#MicroblogMondays 29: Synthetic Babies

by Mel

37 comments

1 Mali { 03.16.15 at 6:36 am }

I think you may have hit on it. People who I respect (or at least respected) can hurt me far more than someone I don’t know. The unknown nasty comments on Huff Post upset me less than some not-even-nasty comments from bloggers I know and read. I’ll respond if I think the original comment might reach or influence people whose opinions are important to me.

But I’ll join you in the boycott of D&G. (Oh, the sacrifice!)

2 Cathy { 03.16.15 at 7:06 am }

Well you can tell how out of touch I am with modern brands – I had to google D & G lol
I’m not sure I’ve ever accepted what a company says is right or wrong – I usually make up my own mind over that but I do realise ‘stars/influencers’ do have the ears of many others and can sway public opinion.
Adding this weeks post just before I toodle off to bed – 10pm here in Melbourne. Could you tell me what time zone you are in as I’m curious as to the time you close your linky?
Take care
Cathy

3 Persnickety { 03.16.15 at 7:19 am }

Ah, my boycott of D &G is unlikely to do much damage. But an excellent way to alienate a number of more high profile people.
And my links above- for some reason when I pasted my link in, my iPad remembered the old link. So link space number 5 is wrong. It’s old- the second link is correct.

4 Middle Girl { 03.16.15 at 7:49 am }

It is difficult to not respond to every silly, idiotic, asinine, “position statement” but it also exhausting. Lending a voice toward stemming the tide of idiocy put out there in the world is a responsibility. But, one must protect against becoming overwrought of that which we have little control. Choose your battles judiciously, carefully.

5 Jendeis { 03.16.15 at 7:53 am }

I find it interesting that my initial reaction was, “oh, we should just ignore these idiot corporations,” when I was hopping mad at Chick-fil-a for their policies. Maybe it’s because the restaurant is something I encounter locally whereas D&G is much further removed?

6 UmaS { 03.16.15 at 8:08 am }

A personal blog is where you voice your opinions irrespective of what others think about it !
And I think you are doing just that !!

7 Em { 03.16.15 at 8:16 am }

I agree, I care so little about Dolce & Gabbana that I care even less about their ludicrous opinion on “synthetic” babies. They may not be able to see the uninhibited joy in the miracle that is IVF but there are millions out there who do. That sadly, is their loss.

8 Rachel { 03.16.15 at 9:13 am }

I don’t know why I didn’t hear about this…but that just goes to show how interested I am in something I thought was just a company name.

The irritating part of this is that, in making a statement like this, they’ve just given thousands of people opportunity to agree with them – which is creating a whole other issue all on it’s own. Either way, I think it’s inconsequential. So many celebrities, greater than them, have used these means to procreate and will hopefully speak out about it. I consider it more of an attack on their peers than on little old me or people I know.

The only fights I consider worth fighting are ones where you can actually make a difference. This one is not one of those. D&G made this statement to make a scene, which is exactly what they’re getting. Adding fuel to that only helps them achieve their goal. I’d much rather save my opinions for people who actually have a lack of information, and would benefit from facts. These people are just being malicious because they have the power to do so…nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps if they created products with less toxic ingredients and used factories to make their products that produced less toxic energy consumption, less people would require “synthetic babies”. (True story, I was given a designer bag that had a label on it that stated it was made with cancer and birth defect causing ingredients. I threw it out.)

9 jjiraffe { 03.16.15 at 9:58 am }

I actually really like Dolce & Gabbana as designers and own a few pieces of clothing by them, so this bums me out. They are one of the few fashion houses that design for an actual woman’s body, celebrating curves, as opposed to stick figures. I’m done with them (not that it matters) but I also suspect quite a few clients that do matter like movie stars, and celebrities like Elton John might hurt their bottom line. I hope so. It was a really hurtful thing to say.

10 Working mom of two { 03.16.15 at 10:13 am }

What’s strange is that they are gay and saying only traditional marriage is ok. What???

11 SuzannaCatherine { 03.16.15 at 10:23 am }

My contempt for D&G will certainly not make a ripple in their pond, so to speak, but just because they are “famous” doesn’t give them the right to judge others. As others have said, it does give them the platform. And that is unfortunate.

There are many celebrities who have used IVF. Those are the people I hope will boycott D&G.

12 torthuil { 03.16.15 at 11:00 am }

I wonder if the remarks were made for publicity since they have a fashion line out called “the family.”

13 earthandink { 03.16.15 at 11:06 am }

Disgusted.

14 torthuil { 03.16.15 at 11:35 am }

Also, I think if D and G really had respect for others and didn’t want to offend people, it would be easy enough for them to say “I personally wouldn’t choose IVF or surrogacy because I’m not comfortable with it” or “I wouldn’t personally do gay adoption because I think children should have a mother and father.” That would be quite acceptable; there’s no rule saying any couple or individual HAS to undertake fertility treatments or be OK with it. But they phrased their comments in a way that seems particularly calculated to be offensive which for me implies that they wanted to be, and any qualification that follows is insincere.

15 Elise M. Gross { 03.16.15 at 11:57 am }

Good heavens, it still astounds me when people — especially “famous” people who own a business — say something dripping with stupidity. This is ridiculous. I saw an article about this earlier, & I haven’t seen anyone so far who even remotely agrees with their sentiments. I hope they lose an incredible amount of business over this — maybe hurting them in their pocket books will wake them up to their stupidity.

16 Cristy { 03.16.15 at 12:46 pm }

Does the boycott count if there’s no way I could ever afford a single piece of their apparel?

In all seriousness, I do agree with you about being hurt by those closest to you. But I also think statements like those from people who have the potential to influence public opinion are harmful. Even though they aren’t direct, their is likely someone I will come into contact with them believes this garbage solely because they like Dolce & Gabbana. That or they will feel ashamed about having to go through fertility treatments and remain in the infertility closet. Hence I fully support Elton John on this measure. May there be a lack of D&G on the red carpet for the next few award shows.

17 loribeth { 03.16.15 at 12:46 pm }

Well, I’ve never bought D&G — way out of my budget — but I will make a point of never doing so now, even if/when I win the lottery. 😉 Obviously, a comment like that from a family member or friend would sting a lot more… but stuff like this from public figures bothers me too, because it gets such broad publicity… and because you know there are people who agree with them. Case in point: I took the poll in the UK newspaper article, and only 40% agreed with me that this was an awful thing to say. 60% felt people should have the freedom to say what they want. Which they should — but you would hope they would exercise that freedom wisely. It would nice if more celebrities like Elton who have IVF babies (and you know there are lots of them out there, even if some of them won’t admit to it) and buy D&G would speak out on this issue. “Synthetic babies” indeed…!

18 Jen { 03.16.15 at 1:12 pm }

What a ridiculous thing to say.

19 Jenn { 03.16.15 at 1:53 pm }

I still shopped at Hobby Lobby when they were doing their whole no gay people and no birth control and abortion insurance thing. I’m gay and Buddhist but I couldn’t resist the store. Well, except for Sundays. Then I went to Michael’s. As for D&G, I couldn’t give a rat’s behind what they say their stance is on anything. I hope some employees sue them for hostile work environment or something. It is probably all a publicity stunt like someone else said.

20 deathstar { 03.16.15 at 2:18 pm }

This one merits an eye roll in my opinion, but frankly I couldn’t care less for D&G, so they can kiss my sweet fat black ass. Everyone gets to have an opinion but they also have to hear people disagree with them.

21 Savannah { 03.16.15 at 3:10 pm }

I’m finally jumping on board with the Microblog Monday’s. I’m excited to give new breath to my main blog.

22 The bespectacled mother { 03.16.15 at 3:26 pm }

After connecting with Microblog mondays and reading up blogs about IVF and the hope it gives to the women who long to have their own children, a comment like IVF baby is synthetic irks me to the core. If I feel very strong about a sentiment, I cannot stop myself from commenting on it.

23 Karen (River Run Dry) { 03.16.15 at 3:44 pm }

I care.

I care because of the words they used, not because I care about them or their fashion.

The words they used reminded me of how ashamed I was that I couldn’t get pregnant without the intervention of doctors. And the fact that I had a c-section. And the fact that my uterus is scarred enough from my septum resection and then my c-section that the best chance providing our son with a sibling is likely surrogacy.

For the most part, I have made peace with the hell we went through to bring home Owen 7 years ago (tomorrow!). I’ve accepted – and even embraced – the fact that he will be an only child.

Until I hear the words they used. Chemical offspring. Borrowed uterus. Then it puts me right back in the hell of treatments: the needles, the blood draws, the ultrasounds, the operating room with the stirrups and the people with masks transferring tiny seeds into my uterus. Of which most died.

To me, that line is the words they used. If they had said, “we are against gay marriage and the procreation methods gay couples are required to use,” I would have rolled my eyes at two people who are stuck in their little judgy boxes; who are clearly not with the times.

But they used hurtful and shaming words, propagating an opinion that I actually believe a lot of people share. Think about it. How many times have you heard women talk about vaginal births by using the term “natural?”

So that’s why I am angry and can’t just roll my eyes and click away. It’s the words they used.

24 Laurel Regan { 03.16.15 at 4:00 pm }

There are only so many hours in the day and only so many responses and boycotts and position statements we can make… I guess we have to choose our battles.

25 ANDMom { 03.16.15 at 4:11 pm }

On the same thread as Karen’s thoughts – these idiots used these words, but they’re sharing the sentiments of many. How many times with twins do you get asked if they’re “natural”, because I’ve heard it a lot. Natural conception, natural birth. Natural = better.

I’ve even been told my children don’t have souls, and I’m going to hell for creating them.

I’m not upset that these two idiots have this opinion – they don’t personally affect me. I’m upset that the stigma is still there and my kids are old enough to hear and read it and have it affect them.

26 Tara { 03.16.15 at 4:56 pm }

I don’t know, I’m just horrified that people are so out to lunch and ignorant on things. I don’t own anything Dolce & Gabana and yes, I will now make sure I never do. I applaud Elton for exposing them for the losers they are so that the rest of us are aware of what they stand for.

27 apluseffort { 03.16.15 at 6:13 pm }

Even if I were inclined to wear D&G, I would have boycotted them years ago because they are one of the worst offenders in print ads of normalizing the emaciated look and incorporating violence against women in their ads. I recall one with a dead model hanging out of a trunk, which TOTALLY made me want to buy that dress. And shoes. Right.

28 Junebug { 03.16.15 at 6:19 pm }

It seems bizarre to me. Why go after IVF at all???

Ridiculous!

29 Catwoman73 { 03.16.15 at 7:28 pm }

Their comments made me feel a little dirty at first. But then I looked at my beautiful daughter, who would absolutely not be here without the help of modern medicine, and their comments lost their power. I couldn’t care less how my child came into the world- she’s the most beautiful, amazing thing ever. No one can take that from me. Screw you D&G!!!

30 Jess { 03.16.15 at 8:12 pm }

Ah, so this is what the D&G vs Elton John thing is all about…saw it in my facebook feed but would never, ever buy anything D&G (easiest boycott ever) and so honestly didn’t even click on it. It’s annoying and wrong, but as you said, I don’t really care what those people think. I’m pretty sure they have zero pull on IVF legislation or research. I did consciously choose not to try the Barilla GF pastas because Barilla is anti-LGBT, so I take a stance on that but not in a post-all-over-the-interwebs kind of way. More my own personal grocery aisle indignation and boycotting. I do sometimes get myself in trouble though on facebook when people are idiots and I KNOW that I won’t actually influence their opinion and only cause grief for myself, but I just can’t let myself let it go. Especially if it’s super ignorant and I feel I’ve been a bystander who said nothing.

31 Mary Francis { 03.16.15 at 8:53 pm }

D &G are displaying ignorance and hypocrisy. Most modern treatments are ‘synthetic’ . Would they refuse a drug or treatment on this ground? Cosmetic surgery for instance. Of course not.

32 Justine { 03.16.15 at 9:14 pm }

I’m glad that jjiraffe weighed in here because I had no idea who these people were before today. But at least the story as I heard it portrayed them as ignorant/backward, and didn’t celebrate their point of view.

33 Stephanie (Travelcraft Journal) { 03.17.15 at 1:12 am }

Unbelievable. Just so, so ignorant.

34 Jamie { 03.17.15 at 1:32 am }

Karen makes some good points. As much as I’d rather click away, their comments are demeaning and devaluing.

35 Suzy { 03.17.15 at 7:27 am }

What a ridiculous and insensitive thing to say. Thanks for sharing this or I would not have known.

36 Geochick { 03.17.15 at 11:05 am }

Fashion designers have a far reach, but in a niche. My guess is that the level of outrage among celebrities is because the brand is acting like they are brainwashed ultra-conservatives and that is typically the antithesis to fashion/celebrity/hollywood.

Personally, I had a knee jerk, “ASSHATS” reaction to the article. But then, I realized, I don’t own any D&G, can’t afford any D&G and could care less about a couple of male fashion designers who pretend like they are more important than they really are.

37 Lori Lavender Luz { 03.17.15 at 1:41 pm }

I resolve never to buy yoga pants by Dolce & Gabanna.

Or ever utter their names. Not sure if there are any other ways I can completely neutralize them. They are nothing to me.