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“Bet Lynch”

(247 Posts)
Usedtobeblonde Thu 03-Apr-25 09:58:11

I haven’t watched Coronation Street for many years but when I did Julie Goodyear was a constant presence with her animal prints and all her make up.
Yesterday there were photographs of her in the media on her 83rd birthday.
She has Alzheimer’s and her H put the photos on to mark the day.
It was, to me, the cruellest gesture possible.
She looked absolutely dreadful.
No front teeth and so very old looking.
If my H had done anything similar I would have been devastated, fortunately she will probably never know.
It was not the act of a loving husband however he meant it to appear.

Anniebach Sat 05-Apr-25 15:18:34

Thank you ViceVersa I dislike the mail but it would be wrong to accuse them of what is to me a cruel act if they haven’t done so.

ViceVersa Sat 05-Apr-25 15:28:59

As I say, we don't know how they came to acquire the photo. But almost every newspaper publishes photos from people's FB pages on a daily basis, with or without their consent.

NotSpaghetti Sat 05-Apr-25 15:30:28

Or it was "group" that you had to "join" on request.

Crossstitchfan Sat 05-Apr-25 22:35:49

Anniebach

If only for family why Facebook

I wondered that too.

karmalady Sun 06-Apr-25 06:45:26

She looks smiley, happy and cared-for. Getting old is a fact of life as is looking old, being old, being ill. Uncomfortable for those who cannot face facts, that we get old and then we die

I like the photo, she is as she is, not as she was. Always better to live in the moment

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 08:27:50

‘She looks happy, smiley, cared-for’, she is a woman not a thing on display for public approval. It was her husband’s choice not hers, so happy, smiley, cared-for is applause for him

Witzend Sun 06-Apr-25 09:03:30

ViceVersa

Are we suggesting that no-one with dementia should ever have their photo taken, if they may not know the photo is being taken or can give consent?

I have taken the occasional photo of my mother with advanced dementia, but only to share with immediate family. I certainly would never have shown them anywhere else. To me it’s a question of protecting the person’s dignity - what bare scraps are left of it by that stage.

Allsorts Sun 06-Apr-25 09:11:10

She doesn't know what's going on. Happy in the moment is good, but not to show the decline of someone who was proud of how she looked, I don't go out without make up and have the last look in the mirror to see I look ok, it matters to me. If others don't think like that, its their decision. Would you give a life long vegetarian meat as they cant remember they do not eat it? Its respecting their choices.

Luminance Sun 06-Apr-25 09:21:13

I think what matters are the motives and we should take vanity out of the equation. The actions of a loving husband sharing a picture of a beloved wife on her birthday to his own Facebook seem beyond reproach. Imagine having half of those responding it is wrong to share a picture of his wife looking awful. I hope he is soothed that the other half are able to agree she looks rather beautiful and full of joy.

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 09:41:59

To his own Facebook ? Do you mean for family and friends,
He put her on display , she did not choose to be on display

Luminance Sun 06-Apr-25 10:13:47

There are photos of myself at many functions on Facebook. Had I ever declared discomfort at this there likely would not be. Had his wife declared discomfort of her image being shared I doubt she would have chosen her profession. Were she still able to work and many her age still are, would you be watching "Coronation Street" or whatever televised nonsense and be saying "she looks awful" because that is indeed your own judgement and vanity showing.

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 10:36:54

The photographs of you at many functions, did you have teeth,

Mollygo Sun 06-Apr-25 10:39:47

Witzend, Allsorts, Anniebach good points.

Not the action of a loving husband to post a picture which might not be acceptable to the person in the picture somewhere where it could be made available for the world to see and comment on, regardless of whether others think it’s all right or not.
He might at his age, not understand about privacy rules on Facebook. On the other hand if he does have his privacy locked firmly down, that doesn’t stop people in the group reposting the picture.
Would Bet have liked it?
No problem if she could say yes or no.
Big problem if she is incapable of understanding and answering.
Worse problem if she wasn’t asked.

Luminance Sun 06-Apr-25 10:40:50

Anniebach

The photographs of you at many functions, did you have teeth,

Well Facebook did not exist the last time I didn't have teeth but the photo albums stand as testament that my mother thought my gummy smiles rather endearing.

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 10:48:35

The photographs have now become a joke

Luminance Sun 06-Apr-25 10:52:54

Well I for one never knew a lack of teeth made for a source of shame high enough that I must hide myself away from family and friends.

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 11:08:59

You compared yourself without teeth as, I assume, a small child, we are not speaking of a child but a woman aged 83, her
photographs are on GransNet too .

It was brutal to put the photographs on Facebook, you find it acceptable, that’s it

Luminance Sun 06-Apr-25 11:14:09

I understand others finding it unacceptable for themselves and that is a valid choice. What I don't understand is why anyone would think themselves qualified to judge that for someone else. Perhaps their own fear of such a photo being shared stems from knowing others judge by appearance despite not acknowledging they are themselves part of that problem.

sodapop Sun 06-Apr-25 12:33:35

Ms Goodyear had no choice in the sharing of the photograph Luminance I find that disturbing. A lady who set great store by her appearance would surely not want this picture displayed to the general public.

Parsley3 Sun 06-Apr-25 12:38:41

So some posters think that Julie looks awful in that photo. I don't.

Mollygo Sun 06-Apr-25 13:12:51

Parsley3

So some posters think that Julie looks awful in that photo. I don't.

What you think doesn’t matter any more than what I think.
Was she asked?
Did she say yes?
If the answer to either of those is no or we don’t know then it was wrong to post it, just as it’s wrong to post photos of children or other adults without their consent.

kittylester Sun 06-Apr-25 13:15:06

I imagine her husband was doing what he always does, post photos of his lovely wife on a special day.

Maybe she doesn't know she is supposed to wear here teeth. They are probably not what she is used to having in her mouth.

I suggest you all look at the bookcase model of memory. It could help you understand.

There is, as always, a heck of a lot of judgment on here.

Allira Sun 06-Apr-25 13:23:16

Good post, kittylester.


The photographs have now become a joke
Anyone who makes a joke of this sould be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. They should think on - it could well be them one day but perhaps they wouldn't mind either being hidden away as a source of shame for their families or laughed at by insensitive bullies if they are taken out for a happy occasion.

Mollygo Sun 06-Apr-25 13:30:09

It’s not a joke, but I do wonder how many GN posters on this thread would be happy to have any photographs of themselves plastered all over the Internet with or without their permission.
We can all say yes in the anonymity of GN.

Anniebach Sun 06-Apr-25 13:35:26

The choice for anyone suffering the nightmare of dementia must expect to be hidden away as a source of shame for their families, or laughed at if they are taken out ?

Missed - of photographed by husband ,photographs then placed on Facebook , he it seems did the same a year ago,