6 month old with unlit cigarette on FB: irresponsible or no big deal?

[AwesomeFoursome]

Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!!!!!!!!

[monday]

It's a fundamental lack of education and a currency of risk taking within her village that is this amatuer psychologists belief about what has gone wrong here.

I'm sorry, a little off topic but I have to question the use of "amateur psychologist" here. Are you qualified to call yourself that? In Australia if you have completed a four year psychology degree but (a) do not have experience or (b) are not registered as a psychologist, you are called an amateur psychologist. I take offence to people claiming to be amateur psychologists when they are not. If you are qualified then my apologies, but it really does grate on me as someone who is qualified to use the term properly.

Sorry, off my little soap box now.

And back on topic, I agree with everyone else. I don't understand how this is funny in any way. I wonder what will happen to the mother now?

[Glamourcide]

We have all sorts of photos with our kids in various scenarios, sometimes it's fun to snap the evidence and as a parent I judge the risk of taking an extra 5 seconds is okay.

I agree... actually, I'm pretty sure I have a photo of DD1 as a baby with a rollie on her lip - DH thought it was hilarious. We also have photos of her posed with bottles on booze on Christmas Day looking like she's 'had a bit too much' (she wasn't quite sitting up yet and was slumped over with a bottle of wine the same size as her snuggled up to her)... immature, sure, but everyone's sense of humour is different. The cigarette one I've never posted on FB, the Christmas Day one is right there for everyone to see. Most people think it's a bit of a giggle and obviously know I'd never give a baby or a child alcohol, so it's just a 'funny' photo...

Nelle has put it very eloquently - kids tend to get their fingers into some dodgy stuff and I don't think there's a great deal of harm in snapping a picture so the memory lives on, kwim? I remember DH thought it would be funny once to give DD1 a few sips of his beer (she was under 12 months) and he couldn't understand why I hit the roof when he pulled out the video camera and decided to see if she'd drink a bit - he didn't mean any harm and couldn't understand why I was so upset, but then in my mind there's a big difference between sticking a darb in your kid's mouth for two seconds while you get a quick photo and then taking it away, and allowing a baby to consume alcohol so you can watch them screw up their faces in disgust, kwim? (I should add that DH is against underage drinking etc as the next person, but having been raised in a family where giving kids 'sips' of whatever was being consumed was seen as normal and a-ok, he just didn't get that these days it's not something you let a child do.)

Sorry if any others find that really offensive to their sensibilities, of course I agree that our kids are the most precious thing, but everyone's got a different sense of humour and I can find it understandable that someone might think it's mildly amusing to pose a child with an unlit cigarette - when they see no danger of the child ingesting the tobacco or whatever.

[*LovemyKids*]

I can understand that people think that it's funny to have silly photo's of your children, I suppose something to show on there 18th or 21st!!!

BUT

I am sorry to say but in my opinion this is discusting, I hate the thought of MIL even smoking around my babies let alone putting one in one of their mouths!!!!!!!!!!

I have silly photo's of my kids which are when they are half asleep and stuff like that or sleeping in funny positions.

This is just my opinion

[[M]umma[M]ia]

disgusting and not on. I dont see how anyone could find that in the least bit ammusing. Smoking is not a joke, its a cancerous drug that shouldnt be laughed at.

[Cupcake]

Friends of mine posted a pic of their DS with empty (i assume?) cans of Jim Beam & took a pic...not sure if there was a cigarette in the pic but it didnt sit right with me...

[Inanna]

I actually find it very disturbing to photograph kids with alcohol or cigarettes. I understand that to a large proportion of the populus it's funny. To me it's sad and a symptom of our culture that we adultise kids or find smoking/drinking funny & humorous. I don't find the portrayl of little ones in adult ways funny.

As for condemning her. I wouldn't do that either. She's not Captain Cook - there are many who think this is okay or have photos with alcohol or ciggies. I would suggest that it could be poisonous, that it's a bit uncool from my perspective but in a loving and tactful way...

[Bathsheba]

I'm sorry, a little off topic but I have to question the use of "amateur psychologist" here. Are you qualified to call yourself that? In Australia if you have completed a four year psychology degree but (a) do not have experience or (b) are not registered as a psychologist, you are called an amateur psychologist. I take offence to people claiming to be amateur psychologists when they are not. If you are qualified then my apologies, but it really does grate on me as someone who is qualified to use the term properly.

Sorry, off my little soap box now.

And back on topic, I agree with everyone else. I don't understand how this is funny in any way. I wonder what will happen to the mother now?

Monday: I've Googled the definition of amateur psychologist and so far there seems to be a unanimous description as this being a non-professional and unpaid person who gives personal opinions regarding issues of a psychological and inter personal nature. But I don't want to be pedantic about it an alternative term could be "armchair psychologist". Maybe you don't like people using the term "psychologist" at all unless they have a formal qualification? I guess I believe that anyone can be an amateur at anything. I have a degree in fine art but it doesn't mean I get annoyed at anyone who picks up a crayon calling themself an artist LOL