Boycotts

[nickybr38]

What are your thoughts on boycotts?

Are they a form of bullying? (Think like I think or I’m going to ignore you!)
Are they effective?
Are they right and just?

Thinking about the Chick-Fil-A situation got me wondering about this. Because when Christians boycott an organization for supporting same-sex marriage it’s all fine and good but when a Christian organization is boycotted for not supporting same-sex marriage it seems like the Christians get all up in arms.

Why is it okay in one direction and not in the other?

Someone care to explain this to me because the whole thing has got me confuzzled.

 

[Regular_Atheist]

What are your thoughts on boycotts?

Are they a form of bullying? (Think like I think or I’m going to ignore you!)
Are they effective?
Are they right and just?

Thinking about the Chick-Fil-A situation got me wondering about this. Because when Christians boycott an organization for supporting same-sex marriage it’s all fine and good but when a Christian organization is boycotted for not supporting same-sex marriage it seems like the Christians get all up in arms.

Why is it okay in one direction and not in the other?

Someone care to explain this to me because the whole thing has got me confuzzled.

Well, to answer your last question, it depends on the individual’s views. For example, when people were boycotting Oreo lots of “liberals” were kind of angry about it and said it was bigotry, but it was the other way around when it came to Chick-fil-a. I think everyone is guility of this kind of hypocrisy.

 

[Richard320]

Boycotts either direction are fair. It’s called voting with your pocketbook.

What’s unfair in the case of Chick Fil A is that Government officials have threatened and bullied a legitimate business because the personal views of the owner don’t agree with theirs. If the Mayors had said they won’t eat there, great. But it wasn’t them, it was their office. It’s abuse of power. There has been no mention anywhere - and you know darn well there would be if it ever happened - of CFA firing an employee or refusing service or anything else based on sexual orientation. The corporation hasn’t done anything illegal. The owner hasn’t done anything wrong. He used to his God-given right to Freedom of Speech to share - share, not force, he was asked - his beliefs which he is allowed to hold because he has Freedom of Religion.

If the (insert your choice of words here) don’t want to eat at Chick Fil A, let 'em boycott! It makes me more likely to eat there.

 

[Seeker1961]

Where and how you spend your money is a personal decision. There’s certainly nothing wrong with making choice to spend your money with companies that agree with your values.

I don’t think they’re all that effective though. Evangelical Christians claimed to be boycotting Disney for years because Disney allowed gay people to come there during their June Pride weekends in Orlando, but it certainly never hurt Disney’s profits. There’s currently a rash of photoshopped signs on Facebook from other fast food restaurants on begging to be boycotted, as the backlash brings in more money.

 

[nickybr38]

Interesting. I’ve been struggling to understand boycotts since the Pepsi debacle and honestly I’m not sure how this whole thing works.

If a company publicly supports things we believe to be abhorrent we boycott but what about all the places that support these same things behind closed doors or at least more quietly?

Personally I feel a company shouldn’t HAVE a stance period. They should remain impartial, like the government. That way I don’t have to think so hard about which soda I want.

 

[Regular_Atheist]

Personally I feel a company shouldn’t HAVE a stance period. They should remain impartial, like the government. That way I don’t have to think so hard about which soda I want.

Yeah, I agree. I don’t boycott products, anyway. I feel it’s kind of against freedom of speech. Unless the company are actually funding something I disagree with, why boycott products?

 

[number2wilkins]

i don’t think so much in terms of whether or not my “boycott” of a particular business is “effective” as such… i think in terms of whether or not i am willing to contribute to particular businesses… it’s more a matter of my conscience, whether or not the business even notices isn’t the point for me… i notice, therefore i am careful what i do with my money…

that being said, one has to draw a line somewhere…

i also agree that businesses should keep to business… there’s no need for companies to take a public stance on a moral issue… leave that to individuals… to the legislature… and to the Church…

 

[fastenatingguy]

Interesting. I’ve been struggling to understand boycotts since the Pepsi debacle and honestly I’m not sure how this whole thing works.

If a company publicly supports things we believe to be abhorrent we boycott but what about all the places that support these same things behind closed doors or at least more quietly?

Personally I feel a company shouldn’t HAVE a stance period. They should remain impartial, like the government. That way I don’t have to think so hard about which soda I want.

**
They should remain impartial, like the government.**

 

[fastenatingguy]

Yeah, I agree. I don’t boycott products, anyway. I feel it’s kind of against freedom of speech. Unless the company are actually funding something I disagree with, why boycott products?

** I feel it’s kind of against freedom of speech**

 

[Allegra]

What are your thoughts on boycotts?

Are they a form of bullying? (Think like I think or I’m going to ignore you!)
Are they effective?
Are they right and just?

Thinking about the Chick-Fil-A situation got me wondering about this. Because when Christians boycott an organization for supporting same-sex marriage it’s all fine and good but when a Christian organization is boycotted for not supporting same-sex marriage it seems like the Christians get all up in arms.

Why is it okay in one direction and not in the other?

Someone care to explain this to me because the whole thing has got me confuzzled.

If I decide to boycott someone, it’s going to be based on something they do, not something they think. I think most of the boycotts people post on here are rediculous. However, is a company was really doing something injust then I would totally boycott them. Speaking one’s beliefs is not an injustice, even if I think those beliefs are incorrect, silly, unkind, or down right reprehensible.

 

[Publisher]

What are your thoughts on boycotts?

Are they a form of bullying? (Think like I think or I’m going to ignore you!)
Are they effective?
Are they right and just?

Thinking about the Chick-Fil-A situation got me wondering about this. Because when Christians boycott an organization for supporting same-sex marriage it’s all fine and good but when a Christian organization is boycotted for not supporting same-sex marriage it seems like the Christians get all up in arms.

Why is it okay in one direction and not in the other?

Someone care to explain this to me because the whole thing has got me confuzzled.

My own opinion is that for the most part boycotts are tools for “the faithful” to assage their conscience while supporting a boycott that really does not cause them any real “sacrifice” to boycott…when “the faithful” boycott ALL the companies that support same sex marriage and their subsidiaries…then they may be on to something…but I’ve never eaten at Chick-fil-A…so count me in on this boycott!!! Not patronizing an establishment I never have patronized…isn’t much of a boycott.

Target supports same sex marriage…even offers partner’s benefits…Pepsi and Coke and all the snack food companies support same sex marriage for the most part and offer benefits to partners…don’t see much of a call to boycott them…oh…I can not drink Coke of Pepsi…but I dont’ drink Coke or Pepsi either…so count me in on the boycotts!!!

There’d be a lot of shabbily dressed, underweight, bad hair boycotters if they were consistent…but…they’re not.

Boycotts in this day and age do very little other than cause arm and shoulder strain as “we” reach around and “pat ourselves on the back” for being such mindful boycooters:shrug:.

 

[thewanderer]

If I decide to boycott someone, it’s going to be based on something they do, not something they think. I think most of the boycotts people post on here are rediculous. However, is a company was really doing something injust then I would totally boycott them. Speaking one’s beliefs is not an injustice, even if I think those beliefs are incorrect, silly, unkind, or down right reprehensible.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

I’ll order two Chick-Fil-A sandwiches my next visit. And some of their delicious sweet tea. Then I will say a prayer for the founder.

 

[Allegra]

There’d be a lot of shabbily dressed, underweight, bad hair boycotters if they were consistent…but…they’re not.

Boycotts in this day and age do very little other than cause arm and shoulder strain as “we” reach around and “pat ourselves on the back” for being such mindful boycooters:shrug:.

Don’t forget the massive fortune they’d accumulate in the bank from not buying anything!

 

[nickybr38]

I think I should boycott every store but the grocery store because honestly my debt load is ridiculous and I struggle with liking stuff. Haha.

 

[exnihilo]

Boycotts are the greatest power of the people. It is far more effective than political voting. All organizations will wither without income.

I do not think boycotts are a form of bullying. Boycotting is choosing not to purchase from a business. Bullying is personal. Some of the people against Chick-fil-a are engaging in bullying by insulting people and calling them hateful.

Yes boycotts are completely effective. In fact they are the only social act guaranteed to be effective. The problem is you have to actually boycott (so you have to have had trade that you can take away) and you have to have sufficient numbers. The problem in modern America is that most people ,including Christians and conservative Christians, are not willing to actually sacrifice their small pleasures despite their life of ease. It might be surprising but it seems to me the people with the least are more often willing to sacrifice what little they have for principle.

Not many businesses can survive a twenty percent reduction in revenue. This is not hard to achieve if you have numbers on your side. Of course if the issue is one where people are split then the business your side removes might be replaced by the other side. Therefore more important than a boycott is getting people to see an issue properly. You need to get them to understand the morality and to take morality seriously. In my experience most people neither understand morality nor take it very seriously, at least in the realm of sexual morality.

Boycotts are right because you should not support evil in any way if you can help it and no one is entitled to your trade.

I think the reason is simple why those who call for boycotts are offended when others call for boycotts of their organizations. The people calling for the boycott think they are right and in being right are being just. Being against their side is unjust. Most people do not have anything like a live and let live mentality. Most people want to force their beliefs and their lifestyle on you. Because this is so it is important to be strong for your advocacy of what is right because the other side will be working hard to force you to live their way. There is simply no room for complacency in this world.

 

[edwest2]

Well, to answer your last question, it depends on the individual’s views. For example, when people were boycotting Oreo lots of “liberals” were kind of angry about it and said it was bigotry, but it was the other way around when it came to Chick-fil-a. I think everyone is guility of this kind of hypocrisy.

It’s not hypocrisy at all. Should a Liberal vote Conservative? Should a Conservative vote Liberal? In the secular world, people stand by their belief system, right? They firmly believe what they firmly believe. Are individual Catholics going to start sending money to Planned Parenthood?

Peace,
Ed

 

[Rence]

What are your thoughts on boycotts?

Are they a form of bullying? (Think like I think or I’m going to ignore you!)
Are they effective?
Are they right and just?

I don’t think boycotts are a form of bullying. If one is bothered so much by something about a business or its owners, boycotting is one way to deal with it. It’s your money, spend it in a way that is meaningful to you. And everyone is different. I’m more likely to use my money in a positive way, like commiting to monthly payments to the ASPCA. Other people donate yearly, weekly, etc. to the charity of their choice. I’m sure it irks people to know their money is used (after it’s spent) on things they find repugnant, so not giving money in that case is probably gratifiying those people.

It’s only effective if enough people boycott. It’s right and just for the person doing the boycotting…they have the right to boycott if they don’t agree with a company’s actions, policies, objectives, or their representatives.

Thinking about the Chick-Fil-A situation got me wondering about this. Because when Christians boycott an organization for supporting same-sex marriage it’s all fine and good but when a Christian organization is boycotted for not supporting same-sex marriage it seems like the Christians get all up in arms.

Why is it okay in one direction and not in the other?

Someone care to explain this to me because the whole thing has got me confuzzled.

Because people tend to think of their own beliefs and values as being more imporant than the next persons, and of course, their own beliefs and values are right and truthful, while the next person’s is not. And they’ll come out straight and say it. It’s inconceiveable to some people that other peoples’ beliefs and values are just as important as their own.

 

[maryjk]

It’s not hypocrisy at all. Should a Liberal vote Conservative? Should a Conservative vote Liberal? In the secular world, people stand by their belief system, right? They firmly believe what they firmly believe. Are individual Catholics going to start sending money to Planned Parenthood?

Peace,
Ed

Hypocrisy to call boycotting bigotry then turn around and boycott something. If it is wrong to boycott, then it doesn’t matter who does it.

 

[Allegra]

Hypocrisy to call boycotting bigotry then turn around and boycott something. If it is wrong to boycott, then it doesn’t matter who does it.

Boycotting isn’t in and of itself bigotry, but it is certainly possible that a person could choose to boycott because of bigotry. A person is always within their right to boycott anyone, but a person can be within their right and still not be right. I personally don’t think it is right to boycott someone because of what they think. I believe a person has the right to think whatever truth they know as long as their actions don’t infringe upon the rights of others. If Chick-fil-a (for example) was actively descriminating against people by refusing to hire or serve them, then I could see the reason for the boycott. That doesn’t seem to be the case, though one poster did state that it was in his personal experience. The question is this. Does the owner of the company have the right to have a religious and/or political opinion? If we say that he does, then it can’t be right to boycott his company because he has not done anything wrong. The same would apply to other companies as well.