Steal This Product
Dec. 5th, 2002 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raybearI had two people on my friends page writing about boycotts. They were not talking about the boycotting the same product, nor are they on each others' friends list (as far as I know). Maybe there's something astrologically speaking that causes this phenomenon. It always amuses and entertains me when something like this happens, and I feel compelled to unite by mentioning something as well.
I hate when people say "boycotts are pointless because if we were to boycott everything we couldn't buy anything" or some variation. First of all, what's so horrible about not buying anything? Perhaps not realistic, but really not that horrible. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a total consumer, but I occasionally have Amish fantasies and aspirations. Secondly, the logic is flawed: what if you applied this argument to other areas of activism and social awareness? I can't give money to this charity because then I'd have to give money to all charities and I'd be broke. That's not how we work. We selet causes that are closest to us and focus resources and energy on them and that's okay. That's even how the population genetics work -- we're predisposed to giving more energy to our close family/pack/group because it helps keeps us alive. {/tangent}
Boycotts do work. Not necessarily because the dip in profits is so significant to the company, but usually more because of bad press and tainted company image. It's more about education and awareness than the lack of two dollars they receive for an overpriced cup of coffee.
I have a few unofficial boycotts, one of them being Starbucks. It's made up of numerous parts: corporate infestation and proliferation of the store, desire to support local coffee shops, annoyance at high prices, annoyance at typical Starbucks clientale, company's refusal to use non-migrant worker coffee or non-hormone milk. But that doesn't mean I've never gone there, or that I even care if other people go there or if people work there. In fact, most people might not even know I'm boycotting them, though I'll occasionally share my concerns. I'm not trying to guilt them into not going -- I just think everyone has a duty to be aware.
I know Domino's pizza is evil. I think they've done horrible horrible things. But sometimes I want to pay six dollars for a thin crust pizza with pineapple and bacon, so I cave in and justify that only a few cents are going to support causes that make me vomit. This is significantly less than the proportion of my tax dollars going to horrible organizations, which is enough to alleviate my guilt for the twenty minutes it takes to eat the pizza. I don't feel hypocritical at all because I'm not truly excusing my actions. I'm owning them.
But please, people who are itching for a boycott, please educate yourself. Don't decide you know what's best -- read about the people being directly affected and follow what they recommend. Example: my friend saw a labor organizer speak who works overseas for Gap/Old Navy. She's trying to unionize the workers and get the corporation to pay non-pitiful wages. But she told the roomful of people they can help best NOT by boycotting, but instead by writing letters and contacting the corporation on their behalf. A loss of sales would mean the cheap labor factories are first to shut down, and the workers would be out of a job. Even though they need better pay, they also need a place to work. So don't be going around deciding what other people need you to do -- if you're going to do something, do the right thing. Go to the 'oppressed' people directly and they'll be happy to give you the best options.
And here ends my second soapbox rant of the day. I'll soon resume pithy commentary on television and movies.
I hate when people say "boycotts are pointless because if we were to boycott everything we couldn't buy anything" or some variation. First of all, what's so horrible about not buying anything? Perhaps not realistic, but really not that horrible. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a total consumer, but I occasionally have Amish fantasies and aspirations. Secondly, the logic is flawed: what if you applied this argument to other areas of activism and social awareness? I can't give money to this charity because then I'd have to give money to all charities and I'd be broke. That's not how we work. We selet causes that are closest to us and focus resources and energy on them and that's okay. That's even how the population genetics work -- we're predisposed to giving more energy to our close family/pack/group because it helps keeps us alive. {/tangent}
Boycotts do work. Not necessarily because the dip in profits is so significant to the company, but usually more because of bad press and tainted company image. It's more about education and awareness than the lack of two dollars they receive for an overpriced cup of coffee.
I have a few unofficial boycotts, one of them being Starbucks. It's made up of numerous parts: corporate infestation and proliferation of the store, desire to support local coffee shops, annoyance at high prices, annoyance at typical Starbucks clientale, company's refusal to use non-migrant worker coffee or non-hormone milk. But that doesn't mean I've never gone there, or that I even care if other people go there or if people work there. In fact, most people might not even know I'm boycotting them, though I'll occasionally share my concerns. I'm not trying to guilt them into not going -- I just think everyone has a duty to be aware.
I know Domino's pizza is evil. I think they've done horrible horrible things. But sometimes I want to pay six dollars for a thin crust pizza with pineapple and bacon, so I cave in and justify that only a few cents are going to support causes that make me vomit. This is significantly less than the proportion of my tax dollars going to horrible organizations, which is enough to alleviate my guilt for the twenty minutes it takes to eat the pizza. I don't feel hypocritical at all because I'm not truly excusing my actions. I'm owning them.
But please, people who are itching for a boycott, please educate yourself. Don't decide you know what's best -- read about the people being directly affected and follow what they recommend. Example: my friend saw a labor organizer speak who works overseas for Gap/Old Navy. She's trying to unionize the workers and get the corporation to pay non-pitiful wages. But she told the roomful of people they can help best NOT by boycotting, but instead by writing letters and contacting the corporation on their behalf. A loss of sales would mean the cheap labor factories are first to shut down, and the workers would be out of a job. Even though they need better pay, they also need a place to work. So don't be going around deciding what other people need you to do -- if you're going to do something, do the right thing. Go to the 'oppressed' people directly and they'll be happy to give you the best options.
And here ends my second soapbox rant of the day. I'll soon resume pithy commentary on television and movies.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2002-12-05 01:11 pm (UTC)As for me, I tend to participate in boycotts when they're strategic. I don't think that Just Not Buying is effective-- but a well-organized and promoted boycott can be. For example, a few years back, there was a Nabisco factory in Pittsburgh, right near Chatham. It was one of Nabisco's most profitable and effective bakeries, and it provided lots of well-paying, union jobs to a somewhat depressed neighborhood. Naturally, Nabisco decided to close it down, in the interests of "streamlining." During the time between the announcement and the shutdown, the union called for a boycott, and it caught on. There were BOYCOTT NABISCO stickers all over the city. We went without Oreos for almost a year. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, but it was a well-done boycott worth participating in. But I say if you're going to boycott, don't just not go there. Pick your target strategically, work with the workers (or whomever is in question), and flyer, table, sticker, march, hold press conferences, etc. It can be very effective if done well (see King, Martin Luther, Jr.). :-)
By the way, the guy who founded Domino's and gave its money to Operation Rescue and the like has since moved on, and Domino's isn't in the "charity" business anyone. You can eat your pizza knowing that it hasn't caused any more misery than any other corporate pizza chain. Heh.
s
no subject
Date: 2002-12-06 10:54 am (UTC)And by the way, you rock my socks too!