'Do you care if goods are made in sweatshops?' poll discussion

mippy

Agree with morg_monster to an extent. Nike don't actually manufacture anything themselves - they're a subcontracting, distribution and marketing company, and they were one of the companies to be hit hard by sweatshop accusations. Objectively, Nike products are not cheap. They could afford to pay their workers more by cutting their profits - or even slightly increasing prices as many of their customers see the premium cost of their wares as evidence of it being a prestige brand - but choose not to.

I know the arguments against Primark (and I wouldn't shop there as I try and buy fewer clothes of higher quality and don't like their fits or fabrics much) but when higher-prestige, more expensive retailers are doing exactly the same thing at a greater profit to themselves, it becomes more of a dig at 'the poor ch*vs who shop at Primark', and that's what turns people off the debate a little bit.

BubbleFrogette

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

And you simply demonstrate your low level of intelligence with your gutter abuse.

Haha! So, it's not possible to be intelligent and able and willing to use swear words is it? How ridiculous. I'm not demonstrating a low level of intelligence because I don't have a low level of intelligence; I have a doctorate in biological chemistry.

One doesn't need to be intelligent to spot such a selfish, vile specimen though.

Harry_Flashman

BubbleFrogette wrote: »

Haha! So, it's not possible to be intelligent and able and willing to use swear words is it? How ridiculous. I'm not demonstrating a low level of intelligence because I don't have a low level of intelligence; I have a doctorate in biological chemistry.

One doesn't need to be intelligent to spot such a selfish, vile specimen though.

I think it demonstrates a lack of intelligence when you feel that the only way to express yourself is the language of the gutter.

You may disagree, that demonstrates a lack of taste too.

Claim all the pieces of paper you like, your debating style suggests low intelligence

stevemcol

Flashman, You know, if there's one thing I've learnt from being in the Army, it's never ignore a pooh-pooh. I knew a Major, who got pooh-poohed, made the mistake of ignoring the pooh-pooh. He pooh-poohed it! Fatal error! 'Cos it turned out all along that the soldier who pooh-poohed him had been pooh-poohing a lot of other officers who pooh-poohed their pooh-poohs. In the end, we had to disband the regiment. Morale totally destroyed... by pooh-pooh!

Sorry. General Melchett still makes me laugh out loud.


BubbleFrogette, I've got some O Levels by the way and once did a Flemish linguaphone course. I also won a game of alphabetti spaghetti scrabble against Stephen Hawking.

Just trying to provide some light relief. Feel free to carry on bantering now.

Fridge2

AshleyBones wrote: »

Arrogant apathy! Would you care if it was your child?

Yes....but it's not:)

terrypn54

BubbleFrogette wrote: »

Haha! So, it's not possible to be intelligent and able and willing to use swear words is it? How ridiculous. I'm not demonstrating a low level of intelligence because I don't have a low level of intelligence; I have a doctorate in biological chemistry.

One doesn't need to be intelligent to spot such a selfish, vile specimen though.

There is a huge difference between intelligence and common sense, many of our politicians have degrees but none of them seem to have an ounce of common sense.

emma.b123

Very interesting reading here ... both from a social and economical perspective.
Personally, I find myself thinking along the same lines as Steve - I know buying ethical products is essencially the best decision morally, but often find myself - especially faced with cheap prices, going for that option. I think reading this has made me reflect on my own buying habits and how I can improve my decision-making. I am not particulary well off, but I can certainly stump a few extra quid (although I appreciate not everyone can) for a t-shirt that's produced ethically. Some people seem to think as ethical clothes as 'overpriced' compared to primark et al alternatives, but in fact, its probably more a case of primark etc. being under-priced! I.e a £10 shirt is always going to LOOK overpriced compared to a £3 one from Primark.
A big issue for me (and I'd assume many other consumers) is 1.not having enough info to know what is considered a sweatshop (what are the parameters for a sweatshop? Mearly a factory??) 2.which products are produced in a sweatshop/fairtrade/ethicially - and what the difference between those categories are.
Also, digressing slightly, it upsets me when I hear people talking about worrying more about the issues in our country. Compared to many we have it pretty damn good. I think the world would be a much happier place if people were less concerned about geographical boundaries and thought of the human race as the community in itself. I don't like the idea of anyone in this world having to suffer - regardless if they live 30 feet from my house or 3000 miles away, and find it bizzare to hear people saying that it matters so much to them.

mjh421

When we buy goods from these areas we suffer our selves in the long run. Products sold in this country should be regulated to ensure that exploitation is dealt with directly, that is to say take the market away from them. If we permit this kind of trade our standards decline and we become exploited.

clarice_clarendon

i think its time the british public has an understanding of these countries who use 'child labour'. do you know the family circumstances why these kids are working? have had discussions with people from these countries where this is happening and their comment is its better to have the child occupied, helping their family than out on the streets as the british tend to do with their kids, being a nuisance to people, hanging round street corners, drinking and smoking illegally. these kids are learning what are our kids learning? do you know where your kids are? do you know what they are doing when they are out of your house? its time we stop interfering in other countries on how they bring their children up those countries are not enamoured of how the british are bringing up their children - no manners, no respect, stealing, drinking, smoking, sniffing glue, drugs. i know which kids i would prefer to be around.

Do you care if goods are made in sweatshops?

Enterprise_1701C

Whilst I agree that exploitation is wrong, all this sort of thing will do is drive it further underground and make conditions worse, it will carry on.

I would love to be able to buy expensive goods made in ethical conditions, but I cannot.

Whilst these people are low paid by our standards, how many people ask just how much the cost of living is in their world?