Ford pulls LR/Jag GLBT support due to American Family threat

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I find it odd that I might care about the politics, race, hobbies, etc., of the person who owns the diner down the road...

That's a subject I'm personally conflicted on. Part of me says, "Who cares, it's the product that matters,"* but another part of me says, "Do I want them to be supported by my money if it's owned by a Nazi who'd rather I were dead?" I honestly haven't come to terms with a universal answer for myself. My feelings tend to change based on the size of the company (under the nebulous theory of, the smaller the company is, the closer to my money said theoretical Nazi owner is). So I do understand somewhat the boycott motivation.

I still contend that the AFA boycott turned into a convenient way for Ford to pass off gay-pandering as amazing altruistic community support, and allowed them to continue to hide their gay targeted advertising away from the "public" ("public" in quotes to indicate how inane it is to separate "gay" from "public") eye.

*Actually, a better measure might be, "Who cares, it's how they treat me personally that matters."

[wendybeth]

iSm, I think what we are doing now is just exactly that. Researching, discussing and getting angry enough to do something about it. I think it would be nice to try and shame (if that's even possible) Ford into reneging on their arrangement with AFA. A large as possible 'outting' is precisely what they need, and it's an appropriate choice of words. Get as many people to write, call, or otherwise publicise this- don't boycott, because then you're no better than the hate groups. Just publically shame them.

[€uroMeinke]

I suppose one tactic is to approach the shareholders through institutional investors. Is the Comapany really being run in a prudent fashion if it is letting social politics dictate it's fiscal policy? I'd say if they take any sort of a finacial hit, you could have a shareholder lawsuit that might reveal some interesting tidbits come discovery time.

[Alex]

Just for the record, I've been informed of the source.

It doesn't change any of the views I've expressed in this thread.

GD, I don't really find it to be a conundrum. The owner of that diner I talked about could be a vocal Nazi and I would still go there for a sandwich. I wouldn't be his friend but I don't care what other people think. Now, if he acts on his rhetoric (refusing to serve Jews, beating blacks out in the parking lot) then I begin to deny my business.

I don't think refusing to target advertising is in that realm. If they has discriminatory pricing for gays or fire gay employees (the reason I am hesitant to eat at Cracker Barrel) then I'll start to care. The CEO of Ford could stand up at the next shareholder meeting and say "we've decided not to advertise in gay magazines because the AFA has convinced us that homosexuality is a sin and while we won't in any way prevent them from buying our cars, we will not be advertising to them directly. We thank the AFA for opening our eyes to this." and I would still feel the same way. I would disagree but not particularly care. (Of course, this is all academic for me since the last Ford of any brand I drove was the 1975 Grand Torino station wagon in which I learned to drive.)

I do feel bad for all the gay people that now have no way of knowing that the Jaguar brand exists.

[wendybeth]

I don't need to wait for Krystlenacht before I speak out against discriminatory practices, or withhold my support (be it financial or simply quiet acceptance) from people who are acting out in a manner that hurts others that they do not think should exist. Lets face it, the AFA and groups like it do not want homosexual people in our society. So, at the risk of invoking Godwin, which Alex has already done for me, I do think that it's necessary to stop such insidious behavior early on. This sort of thing should be illegal, and would be, were gay people afforded the same rights as most people are in this country.

[Alex]

What sort of thing should be illegal?

And I only said "Nazi" because GD did, so if things are Godwined I blame him.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

What sort of thing should be illegal?

And I only said "Nazi" because GD did, so if things are Godwined I blame him.

Lol- so, you were sort of a second gen Godwinite?

Discrimination- if a group lobbied against advertising to women because they objected to our existence, you bet your ass there would be lawsuits.

And, we would own them.

[Alex]

I find your idea of what should be illegal very scary.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I find your idea of what should be illegal very scary.

Then perhaps you should relocate to Saudi Arabia.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

The owner of that diner I talked about could be a vocal Nazi and I would still go there for a sandwich. I wouldn't be his friend but I don't care what other people think. Now, if he acts on his rhetoric (refusing to serve Jews, beating blacks out in the parking lot) then I begin to deny my business.

I'm hoping that you might call the police instead.