# Who are you boycotting? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557 "2004-10-27T22:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/101 "2004-10-29T05:36:03Z")
I go out of my way to never use, purchase or in any way benefit: Microsoft (Not hard, I own a superior computer from Cupertino) FCUK - for unnecessary provocateurism Nestle Foods - for the aforementioned baby formula issues (it’s not [just chocolate](http://www.wearsthebaby.com/articles/nestle.html), btw - scroll down for their full product list) RIAA affiliated companies - for collusion, artificial price inflation, etc. YUM! Restaurants (Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza, Hut, Long John Silvers, A&W) - for farm worker and animal abuses Abercrombie & Fitch - for their obnoxious and racist t-shirts Petco - for their failure to properly protect the live animals that they (inadvisedly) sell Ben & Jerry’s - for their support of liberal causes I do not support as well as funding for pro-Mumia Abu Jamal causes Ford (and their affiliates) Motor Company - for numerous reasons Honda - for their senseless stance regarding safety belt extenders for large passengers Southwest Airlines - for their inconsistent “standard” regarding their second-seat policy for large passengers [The Commonwealth of Virginia](http://www.virginiaisforhaters.org/) - this is where we vacationed every year until this year Frank’s Red Hot Sauce - for offensive advertising AT&T - now Cingular - Wireless for violating the Federal Do Not Call rules to telemarket me three times in two weeks via a subcontracted company in India whose obviously Indian employees told me their names were “Shelly” “Cindy” and “Bob.” :rolleyes: I do my damndest to avoid: Blockbuster Video - for crappy service, for censorship and predatory practices Georgia Pacific Paper products - for crappy products and poor environmental policies The Presbyterian Church - thanks to their new and frightening position on Israel Items made in China - because of the trade imbalance and concerns about forced/sweatshop labor Conversely, I go out of my way to patronize companies who are being boycotted by the AFL-CIO or the American Family Association (Donald Wildmon’s bunch) except for A&F (my boycott is for a different reason, natch) as well as Estee Lauder and Proctor & Gamble (thanks to James Dobson). For the Cracker Barrel boycotters: As I mentioned in a previous boycott thread, [Cracker Barrel changed their position vis-a-vis gay workers in 2002 and now include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policy](http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=14302). Furthermore, they never unilaterally fired all of their gay employees, more like _11_ people. (Yes, 11 too many, but far from every GLBT person working for them nationwide.) ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/102 "2004-10-29T05:48:17Z")
**TeaElle** : Thanks for the help re. Nestlé. There’s a few products in there I’d never had a clue were part of the conglomerate: \*Branston Pickle :eek: \*; _Findus Frozen Foods_; _Fox’s Confectionery_; and, oh dear, \*Haagendaas ☹ \*. Companies you go out of your way to support–that could be a whole new thread. (I think I’ve seen the rather amusing term ‘girlcott’ used for this on the boards before!) I can’t think I’m girlcotting any particular companies at present, though. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/103 "2004-10-29T12:16:43Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > Curves Really? May I ask why? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/104 "2004-10-29T12:36:52Z")
Gun shops Weapons manufacturers ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/105 "2004-10-29T12:45:47Z")
Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/106 "2004-10-29T16:05:01Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > What’s wrong with taking on the English name for said fried potato-pieces: **chips**. Surely this avoids all that French/Freedom/Fablon whatever malarkey. In the U.S., “chips” means “potato chips” (that’s “crisps” to you). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/107 "2004-10-29T16:14:12Z")
Ben & Jerry’s Blockbuster Video United Airlines if I can at all help it ---
**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:** [October 29, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/108 "2004-10-29T16:18:04Z")
Nike (as a vastly overexposed, omnipresent and sometimes exploitative giant corporation). Microsoft (when possible, and for much the same reasons). Any company that tries to ruin good popular songs by appropriating them for their ads. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/109 "2004-10-29T16:33:25Z")
> [@MidnightRadio](#): > > Really? May I ask why? Just curious. The owner of Curves supports anti-abortion activities. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/110 "2004-10-29T17:50:59Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#): > > Except that they give enough free product away that the mother’s breast milk supply dries up, and the mother is forced to continue with the formula. Because of extreme poverty, they almost always water it down too much, and use contaminated water, causing malnutrition and disease. > > It was estimated at one time that 1/2 million babies were dying yearly because of this practice. And if the mother had just stuck with breast milk, everything would have been fine, except a nurse told them to switch. Not to be contrary but i can’t find any reputable site with information on this. Do you have a link somewhere I tried looking around on google and snopes but i see nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/111 "2004-10-29T18:06:35Z")
> [@MidnightRadio](#): > > Really? May I ask why? Just curious. Same reason as me. A portion of their proceeds goes to an anti abortion group. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/112 "2004-10-29T18:08:08Z")
:smack: Read the thread all the way through, **Maureen**. Same goes for Snapple. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/113 "2004-10-29T18:54:27Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > Could we at least try to keep this thread on topic. > > There are, it is true, umpteen threads throughout the Straight Dope Message Board discussing the belief choices of those more spiritual than ourselves. Unfortunately, this one happens to be about consumer boycotts! Actually, the OP just says “who are you boycotting?” So I guess a more appropriate answer would have been God, not religion. I apologize. But nowhere does the Op say anything about consumer products only. I’m just saying. And to nitpick, how exactly does one evaluate who is more spiritual than whom? I think you mean religious, don’t you? Oh, I also boycott the carpool lane law. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/114 "2004-10-29T19:43:32Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Ghanima** _ > And to nitpick, how exactly does one evaluate who is more spiritual than whom? I think you mean religious, don’t you? OK, yes, I do. To me it’s the same thing but not everyone. You did have some inkling of the thread redirection that the way you brought up your ‘boycott’ of religion might have caused, though, didn’t you? (I’m trying hard to keep this IMHO-suitable) ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/115 "2004-10-29T20:05:24Z")
Starbucks WalMart (although the Factotrix loves it.) Any large video rental chain (I got a small neighborhood one that’s breathtaking in it’s selection range.) ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/116 "2004-10-29T21:02:47Z")
7-11-After they caved into Falwells nonsense and quit selling Playboy, Penthouse etc. Southwest Airlines-Because when we were trying to start up a rail system between Dallas, Houston and Austin, Herb Kelleher fought it tooth and nail. He claimed that the government should not be involved in transportation. Forgetting the ugly little fact that if it wasn’t for government subsidies, he wouldn’t be in business. Guess he’s afraid of a little healthy competition. Wal-Mart-because the way they treat employees and the negative impact on communities. Fast Food restaurants and soft drinks because I don’t like their products. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/117 "2004-10-29T21:43:48Z")
Hmm… the 7-Eleven in La Verne, near the Target Shopping Center, sells Hustler and Club magazines. And they have a liquor license, too. I don’t know why the exception for that store, but it certainly is a rarity. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/118 "2004-10-29T21:49:43Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > These days I can’t think of any places worth boycotting except Cracker Barrel and the Boy Scouts of America, both for their policies regarding gay people. But there’s no Cracker Barrel nearby for me to deliberately not go to Oh, thank goodness. This post made it clear the boycott is for the restaurant, not the cheese. I had visions of my favorite cheese giving me intolerable pangs of guilt every time I ate it. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/119 "2004-10-31T08:04:01Z")
> [@LilyoftheValley](#): > > Why Southwest? I fly a lot – I’m elite status on two different airlines this year. I’m also huge. This can be a problem. The worst flight I’ve had in 10 years was a 1-hour flight on Southwest. They have the worst ‘pitch’ in the business, their seats are packed too close together. I just don’t fit in their airplanes. Besides, I’m not a cow, so I can’t accept being herded onboard rather than seat assignments. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557/120 "2004-10-31T08:41:41Z")
[Snopes on Snapple](http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/snapple.asp) (No, they don’t give money to anti-abortion groups, nor the KKK nor are they affiliated with Osama.) And one more time for those who still haven’t gotten it: [Cracker Barrel added sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy in 2002, and have been praised by the Human Rights Campaign for doing so.](http://www.hrc.org/Content/ContentGroups/News_Releases/20021/HRC_Praises_Cracker_Barrels_Decision_to_Prohibit_Discrimination_Based_on_Sexual_Orientation.htm) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-boycotting/271557.md?page=7)