Do you judge people for buying stuff that you're boycotting?
I seen too many internet forums saying that if you don't boycott X, Y, and Z, then you're a "terrible person". What do you think about that?
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.
Or a MAGA hat. Or a Trump card.
Buy a new Tesla now? You're a piece of shit. No exceptions.
So many Australian's buying Tesla's but as an Aussie I can only agree with you
Some people may not be informed about what is happening
They probably dont care about what a rich person does in a country on another continent
Then I'm definitely judging them for that, too.
"Davon haben wir nichts gewusst" was a shit excuse back then and an even worse excuse now, in the internet connected world.
I've learned that the vast vast vast majority of people don't care. I can spend all my time hating everyone for being lazy and ordering daily items from Amazon, or eating Chick Fil A, or whatever, but I'll end up hating 99% of the population. I don't have time for that.
All I can do is focus on myself and what I spend my money on. Sure I educate where I can, but you don't want to be the preachy person either, because they'll just start ignoring you. Do what you can, but if you're going to judge people for buying things - you're going to judge everyone - and then that's more on you.
Agree. Except buying a new Tesla now. As a former Tesla owner, if you buy a new one now, fuck you. There is no excuse for ignorance here.
Agree there, Tesla is pretty dang obvious, and it's a huge purchase. It's not buying a non-organic tomato or a chicken sandwich, it's very clear where the money goes, and you had to make a very clear conscious decision about it that you will be living with for years to come.
Probably the most grounded answer here.
Would you not judge people for putting a gun to the head of a child and pulling the trigger?
Because buying from some companies is paying the salary and the bullets of the people who do exactly that.
When people are designated as "terrorists" you can even be held criminally liable under the current system, if you keep doing business with them. Shouldnt the same standard apply for people doing business with genocide?
Everyone saw that Hitler salute in 2024. There wasn't a person on the planet who didn't see that. I highly distrust anyone driving around in a 2025 Tesla, the new ones with the knockoff versions of the Lucid light bars. Creepy AF to see, especially in a theoretically "progressive" area. Salute aside, he's an enemy to just about everyone on the planet for multiple reasons.
At least we know now.
Yeah man, agree with this 100%.
Ugh, I just really don't want another ICE car. I like the Lightning and the SilvErado but I can't justify spending 70k. Would be great if another car company had an affordable option for an AWD car or crossover with 300+ miles range.
You can get an ioniq 5 2025 with 318 2wd or 290 AWD. But they are more expensive due to Trump's tariffs and rebates that he clawed back.
I think people should boycott entities that they feel deserve it, but only to the extent that their financial situation warrants it. For example, I try to not buy from Amazon. I think everyone should do this, but I have the luxury of being able to afford paying more for the same thing bought elsewhere. Some people don't, and that's OK.
I agree with this. I would also add that sometimes time / convenience is a factor. I've a friend who orders from Amazon because she's disabled; I've another friend who has three kids and she's doing her online shopping for back-to-school late at night because that's literally the only free time she has to do it and all the stores are closed.
Excellent answer and example (Screw amazooon--they basically put a rent on books)
I live on an island in Alaska, so my Amazon alternatives are usually Walmart, maybe Target... not a lot of others. If I can buy direct from the company I will, but a lot of times Amazon is the only real option (and no option to buy local).
Yep some people don't have a lot of other options.
Everyone has different values, different pieces of information (and different amounts of time to do research), and different resources.
No, I don't judge people for not boycotting something I'm boycotting, though I'll mention it if it's going to cause a problem. For example, a friend is a massive fan of seeing things in theaters, including re-releases. If they want to see a re-release of Harry Potter, I'll decline, saying that I'm boycotting Rowling, and offer an alternative.
However, if they've been saying that they're really for/against something and seem to be going to buy something from a company that opposes that view, I'll mention, "Hey, I don't know if you know, but they support XYZ." If they still have to get it, then it's none of my business: everyone has different needs and different resources.
It’s nice to see there’s still space for nuanced opinions on the internet.
Lol I'm about to type the exact same thought and saw you put it even better than I would.
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.
I boycott businesses whose practices I oppose, but I won’t necessarily judge others for not doing the same unless they are deliberately supporting harmful ideologies and practices. Sometimes financial or geographical constraints prevent access to ethical alternatives.
Only if they do something really crazy like willingly using Microsoft Teams.
Sometimes. If somebody claims to be a gay ally, but then eats at Chick-fil-A and shops at Target or Hobby Lobby, they’re not really being an ally. You’ve gotta put your money where your mouth is if you want any change in this world. Stop giving money to people that hate you.
Chick fila a and hobby lobby for sure
Target will get a bit of leeway from me.
The other two are run by people who have actively funneled money towards shit like conversion therapy
Target, unless I've missed something, just kind of pulled their DEI initiatives, so while they're not doing anything to make the situation better for LGBTQ people, they're not trying to actively make shit worse for them either.
Also nothing chick fila a or hobby lobby sells is particularly essential, you don't need craft supplies and fast food. Target at least sells basic essentials like clothes, groceries, medications, etc. and sometimes they're the only or most affordable place in town to get those things, so I can't exactly begrudge people for shopping there for those things unless I know there's a better alternative.
If you can, you shouldn't shop at target of course, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
I mean, Walmart is far worse than Target. People shit on Target now because they used to take a stand and then suddenly bailed like cowards. Walmart was born in evil, molded by it.
Pretty clear you don't actually understand anything about Chik-fil-A other than the things your chosen talking heads tell you
Nah. People are more ignorant than they are evil, and ethical consumption in capitalism is at least difficult. I'm sure I'm doing something that inadvertently helps an evil cause somewhere in the world...
We all have different priorities in life. I'm far from perfect so I'm in no place to assume moral superiority over someone just because of a product they purchased.
Thinking anyone is a terrible person is a great first step in making sure you will never win them over to your way of seeing things.
I didn't used to, but I'm getting more judgemental as time goes on. I'm an ally and involved in LGBTQIA orgs and I can't tell you how many gay friends and acquaintances I have that still go to Chick-fil-A and Walmart. I'm harsher with those two, but now, I'll speak out against folks going to Target as well. Even without Target, Walmart and Amazon, I still have no trouble buying anything I need without inconvenience. The only language large corporations speak is money and if you can't even boycott a company that makes mid fast food that's spending money to take away your rights, it seems pathetic to me.
Yeah.
I'm sure there are a lot of people who are apathetc and think it's not "worth it" to boycott, because "nobody else is doing it" and it "won't have any effect"
Maybe that's sometimes true, but for me it's not even about that. It's about having principles, sticking to them, and being proud of what I believe in.
Even if it achieves nothing, I'm still doing it.
You hit the nail on the head; principles are important and a measurement of your character. I understand that ignorance plays into it as well - I'm sure I support some crappy companies inadvertently. If we all tried our best however, there'd be less kowtowing to bigotry, fascism and exploitation of vulnerable people.
I can't even get my family members to stop spending money on potter merchandise, I appreciate you.
I hate to break it to you but in many parts of the rural US, Walmart is the only option to buy things. They have monopolized and killed small grocers, mechanics, and pharmacies. Walmart is the only place within a reasonable distance that I can get my (lifesaving) medication for a cost that I can afford. I hate doing it but there is literally no other option for me.
You're right, unfortunately. That's a reality in some rural areas. My experience does come from a city with options, and I'm judging those folks. One positive is that so many things can be delivered now, which helps to supplement the absence of local businesses put under by Walmart, and can even create more local businesses. While you may not have the option with certain medications, spending 30% less there will make a difference.
Depends on the situation and who is being boycotted. If you can't get the things and you need it and you can only get it from x, then sucks but understandable. If you have alternatives and know about the boycott and why it's going on and still get the thing because you just want it? You're a selfish prick.
Depends, because often times people need to survive and can only afford/don't have another choice than to spend their money on a bad company (I.e. Walmart), but if they are buying a Tesla, then yes
Yes, but generally not really harshly. I just assume they don't know any better or don't have the determination to live up to their ideals.
Unless of course they genuinely are awful people, but in that event, there are signs far more relevant than merely not sharing my boycotts.
Yeah, for instance, I have not shopped at Walmart in, I think, six years, and so when I have met people who shop at Walmart, I'm just like, okay, I guess something's going on that means that you have to shop at Walmart. Sucks for you, but hopefully you will choose not to shop at Walmart in the future when you can.
It's the internet. People get worked up over pizza toppings. Boycotting won't solve this crisis, it's a personal preference thing as far as I'm concerned. I do it like I try to keep waste to a minimum. I don't want to be a part of the problem where possible but I don't expect to cause a detectable impact. If I and others do - even better.
If you don't have to support terrible people and you knowingly do anyway, it's not going to be easy to make a discernment personally.
I think a lot of people haven't come to the awareness that there is NO such thing as ethical consumption under our current systems tho (and you can't boycott everything bad without causing a lot more worse stuff.)
By strictly boycotting every evil company, you'd die of starvation or exposure. You just try to pick the least evil companies.
Yes, but only silently
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.
I dont Judge unless the person actively talks about hating that thing. For example if someone is constantly going on about how they big tech and they havent even made a single step towards moving away then yeah im going to judge. Stand by your morals.
I know someone who is always going on about how bad fast fashion is and she buys all her clothes from Shien to wear a few times. Like come on you cant expect your words to hold any weight when you say one thing and do another. I'd never say I support gay people's rights then give money to a gay people rights crushing machine.
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.
I work downtown in my city for the state government. I usually see at lest 1 tesla per day if not more parked downtown. I'm excited when I see one that's dirty because I can wet my fingertip and wipe dirt away in the shape of, "Fuck Tesla and Fuck Elon."
Family member wanted to go to a store that was in the same strip mall as a Hobby Lobby and I was sitting in the car hating everybody that I saw going into that Christofascist rat den. Those assholes are part of the reason healthcare and insurance is so fucking abysmal and hostile to women.
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.
The very OP is likely a think tank meme designed to keep us arguing, and it's working great because a fucktonne of lemmings feel they have the right to decide how I spend my money
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.
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.
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.
First of all, I would ask them if they're familiar with the boycott and the reasons why it is happening. If they are, ask them them if they have a reason not to participate. Based on that, and how serious the cause behind the boycott is, I would 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.
fucking disgusting I had to scroll down half the page to get a reasonable response
Of course.
If they know, and it's not vital, and they don't care, then I think less of them.
Some people have less self control than a toddler
Well, no, not everyone is equally informed to begin with. And you can't make such a blanket statement as "if you don't live like I do you're a terrible person", reality is nuanced, always.
However , I will judge the hell out of them and add them to my mental lists of People Who Do This Or That. But no, they're not necessarily terrible persons
literally hitler! seriously though its an individual choice but all the same I see lines at chik fila and just think of pigs gathering for slop. So its basically a data point. The more someone knows you the less likely it matters.
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.
Judge… no… help to educate… try to be better myself… yes.
Also, consider the part you’re saying “… many Internet forums…”.
The same forums filled with random people… some of which have nothing better to do than removed and complain… act better than others just because… preach their perspective because it’s “right”.
Even Lemmy is not immune to “you’re a terrible person” syndrome.
This question is never going to be black and white, regarding how or where people spend their money responsibly. Especially given the difficulty of knowing where some products originate, or what they are tied to, not just where you buy them from.
But they're all such perfects paladins of righteousness that never do anything wrong! We should be kneeling before them and basking in their beautiful aura of pure goodness!
Oh yeah, silly me, I completely forgot that part 🤣
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.
If they’re aware of the issue with it and do it anyways, yes. Absolutely.
Only if you disregard any viable alternatives.
i really don't a reason to judge people
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.
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
Really depends on the reason. I will judge and call out anyone who gives a cent to JK Rowling, for example, whereas avoiding fast fashion is much harder.
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.
It's 2025, if someone is still giving money to Rowling I just assume they value children's stories about wizards over trans people's lives.
Depends, how many people even know that in n' out is a hateful company? A lot of people know about Chick-fil-A, but shockingly, a lot of people don't know about Nestle. So yeah, I'll judge a person for buying Tesla or a bland chicken sandwich, but I'll just inform someone who buys an in n out burger or a crunch bar.
The judging I do is a little bit different. When people complain about not being able to Use their electronic device, but then they insist on buying items that have crappy interfaces. I have a hard time having any sympathy for them.
My attitude is if you don’t want shit interface then don’t buy a shit product.
The problem is so many people have done it so many times over that most devices have a crappy interface.
Most times I don’t say anything to people because they don’t want to hear it anyways
Mostly no, but if the company killed their kid or something like that and they continue to defend it, I start to judge.
Buy a nazi car if you wanr, but I am sure gonna fuxkin judge you for that.
Fuck your feelings.
I've been boycotting Ray Ban because they make the Meta glasses. I met a guy recently who has them but he works for Meta, so I guess I'm not too surprised. I told him that I hate the concept of AI glasses especially if they're made by Meta. Apparently Oakley and other companies are going to start making them as well,but Oakley and Ray Ban are owned by the same company. I don't even want to be looked at by someone wearing the Meta glasses.
What you feel and what you care about doesn't always make it through to your actions.
Haven't you heard the ones who say "I hate league of legends", and proceeds to play it all day? There is the general dislike for AI lately, then people use it when they need to anyways.
It really bothers me to see, someone stand so hard by their point, and then give it time, and see they are happily consuming what they originally hated.
Is it the urge to look good from the outside or what?
What do you think about that?
I think that what I believe in is what I believe in, not what I expect other people should also believe in. I'm a not a priest or some cult leader expecting blind devotion and submission from others. People are more than welcome to (dis)agree with me and my values.
I also think I should be free to believe in whatever I want, without anyone else feeling entitled to decide for me what I can & cannot believe. I'm fine with them trying to demonstrate I'm wrong, as long as their demonstration is not about publicly shaming or forcing me in any manner.
BTW, this tendency you mention (to require others to act like we do), is the main reason I tend to steer away from any gathering/collective/org. Too many people can't resist whatever tiny little bit of power they get their hands on and they will abuse it.
Yeah, but to a lesser degree.
Yes :3