Let's boycott flowers this Valentine's day

[sharptoothlemonshark]

Why are we still indulging in this outdated misogynistic behaviour of men giving women flowers and women accepting them?

The industry is rotten to the core, with women in Africa getting their lungs burnt out by pesticides so women in Western Europe can look at something useless but "pretty" ( - if you consider the forced, unnaturally bred genetically mutated exaggerations "pretty").

The environmental damage done by transporting them from country to country is immeasurable, never mind the sacrifice of land that could be used to grow food and lower food prices.

And how is it people who object to pesticides being used to grow food are ok with soil being smothered in the stuff to grow flowers? It all enters the same water course.

And what a waste of money it is! Surely your partners could use the money or something more personal and thoughtful?

YABU - I like receiving forced, genetically mutilated, unnatural instruments of environmental damage and disabling of women.

YANBU - lets inform our partners these are not acceptable Valentine's day gifts.

How is it misogynistic?

😆 That is the most hilarious YABU/YANBU I have ever, ever seen!

Oh man. Get a life.

Why do you think it is funny? have you ever met a woman in a poorer country who has been left disabled by working in the flower industry to stock our shops? I don't think you would be laughing if you had

I've bought flowers for, and been bought flowers by, both male and female partners.

I agree with you it's better to avoid flown-in flowers, but at the moment it is pretty easy to buy British-grown narcissus and they're lovely.

The money. DH spent £££ on red roses last year. Then I randomly found the receipt… We had bloody bills to pay!

We buy our flowers from a local florist..... I'd like to keep supporting local businesses if that's okay with you 🤷🏼‍♀️

The idea that men can by favour with women with a totally thoughtless, meaningless temporary gift that will please a woman because it is "pretty" - most women actually have a bit more depth than that

Where are they getting them from? If it is abroad, you are likely to be buying products produced in unsafe even slavery conditions. Where ever it is from, why would you not want food grown on that land instead?

The idea that men can by favour with women with a totally thoughtless, meaningless temporary gift that will please a woman because it is "pretty" - most women actually have a bit more depth than that

Are women not allowed to like 'pretty' things?
I consider myself to have depth but that doesn't mean I can't also like flowers.

What is wrong with liking flowers because they're pretty? It's not a sign of a lack of depth.

yes, and roses are the worst genetically mutated flowers of all - they should have 5 petals, every other petal should be an anther - this is why they cannot reproduce on their own and have to be propagated artificially - very intensively and with maximum chemical input

Where are they getting them from?

They only sell seasonal plants and flowers.

Do you find lecturing people to be a successful method of communication generally?

Valentine's Day is a load of old cobblers. Men buying women flowers when the rest of the year they don't even bother doing their fair share of housework.

I didn't know that about the flower industry. Thanks OP. I will stick to British grown blooms.

There are absolute shit tons of flowers that do not reproduce sexually and have to be grafted (and grafting aids precocity, so it is doubly useful). It doesn't have to be particularly intensive, or require chemicals. People have been breeding multi-petalled roses, and grafting them, for at least a thousand years.

While you use your smartphone or laptop, with it's lithium batteries mined by children and all the other incredibly hypocritical things gobshites do?

YABU - but most definitely not for the reasons you’ve given as a YABU!

That doesn't answer the question. Where were they grown? How many pesticides and other chemicals sprayed on ( it all ends up in the water course) how were they transported? by use of fossil fuels for sure! And what conditions were the workers in?

It's your idea only. It's not a shared consensus.

You also appear to be contradicting yourself because apparently men can buy favour but also most women have a bit more depth than that? Which is it?

Also how is buying flowers more misogynistic than a poster who thinks some women are inherently stupid?

What about same sex relationships then? Still misogynist?

I think your entire hypothesis needs rework.

What is wrong with liking flowers because they're pretty? It's not a sign of a lack of depth.

Exactly!
Fine.... object to how some aspects of the industry works but to suggest buying flowers is misogynistic is absolutely ridiculous.
I buy myself flowers because I like them! I love this time of year as my house is filled with daffodils!

Oh dear god! I based on your YABU/YANBU statements I’m going to vote neither.

I can buy myself flowers

Do you disagree with all things that are pretty? Is there anything wrong with showing your partner appreciation?

to what end?

My DH knows I prefer a dozen doughnuts to a dozen roses. But not for the reasons you’ve mentioned.