# Companies you won't patronize because of their owners/ads? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766 "2006-06-27T21:06:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/61 "2006-06-29T20:06:08Z")
Hmm, I always wondered why Chic-fil-a was closed when we went to the mall – it’s cuz we go to the mall on Sundays. In defense of Coors, they’re really selling Colorado, on the (often mistaken) assumption that everybody wants to be in Colorado. Personally, I’m damn proud to watch those commercials, but I understand how it would annoy the hell out of somebody who’s not from here. My favorites are the ones with Pete Coors in 'em, but that’s because I’ve actually had lunch with Pete Coors. And there were only about 150 other people there at the same time, so it was, like, a really intimate lunch with Colorado’s crown prince. My wife hates the Proctor & Gamble Always ads that talk about having a “happy period.” The first time she saw it, she came straight up off the sofa and unleashed, “Are you f\*\*\*ing kidding me!?” I jokingly said, “Don’t you wish you could have periods again, just so you could boycott Proctor & Gamble?” When I came to, Jay Leno was on, so I had to go to bed without watching Marg Helgenberger on “CSI.” There’s no such thing as a happy period in Mrs. Rice’s world. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/62 "2006-06-29T20:57:51Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Currently that stupid fake Aussie guy in the **Outback Steakhouse** commercials is offputting, though I can’t say I’ve ever wanted for reasons to dodge that place. If by “fake Aussie” you mean New Zealander, then, yeah, he’s fake. He’s Jermaine Clement who, along with Bred MacKenzie, make up Flight of the Concords, a hysterically funny duo that sings Australian “digi-folk” music. I caught part of their act on [gorillamask.net](http://gorillamask.net), but can’t find it right now. If you have time, paw through the past three or four weeks of gorillamask, you’ll find 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/63 "2006-06-29T21:08:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I don’t agree with Chick-Fil-a but at least they are honest and forthright about it, so although I don’t go out of my way to eat there, I will do so on a rare occassion. I’m glad you said this, because I have been wondering about something as I have been following this thread. And I’m being serious about this…not trying to give anyone a hard time, but just trying to understand. Why would you boycott a business because the owners are “out” about their Christianity? For example, this post: > [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > Chick-fil-a. I love their food but I refuse to go to a place that is so smug about their Christianity. > From their website > > > [@](#): > > > > Quote: > > Our official statement of corporate purpose says that we exist “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” > > I want a sandwich not a sermon. OK…but really, it’s just a mission statement…it’s not like they are sermonizing as they hand you the sandwich…it’s just part of how they want to internally run their business. It COULD be that this attitude actually has a positive effect on how they treat their customers…isn’t this a good thing? And these: > [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > I will not go to Jiffy Lube. They had a Christmastime radio ad with a children’s choir singing ‘Jiffy Lube’ over and over again to the tune: > > “Tell all the world > Jesus is King.” > > (I have no idea what that carol is, and now I cannot listen to it without hearing ‘Jiffy Lube.’) > [@Dinsdale](#): > > We had a local jeweller in town who felt the need to take out an ad in the local paper to explain why “Jesus IS the reason for the season.” Don’t care if it is a watch battery replacement or the purchase of some pricey jewelry, but I definitely won’t darken their doors again. I mean, I guess I can understand that not everyone agrees with these assessments (except…ISN’T Jesus the reason for the season?) But why is it so offensive to hear the words? I mean, I can understand if the business committed a specific action you didn’t agree with, but just for letting the world know they are Christians? That seems really discriminatory to me. What if it was a Jewish-owned business, and the mission statement made some reference to their religious devotion, would you be similarly inclined to stay away from them? I’m not suggesting that one should not “vote with your dollars” if you feel strongly…but where does this strong feeling come from? ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/64 "2006-06-29T21:26:12Z")
There’s not much in advertising that will drive me to not buying a product. Mentos managed it, though, with that damned jingle that got played and played and played and played. Doo doo doo doo doo doo DOO WAHHHHHH! _shudder_ However, now that (a) they’ve dropped the horrifying earworm and (b) there’s that whole Mentos + Diet Coke = geyser o’fun thing, I just might reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/65 "2006-06-29T21:32:41Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I’m glad you said this, because I have been wondering about something as I have been following this thread. And I’m being serious about this…not trying to give anyone a hard time, but just trying to understand. Why would you boycott a business because the owners are “out” about their Christianity? I was raised to believe that true Christians shouldn’t have to walk around all the time saying “we’re Christians!” or “we live such Christian lives!”; their actions should be enough to show that they have embraced Christian teachings. And in my personal experience, individuals who insist on telling you that they’re Christian will then proceed to tell you everything you’re doing wrong in your life, and why you’re going to hell and they aren’t. That’s why I’m at least wary of a business that goes out of its way to say it operates on Christian values. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/66 "2006-06-29T21:44:53Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > I was raised to believe that true Christians shouldn’t have to walk around all the time saying “we’re Christians!” or “we live such Christian lives!”; their actions should be enough to show that they have embraced Christian teachings. And in my personal experience, individuals who insist on telling you that they’re Christian will then proceed to tell you everything you’re doing wrong in your life, and why you’re going to hell and they aren’t. That’s why I’m at least wary of a business that goes out of its way to say it operates on Christian values. OK, I can get with that…but the point of the mission statement is exactly what you are saying. It doesn’t say anything about what they think about anyone else. The point it to set up an attitude within the company. > [@](#): > > to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us this basically means not to use the business or anything connected to it to an immoral end > [@](#): > > and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." And this is basically saying what you said above…show your Christianity through your actions. So…what is really wrong with this? ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/67 "2006-06-29T22:02:27Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > OK, I can get with that…but the point of the mission statement is exactly what you are saying. It doesn’t say anything about what they think about anyone else. The point it to set up an attitude within the company. > this basically means not to use the business or anything connected to it to an immoral end > And this is basically saying what you said above…show your Christianity through your actions. > So…what is really wrong with this? I’m a pagan/borderline atheist living in a country that is becoming more and more controlled by the Christian right. I don’t like Christianity - what it’s based on nor what it’s become. I’ve read their bible and I have no respect for the religion nor do I wish to support it or its people. I am convinced (whether rightly or not) that if I was to start a fast-food chain that claimed “to glorify Pan and Danu by being a faithful steward of the old ways and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with McDruids”, that store would be boycotted, picketed, etc. I can and do peacefully and quietly choose to not frequent businesses that are overtly Christian. That is what is wrong with it. Of course, I don’t expect anyone else to feel this way, but we can’t all have a nice rational reason for our choices. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/68 "2006-06-29T22:18:57Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > I’ll never shop at a Kroger grocery store; the chain supported a labor organization’s boycott of Mt. Olive Pickle Company (where my father worked). > > I won’t even look at a Chick-fil-A; aside from wearing their religion on their shirtsleeve, the “cows r dum, eat mor chikin” commercials are tired and stupid. They’ve got TV commercials, radio commercials, TV billboards, newspaper inserts, mail flyers, mylar balloons, ladies at the mall chasing you with trays of toothpick-spiked chicken tidbits…you can’t get away from them. Why was Mt. Olive boycotted? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/69 "2006-06-29T22:51:10Z")
> [@Jeep's Phoenix](#): > > I won’t even look at a Chick-fil-A; aside from wearing their religion on their shirtsleeve, the “cows r dum, eat mor chikin” commercials are tired and stupid. They’ve got TV commercials, radio commercials, TV billboards, newspaper inserts, mail flyers, mylar balloons, ladies at the mall chasing you with trays of toothpick-spiked chicken tidbits…you can’t get away from them. [Is that what’s going on here?](http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VwDhAjkaIHV5OiFpXpD1hlZ9sSMYwskgdY5TQ8JiA3qRkoOJUk5578GGvenwh3WcndQvyeq1eyEFvvT1oGMffdSx*u!WVKhhLKGTp3F3IOp5Ayf72pwKpkKIAKo1H!Mh/ry%20and%20such%20044.jpg?dc=4675494732250234276) I saw it while in Texas right before the 2004 election. I had never seen it before, but thought it was really funny. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/70 "2006-06-29T22:53:30Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > No way, did they really? Ho Chunk is a shitty casino, but we go a few times a year when we’re up in the Dells. Might have to put a stop to that. It was about 4 seasons ago. They put out some pretty insensitive ads every so often. There was a televised debate when Wisconsin was considering gambling in the state. I wish I had a copy. The woman representing Ho Chunk said something that scored a point for the none gaming side, and she didn’t even relize it. It had me thinking and they want her to represent them why. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/71 "2006-06-29T23:16:42Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > I haven’t shopped at JCPenny since last Valentine’s day, and I never intend to do so. I was greatly offended by those nasty, degrading ads they ran showing women scorning the men in their lives until they wised up and bought them a piece of JCP’s shitty, cheap jewelery. Are you sure this isn’t a Jared’s Jewelry ad? “He got it at Jareds!” Bleh. I’m getting it somewhere else because I hate your commercial’s so much (and I’ll save 50%, too). ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/72 "2006-06-29T23:48:15Z")
> [@BluePitbull](#): > > Why was Mt. Olive boycotted? A migrant farm labor union called F.L.O.C. was under the impression that Mt. Olive was able to control the working/living conditions at local cucumber farms, and enacted a boycott in an attempt to get Mt. Olive to improve farm conditions. The group is based in Toledo, OH; at one point, Toledo passed some kind of ordinance prohibiting the sale of Mt. Olive pickles within the city limits. Besides the Toledo incident, the boycott had no real impact. The only retail outlet (that I know of) to support the boycott was Kroger. The local F.L.O.C. groups drummed up quite a bit of support student at Duke University; at one point, the president of Mt. Olive Pickles went to Duke University for an informational forum. (While there, a couple of protestors attempted to vandalize the company vehicle that he had ridden in.) This same group went to a student senate meeting at NC State in an attempt to get Mt. Olive pickles banned on that campus; they were greeted by several tables of student senators happily eating Mt. Olive pickles out of a large jar. The boycott was finally settled a couple of years ago under rather insignificant terms – Mt. Olive continues with business as always, while F.L.O.C. tackles the problem at its true source (the farmers). **DiosaBellissima** : yep, that’s part of the ad campaign. At one point, this area was saturated with those billboards. A visiting cousin of mine saw one and thought that the spelling was the result of an incompetant painter. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/73 "2006-06-30T00:22:08Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I mean, I guess I can understand that not everyone agrees with these assessments (except…ISN’T Jesus the reason for the season?) For what season, winter? There are more holidays going on at that time besides Christmas, after all, and this whole “Jesus is the reason for the season” bit ignores them. That’s the usual refrain of people who freak out at being told “Happy Holidays.” ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/74 "2006-06-30T00:36:05Z")
> [@jeffrice](#): > > There’s no such thing as a happy period in Mrs. Rice’s world. Not even the “thank God, I’m NOT PREGNANT!” period? ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/75 "2006-06-30T01:22:31Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > I’m a pagan/borderline atheist living in a country that is becoming more and more controlled by the Christian right. I don’t like Christianity - what it’s based on nor what it’s become. I’ve read their bible and I have no respect for the religion nor do I wish to support it or its people. > I am convinced (whether rightly or not) that if I was to start a fast-food chain that claimed “to glorify Pan and Danu by being a faithful steward of the old ways and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with McDruids”, that store would be boycotted, picketed, etc. > I can and do peacefully and quietly choose to not frequent businesses that are overtly Christian. > > That is what is wrong with it. Of course, I don’t expect anyone else to feel this way, but we can’t all have a nice rational reason for our choices. > > 🙂 Yeah. Further, Chick-Fil-A probably gets patrons who go there specifically because of their belief statement, so I don’t see any reason for people not to go there for the same reason. That’s the risk that they knowingly take. I stopped patronizing **Domino’s Pizza** when I learned that Tom Monahan was plunging a lot of his earnings into Catholic causes. That is absolutely his right, just as it is my right to not contribute to said causes. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/76 "2006-06-30T01:34:57Z")
> [@Kilvert's Pagan](#): > > Yeah. > > Further, Chick-Fil-A probably gets patrons who go there specifically because of their belief statement, so I don’t see any reason for people not to go there for the same reason. That’s the risk that they knowingly take. > > I stopped patronizing **Domino’s Pizza** when I learned that Tom Monahan was plunging a lot of his earnings into Catholic causes. That is absolutely his right, just as it is my right to not contribute to said causes. Well, sure, of course it’s your right, and yes, they do take that risk. It just sounds so blatantly discriminatory to me. In the Domino’s Pizza case, at least you knew for a fact that there was money going to causes you don’t support. But, would you boycott them JUST BECAUSE Monahan was Catholic? ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/77 "2006-06-30T01:36:57Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Well, sure, of course it’s your right, and yes, they do take that risk. It just sounds so blatantly discriminatory to me. In the Domino’s Pizza case, at least you knew for a fact that there was money going to causes you don’t support. But, would you boycott them JUST BECAUSE Monahan was Catholic? No. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/78 "2006-06-30T01:54:04Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Well, sure, of course it’s your right, and yes, they do take that risk. It just sounds so blatantly discriminatory to me. In the Domino’s Pizza case, at least you knew for a fact that there was money going to causes you don’t support. But, would you boycott them JUST BECAUSE Monahan was Catholic? So what if it is blatantly descriminatory? They use part of their profits to support an organization that I do not wish to support. It’s perfectly within my rights to descriminate against them because of it. That’s the joy of a free market. I’m allowed to NOT give my money to a company for whatever reason I want, whether or not you find my reason sufficiently compelling. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/79 "2006-06-30T01:55:01Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > OK, I can get with that…but the point of the mission statement is exactly what you are saying. It doesn’t say anything about what they think about anyone else. The point it to set up an attitude within the company. I grew up in the rural south; in my experience, such an attitude can easily become rather corrupted. Is this what Chick-fil-A does? I honestly don’t know; however, your questions drove me to do a bit of research, where I learned that Chick-fil-A’s chairman (a Southern Baptist) has very strong financial ties to Focus on the Family. It’s not just the irritating commercials keeping me away now. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766/80 "2006-06-30T08:17:28Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > I’m a pagan/borderline atheist living in a country that is becoming more and more controlled by the Christian right. I don’t like Christianity - what it’s based on nor what it’s become. I’ve read their bible and I have no respect for the religion nor do I wish to support it or its people. > I am convinced (whether rightly or not) that if I was to start a fast-food chain that claimed “to glorify Pan and Danu by being a faithful steward of the old ways and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with McDruids”, that store would be boycotted, picketed, etc. > I can and do peacefully and quietly choose to not frequent businesses that are overtly Christian. > > That is what is wrong with it. Of course, I don’t expect anyone else to feel this way, but we can’t all have a nice rational reason for our choices. > > 🙂 Ah, well that’s basically bigotry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-you-wont-patronize-because-of-their-owners-ads/362766.md?page=5)