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Why are we still indulging in this outdated misogynistic behaviour of men giving women flowers and women accepting them?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

<considers comment about Kensington Palace in 1997 and fears it may be too soon>

I did consider that one too and felt 2022 was a slightly safer option.

Valentines day has lost its meaning anyway. It was meant to a person to.let them secretly know you fancied them.
Now you get valentines from the dog. Just a money making thing for the shops.

Actually the 'meaning' of St Valentines was to honour several men who were all called Valentine, executed on 14th Feb in the third century by the Romans. I think they were mostly Christian priests of some kind. Nothing to do with love at all initially.

I saw some in m and s today that were £50! To be honest I would rather have the £50. That would be a whole can of worms though if bfs were expected to give £50 to gfs on Valentine's Day.
I wouldn't mind some tulips. I think they are pretty

OPs posts feel like being back at school. I feel like I'm being told off for something I've not done wrong.

Blimey what a miserable killjoy you are

When has giving someone flowers ever been misogynistic 🙄

There are many florists who only use locally grown flowers. (See Georgie of Common Flower Farms on you tube) There are many florists globally who grow their own flowers organically.9

Yep. Except there’s one subtle difference. Unlike at school, if I immediately do what I’m being told not to do, there’s nothing Ms. Angry can do about it. So stuff the OP. Flowers it is.

I really hope a man tries to buy my favour with some beautiful fresh flowers on Wednesday because they are pretty.
Hopefully I will have an embroidered handkerchief on my person to drop elegantly as a keepsake for him.
Unless we get a thread explaining why the embroidered handkerchief trade is misogynistic and planet killing?
Also....please note the irony of my current username 🤣

Let me guess, you've never received flowers OP? How is it misogynistic, good grief. I like getting flowers thanks! Any excuse is good for me

But so is everything? I assume you don't live in a bush and live off the land? If not, you're a hypocrite

I buy my daffs from M&S

You’re not going to help those women by not buying flowers. They will lose their jobs and possibly starve..

I love flowers. I adore receiving them. I don't find it the least bit misogynistic. Not everything has to be. And I'm exhausted by the constant hand wringing over absolutely everything in life. Are we allowed no joy whatsoever?

Well I adore flowers and sat staring at my wedding flowers for ages....totally mesmerised.Does not mean I lack depth.
However, I am sad to hear about the pesticide damage so maybe you have a point.

On a side note, I'm currently living abroad and all this talk of beautiful British daffodils is making me feel so homesick!!

Hi OP,

Thanks for raising the issue. I don't buy flowers much but will think more about where they came from. I'm shocked and horrified to hear about the harm done to the pickers etc. And the environmental damage.

It's easy for all these posters on here to scoff when they are not personally affected (although we are all affected by climate change right enough).

Going forward, supermarkets etc should have to have a sticker or something that shows the origin of the flowers? Don't know if they do that already.

Exactly. Only a privileged white women would say this. They are probably grateful for the work and money as that helps them and their families or else the other option is probably to starve. Give yourself a good talking to OP! Ridiculous.

Only a privileged woman would say, who cares about poor women (and children) being toxic poisoned due to an exploitative unnecessary industry.

Here is a good article, with some common sense recommendations. https://ideas.ted.com/the-environmental-impact-of-cut-flowers-not-so-rosy/

I buy flowers for men as well as women and I purchase from shops that grow flowers locally in Scotland. (Greenhouses at this time of year).

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

Women (and men) can like pretty things AND have depth.

flowers are not necessary for modern life- IT is

Thats just sad.

I honestly can't stand when people like to be high and mighty for the good of other people. The coffee industry is a good one where actually workers would rather get a pittance than nothing, and actually Fair Trafe has just made conditions worse for the lowest common denominator: the worker. But we can all feel superior being so ethical and all. If you buy any crap from Temu or Shein, you're part of the problem (I don't)

Very true.

you are likely to be buying products produced in unsafe even slavery conditions

Did you post this from a smartphone?