# Boycott of Arab products and brands **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189 "2006-01-30T09:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/21 "2006-01-30T15:51:48Z")
No, on second thought, I think I’ll just hate someone. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/22 "2006-01-30T16:00:31Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > If tiny Denmark has a bunch of such companies, then surely there must be some in all of the Arab world as well – besides oil. But perhaps there’s not. Missed this point first time through, and in the interests of trying to get back to a GQ perspective, I’ll address it now. No, from what I could find, it didn’t seem as though there were any other exports in any of those Arab countries that came close to competing with their oil products (except maybe cotton in Egypt). And it doesn’t surprise me: after all, Denmark, tiny though it may be, is much more industrially and economically developed than the Arab world, right? Less-developed countries typically concentrate on a few major exports, typically raw materials, while more-developed ones usually have a broader range. (Which is one reason the less-developed countries continue to be less developed: if there’s a fall in the price of their one or two major export commodities, they take a huge economic hit because they have no diversified outputs to fall back on.) IANAEconomist, but I think this is a fairly usual pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/23 "2006-01-30T16:07:00Z")
So just to get this straight, Denmark sends troops to help occupy Iraq (one of the world’s leading oil producers) & secure a western friendly government which will continue to ship petroleum prodcuts to western countries like Denmark. On top of that a Danish publication prints cartoons resulting from the ensuing conflict that are offensive to the world’s billion Muslims, the vast majority of whom aren’t Arabs at all. Some subset of Arab Muslims calls for a boycott of Danish goods and issues a call for an apology from the publication. (As opposed to, say, flying an airplane into Tycho Brahe’s observation tower, which looks to be about the tallest thing in Copenhagen.) The sum of this has your knickers in a twist, and as a result you want to boycott all of the products from every country of a major ethno-linguistuc group, despite the politics of each of the countries being radically different, and despite the fact you’re really not sure what those products might be. Wow. Suddenly Americans seem almost reasonable. I’m sure this thread is headed for another forum in any event. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/24 "2006-01-30T16:22:05Z")
You missed out the UAE. In fact, there are probably some Muslims calling for a boycott over here too, so better add the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/25 "2006-01-30T16:44:54Z")
The flag burning I can see. Don’t those guys know about barbecue tongs? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/26 "2006-01-30T17:02:31Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Noone is dead. Peter Noone? From Herman’s Hermits? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/27 "2006-01-30T17:35:03Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Peter Noone? From Herman’s Hermits? Well, _no milk today_ then! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/28 "2006-01-30T17:42:51Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Maybe I should avoid sandwiches as well. As long as sammiches are still fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/29 "2006-01-30T19:21:45Z")
Also, avoid sandpaper and cat litter. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/30 "2006-01-30T19:26:08Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > On top of that a Danish publication prints cartoons resulting from the ensuing conflict that are offensive to the world’s billion Muslims Are they, though? Are all billion Muslims going to be offended, or it is just a subset of idjits? Has there been any response from Indonesia, Iran or Pakistan or other non-Arabic centers? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/31 "2006-01-30T20:52:59Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Are they, though? Are all billion Muslims going to be offended, or it is just a subset of idjits? Has there been any response from Indonesia, Iran or Pakistan or other non-Arabic centers? I just did a quick Google search & found articles about the alleged offense & boycott in Indian, Pakistani & Turkish newspapers. Of course American Catholics just got an episode of _South Park_ yanked because of a similar issue, so I guess now we have to boycott Italy (not to mention restaurants in Little Italy) and Poland and Bolivia and, um… let’s say El Salvador. Just for good measure. “Take that, Papists!” This makes as much sense as the Arab boycott. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/32 "2006-01-30T21:01:56Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > [Egypt](http://countrystudies.us/egypt/94.htm)’s major exports seem to be petroleum products (over half the total, AFAICT) and cotton textiles. It’s gotta be pretty cold walking around (ie, not driving) naked in Denmark in the winter! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/33 "2006-02-02T23:22:46Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > . . . .on account of a few [fairly innocent cartoons of Muhammed](http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com/) . . . Dude, you call [this](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6337/2188/1600/kw.2.jpg) fairly innocent? I’m all for free speech, but that’s just intentionally incendiary. If that were an SDMB post, I wouldn’t be able to call it what it is without breaking board rules. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/34 "2006-02-03T00:32:42Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Dude, you call [this](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6337/2188/1600/kw.2.jpg) fairly innocent? > > I’m all for free speech, but that’s just intentionally incendiary. If that were an SDMB post, I wouldn’t be able to call it what it is without breaking board rules. Yeah, what’s wrong with that? There’s no right to not be offended anywhere. It’s a dang politcal cartoon. You think I go threatening boycotts every time there’s an “incendiary” cartoon of the GOP elephant? Or every time GWB is drawn in caracature? Lately a lot of the other European newspapers are reprinting in solidarity. Good. Look at the piss poor attitude of the “affect” countries. They just don’t grow up – it’s fun to see them whine over stupid idoltry crap. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/35 "2006-02-03T00:47:35Z")
I’d say that this production model has run its course in GQ. Let’s move it to the Pit and see what this baby can _really_ do. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/36 "2006-02-03T00:51:24Z")
Oh yeah. Did I call it or did I call it? ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/37 "2006-02-03T01:29:24Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Noone is dead > > > [@Walloon](#): > > > > Peter Noone? From Herman’s Hermits? > [@samclem](#): > > I’d say that this production model has run its course in GQ. Let’s move it to the Pit and see what this baby can really do. I say FUCK Mrs. Brown _and_ her ugly-ass daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/38 "2006-02-03T01:37:10Z")
I am already boycotting Jeddah Fries. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/39 "2006-02-03T01:44:29Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I’d say that this production model has run its course in GQ. Let’s move it to the Pit and see what this baby can _really_ do. Thanks a lot. I’m afraid I must now boycott GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/40 "2006-02-03T01:57:56Z")
Oh, and no more reruns of _Arabesque_. Even though Sophia Loren’s pretty hot. Of course the best counter to the Arab boycott is to increase consumption of Danish exports. This is a bit tough for us since Mrs. J. thinks Danish furniture is ugly and the cookies are fattening. As I mentioned in the GD boycott thread, we got some Danish Havarti cheese (with chives) today and I am considering replacing Provolone with Havarti for the duration. And speaking of Danish exports, I pledge to read one more **Rune** post per week. It’s a sacrifice but we must stay strong in the face of intimidation. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189.md?page=3)