Businesses that you don't patronize on principle:

[Bodhisattva]

I'm not anti-charity. As a matter of fact, I overwhelmingly prefer it to the forced appropriation of my money for social causes by the government.

 

[Bama Reb]

Governmental extortion has also cramped my charitable side, much to not only my dismay but also that of the charities to whom I would like to contribute. Should the government ease it's greed and see it's way clear to letting me keep more of my own money I shall be happy to share a little more of it with those whom I decide are deserving of my charity. Until then however I must be content to do with less and as a result those who are truly in need will have to find other resources or do without. :biggrin2:

 

[alextupelo]

I go to Target specifically for that reason. I am tired of walking to the store, being accosted by 20 bums looking for handouts, then have to navigate around a bell clanger , then have to politely tell the cashier that "No, I don't want to contribute $1 for the childhood leukemia society." Then dodge the girl scout cookie nazis, then dodge the bell clanger again, then stare at the future convict trying to get me to contribute to the child anti-drug campaign, then politely decline 8 more bums looking for handouts, then get home and read my paystub at how the gov just took 20% of my money to contribute to all these people anyway.

Those bell clanger's help provide Christmas presents, clothes, and food for people who aren't able to provide it during Christmas. If you think its a simple hand out the people who receive Christmas assistance go through an interview process and they have to prove that they need assistance.

 

[whitman]

Those bell clanger's help provide Christmas presents, clothes, and food for people who aren't able to provide it during Christmas.

Hopefully, somewhere along the way, they'll get a mention of what Christmas is really about.

 

[alextupelo]

Hopefully, somewhere along the way, they'll get a mention of what Christmas is really about.

The main idea behind the Salvation Army is that you can't heal the spirit if the body and mind aren't healthy. People are much more attentive to what you have to say if you take care of their physical needs before you take care of their spiritual needs.

 

[Mamacalled]

He is also a big supporter of pro life causes and has a history of discriminating against gay people in his restaurants. I said I was an uber-liberal, I never said I was a Democrat. The Democratic Party in the south is far from liberal. It might as well be a wing of the Republican Party.

Since Chick-Fil-et stores are franchised owned, show me proof that he has discriminated against Gay people. And Heaven's forbid someone have a different political view than yours. If you boycott stores because of thier owners' views then you must be boycotting the majority of stores that are out there. Again, it seems rather closed minded to me.

 

[ValuJet]

...

 

[BamaSC]

Wow, the Target issue blossomed on me. I'm not a big fan of the carnival atmosphere that exists in a typical Wal-Mart parking lot either. That said, the S.A. bell-ringers to me are a part of Christmas and they are usually far enough away from the door that you can get through without feeling harassed. I have no problem with the right of Target to not allow the S.A. on their premises. However, as long as Target has this policy, I'll choose to support their competition (not necessarily Wal-Mart).

 

[CornBiscuit]

Driving in Louisiana - Worst drivers on Earth

If I had the money Id go by helicopter everywhere.


DMV - I dont even want to know what my blood pressure is when I go in there.

 

[DiamondDust]

What I don't like is:

1. Girl Scout Cookie sales. I just tell them cookies are bad for you. If the GS moms weren't so aggressive it wouldn't be so bad. They actually act offended if you don't buy an armload of their cookies when leaving the grocery store. In Florida, they seemingly try to humiliate you in front of the general public if you don't buy the crap they have piled up on card tables. Where are the Girl Scouts while the moms do the dirty work - working on their MySpace pages?

Some info about Girl Scout Cookie Sales:

Girl Scout units are basically required to sale a certain amount of cookies each year. The majority of their funding comes from the cookie sales, and each unit has to purchase a certain amount of cookies from their local council. I'm saying this as a person who works for the Boy Scouts. What do you think of when you hear the phrase Girl Scouts? It's the cookie sale. The Boy Scouts have a popcorn sale but we intentionally do not make it the emphasis of our program or fundraising efforts.

Another business I won't patronize:

Any that uses excessive pop-up advertising on the internet. I consider them lower than pond scum.

 

[kostarae]

I've bought girl scout cookies and helped my sister's sell them....but D**N!! They couldn't make those things any more unhealthy.

Seriously....a heart attack in a cookie---and I use to eat whole sleeves or the mint and coconut kind.

And for the 2-3 people who talked down Chick-fil-a, I'm going to eat there 3 times before our first football game just because you are narrow-minded ignoramus's. You don't eat somewhere strictly because the owner has Christian beliefs. So where do you shop?

 

[ColumbusTide]

Since Chick-Fil-et stores are franchised owned, show me proof that he has discriminated against Gay people. And Heaven's forbid someone have a different political view than yours. If you boycott stores because of thier owners' views then you must be boycotting the majority of stores that are out there. Again, it seems rather closed minded to me.

Um .... this whole thread is about boyotting (i.e., not patronizing) certain business based on principle (which could include policitical views). Yet, you pick mine to call closed minded. Could that be because my politics don't aren't in line with yours? Just a thought.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Um .... this whole thread is about boyotting (i.e., not patronizing) certain business based on principle (which could include policitical views). Yet, you pick mine to call closed minded. Could that be because my politics don't aren't in line with yours? Just a thought.

I think you just summed up the Non Sports Forum in this one single post!

 

[It's On A Slab]

I don't mind the Salvation Army bell clangers. My dad has volunteered his time for over 20 years around Christmas, standing out in the cold, outside some store, in a coonskin cap. I think he gets as much out of the camarderie with his church group as he does ringing that bell. He is the least aggressive person they could look for to badger people. The change that goes in that bucket for his one hour shift is matched penny for penny by him when he's done. For that knowledge alone, I rarely go by a "bell clanger" and not drop a couple of dollars in their bucket.

What I don't like is:

1. Girl Scout Cookie sales. I just tell them cookies are bad for you. If the GS moms weren't so aggressive it wouldn't be so bad. They actually act offended if you don't buy an armload of their cookies when leaving the grocery store. In Florida, they seemingly try to humiliate you in front of the general public if you don't buy the crap they have piled up on card tables. Where are the Girl Scouts while the moms do the dirty work - working on their MySpace pages?

2. Firemen with their boots at intersections. I admire, respect and support firemen. But, for their one or two hour effort to badger Joe SixPack on a Saturday or Sunday, using their "official" status to harangue someone who won't drop a few coins in their boot, they'd be better off taking the day off and working their sideline jobs to supplement their incomes. I say this out of contempt for having been badgered by a badge-toting fireman and lectured about his sacrifice away from his family while I'm waiting for a red light to change. The fact I mentioned to him that I give to the charity of my choice was like throwing a cherry bomb at him. I figured he'd call my license plate in and I'd be arrested. To h*ll with that. Again, this happened in South Florida. :mad2:

3. An incapacitated person in a wheelchair outside a place of business. I really feel bad but what's the seven dollars in my wallet going to do for the $600,000 outstanding medical bill? I feel ashamed and humiliated that this exists for some families, and I can't do something to help. Blech.

4. Again, in South Florida, about once a year I'd get a call from someone "on behalf" of the Florida Highway Patrol, soliciting donations for widows of fallen troopers. Or to help get drunken drivers off the road. They'd even have a two-way radio sound in the background like the SOB was a dispatcher taking a break to beat me up for money. I never fell for that one, in spite of the "dispatcher" telling me what he had as my phone number and address.

The local firefighters used to block intersections here during Jerry Lewis telethon weekend....it got so bad that the city council banned the practice. I nearly ran over one once because he was standing out in the middle of the lane, holding his boot out.

I always buy Girl Scout cookies from folks at work. I know it's bad for you...I give them away to my kids or others. I support a good cause, but I'll be #*#$ed if I'm going to be hassled at the entrance of a store by some over-aggressive Girl Scout mom.

The Knights of Columbus dudes in the funny vests are another pain in the patootie, but they lurk around the Evil Empire's entrance with their Tootsie Rolls.

I don't mind the Salvation Army folks so much. They usually sit out front and don't bother anyone. But I guess Target's ban on solicitation had to be uniform.

 

[It's On A Slab]

Since Chick-Fil-et stores are franchised owned, show me proof that he has discriminated against Gay people. And Heaven's forbid someone have a different political view than yours. If you boycott stores because of thier owners' views then you must be boycotting the majority of stores that are out there. Again, it seems rather closed minded to me.

I've never heard that about Chik-Fil-A. I've always respected the owner for sticking to his guns and not opening on Sundays.

Though, if it were proved to be true that they discriminated against folks, I'd boycott the place, too. Bigotry is not a family value in my neck of the woods.

 

[rpeastep]

That ^ and Citgo along with Applebees .

Rode out to the mall to pick up a girl who was about to be off for the night and decided to wait for her @ Applebees . It was the 1st and last time I've ever entered one . Reason ? I had a cold as well as a headache(which I never get) . I requested an aspirin and water . Brought me the aspirin at once without the water even though I happened to be sitting in front of the dispenser behind the bar . After 10 minutes , I took my aspirin with a swallow of my friends adult beverage . A manager immediately approached asking for my ID which I did not bring in . Told him so and the a-hole told me to leave at once . Excellent staff & management . I was 26 at the time and hadn't been carded in years . RIH , Applebees .


Forgot - any and all movie theatres .

Why would one assume that a restaurant should furnish them an aspirin and free water to boot?

 

[gmart74]

Every time I have seen the bell clangers they are within spitting distance of the door tot he store. So I have no way of ignoring them. One even had a great technique. She would send her cute little 5-6 yr old girl to run out to customers in the lot and ask them if they would donate. I firmly told her no and she looked like she was going to cry. Evidently not a lot of other people can resist a sweet innocent lil kid trying to leech money off of you but I sure as hell can.
Being forced to give to charity just makes me sick. I also absolutely 100% will never give even a penny to a bum on the street. By doing do so you are only enabling their drug addiction or mental problems. I do give to specific charities. I know what they are and I dont need someone shoving something in my face to remember who or what they are.

 

[Bama Reb]

Forgot - any and all movie theatres .

I'd really like to hear your reasoning behind this.

 

[It's On A Slab]

I'd really like to hear your reasoning behind this.

I don't blame the movie theaters for the goobers who insist on getting to the movie 10 mins. after the credits start rolling and insist on disturbing everyone as they try to be seated. Or the popcorn crunchers and/or loud talkers who plop down next to you after said credits start rolling....leaving you no good option to move since it's pitch dark in the cinema.

Well, I guess they could throw the louts out, but that, too, would be bad for business.

 

[moorav]

I've never heard that about Chik-Fil-A. I've always respected the owner for sticking to his guns and not opening on Sundays.

Though, if it were proved to be true that they discriminated against folks, I'd boycott the place, too. Bigotry is not a family value in my neck of the woods.

I admire the Chik-fil-A organization but I seldom eat there.