lesleys

Written by someone who wants to live on Mars

I worked for the Saudi Arabian national oil company for a good few years. I think the Saudi connection with the USA should not be underestimated.

IvanM

How was the coffee?

fish.01

You phrase that in a way that suggests you think people shouldn't do easy boycotting (coffee) if they don't do difficult boycotting (oil) as well? It must be all or nothing. Is that what you mean? Or do you object to the boycotting of christian groups?

lesleys

Better than Gloria Jeans.

It was the sheep's eyes you had to watch out for

roaringmouse

No, it's to do with being consistent in boycotting.

If someone chooses to boycott things due to perceived activities supported from their expenditure that they disagree with, then they could at least be consistent.

In your case it was the link to Mercy Ministries (something since closed down), which I remember being in the news and wouldn't disagree with you that there were some examples of bad treatment of people. Others boycotting the company seems to be due to them financially supporting ACL (as in the OP) - which is an organisation that I think both spends a disproportionate amount of time lobbying about gay marriage, and also does not represent all Christians in Australia by any stretch of the imagination.

The question to you: is supporting the spread of Islam fundamentalism, according to many articles, more palatable than supporting ACL which is merely a lobby organisation that doesn't actually "do" that much?

fish.01

"If someone chooses to boycott things due to perceived activities supported from their expenditure that they disagree with, then they could at least be consistent."

Why? Why is some simple boycotting of immoral behaviour not commendable even if not consistent by performing difficult boycotting of all immoral behaviour. I don't understand the logic.

The only logic I can think of that would explain this stance is that you are Christian and annoyed by the boycotts and because of this discredit the boycotts with the argument that unless people equally boycott business that profits islamic faith groups they are not worth doing.

I could be wrong but I am trying to find the logic in your argument to reply to your questions.

IvanM

It can put you off your long black when flossy is looking up out of the cup.

moneypenny20

You call your sheep Flossy?

IvanM

Roasted is preferred.

How do you like it?

moneypenny20

Slightly pink and garlicky.

IvanM

First you need to get your fingers all over with a good rub before it gets put in the oven.

moneypenny20

And don't forget to poke the rosemary in every now and then.

roaringmouse

I have not previously made any comment about whether or not boycotting a company is commendable, based on what they may or may not financially support.

What I have said is if someone chooses to boycott for a particular reason, then be consistent with boycotting for that reason.
Any specific religion or faith is irrelevant here, it's to do with what you consider to be against whatever your belief or moral structure is.

I really don't care about people either buying or not buying from Gloria Jeans, it's their choice and I have nothing to do with the company. I have been to a Gloria Jeans outlet maybe 5 times at the most over the 5 years I've been living in Australia. I also have nothing to do with Hillsong, the ACL, or the now defunct Mercy Ministries.

If I have a faith or religion, then it's nothing to do with my point of being consistent.
The logic is quite simple in what I've said. If you choose to boycott because something is supported that you disagree with, then you should be consistent in doing so otherwise it's bordering on the hypocritical.

If you want to make a stand by boycotting for what you think is morally good then make a stand, and make the point - but be consistent in your boycotting otherwise you will be supporting things you think are morally bad. And also actually make the point to the company, as simply not being a customer doesn't make any point.

I personally think a simple boycott of not buying a cup of coffee from a certain shop doesn't really achieve that much at all in the numbers we're talking about, however you think it does.

bcworld

You're just being silly now!

Of course people can readily & easily source their coffee from a different outlet.

Your example suggests that they are hypocrites for using products which may in some way fund islamic terrorists. A consumer can not walk into any petrol station and demand petrol sourced from Bass Strait oil as opposed to Saudi Arabian. They can't go to JB and ask for a laptop where the plastic keys are made from South China Sea oil as opposed to that sourced from Iran. In your example the consumer may never fly again...or they're a hypocrite. So be it.

fish.01

I'm sure you can see the difference between choosing a different company to make your coffee because you don't respect their founders values, and abandoning the use of all oil made by everyone. In case your real underlying point is that we should shun any companies run by Muslim extremists who try and sell us coffee like we do Christian one's then I agree. I'll be sure to keep a look out