# A dare: Look at these photos and not be moved **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 30, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824 "2011-07-30T11:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/1 "2011-07-30T11:38:33Z")
Copied from the site: > [@](#): > > One of the worst droughts in a century, compounded by high food prices and unremitting political strife, is spawning an immense humanitarian crisis on the Horn of Africa. Thousands of Somalis are fleeing their homeland each week; most of those who survive the brutal journey end up in refugee camps in neighboring Kenya. Aid agencies are calling it the worst drought in 60 years. Although centered on Somalia, which lacks a functioning government and suffers from constant battles with Islamic rebels, the crisis has also affected people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Reports suggest parts of Somalia may already be on the verge of famine, a repeat of the emergency situation two decades ago. Resources are woefully inadequate. [The link.](http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/07/horn_of_africa_on_the_brink_of.html) mmm ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/2 "2011-07-30T12:17:34Z")
Wow. That was intense. We have our bad days, but that is _nothing_ like what those people have to deal with on a daily basis. It’s so very sad. We sometimes don’t realize just how lucky we are. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/3 "2011-07-30T15:12:31Z")
The pictures of families burying their children are depressing. Unfortunately I am skeptical about how much good the food and money going to the region are actually doing as long as the militants still run the show. Sadly, history has indicated that in these kinds of situations what usually happens is that much of the aid just enriches the corrupt people in power. It does make you think about how lucky those of us who live in first world countries are. When you really think about it, it is kind of amazing that many of us were born in countries with such wealth and abundance that even the poorest members of our society can become morbidly obese (though obviously that brings other problems). Thank whatever you believe in that you had the amazing good fortune to be born in a time and place where normal people can have luxuries like computers, internet access, and all the food they can stuff themselves with. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/4 "2011-07-30T16:00:45Z")
I’m struck by the irony of the thread’s title and the forum name. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/5 "2011-07-30T16:04:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m struck by the irony of the thread’s title and the forum name. What do you mean, John? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/6 "2011-07-30T17:06:58Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > What do you mean, John? It would seem odd to be “moved” by something that is “mundane” and “pointless”. I didn’t click on you link, btw, as I’ve seem plenty of the pictures I expect to find there. They are, indeed, heartbreaking. Especially the one of the 7-pound 3-year-old with the face of a 90-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/7 "2011-07-30T17:12:11Z")
But, but…_why do you care?_ You’re a mean one, Mr. Mustard. 😛 Seriously though, it’s ridiculously fucked up that we allow this to persist at such an advanced stage in our species’ development. I realize that this situation is caused partially by environmental factors and not entirely by geopolitical ones, but it should still be intolerable to citizens of affluent nations. I used to use Kevin Carter’s infamous photo as wallpaper at work, but I eventually changed it because people who walked into my office would just look at it with a puzzled (eyebrows furrowed) and distasteful expression and either not say anything at all, or make some sort of facetious comment. > [@nonacetone](#): > > We have our bad days, but that is _nothing_ like what those people have to deal with on a daily basis. It’s so very sad. We sometimes don’t realize just how lucky we are. No shit. Even a skid row bum here in the Land of Liberty and Justice for All has it orders of magnitude better than those people. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/8 "2011-07-30T17:42:10Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Seriously though, it’s ridiculously fucked up that we allow this to persist at such an advanced stage in our species’ development. I realize that this situation is caused partially by environmental factors and not entirely by geopolitical ones.. The drought is environmental, of course. The famine is 100% political. Our planet is overflowing with more than enough food food for everyone on it. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/9 "2011-07-30T17:50:02Z")
Exactly. We (Americans) throw away enough food every year to feed everybody on the planet for ten days. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/10 "2011-07-30T17:54:05Z")
The worst part about it is that there’s not a damn thing we can do about it. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/11 "2011-07-30T18:22:07Z")
I’m going to be mean here, and say I wasn’t particularly moved by these pictures. I’ve seen similar ones over and over again. After awhile you just get jaded. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/12 "2011-07-30T18:44:39Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I’m going to be mean here, and say I wasn’t particularly moved by these pictures. I’ve seen similar ones over and over again. After awhile you just get jaded. Ditto, i’ve been getting the “kids are starving in Somalia” mantra since i was a little kid and didn’t want to eat my vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/13 "2011-07-30T19:25:44Z")
But the Armenians…won’t somebody _puhleeeze_ think of the Armenians? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/14 "2011-07-30T21:28:56Z")
Look at #31. Now that is a Man with a capital “M”. It’s very clear that his wife has eaten when he has not, and I’m betting his children and grandchildren have too. Those are the stories you don’t see until you’ve worked with the homeless or the hungry. There’s more to each of those people than skin and bones. These are humans, and some are good, and some are bad, and some are truly honorable. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/15 "2011-07-30T21:41:17Z")
It’s too bad the majority of aid we send there gets stolen by militants. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/16 "2011-07-30T22:54:31Z")
I’ve seen tons of starving children of Africa photos as well, but these really stand out for their photographic excellence. This is photojournalism at its most powerful. Numbers 4, 14, 42, and 44 are particularly outstanding images. mmm ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/17 "2011-07-30T23:23:19Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve seen tons of starving children of Africa photos as well, but these really stand out for their photographic excellence. This is photojournalism at its most powerful. > > Numbers 4, 14, 42, and 44 are particularly outstanding images. > mmm I avoid looking at this kind of thing generally (although I did look at these.) Mainly because my thought process goes like this: OMG. I am moved. How can this happen in the 21st century. Etc. Then I start thinking about what I can DO…is there anything? Donations to DWB, Red Cross, etc? I have done sometimes; other times I haven’t. What it comes down to IMHO -mmm, is this starvation porn for you? Is it titillating or self-serving or somehow an attempt at making a point of some sort to an online community? Are you DOING anything about it? Or are you (or I or they) just looking at “particularly outstanding images” (your words) and feeling badly and passing it on to make _other_ people aware of the fact that you feel badly and are therefore compassionate and caring? Or, are you not doing anything, but hoping that by posting starvation porn, you can prompt someone else into doing something so _you_ feel good from the fattened comfort of your home? Because I tend to find this sort of exhibitionism and tunic-rending distasteful and gross and self-serving unless accompanied by some sort of concrete call to action. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/18 "2011-07-30T23:30:22Z")
I wasn’t moved. Every single time I turn on the television there’s adverts on that show similar images. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/19 "2011-07-30T23:40:40Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I wasn’t moved. Every single time I turn on the television there’s adverts on that show similar images. The more I look at mmm’s titiallating and lasviscious terminology in this thread - outstanding journalism, particularly outstanding images, photographic excellence, photojournalism at its most powerful - the angrier I get with the OP and the wording he or she is using here. These are human beings, not outstanding images or excellent photojournalism or emotionally titillating photos blah blah…your interest is all about titillation and imagery, right? I’m disgusted. Truly disgusted with the OP here. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824/20 "2011-07-31T01:05:05Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > The more I look at mmm’s titiallating and lasviscious terminology in this thread - outstanding journalism, particularly outstanding images, photographic excellence, photojournalism at its most powerful - the angrier I get with the OP and the wording he or she is using here. > > These are human beings, not outstanding images or excellent photojournalism or emotionally titillating photos blah blah…your interest is all about titillation and imagery, right? > > I’m disgusted. Truly disgusted with the OP here. Let me help you out a little here, **chiroptera**. Of the words you used to describe my own words, (titiallating and lasviscious), you spelled 100% of them incorrectly. The correct spellings are \*titillating \*and _lascivious_. There. Now you can go look them up and learn what they mean. mmm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dare-look-at-these-photos-and-not-be-moved/590824.md?page=2)