# Which companies do you boycott and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368 "2010-04-08T02:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/81 "2010-04-09T03:07:35Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Microsoft. > They use their dominate position in the market to let them release crap, and expect people to use it joyfully. My Dad got a brand new laptop with Windows 7 on it last week - he got a BSOD within 24 hours. I mean, I just can’t bring myself to buy from a company whose big advertising campaign is “Our old stuff was shit - this new stuff is really so much better.” Many BSOD’s are hardware failures…making them…not microsofts fault. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/82 "2010-04-09T03:17:36Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Chavez wants to be whose enemy? He’s never done anything to me that I’m aware of. I said he wants to be the enemy of America. I didn’t say that he was (although he could I guess based on your criteria.) He “wants to be”, because every chance he gets he spouts anti-american rhetoric of the broken-watch kind which while accurate some of the time certainly shouldn’t be listened to seriously. But it should be listened to, but not for its message but rather its tone: he’s not saying “hey America, you’re doing X, Y, and Z wrong, and you should change.” He’s saying “hey America, you suck”. He’s trying to boost his own popularity by trying to tear down America with words. The final straw came when America opposed the 2009 Honduran coup. We were on the same side as Venezuela on that issue, but Chavez basically said “sure, but if you really meant it, you’d put Zelaya back with military force” :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Meanwhile, Citgo provides heating oil to poor Americans. [not any more](http://heatusa.com/blog/heating-oil/cancellation-heating-oil-assistance-program-deals-political-blow-chvez/). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/83 "2010-04-09T03:36:43Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But it should be listened to, but not for its message but rather its tone: he’s not saying “hey America, you’re doing X, Y, and Z wrong, and you should change.” He’s saying “hey America, you suck”. He’s trying to boost his own popularity by trying to tear down America with words. Well, I guess I missed that distinction on the one or two occasions when I actually listened to (translations of) Hugo Chavez addresses. Whatever. It takes more than “tone” to make someone my enemy. > [@Ludovic](#): > > [not any more](http://heatusa.com/blog/heating-oil/cancellation-heating-oil-assistance-program-deals-political-blow-chvez/). That was Jan. 7, 2009. [My quote](http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_58160.shtml) on the program was from Jan. 18, 2010. Apparently the program was in place this winter. ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/84 "2010-04-09T03:47:24Z")
I boycott (paying for) microsoft OS’s cause they invariably under perform (though admittedly win7 is decent) and they charge WAY too much for them and lock out options to force you to buy more expensive versions. Particularly bothersome is the inability to change basic language settings on any version other than Ultimate. So yea, I pirate windows. Apple products I like but their warranty blows so I’m on a fence there. My buddy’s Macbook screen cracked for no reason and it was still under warranty, but Apple simply said they will not replace it. That said, I’ll probably switch over to an iPhone when the new ones launch. I used to boycott McDonalds cause they sued a local coffee shop owner named McCoffee (that was her actual last name, and so the name of her coffee shop) and while they couldn’t have won they basically buried her in litigation so she couldn’t afford to take them to court. Plus their burgers in America suck. I renegged a bit when I came to Japan cause their burgers genuinely are better here, but since have found a couple other burger shops that are better, so I suppose I boycott them again. Living in Japan I refuse to eat whale (I’ve had it before, though. Sorry guys) I also refuse to eat things from China. Chinese chocolates are big here but I won’t eat them cause of their milk fiascos and terrible corruption in their version of the FDA I boycott any christian-based charity group for fear that they’ll proselytize the people they’re being charitable towards, and I’m against forcing religion onto anyone. (If I’m given proof that they don’t proselytize, simply happen to be christian and a charity group, then I’m ok with them). The Boy Scouts of America cause of their anti-gay and anti-atheist stances (but the girl scouts, a separate organization, are ok, and they make delicious cookies) also, and to a lesser extent, I don’t buy PC games that have crippling DRM (and I hate being forced to be connected to an internet server even if I’m playing a single player game) I don’t mind child labor too much, though. Kids need to make a buck, too 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/85 "2010-04-09T04:20:06Z")
I find it particularly ridiculous for people to say, “I boycott XXX company because their CEO supports pro-life charities/some other group I don’t agree with.” So what if he does? Yeah, you have a right to take your business elsewhere if you want, but you don’t eat at Chik-Fil-A for the politics, you go for the food. A CEO shouldn’t have to worry about his business, which usually is in no way affiliated with his personal support of charities or groups, suffering because he might hold an unpopular opinion in his private life. Why can’t you draw a line between the opinions one holds and what service their business offers? One old rumor used to be that Waldenbooks was secretly run by the Moonies. So what? As long as they’re willing to sell me good books and aren’t requiring me to join the Unification Church to shop there I’ll keep going. I also don’t care if the CEO of Proctor & Gamble really is a Satanist and also thinks about other men when he jerks off in the shower in the morning. I’m there for a service, they provide it. Having some kind of fashionable “boycott list” of companies you refuse to buy from to show how socially-conscious you supposedly are doesn’t make you any better of a person. ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/86 "2010-04-09T04:38:12Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > I find it particularly ridiculous for people to say, “I boycott XXX company because their CEO supports pro-life charities/some other group I don’t agree with.” So what if he does? Yeah, you have a right to take your business elsewhere if you want, but you don’t eat at Chik-Fil-A for the politics, you go for the food. A CEO shouldn’t have to worry about his business, which usually is in no way affiliated with his personal support of charities or groups, suffering because he might hold an unpopular opinion in his private life. Why can’t you draw a line between the opinions one holds and what service their business offers? One old rumor used to be that Waldenbooks was secretly run by the Moonies. So what? As long as they’re willing to sell me good books and aren’t requiring me to join the Unification Church to shop there I’ll keep going. I also don’t care if the CEO of Proctor & Gamble really is a Satanist and also thinks about other men when he jerks off in the shower in the morning. I’m there for a service, they provide it. Having some kind of fashionable “boycott list” of companies you refuse to buy from to show how socially-conscious you supposedly are doesn’t make you any better of a person. basically if the CEO or head of a company uses funds FROM said company to support causes you are against, e.g. anti-gay rights, then you are essentially helping them towards that end by shopping at their establishment. I support X, X support anti-gay rights, therefore I support anti-gay rights However, if the CEO or head simply supports something that you disagree with, but uses their own private money (even their salary from said company), that’s another story entirely. People are allowed to believe/support what they want, so long as they’re not directly using my money towards those ends. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Rosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Green\_Rosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Rosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/87 "2010-04-09T04:39:01Z")
Wal-Mart, for reasons already stated. I won’t set foot in there and actively tell everyone not to shop there when the subject is raised. I can’t stand it when people say they “hate to shop at Wal-Mart” but they “have to” because it’s cheap. It’s not any cheaper than Meijer or Kroger, and if times are tough for you, it might somehow be related to Wal-Mart (e.g. can’t find a job? It’s because Wal-Mart has led to massive closings of small businesses. Wages too low? Wal-Mart set the standards for paying people the absolute least amount possible and thereby drives down wages all over town. Etc.) And Old Navy, for their sweatshop use. This one really hurt because I LOVED to shop there. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/88 "2010-04-09T04:47:40Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Many BSOD’s are hardware failures…making them…not microsofts fault. :smack: Microsoft Apologists. This one wasn’t a hardware failure. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/89 "2010-04-09T05:01:09Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Toshiba for their illegal selling of CNC milling machines to Russia, which made Russian submarines much much quieter. [Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba) (under history) I was going to post this. No Toshiba plasma television for this sailor. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/90 "2010-04-09T05:11:16Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > They collaborated with various authoritarian governments to steal and despoil the lands and resources of those native people who had the misfortune to live above oil fields. And, from time to time, to kill those who stood in their way. > [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > lol, of which oil company is this not true? It may be more or less true of all the oil companies. But, in recent years at least, it seems _more_ true of Shell than some others. The murder of the Ogoni Nine, leaders who had explicitly criticized Shell’s operations in their country, seemed particularly shameless. Witnesses against them at a show trial had been bribed by the company. When I see a Shell sign, I think of Ken Saro-Wiwa watching his friends put to death, and then facing the hangman’s noose himself, and I just don’t want the people who did that to have my money. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/91 "2010-04-09T05:17:44Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > A CEO shouldn’t have to worry about his business, which usually is in no way affiliated with his personal support of charities or groups, suffering because he might hold an unpopular opinion in his private life. Why can’t you draw a line between the opinions one holds and what service their business offers? Why _shouldn’t_ a CEO’s personal opinions make a difference to you buying from their company? They’re being paid by the company’s profits, most likely in direct proportion to how well it has done. And if they then take $10 million of what is now their own money and donates it to an anti-abortion organization… well, by my count, if I bought their company’s product, I just gave that anti-abortion organization some of my money. Frankly, I find it ridiculous that you disapprove of personally boycotting a company that you have a problem with, or that has leadership who does things you have a problem with. We vote with our money every time we buy something, even if all we’re saying is “OK, that’s an acceptable price for that orange.” We can choose to avoid voting for things we disapprove of by not buying there. If enough people agree with you, the company has to either stop doing what you disapprove of, or go out of business. If not… well, then you’re still not allowing them to use YOUR money to do what you disapprove of. That’s how capitalism works. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/92 "2010-04-09T06:43:22Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Toshiba for their illegal selling of CNC milling machines to Russia, which made Russian submarines much much quieter. [Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba) (under history) Is this really necessary? Russia hasn’t been our enemy for a long time. It seems like a very Cold War mentality to continue hating your old enemies for things from decades ago. Has a Russian sub ever gotten into a shooting match with a US sub? ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/93 "2010-04-09T07:04:08Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#): > > basically if the CEO or head of a company uses funds FROM said company to support causes you are against, e.g. anti-gay rights, then you are essentially helping them towards that end by shopping at their establishment. > [@Risha](#): > > And if they then take $10 million of what is now their own money and donates it to an anti-abortion organization… well, by my count, if I bought their company’s product, I just gave that anti-abortion organization some of my money. Ah, see, I knew the responses would be like this: they use my money to fund their goals that I disagree with. How do you know how much, if any, of the money you spend even gets to that CEO? How do you know if the guy in the corporate office in New York even sees one single cent from the 5 dollars you spend in LA? You’re confusing a corporate entity and the business philosophy it has with the person who owns/runs/founded it and their personal philosophy. In many cases…hell, in most if not all cases…those are two different things. Very few CEOs would be stupid enough to claim that their personal politics are those of their company. > [@Risha](#): > > Why shouldn’t a CEO’s personal opinions make a difference to you buying from their company? Because I’m going to their business looking for a particular service, not to judge their morals or lack thereof. If I judged the morals or ethics of every store or company that I did business with then I’m sure I’d quickly find myself without many places to shop. What’s more, given how closely linked and tightly woven together most companies are these days, somebody evil is going to be getting at least some of your money sooner or later. We shouldn’t act like personal divestiture is anything more than a gesture to make us feel good about ourselves. Now, an organized divestiture movement is something else altogether. ETA: I should also point out that it would make one look like a total ultra-PC idiot to only shop at places that adhere perfectly to one’s personal philosophy. It would also probably be next to impossible. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/94 "2010-04-09T07:19:37Z")
The service at Chik Fil A was nothing spectacular the one time i was there and i had to go back and ask for honey mustard sauce for my nuggets which were only ok; for the same crappy service i may as well go to Mcdonalds. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/95 "2010-04-09T07:35:45Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I didn’t know that about Chik Fila. I always just hated their name. I honestly thought it was pronounced “chik fill-ah” How is it pronounced? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/96 "2010-04-09T07:40:49Z")
Chick-Fill-lay. Don’t ask me why. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/97 "2010-04-09T08:48:12Z")
Powergen. Firstly because of the way they treated my then wife who had been employed by 'em; secondly because of some shit they pulled when we moved into this house. Basically, this house had been vacant for a couple of months before we got the keys. While vacant, some door to door mook had decided to fill out the forms to switch energy suppliers. We found out when we called the supplier mentioned in our paperwork to have them turn things on, only to be told that the property had been switched to Powergen less than a month before. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/98 "2010-04-09T11:17:41Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Chick-Fill-lay. > > Don’t ask me why. Think of it as “Chicken filet” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/99 "2010-04-09T11:54:02Z")
Best Buy. I ordered a TV and set up a delivery date. Three times they called to cancel the delivery and reschedule. When they called the fourth time, I canceled. Then I went to Sears, found a much better set at only a slightly higher price, and they delivered it the next day. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368/100 "2010-04-09T14:00:11Z")
> [@breezman](#): > > Nissan Motor company, for their treatment of [Nissan Computer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Computer). That’s almost funny in an odd way. The story can be found [here](http://www.nissan.com/Lawsuit/The_Story.php). Basically Nissan Motors is legally harassing some Israeli guy named Nissan who happens to legitimately own [Nissan.com](http://Nissan.com). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-companies-do-you-boycott-and-why/535368.md?page=6)