My wish is for someone to help me understand why oh why we reject, punish, and avoid people who do bad things but continue to use and buy services and products from companies that do evil things.
I need clarity, so anyone with insights, please comment.
I may have a reason. When you're rejecting, punishing, and avoiding people who do bad things, it's very personal. You know the person, you interact with them, and they're someone you can reject in good conscience. With big companies, it's a little harder. There is just not one person to reject. There are products you may purchase on a regular basis but you're not attaching those products to a particular person. For instance, you can reject Jane down the street for something that she did that went against your moral code. But rejecting a company, for instance, Amazon, when there are so many good things attached to it, makes it a little harder.
These are just my thoughts. I hope they bring you closer to understanding.
Difficult question. There are few "good" companies/corporations so almost everything we buy, in one way or another, is tainted with employee or consumer abuse. Where to start is the problem?
I agree with both previous comments. It's like if the local grocer slaps your kid for shoplifting, you'd likely take them to court and never shop there again. But if they slap their employees with abusive practices such as not paying overtime, no one cares because their deli sandwiches are delicious and not to miss.
There's also the issue of convenience. We may not want to buy from Amazon for the treatment of their warehouse workers, and we may want to avoid purchasing goods made in foreign sweatshops.
It sounds simple enough, but it's definitely not easy.
Thank you all for you thoughtful comments. I've thought about each of your answers.
I wonder how we managed before Amazon rose into an inhumane behemoth that wrings every drop of energy out of its employees.
Could we possibly start by helping out our local business people who are the lifeblood of our economy?
Did you know that small businesses make up 99.9% of all American businesses? They are in local towns and big cities where they provide more jobs and do more to boost the local economy than any corporate giant.
Why would we all gravitate to a large enterprise like Amazon? True, it's convenient if we enjoy doing all our shopping sitting at a desk.
Maybe it's time to get out and rediscover the unique offerings of local businesses--just to be supportive of the little guys trying to make ends meet. Haven't the big guys pushed enough people out of business? Is it any wonder people are angry and aligning themselves with the angrier politicians?
The power is in our hands, not theirs, if only we'd be willing to embrace adventure and curiosity, and make the effort to get out and shop local.
I think it's about convenience. Even though Home Depot and Lowe's pay their workers a pittance compared to the CEO's salary, one-stop shopping is much easier than going to two or three independent stores.
Also, during the pandemic, Amazon's business soared, and people got used to ordering everything from them. They are one of the worst offenders of low wages and horrible working conditions.
But in the end, right or wrong, convenience seems to win.
True, but in some respects, it's not convenient. For one, you can't try things on or feel the fabrics. And it's definitely not a convenience to find your package stolen by a porch thief. Then there are those times when the delivery date is missed, and now you can't take the gift to the birthday party. Largely, the only convenience lies is the old Yellow Pages ad slogan: "let your fingers do the walking".
Sanatana
I may have a reason. When you're rejecting, punishing, and avoiding people who do bad things, it's very personal. You know the person, you interact with them, and they're someone you can reject in good conscience. With big companies, it's a little harder. There is just not one person to reject. There are products you may purchase on a regular basis but you're not attaching those products to a particular person. For instance, you can reject Jane down the street for something that she did that went against your moral code. But rejecting a company, for instance, Amazon, when there are so many good things attached to it, makes it a little harder.
These are just my thoughts. I hope they bring you closer to understanding.
Bootstrap
Difficult question. There are few "good" companies/corporations so almost everything we buy, in one way or another, is tainted with employee or consumer abuse. Where to start is the problem?
Evangel
I agree with both previous comments. It's like if the local grocer slaps your kid for shoplifting, you'd likely take them to court and never shop there again. But if they slap their employees with abusive practices such as not paying overtime, no one cares because their deli sandwiches are delicious and not to miss.
Well Street
There's also the issue of convenience. We may not want to buy from Amazon for the treatment of their warehouse workers, and we may want to avoid purchasing goods made in foreign sweatshops.
It sounds simple enough, but it's definitely not easy.
Ninniburough
Thank you all for you thoughtful comments. I've thought about each of your answers.
I wonder how we managed before Amazon rose into an inhumane behemoth that wrings every drop of energy out of its employees.
Could we possibly start by helping out our local business people who are the lifeblood of our economy?
Did you know that small businesses make up 99.9% of all American businesses? They are in local towns and big cities where they provide more jobs and do more to boost the local economy than any corporate giant.
Why would we all gravitate to a large enterprise like Amazon? True, it's convenient if we enjoy doing all our shopping sitting at a desk.
Maybe it's time to get out and rediscover the unique offerings of local businesses--just to be supportive of the little guys trying to make ends meet. Haven't the big guys pushed enough people out of business? Is it any wonder people are angry and aligning themselves with the angrier politicians?
The power is in our hands, not theirs, if only we'd be willing to embrace adventure and curiosity, and make the effort to get out and shop local.
Slipstream
I think it's about convenience. Even though Home Depot and Lowe's pay their workers a pittance compared to the CEO's salary, one-stop shopping is much easier than going to two or three independent stores.
Also, during the pandemic, Amazon's business soared, and people got used to ordering everything from them. They are one of the worst offenders of low wages and horrible working conditions.
But in the end, right or wrong, convenience seems to win.
Ninniburough
True, but in some respects, it's not convenient. For one, you can't try things on or feel the fabrics. And it's definitely not a convenience to find your package stolen by a porch thief. Then there are those times when the delivery date is missed, and now you can't take the gift to the birthday party. Largely, the only convenience lies is the old Yellow Pages ad slogan: "let your fingers do the walking".
Slipstream
Good point...