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Here's an inconvenient truth: Big corporations know without a doubt that those on the right are generally against boycotts. Moreover, they know that we don't live in a space filled with hate and that our passions run hot, then chill to reason.
They KNOW, have data to prove, that the left is far more likely to burn hot and for a longer period of time. The left will boycott a product or service and they will make everyone involved miserable in the process.
You don't think that it's good will, or good intentions, that see most corps flying their virtue flags, do you?
Have you ever worked a day in corporate America?
Everything they do, and I say this as someone who did marketing and strategy for a Fortune 100 company, is marketing.
Have you ever worked a day in corporate America?
Everything they do, and I say this as someone who did marketing and strategy for a Fortune 100 company, is marketing.
Every move.
The job of most big companies is NOT to deliver a quality product or service, but to create profit for their stakeholders. That is why they exist. The product and service is merely a means to an end which, refer to the prior statement, is to deliver a profit to stakeholders.
Therefore, their actions, and reactions, are firmly rooted in the "How":
How do I quiet those who will harm us and our reputation?
How do I stop the bleeding of dollars?
How do I keep my paying customers, shits though they may be?
How do I quiet those who will harm us and our reputation?
How do I stop the bleeding of dollars?
How do I keep my paying customers, shits though they may be?
Now, this isn't to say that they always get it right. Frequently they get it wrong because all companies are run by people, and many people are, let's face it, not that bright and damn sure not courageous.
They will react out of desperation. They'll fly a virtue flag on social media which, frankly, is a completely empty gesture for most corporations. It's a "Hey! Look over there instead!" kind of move. It's self-preservation. They hope and pray that the thugs will move on.
The most effective response to a social media-clamoring-for-blood that I've seen was done by... I can't tell you who.
I don't remember.
Less than a year ago a company was viciously attacked and, instead of pleading for forgiveness, or flying their virtue flag, they went silent.
I don't remember.
Less than a year ago a company was viciously attacked and, instead of pleading for forgiveness, or flying their virtue flag, they went silent.
I said at the time that it was a hella smart move and, sure enough, the passions died down and all was forgotten. So much so that I can't even remember which company did it.
Most company leaders are, I remind you, not that smart.
Most company leaders are, I remind you, not that smart.
So... back to the original point, which is that the inconvenient truth is that companies know that the left WILL boycott and threaten and make their lives hell, and that the right... meh.
Which goes to an even more serious observation, which repeats over and over ad nauseum on social media: Volume makes right.
You can't reason with a lunatic. You can't reason with someone so emotionally unstable that they scream in your face, wave a bat, and back you into a corner
You can't reason with a lunatic. You can't reason with someone so emotionally unstable that they scream in your face, wave a bat, and back you into a corner
You really, really, just want them to go away.
Companies are made of people who really, really want the lunatics to shup up and go away...
Yet!
Don't take your business with you!
Companies are made of people who really, really want the lunatics to shup up and go away...
Yet!
Don't take your business with you!
If you're the head of a company, or a department, working under enormous duress, how would you react?
Are you starting to understand why the left has been so successful is swaying the direction of corporate policy?
Are you starting to understand why the left has been so successful is swaying the direction of corporate policy?
So, here's an even more inconvenient truth, and you're not going to like it.
I don't like it.
We have to stop being 100% reasonable, 100% of the time.
I don't like it.
We have to stop being 100% reasonable, 100% of the time.
The vast majority of us are never going to storm the Capitol or burn down businesses, and we never should.
We should however, stop being dispassionate based on the "We're better than them" argument. It's just fucking lazy.
We should however, stop being dispassionate based on the "We're better than them" argument. It's just fucking lazy.
They are fighting a war and we're turning to Miss Manners for guidance.
If you want to have equal influence with the companies with whom you do business, then your patronage must be at stake.
It takes work. It's inconvenient and a pain in the ass to shop a new company. You lose the familiarity with the brand and the website and the store layout.
It takes work. It's inconvenient and a pain in the ass to shop a new company. You lose the familiarity with the brand and the website and the store layout.
It's a pain in the ass to buy a product you don't like quite as well but, really, if we can tolerate generic RXs you don't think you could tolerate a different brand of toilet paper, or dish detergent, or hamburger?
You think, maybe, that cheap plastic thing you bought at X couldn't be bought at Y?
I mean me, too.
It's a pain in the ass, but we're losing.
I mean me, too.
It's a pain in the ass, but we're losing.
There've been people, companies and products from whom I've simply walked away. Even old, once good friends are no longer part of my life because I reached a limit where something snaps and it's just not worth it anymore.
I'm thinking I've done too little of that in my life.
I'm thinking I've done too little of that in my life.
This is just my winding rant. Take it for what you will.
You have to do what is right for you and I have to do what is right for me. For me, it means I have to stop being lazy and maybe deal with a bit of inconvenience or displeasure.
You have to do what is right for you and I have to do what is right for me. For me, it means I have to stop being lazy and maybe deal with a bit of inconvenience or displeasure.
One person refusing to buy a product or use a service won't change a company, but I'll feel better about myself for doing it.
End rant.
End rant.
