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OK, I don't care what your political or religious views are - this commercial is hilarious!

Alceste

Vagabond
I always make it a note to myself not the purchase anything that I've seen an advertisement for.

Not a bad idea. I don't have that explicit rule but considering my shopping habits it seems to have worked out that way anyway. Once I committed to reading the ingredients and embraced a few basic humanitarian and ecological considerations, I found I don't buy brand-name anything any more.
 

dust1n

Zindīq
Not a bad idea. I don't have that explicit rule but considering my shopping habits it seems to have worked out that way anyway. Once I committed to reading the ingredients and embraced a few basic humanitarian and ecological considerations, I found I don't buy brand-name anything any more.

Basically. Anytime I do is due to some time or money restriction. Say.. 30 minutes, and 2 dollars will probably lead me a Taco Bell. I prefer eating at my favorite vegan cafe everyday, and it's only about 5 bucks a nice sized meal and coffee, and I know all the resources are extracted in the most exploitative measures possible.
 

Alceste

Vagabond
Basically. Anytime I do is due to some time or money restriction. Say.. 30 minutes, and 2 dollars will probably lead me a Taco Bell. I prefer eating at my favorite vegan cafe everyday, and it's only about 5 bucks a nice sized meal and coffee, and I know all the resources are extracted in the most exploitative measures possible.

Yeah - it's tough to be an ethical shopper at lunch time in a North American city. Where I just came from, the whole of downtown where I worked was almost entirely given over to malls full of chain stores. Now I have moved to a town with NO chain stores. Not even a Tim Hortons (must be the only fair-sized town in Canada without one). I hope to move to a smaller island one day that not only has no chain stores, but also has no building regulations or police officers. I've lived there before and always wanted to move back one day. * daydreams *. This is a bit O/T though. :p
 

dust1n

Zindīq
Yeah - it's tough to be an ethical shopper at lunch time in a North American city. Where I just came from, the whole of downtown where I worked was almost entirely given over to malls full of chain stores. Now I have moved to a town with NO chain stores. Not even a Tim Hortons (must be the only fair-sized town in Canada without one). I hope to move to a smaller island one day that not only has no chain stores, but also has no building regulations or police officers. I've lived there before and always wanted to move back one day. * daydreams *. This is a bit O/T though. :p

Not too off track. Just for 'me' and 'others' I suppose, some commercials may be funny, but commercialism is no laughing matter.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
OK I'm really seeking some answers here - why are you so opposed to ads? Is it just NATIONAL ad campaigns or regional or local or what? Where do you draw the line? Why is any company running an ad campaign automatically evil?

Sorry - I don't get it. I mean, I prefer to support locally owned shops and businesses, because I love the individuality they bring to the market place, even though their prices usually are higher. But are you saying that if I eat at Subway for lunch, I'm supporting something evil?
 

dust1n

Zindīq
OK I'm really seeking some answers here - why are you so opposed to ads? Is it just NATIONAL ad campaigns or regional or local or what? Where do you draw the line? Why is any company running an ad campaign automatically evil?

Sorry - I don't get it. I mean, I prefer to support locally owned shops and businesses, because I love the individuality they bring to the market place, even though their prices usually are higher. But are you saying that if I eat at Subway for lunch, I'm supporting something evil?

Depends on the ad campaign, though all of them are trying to convince me to do something.

I don't know anything about Subway. I just assume the guy who makes my sandwich gets payed less than me, and the CEO gets payed 200 times that amount.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Depends on the ad campaign, though all of them are trying to convince me to do something.

I don't know anything about Subway. I just assume the guy who makes my sandwich gets payed less than me, and the CEO gets payed 200 times that amount.

But why would that be bad?

I worked at Burger King when I was a teenager. I worked for minimum wage. But I knew that this was a temporary situation. Also, I was glad to have the job. I enjoyed a lot of it, especially getting the paycheck. I thought it was cool! I also learned a lot by working there. I consider the whole experience to have been a good one overall.

The Burger King franchise I worked for had excellent ethics. At that time, Burger King ranked number 2 in most markets - except for where Marvin Schuster owned a Burger King - in those markets, Burger King ranked number 1 in local popularity. That's because the franchise owner instilled the importance of excellence, accountability, and extreme customer service ethics into his entire company - from HQ down to the newest guy running the fry maker.

When new ad campaigns would be launched, Marvin would rent out a theater in town and all the workers would be invited to attend the ad campaign preview. We would get to vote on favorite and least favorite ads, we would win prizes, get to mingle with upper mgmt so they could meet us and listen to our concerns and issues, etc. We would get to sample new items that the main company was considering launching and give them feedback. It was interesting and instilled a sense of ownership and purpose into our little jobs.


This was back in the late 70s. I think Marvin owned about 40 BKs then. He now owns over 200 and is a millionaire many times over.

Let me tell you a little about Marvin. He doesn't have a college education. He is the son of German immigrants. He used to drive a bread truck for a bread delivery service. One of the places he delivered bread to was a Burger King. He decided he wanted to own one of those places, so he began to save his money, and eventually he bought a store. This is how he got into the business - no business degree, no family connections, nothing but hard work and good money management.

He has never looked down on the little guy. He promoted from within from the very start. He is demanding and often hard to work for, because he expects everyone to work as hard as he does (yes, he's still actively working in his business to this day). But he's giving every single person who works at one of his restaurants a great opportunity. Every member of management in his operation started at the restaurant level. The CFO knows how to operate that fry machine.

Marvin is the epitome of the American entrepreneur. And there are many, many more men and women like him out there. I want the US to continue to provide an environment where people like Marvin can prosper. I will do what I can to support the Marvins of this world.

I don't want to BE a Marvin - I don't want to work 100 hours a week, save every penny and live in a tiny apartment for ten years, just to buy a hamburger stand and risk everything I've worked for for the past ten years. I don't want to be a business owner, in fact. I've done it and it's not as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, it's scary. I was a lot wealthier than I am now, but I also worked a lot harder (I owned a real estate company that employed 25 realtors) and had a LOT more responsibility.

Anyway, that's just my personal insight. Over my lifetime, I've known a lot of entrepreneurs, and the vast majority of them came from lower or middle class backgrounds and worked their ***** off for many years before building a successful business. I don't begrudge them their millions at all.
 

dust1n

Zindīq
But why would that be bad?

I worked at Burger King when I was a teenager. I worked for minimum wage. But I knew that this was a temporary situation. Also, I was glad to have the job. I enjoyed a lot of it, especially getting the paycheck. I thought it was cool! I also learned a lot by working there. I consider the whole experience to have been a good one overall.

The Burger King franchise I worked for had excellent ethics. At that time, Burger King ranked number 2 in most markets - except for where Marvin Schuster owned a Burger King - in those markets, Burger King ranked number 1 in local popularity. That's because the franchise owner instilled the importance of excellence, accountability, and extreme customer service ethics into his entire company - from HQ down to the newest guy running the fry maker.

When new ad campaigns would be launched, Marvin would rent out a theater in town and all the workers would be invited to attend the ad campaign preview. We would get to vote on favorite and least favorite ads, we would win prizes, get to mingle with upper mgmt so they could meet us and listen to our concerns and issues, etc. We would get to sample new items that the main company was considering launching and give them feedback. It was interesting and instilled a sense of ownership and purpose into our little jobs.


This was back in the late 70s. I think Marvin owned about 40 BKs then. He now owns over 200 and is a millionaire many times over.

Let me tell you a little about Marvin. He doesn't have a college education. He is the son of German immigrants. He used to drive a bread truck for a bread delivery service. One of the places he delivered bread to was a Burger King. He decided he wanted to own one of those places, so he began to save his money, and eventually he bought a store. This is how he got into the business - no business degree, no family connections, nothing but hard work and good money management.

He has never looked down on the little guy. He promoted from within from the very start. He is demanding and often hard to work for, because he expects everyone to work as hard as he does (yes, he's still actively working in his business to this day). But he's giving every single person who works at one of his restaurants a great opportunity. Every member of management in his operation started at the restaurant level. The CFO knows how to operate that fry machine.

Marvin is the epitome of the American entrepreneur. And there are many, many more men and women like him out there. I want the US to continue to provide an environment where people like Marvin can prosper. I will do what I can to support the Marvins of this world.

I don't want to BE a Marvin - I don't want to work 100 hours a week, save every penny and live in a tiny apartment for ten years, just to buy a hamburger stand and risk everything I've worked for for the past ten years. I don't want to be a business owner, in fact. I've done it and it's not as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, it's scary. I was a lot wealthier than I am now, but I also worked a lot harder (I owned a real estate company that employed 25 realtors) and had a LOT more responsibility.

Anyway, that's just my personal insight. Over my lifetime, I've known a lot of entrepreneurs, and the vast majority of them came from lower or middle class backgrounds and worked their ***** off for many years before building a successful business. I don't begrudge them their millions at all.



Regarding Subway, I'd rather just go to one of the numerous sandwich shops around town (cheaper and expensive) and have my money go to the guy who is making my sandwich. Also, tomatoes are the only fresh produce Subway gets. I like 'fresh' produce.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
That's nice but it doesn't answer my original question AT ALL.

OK I'm really seeking some answers here - why are you so opposed to ads? Is it just NATIONAL ad campaigns or regional or local or what? Where do you draw the line? Why is any company running an ad campaign automatically evil?

Sorry - I don't get it. I mean, I prefer to support locally owned shops and businesses, because I love the individuality they bring to the market place, even though their prices usually are higher. But are you saying that if I eat at Subway for lunch, I'm supporting something evil?

Do you have an opinion about that or are you just really excited about the fresh produce?

And do you do everything yourself or apply your line of reasoning across the board? Do you change your own oil, or take your car only to mechanics who own their own shops? Do you only get your hair cut by people who own their own salon? Or do you think it's WRONG to go to an independent contractor who cuts hair, but pays the salon owner rent for the space? If they started running ads for that salon, would you think your patronage of your favorite hairstylist was wrong because they don't actually OWN the business? What about your socks? Where do you buy them and why? Do you seek out people who own sheep and weave their own wool and then sit around and make socks or what?

I guess I'm looking for your personal parameters and your tolerance level of what you're calling commercialism.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Depends on the ad campaign, though all of them are trying to convince me to do something.
IMO, I think there's something to this. I'm not opposed to buying products that are advertised, but when an ad is based on making a product part of my "lifestyle" and not just informing me that it exists or telling me about its benefits, I do wonder whether it'd be able to stand on its own merits if it weren't for the idea of wrapping it up in the idea of what it means to be cool or successful.

I don't know anything about Subway. I just assume the guy who makes my sandwich gets payed less than me, and the CEO gets payed 200 times that amount.
I worked part-time at an internet cafe for a while in university. I only made 15 cents an hour more than minimum wage, but I think the CEO made less than me (considering how it closed the year after I worked there, I suspect the owners lost money on the venture). I still probably would've been better off working at a place like Subway.
 

dust1n

Zindīq
Do you have an opinion about that or are you just really excited about the fresh produce?

An ad a biased representation of a company's image. More than often, it is basically excluding all truths about their companies practice or their product. Take from it what you want. I am really excited about fresh produce though. More likely to have a mineral based waxing than a petroleum based one.

And do you do everything yourself or apply your line of reasoning across the board?

I do as much as I can by myself or purchase conscientiously.

Do you change your own oil, or take your car only to mechanics who own their own shops?

I have changed my own oil, but I usually just pay these two independent mechanics to do it since something else on my car usually has to be done.

Do you only get your hair cut by people who own their own salon? Or do you think it's WRONG to go to an independent contractor who cuts hair, but pays the salon owner rent for the space?

Either one of my friends or my aunt will cut my hair, or I will just cut it myself. I've never been to a 'salon', (except once, I got a free hair cut because an ex's mom's co-worker cut hair, and got me in; same hair cut, more product.)

What about your socks? Where do you buy them and why? Do you seek out people who own sheep and weave their own wool and then sit around and make socks or what?

I'm only twenty. I've never had to buy socks, I'm just always had some, (though my mom bought me some recently, I didn't question them, I just took them. The money has been made.) If for some reason, I needed socks and I didn't have the money, I probably take them. If I did have the money, I would probably start here:

Wigwam Company Overview

They didn't even have to advertisement for me. I looked them up.

I guess I'm looking for your personal parameters and your tolerance level of what you're calling commercialism.

Giving money to a company that has policies I don't agree with, is like tithing to a church I don't believe in.
 

dust1n

Zindīq
Also, about Subway, Kathryn; they distribute Coca-Cola products, and Coca-Cola is most notorious for human right infractions, especially Mexico and in Africa.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Also, about Subway, Kathryn; they distribute Coca-Cola products, and Coca-Cola is most notorious for human right infractions, especially Mexico and in Africa.

I'd like to know more about that - source?
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I'd like to know more about that - source?
I've heard stuff about that in the past - I saw a documentary a while back that touched on one of Coca-Cola's practices: in several cases, they set up bottling plants and drew so much well water that they'd significantly lower the water table and the surrounding villages' wells would run dry. However, because of either the powerlessness of the local people or the toothlessness of the country's laws, there'd be nothing the affected people could do about it.

I can't even remember the name of the film at this point, so it'd take a while to track down a source online.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Hmm, well, I just wonder - Coca Cola is a really big target. I would think if there was serious dirt on Coca Cola it would be pretty easy to track down from a reliable source.

Not saying it's not true - It just seems like it'd be easy to find online.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Hmm, well, I just wonder - Coca Cola is a really big target. I would think if there was serious dirt on Coca Cola it would be pretty easy to track down from a reliable source.

Not saying it's not true - It just seems like it'd be easy to find online.
And it is - a quick Google search yielded these links:

One against Coca-Cola: IRC- Coca-Cola -- Campaign to Hold Coca-Cola Accountable

One for Coca-Cola (but that acknowledges the claims against Coke I described): Coca-Cola's Water Sustainability Initiatives - Business Ethics Case Studies | Case Study

I can't speak to the reliability of these sites, but it looks like they have links to their sources that you can click through to decide for yourself.
 
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