I think it depends on how much you vary from their beliefs.
I'm happy to live and let live across a wide range of beliefs (more than many of my friends, I suspect). But if a company promoted ethnic cleansing then that would be too far for me.
Same as with laws - generally speaking I obey laws, even if I disagree with them. But if the law was sufficiently against my own beliefs then I'd act against it, and take it far enough I'd be actively joining the resistance.
I am not talking about promoting crime, I am talking about peaceably advocating for your point of view. A Sunni wanting Sunnis elected instead of Shiites.
If you believe abortion is murder, is it appropriate to determine first if someone you want to do business with believes the same way you do so you don't risk enriching their lobbies?
(This is the inverse of the boycott of Domino's Pizza.)
Right now Barilla Pasta is getting a lot of press for being against gay marriage. Approximately half of the country, and probably half of the world, is against gay marriage. I am not. Should I make an effort to make sure people who believe this wrong thing are impoverished so they can't afford to buy votes?
Sure. That particular thing is one of the strongest safeguards implicit in the capitalist system! Any individual or group of individuals can economically harm any commercial entity or individual for any reason that they find appropriate. Say you buy San Giorgio from now on. Barilla loses market share, anyone that enjoys pasta at your house, buys San Giorgio, etcetera. Taken as a whole, it can severely impact Barilla. Thus forcing commercial entities to reflect the political viewpoints of their target marketplace. Remember though that if you make that an issue, gay marriage opponents will do the exact opposite! make a lot of noise about "boycott Barilla", and you'll find a "buy Barilla" backlash from Gay marriage opponents. It all works out.
Only, please, do try to pick your causes. there are so many out there that are based purely in misinformation, lies and propoganda. So many others that are really unimportant deck chair rearrangement on the titanic.
Right now Barilla Pasta is getting a lot of press for being against gay marriage.
Damn, that's too bad. That's my preferred brand of pasta. I guess I'll go with the fresh Buitoni brand instead.
People boycott for many reasons. I stopped shopping at Target in 2010 when it was revealed that the owner used corporate funds (via Citizens United) to support a far-right-wing candidate in Minnesota
( ... )
It also probably varies on account of how much the company or service might flaunts their beliefs, or by record of their contributions to questionable political groups.
Yes, if the owners and officials of Coors actively pursue an agenda I find abhorrent, one having nothing to do with the brewing and sale of beer-flavored Rocky Mountain spring water, I should not support them with my hard-earned money
( ... )
What if they did leave their prejudices at home. What if you drove past their house and discovered yard signs for a Neo-Nazi skinhead candidate who espouses a way of life last considered normal 100 years ago.
What if you bring it up and they confess all their income from this job is going to that candidate's campaign since he is so far behind in the polls.
Should you - for the sake of the world - make sure that bozo has no money to promote his disturbing beliefs?
What if they didn't advocate openly for their preferred candidate, but you discovered when researching that your (say) accountant donated to a candidate you find reprehensible. They don't flaunt it openly, but they are nonetheless guilty of believing Wrong Things. Would you (should you?) drop them?
In a pluralistic society what does it mean to be tolerant of other beliefs?
Where and how did it come to be considered normal to prevent other people from having income as a way to keep them from getting laws passed? Do we believe having income allows you to force your beliefs on others? In other words, why do we think money can change beliefs about abortion or which disciple of Muhammed has the most authority?
I've heard boycotts two ways: First, that I don't want to give money to someone who disrespects a certain belief of mine; second, I want to punish them (by not giving them money) for the same. (One motivation centered around how I feel, the other centered around causing consequences to certain actions.)
This is the first I've heard of keeping them from buying legislation. I... think it's wishful thinking, given how few people are going to be swayed one way or the other.
How did the "lobbying" portion become the salient feature? To me, it comes down to "I don't choose to give this person, that believes something I find abhorrent, money". I don't choose to cause a communist to have an improved lifestyle, because I don't wish reproductive success and a happy life to a person that sees me as a slave. I don't choose to do business with individuals that believe in gun control, because I don't wish happiness or longevity on them.
There needn't be any particular extension beyond the person themselves into lawmaking, or any other third party activity! There's no moral obligation to do business with anyone. For any reason. If you want to shop at target rather than Walmart because you prefer red over blue, then that's what economic freedom MEANS!
I am okay with most of that. If I choose not to give money to anyone, for any reason, under any conditions, I find that okay. I find boycotting Chick-fil-a to be a fine expression of support for gay marriage. Just as I find eating there to be a fine expression of support for traditional marriage
( ... )
If you were about to hire a guy to do some painting and you found out he was a devout Muslim would it be okay to boycott him?
What if he were active in a Catholic church in the pro-life movement - unapologetically even going to pro-life marches! Does it seem like the right thing to do to make sure good people like you never hire him? (His own kind can, or maybe he'll see reason when he gets hungry enough.)
Or, what if he is one of those cretins who practices ritual child abuse in the form of circumcision, and hiring him will just enable him to have more children to desecrate?
Is it appropriate to screen your vendors in case they may have disturbing beliefs? Or just avoid the ones whose beliefs you think you can guess?
On what moral grounds should anyone be forced to do otherwise?
ETA I guess this is the part where I mention that I probably *wouldn't* boycott for any of those reasons. That said, I do consciously avoid "fair trade" and "union made" products to the best of my ability.
I am not talking about force, I am asking whether intolerance is a virtue. Should we, when being our best selves, not tolerate the association of anyone who believes incorrectly?
In other words, is "freedom of religion" only a societal value if it is a harmless religious belief we either agree with or don't mind?
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I'm happy to live and let live across a wide range of beliefs (more than many of my friends, I suspect). But if a company promoted ethnic cleansing then that would be too far for me.
Same as with laws - generally speaking I obey laws, even if I disagree with them. But if the law was sufficiently against my own beliefs then I'd act against it, and take it far enough I'd be actively joining the resistance.
Reply
If you believe abortion is murder, is it appropriate to determine first if someone you want to do business with believes the same way you do so you don't risk enriching their lobbies?
(This is the inverse of the boycott of Domino's Pizza.)
Right now Barilla Pasta is getting a lot of press for being against gay marriage. Approximately half of the country, and probably half of the world, is against gay marriage. I am not. Should I make an effort to make sure people who believe this wrong thing are impoverished so they can't afford to buy votes?
Reply
Only, please, do try to pick your causes. there are so many out there that are based purely in misinformation, lies and propoganda. So many others that are really unimportant deck chair rearrangement on the titanic.
Reply
Damn, that's too bad. That's my preferred brand of pasta. I guess I'll go with the fresh Buitoni brand instead.
People boycott for many reasons. I stopped shopping at Target in 2010 when it was revealed that the owner used corporate funds (via Citizens United) to support a far-right-wing candidate in Minnesota ( ... )
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What if you bring it up and they confess all their income from this job is going to that candidate's campaign since he is so far behind in the polls.
Should you - for the sake of the world - make sure that bozo has no money to promote his disturbing beliefs?
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Where and how did it come to be considered normal to prevent other people from having income as a way to keep them from getting laws passed? Do we believe having income allows you to force your beliefs on others? In other words, why do we think money can change beliefs about abortion or which disciple of Muhammed has the most authority?
Reply
This is the first I've heard of keeping them from buying legislation. I... think it's wishful thinking, given how few people are going to be swayed one way or the other.
Reply
There needn't be any particular extension beyond the person themselves into lawmaking, or any other third party activity! There's no moral obligation to do business with anyone. For any reason. If you want to shop at target rather than Walmart because you prefer red over blue, then that's what economic freedom MEANS!
Reply
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What if he were active in a Catholic church in the pro-life movement - unapologetically even going to pro-life marches! Does it seem like the right thing to do to make sure good people like you never hire him? (His own kind can, or maybe he'll see reason when he gets hungry enough.)
Or, what if he is one of those cretins who practices ritual child abuse in the form of circumcision, and hiring him will just enable him to have more children to desecrate?
Is it appropriate to screen your vendors in case they may have disturbing beliefs? Or just avoid the ones whose beliefs you think you can guess?
Reply
On what moral grounds should anyone be forced to do otherwise?
ETA
I guess this is the part where I mention that I probably *wouldn't* boycott for any of those reasons. That said, I do consciously avoid "fair trade" and "union made" products to the best of my ability.
Reply
In other words, is "freedom of religion" only a societal value if it is a harmless religious belief we either agree with or don't mind?
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