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, 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 - 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).
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.
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.
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.
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?
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)
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.)
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.
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.
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.
*.