Night Elf Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 We all see the Chick-fil-A hoopla. Some people want to boycott the restaurant. So how do we find out about other companies? I knew Chick-fil-A was religious but I didn't know what they were doing with their money. What about other restaurants or stores? People talk about supporting companies that believe in the same things they do, but how do people find out what companies share their beliefs? I just shop where I get a good deal and eat food that I like. I've never thought about politics when it comes to my consumerism. Am I an oddball? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 If this is serious to someone then they should research everyone they shop with and consider politics from the ground up of the product. I wonder if we wouldn't find something we disagreed with in most every company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdalley Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 If I boycotted everything that took a stance I didn't agree with I'd starve and never leave the house. I'd never turn on the TV or pick up a book or a magazine. And I'd never surf the net. Heck, I probably couldn't find a computer manufacturer that didn't donate money some place I'd never send mine. To each there own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Not really responsible of me, but I rely on one of my friends to give me information about companies that are not acting socially responsibly or use their profits for purposes I don't agree with. My friend is single and has always worked for human rights organizations and has constant access to this information. I do base many of my purchasing decisions on things she has told and shown me. If I didn't have her for a resource, I'm not sure how much delving I would do on my own. As far as food goes, about 8 years ago, I started reading about how to cure depression without pills, and that got me into reading about the food industry and how appalling it actually is. So, now my food purchases are very different than they used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 For me, there is one topic that I won't bend my beliefs on what-so-ever. Every once and awhile, I google the topic name and other relavent search terms, so I can stay up to date, as businesses have a change of heart from time to time. On this particular topic, there are a few main websites that continually research and then list companies that donate money to organizations that support this topic. That is how I know which companies that I will or will not support. This has been fairly easy, as there are so many others brands and companies choose from, besides the ones that donate to organizations I will not support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 No, you're not an oddball. I try to refrain from doing business with companies that act directly in ways I find intolerable as part of their business model - and over the many years that's meant not buying from Nestle, Gap, California grape-growers, Shell, and Disney - I don't care to patronize companies that knowingly use sweatshop and/or child labor, abuse their workers, or injure their customers, is all. But like you, I don't have the time, energy, or inclination to care about corporate public statements, donations, or publicity stunts. Call me callous. Besides, there's a Sonic only a few blocks away. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 If I boycotted everything that took a stance I didn't agree with I'd starve and never leave the house. I'd never turn on the TV or pick up a book or a magazine. And I'd never surf the net. Heck, I probably couldn't find a computer manufacturer that didn't donate money some place I'd never send mine. To each there own. True. However, if you choose just one or two issues that you feel strongly about, it is possible and fairly easy to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Now that I'm living in a small town, I think I'll choose to be deliberately ignorant. There's not enough options w/in a half hr drive to be able to afford to boycott anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I try to shop in a manner that keeps the most money as close to home as possible. So I try to buy and eat at locally owned stores. Here's my preference list: 1. Locally owned store selling a lot of local merchandise 2. Locally owned store selling items made in Colorado/USA 3. Colorado owned store (same ranking as above) 4. Franchise (a lot of money still stays local) 5. Chain (most money goes to where the chain is headquartered) However, I do take value into consideration also- sometimes I need some cheap clothing. That's usually made over seas. As far as political ideas go, I'm a fiscal conservative but a social liberal... so I can't get on board with most people's over all agenda. In homeschooling circles, I generally get along better with the structured conservative Christians than the un-schooling liberals. (Until they find our I'm an atheist, then all hell breaks loose. LOL!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Social networking makes it hard to avoid hearing about company policies people love or hate--at least the major ones. I just saw someone post a link to Dump Starbucks on Facebook this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 We peruse the ratings from the Human Rights Campaign every year: http://www.hrc.org/apps/buyersguide/index.php I also read the news and am signed up for newsletters from organizations whose missions I support. Plus, I have a politcally aware teenage daughter, who makes SURE I know where I'm supposed to shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 If this is serious to someone then they should research everyone they shop with and consider politics from the ground up of the product. I wonder if we wouldn't find something we disagreed with in most every company. Of course, in exactly the same way that I have never yet found a political candidate with whom I agree 100%. And I do still shop at some businesses with whom I disagree on some fundamental things. My approach is that I try to find alternatives as often as i can and to minimize the amount of money I spend with such businesses. I also write letters and e-mails to the coporate offices letting them know what steps I am taking and why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Hm. I really only boycott one company, but I don't boycott it for political reasons. At least, I don't think of them as political. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I try to shop in a manner that keeps the most money as close to home as possible. So I try to buy and eat at locally owned stores. Here's my preference list: 1. Locally owned store selling a lot of local merchandise 2. Locally owned store selling items made in Colorado/USA 3. Colorado owned store (same ranking as above) 4. Franchise (a lot of money still stays local) 5. Chain (most money goes to where the chain is headquartered) However, I do take value into consideration also- sometimes I need some cheap clothing. That's usually made over seas. As far as political ideas go, I'm a fiscal conservative but a social liberal... so I can't get on board with most people's over all agenda. In homeschooling circles, I generally get along better with the structured conservative Christians than the un-schooling liberals. (Until they find our I'm an atheist, then all hell breaks loose. LOL!) Ooh, you'd fit in so well around here.:D You know, the whole "Keep Austin Weird" meme was originally a Shop Locally campaign. And like the Farmers and the Ranchers, in these parts the atheists and the believers, the unschoolers and the classical educators, are all friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in MN Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I agree that I can't doing a 100% job 100% of the time, but I try and do what I can. It's getting to be harder and harder to do boycotts as most companies are owned by another. It's even harder when you follow a long-term boycott and companies trade business like they are playing Go Fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Google has their Legalise Love campaign, which despite its name (and initial reports) is not about marriage equality, but is still cool. :001_smile: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/google-legalize-love-campaign-isnt-about-gay-marriage/2012/07/08/gJQAN3PQWW_blog.html http://www.google.com/diversity/legalise-love.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I don't know all the details of the chicken place, but if a company were to be very outwardly supporting something very controversial, then I would personally think they are trying to have a target audience. Maybe I would not want to be around that group of people they are trying to lure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Plus, I have a politcally aware teenage daughter, who makes SURE I know where I'm supposed to shop. :lol::lol::lol: I know what you mean. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I don't shop at Walmart. I'm not sure if that's for political reasons anymore. I just hate the store. I buy local food as much as possible. Today, I saw peaches from Cal in my grocery store. Why? Peaches are coming in now in VA. I didn't buy the Cal peaches. Summer/fall I try to go to farmer's markets. I want to buy American made/manufactured. That's hard. Frequently, I can't find American made/manufactured. We've had policies for years that have allowed/encouraged factories to shut down. Something I do regularly buy is the New Balance 993 running shoes. Most New Balance shoes are not American made these are and my son and I wear them. But if they didn't fit my foot I well I wouldn't choose them. Some people just can't wear that model or brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I agree that I can't doing a 100% job 100% of the time, but I try and do what I can. It's getting to be harder and harder to do boycotts as most companies are owned by another. It's even harder when you follow a long-term boycott and companies trade business like they are playing Go Fish! No kidding! I will usually purposely shop somewhere to support something rather than avoid shopping somewhere because of some stance the company has taken. I could probably find something to get upset about with every place I shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 It's somewhat ironic that most of the companies I'd *want* to boycott are not ones I'd likely do business with anyway. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna in Texas Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 It's somewhat ironic that most of the companies I'd *want* to boycott are not ones I'd likely do business with anyway. :001_huh: Same here, except for CFA. I haven't been there in over a year, though, and won't be going back. On mornings when I'd want the car, and I'd take dh to work, I'd always go pick up a bunch of little chicken minis. They are served on these little yeasty roll biscuit things that are so so so good. I must find a copy cat recipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Google has their Legalise Love campaign, which despite its name (and initial reports) is not about marriage equality, but is still cool. :001_smile: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/google-legalize-love-campaign-isnt-about-gay-marriage/2012/07/08/gJQAN3PQWW_blog.html http://www.google.com/diversity/legalise-love.html Totally boring unless they allow conjugal visits to employees. I mean, if prisons have them, why not Google? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Totally boring unless they allow conjugal visits to employees. I mean, if prisons have them, why not Google? :lol: Especially given the hours many of them work... And in other news: Google plans to take on Mexican drug cartels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 We peruse the ratings from the Human Rights Campaign every year: http://www.hrc.org/apps/buyersguide/index.php I also read the news and am signed up for newsletters from organizations whose missions I support. Plus, I have a politcally aware teenage daughter, who makes SURE I know where I'm supposed to shop. Interesting. The places I like to shop have ratings of 90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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