Have You Ever Formally Protested or Boycotted Anything?

[Wendy31]

I don't think I protest or boycott a lot. It's not that I don't have opinions or read news stories to keep up w/ events, it's just that I tend to be more "I have my beliefs & personal politics & you have yours...", & we can co-exist together. Unless, the person/company/business is just really egregious or I read, see, or experience something appalling, I realize that people (& their companies) will have different opinions & those opinions may not always be the same as mine.

I think I tend to support more than boycott. For example, if I like what a company/business/person is doing, I'll support them (& go out of my way or even pay more money) to support them. However, given choices, there are some businesses which are, admittedly, my last choice - but, if they are my only choice, I'll go there.

But, in thinking about it, there are a few things I'm actively boycotting.

While we still watch college football, we don't watch NFL football any more. (It's probably a good thing that Peyton Manning retired last year... LOL!)

We don't go to circuses. And I'm picky regarding zoos & aquariums.

There is a national organization that I don't support & will not buy their products, & I've called our state's representatives' & senators' offices regarding another organization.

About 3 years ago, we (DH, the kids, & I) had an absolutely awful experience at our local Buffalo Wild Wings. DH, who is normally more easygoing, was infuriated & swore we'd never be back. And we haven't! Not to that one or any other location. LOL!

As for protests & marches, I've never marched, but I have participated in some local "walks" for one particular cause. I also visited Chik-Fil-A on "Chik-Fil-A" Appreciation Day a couple of years ago & then returned the following week on what was supposed to be the LGBTQ day.

 

[Kaytie]

Here in MA there is a family owned grocery store chain (Market Basket) that had ousted it's very much loved and respected boss (there's a whole big background to the infighting of the family). I joined in with many, many loyal customers and shopped at a different grocery chain. I believe it lasted 6 weeks. In the end the boss came back after buying out the other half of the families share in the business.

I can do better than that. I, as a customer, participated in the protest I had forgotten about it. The protest I do remember is back in the mid-seventies. I was at UMass, and the veterans group peacefully occupied a building for about 36 hours, in protest of i forget what . I sat-in the whole time. The University finally got them/us to leave by scheduling a meeting elsewhere on campus. Then didn't follow through, just got us out of the building.

 

[asta]

About 3 years ago, we (DH, the kids, & I) had an absolutely awful experience at our local Buffalo Wild Wings. DH, who is normally more easygoing, was infuriated & swore we'd never be back. And we haven't! Not to that one or any other location. LOL!

This part of your post reminded me of my experience at a couple of places. I can tolerate occasional bad service. Everyone has a bad day. But there is a level of service that goes beyond bad to insulting and I can never tolerate that. I personally choose to boycott those places. Not loudly but in a very determined way. In two cases that I can think of those places eventually went out of business. That makes me think that others were just as insulted and many also boycotted.

 

[chirurgeon]

Hobby Lobby, Chick-Filet, WalMart, Sam's Club, Papa John's, Jimmy John's

 

[Erzengel]

Only once.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Usually that is because football brings in the biggest chunk of money so they get the bigger slice of the pie. A high school football game here can bring in $50,000 on one Friday night. So a college game really brings it in for one game. At some schools that money is split between all sports with the percentage given out determined by the percentage put in. If the money isn't all put in one pot, football keeps the money they brought in and it gives them a lot to spend. That and alumni donations that are earmarked for football. They aren't really taking from one sport to give to another, in many colleges football supports the other sports.

My dad coached several HS sports. He always told me football & boys basketball were the only sports that came out in the black and that the profits from these two sports financed all the other HS sports.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A little off topic but the reason so much money is put into college football is that it is the sport that draws crowds. Outside of basketball and sometimes baseball I can't think of other sports that draw much of a crowd here. And those crowds bring money and a loyal following to a school better than anything else. My school makes mega bucks just by sharing in the SEC financial pool. Even more than the gate. Personally I love the game better played at the college level. The NFL bores me. Around here college football is a way of life loved by many, NFL not so much.

My husband played rugby in college and the guys had to work hard to rehab a piece of campus land for a field. They had to mow it, clear rocks and other maintenance. After several years of this the football team came in and took it away as their exclusive practice field. Talk about upset! But he still loves his football team. We don't miss a game.

Yeah, I know. I was talking more about local and high school football, though, not college. I know even some HS football teams can bring in money as well.

It's nice that your DH had those experiences in college. I know it's really special.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Nothing official per say, but I'd never donate to those salvation army bell ringers.

Why?

 

[perditax]

I don't always march, but when I do- I march my butt to work because I'm a responsible adult who has bills to pay and a family to support.
(saw this on FB today and chuckled)

I must feel a bit disconnected to the world because I've never felt strongly about an issue enough to want to do something about it with a bunch of strangers.

I work full-time and have since I was 17. It's fine, many events occur on the weekends, such as the women's marches this past Saturday (17,000 of us in my metro), and I'm setting aside vacation time for the coming year. It's possible to be politically active *and* employed, despite the cute 1960s-vintage "hippie" stereotypes.

Having no strong opinions must be very relaxing.

 

[DawnM]

Yup! But it is political so I won't say what.

 

[DawnM]

I don't always march, but when I do- I march my butt to work because I'm a responsible adult who has bills to pay and a family to support.
(saw this on FB today and chuckled)

I must feel a bit disconnected to the world because I've never felt strongly about an issue enough to want to do something about it with a bunch of strangers.

Funny story. One of our admins at work went to a rally once. He had called in sick to go. He ended up being interviewed and was on the 5 o'clock news as having participated in the "noon protest!"

BUSTED!

 

[ronandannette]

I work full-time and have since I was 17. It's fine, many events occur on the weekends, such as the women's marches this past Saturday (17,000 of us in my metro), and I'm setting aside vacation time for the coming year. It's possible to be politically active *and* employed, despite the cute 1960s-vintage "hippie" stereotypes.
Having no strong opinions must be very relaxing.

Probably very true, and also very funny. Thanks for that!

 

[Suger Mag]

Hah... Penn Jilette is from Greenfield in Western Mass, and he was rather legendary even then... LOL lets say he was always an interesting guy, even in high school he had a 'strong personality'.

I gotta give him credit, he comes from regular typical small town roots, no big money helped him along besides drive, talent, and luck. Another good thing about Penn... he takes care of his own. My father was his dad's physical therapist. Penn took real good care of his dad in his ending years...Even with his regular show in Vegas at the time, Penn always was visiting weekly with his Dad, he wanted for nothing.

 

[Gracie09]

Usually that is because football brings in the biggest chunk of money so they get the bigger slice of the pie. A high school football game here can bring in $50,000 on one Friday night. So a college game really brings it in for one game. At some schools that money is split between all sports with the percentage given out determined by the percentage put in. If the money isn't all put in one pot, football keeps the money they brought in and it gives them a lot to spend. That and alumni donations that are earmarked for football. They aren't really taking from one sport to give to another, in many colleges football supports the other sports.

Its really a myth that in many colleges football support the other sports. In most D1 schools football loses money or breaks even. There are a few schools where they make money and even fewer where they make enough money to support the other programs.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Its really a myth that in many colleges football support the other sports. In most D1 schools football loses money or breaks even. There are a few schools where they make money and even fewer where they make enough money to support the other programs.

Our local college had revenue over $103 million in 2012 through the athletic department. I'm sure other sports made some of that. But most of it was by the football team.

But we certainly aren't most.

 

[luvsJack]

Its really a myth that in many colleges football support the other sports. In most D1 schools football loses money or breaks even. There are a few schools where they make money and even fewer where they make enough money to support the other programs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/...ike-the-pros-73-billion-for-a-start.html?_r=0
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/...ike-the-pros-73-billion-for-a-start.html?_r=0
"the median Division I athletic department revenue in 1970 was $6.5 million, and in 2012, it was $56 million, according to one N.C.A.A.-commissioned study" I don't see 56 million as losing money. The local University brings in a huge amount of money each game. LSU paid them a million dollars for one game and Auburn paid 3 million for two games. Yeah, I don't think they are losing money.

 

[Gracie09]

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/...ike-the-pros-73-billion-for-a-start.html?_r=0
"the median Division I athletic department revenue in 1970 was $6.5 million, and in 2012, it was $56 million, according to one N.C.A.A.-commissioned study" I don't see 56 million as losing money. The local University brings in a huge amount of money each game. LSU paid them a million dollars for one game and Auburn paid 3 million for two games. Yeah, I don't think they are losing money.

http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources...partments-make-more-they-spend-still-minority

According to the NCAA 24 schools made money on football. Your school is obviously one of the 24. And technically my local university is. It states a profit of $8million but they don't factor in the cost debt service or operating the stadium (about 2.5 and 5 million respectively) because they say the stadium is not exclusively for football because they hold commencement and convocation there. (2 days out of the year)

 

[sam_gordon]

Our local college had revenue over $103 million in 2012 through the athletic department. I'm sure other sports made some of that. But most of it was by the football team.

But we certainly aren't most.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/...ike-the-pros-73-billion-for-a-start.html?_r=0
"the median Division I athletic department revenue in 1970 was $6.5 million, and in 2012, it was $56 million, according to one N.C.A.A.-commissioned study" I don't see 56 million as losing money. The local University brings in a huge amount of money each game. LSU paid them a million dollars for one game and Auburn paid 3 million for two games. Yeah, I don't think they are losing money.

You can't just look at revenue though. You also need to look at the expenses. Usually the football team will have:

• More players on scholarship
• More (and more expensive) coaches
• More equipment
• More costs to travel to road games (more people = more hotel rooms/flights/busses, more equipment = larger truck(s), etc).
• More game day employees

You can bring in $56 million, but if you spend $57 million, you're losing money.

 

[wilkeliza]

You can't just look at revenue though. You also need to look at the expenses. Usually the football team will have:

• More players on scholarship
• More (and more expensive) coaches
• More equipment
• More costs to travel to road games (more people = more hotel rooms/flights/busses, more equipment = larger truck(s), etc).
• More game day employees

You can bring in $56 million, but if you spend $57 million, you're losing money.

Not D1 but at my first college D3 it would often look like the football was making the college a ton of money but when you looked at the fact they took academic scholarships (since sport scholarships weren't allowed) and gave them to undeserving guys I think they should have had to count every dollar lost that way to it. Also a lot of stuff was done as a "ministry" aka free such as running concessions or working clean up crew so the college didn't have to pay extra staff those days.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

You can't just look at revenue though. You also need to look at the expenses. Usually the football team will have:

• More players on scholarship
• More (and more expensive) coaches
• More equipment
• More costs to travel to road games (more people = more hotel rooms/flights/busses, more equipment = larger truck(s), etc).
• More game day employees

You can bring in $56 million, but if you spend $57 million, you're losing money.

Very true. But the local college does actually make money from the football team.

And as crazy as it sounds, the largest expense is salaries and wages.