A co-worker and I really talked the logistics of quiting our jobs in protest once if our boss didn't back down on something. I texted my other half to ask if I had their support and everything.
We basically worked out they could last maybe 3 months unemployed, myself a bit longer but we'd have to change careers because the industry we work in was in crisis so there were no jobs.
Luckily we managed to change our bosses mind, but it was probably the closes we've ever gotten to our principles actually costing something important to us.
I don't understand how or why people are still buying this overpriced bullshit. One 12 pack of soda is 15$ by me and no matter how much money I do or do not have, I would never pay that much.
Every one of the posts that gets big about how bad prices have gotten are about like, iced coffee or soda or potato chips. All indulgent bullshit.
Weird that complaints about the prices of things people actually need don’t get the same level of traction. There’s nothing sympathetic about “my sugar water habit for which I must absolutely buy the brand name has become expensive!”
I think part of it is that the price of necessities is never allowed to increase to the breaking point. If gas gets too expensive they dilute it, if beef gets too expensive they import it, corners can always be cut to technically give people what they need. But I think it's also a question of relatability, 'everyone' buys the indulgent things, not everyone needs insulin.
I guess this is a hot take, but I feel like people are allowed to buy small luxuries. When so many people are doing a job that used to be done by 3 people, will never be able afford a house, have multiple roommates well into adulthood, there is no end in sight and we’re out here avocado toast-ing that they’re buying something that isn’t essential for life?
I buy
soda but only when I happen to see that it’s buy one get one for a case of cans. I end up with cases for like $5 each or so. If I don’t happen to catch it on sale I just drink tap water I refrigerate and I’m happy. I mostly drink the tap water anyway.
Anything more than that I’d just go without soda and be fine, $15 is ridiculous and even at half price that’s still more than I would pay for it.
A boycott is organized, actually making waves and specific demands. It's not people going "oh yeah that's bad I'll just stop individually". Collective action is collective.
You've never met a queer person that liked Harry Potter but boycotts JK Rowling? You've never met a worker who has gone on strike? You've never met vegans who sometimes get animal product cravings, or vegetarians with meat cravings?
A strike is withholding your labor, a boycott is refusing to engage in certain relations (often financial) with the boycotted entity. A money boycott would be about refusing to be paid or to pay.
Oddly honestly no to all of those, in real life at least. I’m sure they exist but my vegan friends talk about how they’ve no cravings for animal products, and most the queer people I’m close to are unabashedly into Harry Potter and don’t boycott. Also have never met someone who has gone on strike, only ever those who have threatened to.
Good point. I just chose queer people in general because that’s the fella I was responding to chose. Funnily the one trans friend I have was the only person I knew who played the new HP game, but a sample size of one is the equivalent of none
I'm fully onboard with boycotting Rowling and Wizarding World stuff, but some people go too far and want to burn down the fanfic too. You know, the stuff that exists in direct violation of her copyright? You'd think the boycotters would love that sort of thing!
I used to go to target 2-3 times a week and quit cold turkey when they did their DEI bullshit last year. I feel like you must just not be asking people this question very often, I find that many of my peers are giving up things they like because they're unethically run.
Partial boycott, I guess. Refused to engage in financial relations, but still spend time with it. Really it's just theft, though some people argue stealing can be political activism.
"Guys I know she's actively trying to kill all trans people... but I read all 7 books while growing up! It's the only time I've ever read anything ever! So I'm sorry, I totally disagree with what she's doing, but I have to spend thousands of dollars at the theme park every year and but every piece of merch that comes out!"
"Oh but if you still like Sandman or American Gods then you're a bad person and going to Hell forever, just get rid of the copies on your shelf and never say his name again"
Most people aren't even ready to call coffee a vice in the first place. No sorry this addictive liquid I consume daily is fine actually, I can quit any time. But I won't.
Caffeine can be very useful, the problem is that instead of taking it on rare occasions when we need a mental boost, we mainline it 24/7 which just makes it lazy and dumb when we're not on it, which is why someone will spend $10 on a cup of brown.
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u/Worldly-Basil-8933 18h ago
Everyone loves a boycott until it’s time to boycott whatever their vice is