Profit before Health, Fashion Nonsense, Anxiety Drivel, Boris
Social Media and Public Health
 |
| The Cheat Detected, Edward Bird (1772-1819) Photo Credit: Sir John Soane's Museum [CC BY-NC-ND] |
“Highly influential celebrities are letting down the very people who look up to them, by peddling products which are at best ineffective and at worst harmful.”
Duncan Stephenson, the director of external affairs at The Royal Society for Public Health, accused celebrities and social media platforms of putting profits before consumers’ health.
“There are so many bogus and snake-oil weight-loss products on the market today, which either have dubious evidence to back them up, or are a waste of money. It is shameful that major advertisers, leading celebrities – many of whom are role models for young people – together with advertisers and social media platforms are complicit in exploiting and potentially putting people’s health at risk, simply to further line their pockets.”
Kitty Wallace, a trustee of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, said,
“The bombardment of idealised body images is fuelling a mental health and anxiety epidemic in young people.”
(The Guardian, 2019)
Fashion and the Wool Trade
Sheep farmers have accused one of Britain’s biggest online fashion retailers of caving in to misleading protests from animal rights activists by agreeing to ban wool from future collections.
Boohoo has been targeted by activists who claim that that wool production involves cruelty to sheep because of injuries they can suffer during shearing.
The retailer said yesterday that it was, “pleased to confirm that it has committed to omit wool from its product range effective from the autumn-winter season onwards.”
(The Times, 2019)
Duncan Stephenson, the director of external affairs at The Royal Society for Public Health, accused celebrities and social media platforms of putting profits before consumers’ health.
“There are so many bogus and snake-oil weight-loss products on the market today, which either have dubious evidence to back them up, or are a waste of money. It is shameful that major advertisers, leading celebrities – many of whom are role models for young people – together with advertisers and social media platforms are complicit in exploiting and potentially putting people’s health at risk, simply to further line their pockets.”
Kitty Wallace, a trustee of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, said,
“The bombardment of idealised body images is fuelling a mental health and anxiety epidemic in young people.”
(The Guardian, 2019)
Wise words from two people who know what they are talking about and of course children should be protected. What is equally disturbing is the idea that not only are children being influenced but that adults are too. Have they no independent thoughts? Is a critical spirit completely alien to them?
Fashion and the Wool Trade
 |
Sheep Shearing, Thomas Barker (1769-1847) Photo Credit: The Holburne Museum [CC BY-NC-ND] |
Boohoo has been targeted by activists who claim that that wool production involves cruelty to sheep because of injuries they can suffer during shearing.
The retailer said yesterday that it was, “pleased to confirm that it has committed to omit wool from its product range effective from the autumn-winter season onwards.”
(The Times, 2019)
Banning wool - absurd. Then two days later.
Wool ban by fashion chain lasts just one day.
One of the country’s biggest online fashion retailers has reversed its decision to ban wool from its clothes hours after it announced the policy.
“Boohoo continues to assess all options as part of its ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future,” it said in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring wool used in our supply chain comes from good husbandry and meets high levels of animal welfare and will continue to use wool as a sustainable material.”
(The Times, 2019)
Choice Based Anxiety
…For almost an hour, we’ve been scrolling through Netflix, Amazon and Now TV, trying to agree on something to watch. And the thing is, it’s not just each other we need to agree with – it’s ourselves. Knowing what you truly want in a world infested with choice is a big ask.
…Yet the consumer pressure to make the “right” choice, down to which toilet paper we use, has never been greater. What if I'm missing out on a cheaper, less abrasive and more environmentally friendly tissue paper? What if I’m spending my limited time on Earth using an inferior product?
…In 2019 choice – of goods, entertainment, partners, internet providers – is more abundant than at any other time. Any given day contains so many micro decisions. Which sandwich is the least mediocre? Which of the 40,000 podcasts that have been recommended to me should I listen to?) that the macro-decisions (should I have kids?...) seem impossible.
…We’ve been led to believe that there’s something dystopian about having decisions made for us. Yes, I’m sure anyone from North Korea would find the idea of choice-based anxiety laughable. But I recently fantasised about going to a restaurant with two items on the menu: meat and vegetable (singular). It's not that I want no choice - just less of it. But I can think of little more stressful than being given the choice of whether I'd like fewer choices.
(Eleanor Margolis, The i, 2019)
 |
'Anxiety', Head of a Girl, Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725-1805) Photo Credit: Victoria Art Gallery [CC BY-NC-ND] |
Choice Based Anxiety
…For almost an hour, we’ve been scrolling through Netflix, Amazon and Now TV, trying to agree on something to watch. And the thing is, it’s not just each other we need to agree with – it’s ourselves. Knowing what you truly want in a world infested with choice is a big ask.
…Yet the consumer pressure to make the “right” choice, down to which toilet paper we use, has never been greater. What if I'm missing out on a cheaper, less abrasive and more environmentally friendly tissue paper? What if I’m spending my limited time on Earth using an inferior product?
…In 2019 choice – of goods, entertainment, partners, internet providers – is more abundant than at any other time. Any given day contains so many micro decisions. Which sandwich is the least mediocre? Which of the 40,000 podcasts that have been recommended to me should I listen to?) that the macro-decisions (should I have kids?...) seem impossible.
…We’ve been led to believe that there’s something dystopian about having decisions made for us. Yes, I’m sure anyone from North Korea would find the idea of choice-based anxiety laughable. But I recently fantasised about going to a restaurant with two items on the menu: meat and vegetable (singular). It's not that I want no choice - just less of it. But I can think of little more stressful than being given the choice of whether I'd like fewer choices.
(Eleanor Margolis, The i, 2019)
From Pyongyang. My dear old thing you are having a laugh and making me laugh too. Too many choices are making you anxious? Trying to agree on something to watch? Missing out on a cheaper, less abrasive and more environmentally friendly tissue paper? Which sandwich is the least mediocre? Choice-induced existential crisis? Agonising over choosing a toothpaste? Are you a stand-up comic, Eleanor?
Illusions
I was one of the doctors who met Boris Johnson today. This was a highly staged press event in a newly refurbished hospital ward where the prime minister met a few select members of staff and patients.
This event completely brushed over the harsh realities of this underfunded, understaffed and poorly resourced hospital. It is held together only by the hard work and dedication of its healthcare workers but it cannot be sustained for much longer under these pressures.
I’m so glad that Omar Salem said the things he did. He was just telling the truth about what it is like to be on the receiving end of poor staffing levels and under-resourcing. It was a shame some of the senior executives were trying to shut him up. But he got his point across effectively.
… And this visit was not reflective of the realities of working at this hospital. He was taken to the nicest ward in the hospital. There were flowers on display and classical music playing. I wish the prime minister could have seen some of the other wards. He should come on a night shift and see how everything doesn’t function at two in the morning.
… I love medicine, but you just can’t do your job properly. There’s no point in complaining, because you know nothing will be done. This is what the NHS is like now.
(Matthew Weaver, The Guardian, 2019)
Illusions
Boris Johnson visited Whipps Cross hospital in London and Omar Salem, the father of a sick baby girl, confronted him over the lack of personnel on his daughter’s ward. A doctor at the hospital, reporting anonymously, had this to say.
I was one of the doctors who met Boris Johnson today. This was a highly staged press event in a newly refurbished hospital ward where the prime minister met a few select members of staff and patients.
This event completely brushed over the harsh realities of this underfunded, understaffed and poorly resourced hospital. It is held together only by the hard work and dedication of its healthcare workers but it cannot be sustained for much longer under these pressures.
I’m so glad that Omar Salem said the things he did. He was just telling the truth about what it is like to be on the receiving end of poor staffing levels and under-resourcing. It was a shame some of the senior executives were trying to shut him up. But he got his point across effectively.
… And this visit was not reflective of the realities of working at this hospital. He was taken to the nicest ward in the hospital. There were flowers on display and classical music playing. I wish the prime minister could have seen some of the other wards. He should come on a night shift and see how everything doesn’t function at two in the morning.
… I love medicine, but you just can’t do your job properly. There’s no point in complaining, because you know nothing will be done. This is what the NHS is like now.
(Matthew Weaver, The Guardian, 2019)
I think, by now, that most people realise that when politicians, royalty or celebrities visit NHS hospitals they will neither see nor hear the real stories that are being played out at the sharp end. However, they might see a newly painted toilet if they are taken short!
Comments
Post a Comment