Serious Question: Kid GIFS on Sex Work Twitter?

A while back I noticed someone commenting on kid gifs around sex worker twitter – something along the lines of “can we stop this please?” and it got me wondering what the general consensus was, since I kept seeing people using them.

So I tweeted out a quick poll.

Serious question. Gifs with kids in them on sw twitter?

Fraidy Ray 🇨🇦 (they/them) (@FraidyRay) March 13, 2020

This isn’t all that scientific to be sure, but I think the response is telling.

I heard from people on both sides of this.

If it isn’t being used in a sexual way, isn’t this just innocent fun?

On one side, folks don’t see a problem with this as long as they aren’t being used in a malicious or sexual way, and they aren’t wrong. Ultimately it’s probably harmless and it probably only elicits a little chuckle here and there.

But on the other side of the issue:

That’s someone’s kid being injected into an 18+ environment.

Yeah, I agree! I wanted to say it was context dependent but the context is we’re sex workers – so people following get 18+ 18+ 18+, and then a random kid gif because we think it’s funny. Which I definitely understand, buut… 🧐

— Fraidy Ray 🇨🇦 (they/them) (@FraidyRay) March 13, 2020

Clearly it’s not a black and white issue.

Few issues are so straightforward. But I think that divide might be enough to warrant thinking for a moment next time you find yourself responding with that cuute kid gif.

I think Marla said it best:

I’ll be more mindful when posting gifs! I think the arguments are totally valid and I see why It should be avoided

— Marla Maine (@MaineMarla) March 13, 2020

When in doubt, just be mindful. 🙂

What do you think?

Please feel free to continue this conversation in the comments section below.

I’ll be around!

–Ray