okay, i'm going to ask because it's really bothering me... I am not endorsing pruni's op, by the way.
Moondog,
you seem like a strong and caring woman, and you have described yourself tonight as, i think, reasonable. (can't be bothered scrolling back, i am supposed to be working).
I too am a strong and caring woman, and i also think of myself as reasonable. i, however, probably for medical reasons although it's hard to know exactly, could not exclusively breastfeed my child and mix-fed for 17 weeks and now - after the baby jacked in bfing - I use formula and have given her solids from when she was 6 months. i started using the formula only after DD became dehydrated.
while i can understand that you rail at the lack of help for mums who would like to breastfeed, and at the quality of the formula which is offered, and i promise you that if i have another child i will come here for advice as well as my midwives, HVs, herbalists and specialist breastfeeding units that i previously accessed, i would still really (calmly and kindly) like to know whether you now think that the way you worded your thread title about 'peddling junk' was okay in retrospect?
because it had me shaking with tears and hurt... because i wanted so badly to nourish my child with my own milk and because i feel such sadness that i couldn't.
and because, despite the fact that i may fall into the 'acceptable' bracket of formula feeders whose children would have starved without it, i am still sensitive to people who slag off formula.
i understand that there are issues with formula production, and i understand that you had largely quoted from the article, but nevertheless...
so i would fully support your posting the article you did on mumsnet, but given that it could only ever result in me feeling like crap it would definitely be something i would prefer to avoid. I'm sure you can understand why, and judging by many of the responses i was not the only person who was hurt and upset by reading your thread title on the active convos page.
so, while reiterating that i am not looking for more stress on the subject, and hoping to appeal to your reasonable-ness, i just wondered if you had any thoughts about your original choice of words? i have read other posts of yours, and i know that you are highly regarded on mumsnet (i've only been here a few months so am a relative newbie) and it really shocked me that you would feel such a lack of consideration was due to someone like me who had tried hard.
Of course i would contend that the same consideration should have been extended to people who ff across the board but i fear i wouldn't convince you of that so i'd like to personalise it and ask you how you feel about the fact that it hurt me...
too soppy? maybe... but i am tired and it turns out that i am still a bit upset by all that palaver from before...