Isn't Anyone Entitled To An Opinion These Days? According To Sir John, No.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2998179/Stefano-Gabbana-hits-fascist-Sir-Elton-John-D-G-boycott.html

[jackthehat]

Yes they are.
But they must also be prepared to have that opinion challenged by people who find it personally insulting.

[Gromit]

It was a bit of a Gerald Ratner moment.
Not a very nice comment from some be trying to sell handbags.
If he loses a lot of sales because of his own stupidity then he might learn a lesson.

[jim360]

One of these days people will cotton on to the point that criticism is not at all the same as suppression of freedom of speech. You can be free to say whatever you like -- but if it's an insulting and moronic opinion then you'd damn well better expect criticism. Sheesh!

[andy-hughes]

AOG - Isn't anyone entitled to an opinion these days?

Absolutely - and anyone must expect to bear the responsibility for that opinion.

Depending on the level at which your opinion is heard, and how fundamentally offensive it is, will depend how many similarly high-profile people use their influence to denounce you for your views.

Compounding your business partner's highly offensive opinion with vicious personal attacks of your own in the media will deservedly escalate the controversy already created, with attendant damage to the perpetrators' reputations and business interests.

[Old_Geezer]

Who, Gabbana or Elton ?

I thin the biggest issue here is the description of IVF babies as 'synthetic'. It sounds an insult; disrespectful to the child. It should have been known it may get an emotional reaction. No human is synthetic, we are all considered equally due to respect & rights.

[Old_Geezer]

THINK !

[Sqad]

"Synthetic?"...........made by unnatural means.

If conception involves heterosexual intercourse, then yes, it is synthetic.

Should D&G have publicly have spoken out?......No, probably not.

Should Elton have made a "big deal of it".....probably not.

They look a happy family and the child were wanted, probably needed and loved...........more than one can say about many "natural" conceptions.

[andy-hughes]

Sqad - // Should D&G have publicly have spoken out?......No, probably not. //

Not if they are going to be so poisonous in their views, no.

// Should Elton have made a "big deal of it".....probably not. //

Definitely so, I would defend my children against a slur made against them in that manner - most parents would.

[youngmafbog]

(Of a substance) made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product:

Not quite the right word but clear why it is said.

Hurtful to some, yes undoubtedly, but there will be many deeply religious people that will agree and are hurt too by the practice.

Is it right for Mr John to then use his influence to attempt to crash his business. No, I don't think so, every one is entitled to an opinion.

But really, this does rather look like handbags at dawn.

[Sqad]

YMF

\\\but really, this does rather look like handbags at dawn.\\\

Agreed...........especially the "handbags" bit.....

[Gromit]

// According to translations, the pair stated that children born through IVF are "children of chemistry, synthetic children. Uteruses for rent, semen chosen from a catalog." //

They are entitled to their opinion even if it does demonstrate their stupidity and insensitivity.
Elton is entitled to buy his man bags from whoever he likes, and is entitled to tell anyone who will listen, the reason for that decision.

[youngmafbog]

//Elton is entitled to buy his man bags from whoever he likes, and is entitled to tell anyone who will listen, the reason for that decision.//

I disagree. He is in a position of power, it is not like you telling me not to buy their handbags. Attempting to trash someones business publicly because you disagree, however unpalatable it may seem to you, is wrong.

[anotheoldgit]

This isn't about the unfortunate chosen word to describe IVF babies, it is because someone has chosen to rock the 'Gay Boat' hence Peter Tatchell is already planning a protest outside the designers' flagship store in central London on Thursday.

/// The furore erupted after Sicilian-born Dolce criticised fertility treatment and same-sex parenting, describing IVF babies as 'synthetic'. ///

/// He said: 'You are born and you have a father and a mother. At least it should be like that. ///

/// 'That's why I'm not convinced by what I call chemical children, synthetic babies. ///

/// 'They are wombs for hire, semen chosen from a catalogue. And then you have to explain to these children who their mother is.' ///

/// Asked whether he wanted to be a father, Mr Dolce said: 'I am gay. I cannot have a child. I don't believe that you can have everything in life.' ///

[andy-hughes]

youngmafbog - //Hurtful to some, yes undoubtedly, but there will be many deeply religious people that will agree and are hurt too by the practice. //

Maybe so, but if they are not involved, then the insult does not affect them directly, so they are unlikely to be as upset on a personal level as Sir Elton.

?? Is it right for Mr John to then use his influence to attempt to crash his business. No, I don't think so, every one is entitled to an opinion. //

Sir Elton's 'influence' only reaches as far as those who agree with him.

If you insult a child, and incur the wrath of a parent, then that parent may choose to use their profile to register their disgust - as Sir Elton has done.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and that includes Sir Elton.

[tamborine]

Sqad //If conception involves heterosexual intercourse, then yes, it is synthetic//

Not so sqad, that is natural procreation.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - // This isn't about the unfortunate chosen word to describe IVF babies, it is because someone has chosen to rock the 'Gay Boat' //

This is about a parent defending the insult to his children. The profile of that parent and the arena in which the argument is being conducted are not the issue.

No matter whether anyone agrees with Sir Elton's orientation, of the method by which he and his husband have obtained their children, he is a parent, and parents will defend their children.

[youngmafbog]

//Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and that includes Sir Elton./

Didn't say otherwise did I?

What I am pointing out he is going further than just an opinion.

[andy-hughes]

youngmafbog - //What I am pointing out he is going further than just an opinion. //

No argument there.

But if you are a high-profile individual, and you use your media status to air your unpleasant views, then you run the risk of a higher-profile individual using their media status to teach you a lesson, which is - opinions like this are better kept among close associates, rather than shared with the world at large - lest you catch a tiger by the tail.

[sp1814]

This is not new.

The American Family Association organises boycotts against companies that support gay rights, including (horror) same sex employment benefits.

Here's a list of companies that that the AFA have organised boycotts against (hold on to your hats):

These organizations include: 7-Eleven, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Airlines, American Girl, Blockbuster Video, Burger King, Calvin Klein, Carl's Jr., Clorox, Comcast, Crest, Ford, Hallmark Cards, Hardee's, Kmart, Kraft Foods, S. C. Johnson & Son, Movie Gallery, Microsoft, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Time Warner, Universal Studios, DreamWorks, Mary Kay, NutriSystem, Old Navy, IKEA, Sears, Pampers, Procter & Gamble, Target, Tide, Walt Disney Company, and PepsiCo.

[ToraToraTora]

It shows ignorance really, the process is synthetic not the product.