"The more I read about this, the more I wonder why any of us, myself included, thinks s/he has the right to opine on something..."

Thank you. The research scientist & drug developer in me thanks you. it's amazing how many people just do not get it.

Yep, and the media presents cell line and preclinical work as if it's the holy grail, when really, the concept or API is often still years away from ever seeing a patient.

It seems every six months or so, newspapers promise some solution is right around the corner—until you get to the bottom of the article and read the "within five to ten years" fine print, of course.

Your knowledge of tiaras is astounding.

Yep, that totally makes it okay.

Because it's about MORE than just the company and the product. Please see my other comments:

Understood. It probably wasn't the best comment for me to make since I currently do not have children and as such shouldn't speculate about their behaviors.

Ha! That comment does not apply to all products or situations. I just think it's so important that young girls be introduced to STEM and what would be considered "unconventional" toys that, in this situation, I care more about the message. That commercial would have been meaningful even if there was no product on the…

I understand that quality issues could have an adverse impact, but I like to believe that one discouragement will not completely deter a child. Also, perhaps now the company will get additional financial support and be able to increase product quality. There's also the opportunity for a competitor to enter the…

Can we also discuss the ad that included a young girl in a football uniform? That commercial also made me smile.

Honestly, I don't care about the quality of their product. The quality of their message was spot on, and I hope that it motivates more little girls to seek out building tools or other toys that don't fit the typical girl stereotype, regardless of the brand name on the box.

This ad brought tears to my eyes.

It's not so much that little girls try to look like a plastic doll, it's that the doll does begin to influence how they see the female body and its "correct" shape/form. The image that they see in the clothes is huge breasts followed by a tiny nipped in waist; playing with Barbies is likely their most frequent…

Agree. One day I painted Barbie with sparkly nail polish because it was much more efficient than trying to get her into those damn clothes. I still think the clothes were harder to put on her partly because the proportions were so weird.

Don't forget introductory hair styling, which in my case really meant cutting her hair into weird designs and shapes.

I'm sorry. I think all the vodka I drank last night while watching the Superbowl has damaged my sarcasm detector!!!

You are giving the author way too much credit.