Is looking at baby pictures a form of objectification?

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Those are all questions in line with what I am asking. I suppose a better question would be, “When does appreciation for the beauty of physical appearance that God has created become objectification?” Is there some exact criteria? Is the only form of objectification that is problematic sexual objectification?

I think complimenting someone standing in front of you on there physical appearance could be different than admiring a photo of a specific moment you appreciated their appearance.
 
Perhaps if the parent makes it clear that they also think their child is beautiful and lovable to them now when he or she is standing before them at age 10 or 15 or 30, that removes a lot of the concern.

I agree it could be hurtful if the parent has the attitude of, “You were such a cute baby - what happened? I was happier when you were just a cute baby, because now you’re not cute, or I don’t like you for some other reason.”

But usually when I see parents looking at a baby book, it’s just a sweet memory if the parent is alone, and a nice family bonding experience if they’re looking at it with their kid who is now much older and bigger.
 
I think that’s a good way of putting it. I think objectification is using somebody with no regard for them. I guess if you are just appreciating a picture of someone while still loving them in the present that is good, but if you are using the nostalgia of the picture as some form of escape or comfort from the person as they currently are and thinking things like “I miss when I didn’t have to put up with disobedience from them”, that is bad.
 
I think slavery is a form of nonsexual objectification. Basically anything where you are using somebody else for your own gain without caring about them.
 
Definitely not a problem to the same extent, but as was discussed earlier in the thread I think there are some ways even a picture of a baby could be viewed in the context of objectification.
 
No, I know where this is coming from with the thread about nude photos of your wife. But it is objectively different. No one yearns for their children to remain babies their whole life, but it would be nice if your wife looked like she was 25 her whole life. A baby picture just shows someone at a particular stage in life. In other words. A sexual relationship between you and your wife is very physical, whereas your relationship with your children isn’t physical like that.

I personally think a nude photo of your wife is fine if it is temporary and kept between the two of you, but for long term it serves no purpose.
 
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It would not be fine if my husband looked the waay he did when he was 20. He is 70. Why is 20 more beautiful than 70?
 
That’s true, but you are just addressing the other thread in general, not the argument that was made. I’m not trying to spin anything. As I said earlier, I have no more interest in the other thread and only made a new thread to talk about the question of objectification that I was confused about.

Edit: Also, I didn’t make the other thread. There seems to be some confusion about my intentions.
 
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I can’t speak to how a 70 year old feels or thinks but as a younger person I would rather look like I am younger and I would rather my wife look like she is younger. I don’t think 70 year old women are as attractive as 30 year old women. Then again, I am in my thirties.
 
Willing_Spirit said:
That’s true, but you are just addressing the other thread in general, not the argument that was made.
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… . . If you are interested in morality, then look at the three fonts of morality. The object chosen, end or intention, and circumstances of the act taken together. Taking or viewing nude pictures is itself disordered, it transgresses the moral law regarding modesty, lust, and sexual objectification. It is intrinsically wrong.

Baby pictures or other morally neutral pictures do not do so. The object is morally neutral. Now, in some specific cases the intention or circumstances could make the morally neutral act of taking baby pictures immoral (I can’t think of any).
 
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Someone on the other thread said it would be nice if your wife sent you a picture and said ‘come home soon’. I don’t see how that is objectively disordered.
 
Babaganoush said:
Someone on the other thread said it would be nice if your wife sent you a picture and said ‘come home soon’. I don’t see how that is objectively disordered.
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See again: offenses against chastity and modesty. CCC sixth commandment and ninth commandment.
 
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