Funny Stuff (to me):

[Mike Teezie]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=20&u=/ap/20040721/ap_on_re_us/pants_on_fire_6

[Thomas Veil]

I just saw that on CNN. You gotta love that guy Ben Cohen.

[Lyle]

Just so I understand how this works: If people who support President Bush now stop buying Ben & Jerry's ice cream in response to the "Pants on Fire" tour, they are restricting Ben Cohen's right to free speech, correct?

[Taft]

Just so I understand how this works: If people who support President Bush now stop buying Ben & Jerry's ice cream in response to the "Pants on Fire" tour, they are restricting Ben Cohen's right to free speech, correct?

Who said that? Not the article linked above or the two posters before you, thats for sure.

Of course it isn't a violation of free speech rights. However, often I think a double standard exists in which those whose voice supports the President and trashes his opponents are given a free ride while those who trash the President and support his opponents are blacklisted or boycotted. Its not a violation of free speech rights, its just childish.

I personally feel that not buying a company's/artist's/person's product because of their political views is pretty stupid. Like the Dixie Chicks fiasco. I can understand that people going to their show don't want to be hit over the head with their politics. SO DON'T GO TO THEIR LIVE SHOWS! If you know their politics and you know they speak about them freely, then avoid the situation if you don't like it.

BUT, if you like their music (which doesn't contain much of a political message, from what I've heard), why in the world would you stop buying it? Do you avoid shopping from small computer businesses because their owner is a registered Democrat? Are people really that petty? I have a TON of Republican friends, aquaintences and people with whom I do business. I rent my apartment from an anabashedly Republican guy. Nice dude, too. I just don't agree with his politics. Should I move out because of it? That would be pretty dumb, if you ask me.

I attribute the whole boycott craze to group-think and small mindedness. If you are so focused on politics that you can't even interact normally with the people who disagree with you, you've got troubles.

Taft

[takao]

Who said that? Not the article linked above or the two posters before you, thats for sure.

Of course it isn't a violation of free speech rights. However, often I think a double standard exists in which those whose voice supports the President and trashes his opponents are given a free ride while those who trash the President and support his opponents are blacklisted or boycotted. Its not a violation of free speech rights, its just childish.

I personally feel that not buying a company's/artist's/person's product because of their political views is pretty stupid. Like the Dixie Chicks fiasco. I can understand that people going to their show don't want to be hit over the head with their politics. SO DON'T GO TO THEIR LIVE SHOWS! If you know their politics and you know they speak about them freely, then avoid the situation if you don't like it.

BUT, if you like their music (which doesn't contain much of a political message, from what I've heard), why in the world would you stop buying it? Do you avoid shopping from small computer businesses because their owner is a registered Democrat? Are people really that petty? I have a TON of Republican friends, aquaintences and people with whom I do business. I rent my apartment from an anabashedly Republican guy. Nice dude, too. I just don't agree with his politics. Should I move out because of it? That would be pretty dumb, if you ask me.

I attribute the whole boycott craze to group-think and small mindedness. If you are so focused on politics that you can't even interact normally with the people who disagree with you, you've got troubles.

Taft


hmm for me personally it depends on the politics... national-socialistic-'friendly' political views are unacceptable. period. if it is a company with a shady past (for example AGFA,BAYER,FOX and others) or a private person doesn't matter...

not every political view has to be tolerated ...

but in this case it's not really a problem ;)

[Taft]

hmm for me personally it depends on the politics... national-socialistic-'friendly' political views are unacceptable. period. if it is a company with a shady past (for example AGFA,BAYER,FOX and others) or a private person doesn't matter...

not every political view has to be tolerated ...

but in this case it's not really a problem ;)

I guess that is true. I wouldn't want to shop at a store owned by a neo-Nazi, I suppose. But to freak out about relatively benign political statements about the current President is just silly.

I guess there is a line that a person can cross from having "social" political views to having "anti-social" political views. I find it proposterous, however, that anyone would consider the Dixie Chicks or Linda Rondstat (sp?) in the latter group.

Taft

[jayb2000]

http://store.pantsonfire.net/
:D

[takao]

I guess that is true. I wouldn't want to shop at a store owned by a neo-Nazi, I suppose. But to freak out about relatively benign political statements about the current President is just silly.

I guess there is a line that a person can cross from having "social" political views to having "anti-social" political views. I find it proposterous, however, that anyone would consider the Dixie Chicks or Linda Rondstat (sp?) in the latter group.

Taft

yeah i can agree with you..such things are minor things...and hearing about the dixie chicks being ignored/boycotted it was worth a few rolling eyes ... thats just plain overreaction...i wonder what they would do if they knew what other bands are singing ;)

[Lyle]

I personally feel that not buying a company's/artist's/person's product because of their political views is pretty stupid.Actually, I agree. It is curious to me that people (on both sides of the political aisle) get their panties in a wad because of something that a "celebrity" does or says. One of my favorite bands (http://www.theymightbegiants.com) is apparently supporting MoveOn.org, but I'm not going to stop buying their records because of it.

Nevertheless, for people who like to use the currently-in-vogue expression "chilling effect" to describe how their rights are being oppressed, what better opporunity than when discussing an ice cream company? ;)