Do You Boycott?

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

This is me, too, but I voted in solidarity with agzg.

I'm not much of an organized boycott person, though I have been more so in the past. If I do boycott, I tend to do it quietly, and I'll reconsider from time to time.

I do think that franchises (Chik-fil-A, Exxon, BP) present complicated issues with regard to boycotts. Who is hurt more from me withholding my patronage, the big corporation or the local franchise owner who's just trying to make a living and provide income for his employees, and who may be a very good local corporate citizen? Should I punish the franchisee for corporate decisions she has no control over?

I guess I don't really care if the local owner is screwed-if they are in bed so to speak with exxon or chik fil a that is their problem. No one held a gun to their head making them open said franchise. I guess I am heartless

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by agzg

I don't like pinkwashing, either, 33. Many breast cancer campaigns divorce the actual woman and her life from "saving her breasts."

I actually think I might have given Dee an earful about that over the week - Dee was it you I was with when that guy had the "Save the boobies" t-shirt on?

God, I almost gave him an earful.

FWIW, avoiding Exxon stations (or BP), doesn't matter. Exxon oil is still getting into your tank at some point - they take what they drill and sell it all over the place, in addition to buying other companies' oil and putting it in your tank. Oil boycotts are only effective if it's the refineries that are boycotting them.

The shirt said "Save second base" and yes, it was me! Who else were you with all last week?

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The shirt said "Save second base" and yes, it was me! Who else were you with all last week?

I forget all the people I aim my righteous indignation at in a week's time. It's a lot.

[ASTalumna06]

Go, Mayor Menino!

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/...m_meninos.html

I'm not really boycotting Chik-fil-a as I never really ate there to begin with. I think I've eaten at one of these restaurants twice in my life.. and that was because it was the only thing around when I needed to grab a quick lunch when traveling for work.

I grew up in New England where they didn't really have Chik-fil-a. I just looked up their locations, and they're only in two NE states - New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and all three locations are in malls. I remember there being one in the mall I would go to all the time growing up (their only NH location), but I don't remember people lined up there to get food. It was just kind of there. (Same thing with Arby's - I didn't even know it was a major chain until I moved to PA).

I don't know that I've ever really "boycotted" any company.. but maybe that's because I've never come across a situation in which I've felt that I needed to boycott.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by aggieAXO

I guess I don't really care if the local owner is screwed-if they are in bed so to speak with exxon or chik fil a that is their problem. No one held a gun to their head making them open said franchise. I guess I am heartless

But in the case of Exxon and BP, those boycotts have typically been in response to specific events -- oil spills and the response (or lack thereof) by the oil company. Local franchisees, who may have had the franchises for years if not decades before the oil spills, have nothing to do with the spills or the responses. They're not in a position to suddenly say "Oh, let me go to a different oil company right now." And as others have noted, the effect of a boycott in these instances will be felt entirely by the franchisee, not by BP or Exxon.

In my view, that makes them collateral damage, and I personally have an issue with that. Fine if others don't. But I'll admit it -- even though I don't usually buy from BP, I did when others were boycotting it after the Gulf spill. I didn't want to see local business be punished for things they didn't do and had no control over at all.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

But in the case of Exxon and BP, those boycotts have typically been in response to specific events -- oil spills and the response (or lack thereof) by the oil company. Local franchisees, who may have had the franchises for years if not decades before the oil spills, have nothing to do with the spills or the responses. They're not in a position to suddenly say "Oh, let me go to a different oil company right now." And as others have noted, the effect of a boycott in these instances will be felt entirely by the franchisee, not by BP or Exxon.

In my view, that makes them collateral damage, and I personally have an issue with that. Fine if others don't. But I'll admit it -- even though I don't usually buy from BP, I did when others were boycotting it after the Gulf spill. I didn't want to see local business be punished for things they didn't do and had no control over at all.

I see your point, but creating economic pressure on franchisees creates pressure on the corporation. Franchisees complain loudly when stuff like this happens. They yell at the parent corporation. The parent corporation responds to that stuff. They need to keep their franchisees happy.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KDCat

I see your point, but creating economic pressure on franchisees creates pressure on the corporation. Franchisees complain loudly when stuff like this happens. They yell at the parent corporation. The parent corporation responds to that stuff. They need to keep their franchisees happy.

I see that point as well, though I'm not convinced it's always the case.

My point really is that these things aren't always as simple as they might seem. To me, there's a lot of gray in there. Laws of unintended consequences and all that.

[Lilgiant2016]

I was raised by a family that makes a habit of researching companies and voting for things with our dollars. It can be difficult but when in doubt I will shop locally even if I don't agree with an owner's politics because it is even more important to put money in my local community.

It can be a real pain when buying books this year, since Amazon loves to give to politicians that I despise.