Hi, So I often see people from all sides of the political spectrum supporting boycotts, deplatforming, etc. I'm wondering if I am alone in not buying into any of this. If I'm buying a pie from your bakery, I honestly don't care if you support genocide, support radical Communism and a purge of the bourgeoisie, support Israel, hate libertarians, hate men, are a rabid feminist, etc. I don't care if you want to oppress whatever group I happen to be a part of. I don't care if you support changing the law to facilitate my public execution and the executions of my family and children. I just want a good pie. If you serve good pies I will go to your business no matter your politics. Though there are many justifications people might give for boycotts and deplatforming, some of them quite reasonable (though not agreeable), a fair chunk of these people I see as beating their chest and signalling their moral virtue. I won't name any names because it wouldn't serve any purpose. I've seen all sides do this (liberals, conservatives, anarchists, communists, libertarians, etc). _____________________________________ I often feel like I am completely alone in this opinion, so I thought I'd get the perspective of PF on this. Thanks guys. Try to keep the comments civil. Let's get a broad discussion going shall we? Let's see how long we can go without mentioning either of the terms "Trump" or "Russia".
I support freedom. Freedom to boycot is an underlying force to the function of the free market. My personal views align very closely to the ones you expressed in the OP, however, I realize that what makes winners and losers in the marketplace is, in part, affected by the public perceptions that the business, or individual, project.
Liberty is more important than pie. If a pie is more important to you than the guy they are torturing in the back room, you have some serious issues.
I do not boycott. In fact, I go out of my way to listen to the other side. I watch MSNBC and I listen to public radio. I grew up in the 1970's when virtually 100% of the media was leftist. I don't agree with their agenda, but I'm comfortable hearing the news through that perspective. I bet that sounds odd.
I'm not saying I want to make it illegal to boycott or deplatform, I'm saying I don't personally support it.
Generally I don't boycott things for political reason but you can be certain if I get bad service and your customer service department doesn't step and fetch straightening it out, you have lost my business forever. I overlook a lot of things, and I am not talking about normal someone having a bad day stuff. If I feel like I am being screwed, lied to or lied about, I will make sure everybody knows exactly why they shouldn't do business with you, and when appropriate, the state agencies, BBB, etc will know too.
I completely understood that, and did not mean to imply otherwise. If there was a street vendor selling hotdogs while wearing a Klan outfit, and another across the street selling similar fare, but with no such outwardly perceivable bias, would you walk the extra 100 feet to avoid the Klan guy? I think I would.
I generally agree with the OP. However, if I was strongly repulsed by an unusual circumstance I might behave differently. For example; I wouldn't buy a pie from OJ's Bakery.
All boycott is a act of silencing, or deplatforming( fancy term) other people. Both sides do it, and both sides look moronic when they do it.
Then whoever is closer to me. If they are the same distance away from me then I have no particular preference.
One of the primary differences today between the left and the right, is that the left wants to ban any speaker or thought that differs from their own. The University of California for example seems to longer want to allow free speech under the 1st amendment to the constitution!
Very logical of you, however, I believe that would place you in a minority group. I think most people would walk the extra 100 feet to eschew the Klanburger stand.
For the most part you're right. But, the other side is just as guilty. I'm sure you can find half a dozen boycotts by the right, for this that, and the other. I remember when the Dixichicks went overseas, and bad mouthed Bush. All hell reined down on them, and it turned out that Bush was a embarrassment. Personally, I would never go overseas, and bad mouth my own country, or president. Only suckups do that. But, that's a person's right to do so if they choose.
