this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2023
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Philosophy

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Philosophy (from Greek: φιλοσοφία, philosophia, 'love of wisdom') is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language.

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Boycott opponents always say: “good people work for bad companies” (links.hackliberty.org)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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A common objection to boycotts is based on sympathy for the workers. If you call for a boycott on Amazon, for example, a substantial portion of the population will argue “good people work for bad companies”.

This rationale essentially attempts to take the boycott option off the table entirely for all mid-size companies and larger. So I wonder to what extent this widespread way of thinking damages activist movements to correct harmful companies.

Recently in Belgium there was a boycott on the grocery chain Delhaize for their employment practices. So I can’t help but notice this boycott is purely out of sympathy for the employees, effectively a 180° contradiction to the mentality that boycotts harm employees.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Good people work for bad companies, but also good people are negatively impacted by companies. NOT boycotting hurts other good people. Or sometimes the same good people, if you're boycotting for better labor conditions.