Win a Baby?

Hazel_B

So, a local radio station is hosting a contest called "Win a Baby". The prize is fertility treatments. The radio station decided to do it because they realized that so many of their own staff were affected by infertility and they wanted to draw more attention to the issue. According to the radio station, 1 in 6 couples has fertility issues.

Ths contest has been pretty controversial here, what do you ladies think?

TheMutleys

I think that is awesome.  What are the guidelines? 

polkadot111

The name is a little sketchy, but a cool idea!

Hazel_B

The selection was based on their submissions, so I don't know what the exact criteria was. I know they received over 400 entries and they ranged from a couple dealing with spinal chord issues after a car accident, to same-sex couples, to single women tired of waiting for Mr. Right to the average couple having difficulties.

They just picked and ended up giving treatments to the 5 couples that were finalists. Last week on tv someone from the radio station was talking about how heartbreaking so many of the entries/stories were and they didn't know how they were going to choose the finalists let alone only choose one couple.

polkadot111

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1067711--couples-win-infertility-treatments-in-radio-contest

And to hear their reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hem2PgiKa5k

Blue & White

As long as the people are financially and emotionally able to handle a child, I don't think this is such a bad idea.  My unmarried cousin had in vitro treatments to conceive her child cause she didn't have a guy in her life, and her kid is pretty awesome.

I'm not sure this is as controversial as say, a radio contest to pay for your abortion.  That would likely cause chaos.

bsidebella

I don't know anyone who has gone through infertility, but I know that those treatments are and can get expensive. So, I am all for it. They were using the contest to help out people with their deepest wish and were spreading the word about a common issue that isn't really addressed!

PaigeMcC

I heard about this on CBC the other day!!

I think as long as there is a proper screening process in place (like they can afford a child, are mentally stable enough, yadda yadda...) then it's a WONDERFUL idea!!

Hazel_B

I could totally be wrong, but based on the interview I heard it sounded like they worked with experts to choose the couples.

The controversy part seemed to come from..."exploiting vulnerable people".  I think that's what an intertility awareness group called it.

Lil B Mama

Yeah, I heard about this! I can't understand where the controversy lies, other than the fact that infertility is a sensitive topic. I think it's a nice prize, since those treatments are so expensive they can completely drain the savings of any couple who gets them. At the same time, there are hundreds of children who need loving homes that end up growing up in the system because people are more willing to spend thousands on concieving a biological child instead of giving a home to an older child who's parents were unable to care for them. Maybe there should be a contest for those kids; "Win a Family!" 

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_win-baby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:5a70490a-f9af-460e-ba87-9c594c9634c6Post:e7afee14-8f46-40d1-95ca-4ab42ec0ff7f">Re: Win a Baby?</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah, I heard about this! I can't understand where the controversy lies, other than the fact that infertility is a sensitive topic. I think it's a nice prize, since those treatments are so expensive they can completely drain the savings of any couple who gets them. At the same time, there are hundreds of children who need loving homes that end up growing up in the system because people are more willing to spend thousands on concieving a biological child instead of giving a home to an older child who's parents were unable to care for them. Maybe there should be a contest for those kids; "Win a Family!" 
Posted by Lil B Mama[/QUOTE]

While I see your point, you can't force a child into a home, and you can't force a couple into adopting a child. Adopting is a longer, more difficult (and sometimes mroe expensive) process that comes with a lot of strings, and it's rather presumptuous of you to assume that <em>everyone</em> would rather use fertility treatments than adopt.

Personally, if I was experiencing infertility, I would rather have a biological child or none at all. I'm sure I am not alone in this. I'm not against adopting, but I have my own private reasons as to why I wouldn't.

Lil B Mama

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_win-baby?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:5a70490a-f9af-460e-ba87-9c594c9634c6Post:1a2f0fc4-7e88-447f-bd80-432b5005e194">Re: Win a Baby?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Win a Baby? : While I see your point, you can't force a child into a home, and you can't force a couple into adopting a child. Adopting is a longer, more difficult (and sometimes mroe expensive) process that comes with a lot of strings, and<strong> it's rather presumptuous of you to assume that everyone would rather use fertility treatments than adopt</strong>. Personally, if I was experiencing infertility, I would rather have a biological child or none at all. I'm sure I am not alone in this. I'm not against adopting, but I have my own private reasons as to why I wouldn't.
Posted by bsidebella[/QUOTE]

No, I dont think that way. I can absolutely understand the basic human instinct to reproduce. Adoption isn't for everyone, I know. However I spent alot of time in foster care, and if I wasn't able to have children I would have adopted. That's just a personal preference. I just hope you know that I wasn't trying to say anything against people using fertility treatments, there's nothing wrong with that. Just throwing some personal opinion out there about what I feel is a sad situation.

Lil B Mama

Sorry about that, I should try and watch my wording

bsidebella

The interwebs does not compute human emotion.