathed with my dad until I was 7 and then he started locking me out! :lol:

I only said that for that age its just hard to tell. when tots are between a certain age, its very hard to tell them apart for some (myself included) also the child is turned sideways, making it even harder to tell.

Plus you (general you) never know what someone has sees or has gone through. for the image could be extremely triggering.

What may not bother one can bother someone else. I'm just putting that out there as commentary is all.
 

arkieb1

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I clicked other because I think it's a powerful image, it has gotten such a powerful reaction from people, a lot of them haters that didn't even bother to read how sick the child had been and the reason the poor father was holding the sick child in there in the first place.

I don't think its disgusting or beautiful, it's powerful because we all see it and react to it in our own way, according to our own life experiences, that is what good photography, good art and good music do they command a reaction from us.
 

susief

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E B|1463777237|4034145 said:
A lot of children don't like having blankets over their heads while eating. They'll tear it off repeatedly, which attracts even more attention. I know this because two of my three did.

THANK YOU for pointing this out E B. My child was another one who refused to eat with a blanket on his head. I didn't fancy being judged so I rarely breastfed in public, which was pretty limiting and miserable.

IMO the vast majority of women breastfeed as discreetly as they are able to do. Which is sometimes not very. Please don't judge them for feeding their babies.

As for the picture - not at all disgusting. It's a touching portrayal of a parent's love and care, but mostly I just feel sorry for the sick little boy.
 
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