Ask Lemmy

Yes. My son has a genetic disorder and receives care from my country’s socialized medical system. Donald Trump has threatened to annex my country. I would not be able to afford the treatments that keep my son alive under Trump. I boycott American goods like my child’s life depends on it. People need to understand that Trump’s threats towards the USA’s former allies imply deadly consequences. Fuck Trump, fuck maga, and fuck anyone who supports them by buying their shitty goods. Unless you have absolutely no choice, don’t buy American.

Yes, but only silently

If they're doing it out of ignorance, I'd tell them what's wrong with X and let them decide for themselves.

If they're doing it out of necessity, I'd help them look for viable alternatives, and leave them alone if there are none.

If they're doing it out of support for X after I specifically told them why X is bad, then yeah I'd judge for a bit, then leave them alone.

Context matters quite a bit here. Not all boycots are created equal.

I used to be the guy who wandered into Target every other week to get one thing and left with an $150 cart full of junk I didn't plan on buying. I joined the boycotting over their DEI policy shift. I wouldn't judge someone for continuing to shop there. Though I would encourage them to spend less. I view that boycott as an important lesson in respecting all stakeholders and not bending the knee to authoritarianism, but hardly an existential crisis for anyone or anything but Target.

I'm not sure if I'm technically boycotting Tesla because I've never done any business with them. However, it's my firm conviction that someone who buys a Tesla today, is a piece of shit. Someone who knowingly invests in Tesla is a piece of shit. If they're someone I continue to interact with after that they're very likely to hear about it.

Tesla, in my opinion, is complicit in everything Elon does. It has proactively financed, and propagandized oppression and undermined democracy and the functioning of a government that is supposed to serve and represent me. Anyone who buys a Tesla today is also complicit.

No, it's the same with vegans / vegetarian, I think what they are doing is noble and I try to do as much as they, but I don't look down or judge people for not being able to do it.

There's enough shit in the world to worry about to start putting people down for not following every single boycott.

That said, fuck Nestle.

Here in Canada, the products we're boycotting have been marked down because people wouldn't buy them otherwise. Someone that has less money than I have might need to buy the cheaper products so I'm not going to judge them for that.

No.

The holier-than-thou consumer nonsense becomes a tad silly when you realize you're typing out your judgement on a computer assembled with child or slave labor. And every single one of us is using a device in that category.

I appreciate people trying to be conscientious, but judging other people's consumer choices is silly to me.

Oh I bet the wealthy love it when the working class are at other's throats over what brands they should boycott.

a little. was kinda disappointed when some in my friends group bought the switch 2. but you can’t expect people to value the same things you do, but the judgement is natural as long as it’s in perspective.

Depends. Not every boycott is equally easy to pull off. Apparently the CEO of Nestle doesn’t believe in the basic human right of clean water. Makes me want to boycott them but… where do you even start. That’s about 1/3 of our supermarkets stocks. Also Amazon has the market cornered in a lot of ways / places. I’ve been able to not order but I know people who have 0 viable alternatives for things they need.

Then again if it’s something like people picking Starbucks over the local coffee shop next to it while preaching moral superiority… yeah, then I’ll judge.

Nah, there's already enough to try and keep up with no need to add to the pile. If its friends I might just comment why I dont. I wouldn't expect them to change though if they didnt care.

It depends. The problem with purity tests is that you're never 100% pure. It's why even vegans hate vegans: you can never be vegan enough. I try not to judge, but I would judge if a friend, for example, bought a diesel truck with no use for it, or a cybertruck in general. That's doing actual, active damage, at the expense of you as a person, why are you doing it?

It depends, If say it was JK Rowling that she is 100% public amount wanting to harm trans people (including trans kids) including using her money to fund that. Then Yes I wouldn't like it, If it's just something minor then probably not, Depends how close to home it comes really but I rather educate than through hate.

Mostly no, but if the company killed their kid or something like that and they continue to defend it, I start to judge.

If they’re aware of the issue with it and do it anyways, yes. Absolutely.

Nobody's perfect, sometimes they need to buy some to make a special day for someone they love and even in the strictist ideals you can forgive that, as much as you may not agree. Also my boycotts are my ideals not others so no reason to think less of someone else cause they're doing their thing with their knowledge on it all. Mean there may be limits but think that gives the impression of my thoughts.

I particularly judge people who don’t boycott anything at all. The people who say “I’m here for a good time, not a long time”. But I don’t judge them absolutely. I was late to the game myself so I don’t blame them. But I still think it’s their and our responsibility to do so. TLDR: no to blame, but yes to judgement.

No. I might explain them why they should boycott it from now on. But I do it only if their political views align with valid reasons to boycott

Sort of. I understand not wanting to deal with the difficulties of attempting ethical consumption, but you're so much closer to being one of those people working in a sweatshop than you are being financially stable. It feels like you're actively shooting yourself in the foot honestly.

Mind your own business!

I’m fine if they eat chicken fill a or buying a Cyber Truck, if they spend the same amount of time (using minimum wage as a scale) on community: mentoring trans kids, feeding homeless people, building shelter, changing diapers for the elderly, etc.

IMO if you do community service full time for a couple of years it grants you an entitlement for a douchebag car.

I ignore boycotts because they tend to affect the common employees of the targeted company more than the CEOs they're aimed at. Congrats, you clicked on Brand X instead of Brand Y. Your uncle got laid off when the quarterly numbers went down, but a billionaire has $3 less now, and more importantly you feel like a hero. Way to go, Joan of Arc!

It kind of depends on the reason for the boycott and how widely it's understood. Like I for sure judge anyone who buys a cybertuck today.

Buy a new Tesla now? You're a piece of shit. No exceptions.