Religion and business

[Cairber]

I recently purchased a Kozy baby carrier from this woman: http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/

Today I went to check the site to see how long it takes to ship (couldn't remember if it was 3 or 4 weeks). Anyway, although it was not there when I purchased the item, there is now an icon on the right hand side of the page in remembrance of Jerry Falwell.

Immediately I feel like canceling my order in disgust.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Do you stay away from businesses that advertise beliefs outside your own?

I actually surprised myself with the venom I felt seeing that icon. I've been excited about the carrier and eagerly waiting for it, now I am just disgusted.

[Duckie]

I don't particularly attempt to go out of my way to avoid businesses, but any that discriminate specifically against myself or others or are too virulent in their intolerance I tend to avoid (one reason why I refuse to donate to the Salvation Army).

However, remembering Jerry Falwell would certainly get no business from me any more than a Jew would custom at a Neo-Nazi storefront, regardless of how good the soup or whatever they sell is.

On the other hand in terms of similarity to me instead of unlike, anyone advetising themselves specifically as a GLBT-owned or atheist-owned business is being just as stupid and would make me avoid them just like I punish annoying advertisements by conciously not utilizing their product, unless the products were specifically for someone of that type.

Although I must say the right is much more vocal than the left. Never once have I heard of a store proudly proclaming itself Lesbian Owned or Atheist Owned. Although I'd be interested to try it myself and see how much it affects revenue. It'd be an interesting experiment.

[TithonusSyndrome]

Although I must say the right is much more vocal than the left. Never once have I heard of a store proudly proclaming itself Lesbian Owned or Atheist Owned. Although I'd be interested to try it myself and see how much it affects revenue. It'd be an interesting experiment.

Haven't you been watching South Park? Vocal lefties are always despicable hippies who by very virtue of their outspokeness are fit for contempt, while vocal rightwingers are just part of the status quo and all any sensible person can do is chuckle and shake their head lovingly when they hear them pontificate.

I'd be interested in seeing a list of companies owned by the Church, though, if they're anywhere near as proliferous as Frank Zappa and a select Monty Python sketch would have me believe.

[Faram]

My brother and his wife uses BabyBjörn, I think it is good and fills the same function:

http://www.babybjorn.com/

Other than that, I would also cancel a order if I noticed something similar.

[General Zod]

I won't go out of my way to research who owns what company, but if it's blatantly obvious that something is being ran by, say, the church of scientology or some Protestant group, then I'll make it a point to avoid them. Otherwise I'll shop there if it isn't blatantly pedaling religion.

[Cairber]

My brother and his wife uses BabyBjörn, I think it is good and fills the same function:

http://www.babybjorn.com/

Other than that, I would also cancel a order if I noticed something similar.

We decided to go with a babyhawk carrier instead and cancel our kozy order (www.babyhawk.com). I'm not into the bjorn becuase it doesn't have a back carrier. With a 2.5 yr old and 10 month old I find the only way I can do some things (like grocery shopping, chasing 2.5 yr old around playground, gymboree) is to carry the little guy on my back. The babyhawk comes highly recommended if your brother and his wife ever need a carrier with a back carry option!

I posted my concern on another site that the Kozy is advertised on. It'll be interesting to see their reactions since the site is dedicated to parenting without heterosexism, racism, bigotry, etc.

[Eris]

I have to admit, mostly I echo MRDOD's sentiments. I'm probably a bit snarkier than she about avoiding businesses. Not only do I avoid things like Salvation Army, but any that come off too strongly as being religiously (or otherwise opposed to my own beliefs) minded I usually try and avoid patronising. I've settled some as I've gotten older though - most of the time it's just not worth the effort unless there's something in particular that really irks me.

I hadn't thought of what I'd do in the case of a business that markets itself as something that comes in line with me though. The only thing I can think of are organisations like lesbian-oriented publishing houses, whose stated goals are to get more relevent literature out there, which wouldn't be, I think, an unreasonable reason to have a bias.

Would I punish such a business? I kind of hope so, since it would avoid hypocrisy on my part. I've never gotten the opportunity to test that, though.

And Cairber, I'd be interested in what the members of this other forum have to say as well. If anything comes up, could you post a link or excerpts?

[Cairber]

I will definitely let everyone know what it discussed. So far no replies and I'm headed out with the kids, but I will be back to report later.

[Tranan]

My brother and his wife uses BabyBjörn, I think it is good and fills the same function:

http://www.babybjorn.com/

Other than that, I would also cancel a order if I noticed something similar.

We decided to go with a babyhawk carrier instead and cancel our kozy order (www.babyhawk.com). I'm not into the bjorn becuase it doesn't have a back carrier. With a 2.5 yr old and 10 month old I find the only way I can do some things (like grocery shopping, chasing 2.5 yr old around playground, gymboree) is to carry the little guy on my back. The babyhawk comes highly recommended if your brother and his wife ever need a carrier with a back carry option!

I posted my concern on another site that the Kozy is advertised on. It'll be interesting to see their reactions since the site is dedicated to parenting without heterosexism, racism, bigotry, etc.

I hawed never seen that product but I will ask around. thanks fore the tip.

[Frank Hipper]

Eh, I'd be lost without Pacific Front Hobbies, no matter that the animated .gif disturbs.

[Mange]

I recently purchased a Kozy baby carrier from this woman: http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/

Today I went to check the site to see how long it takes to ship (couldn't remember if it was 3 or 4 weeks). Anyway, although it was not there when I purchased the item, there is now an icon on the right hand side of the page in remembrance of Jerry Falwell.

Immediately I feel like canceling my order in disgust.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Do you stay away from businesses that advertise beliefs outside your own?

I actually surprised myself with the venom I felt seeing that icon. I've been excited about the carrier and eagerly waiting for it, now I am just disgusted.

Well, the page you linked to also had a quote from Isaiah. I certainly don't like to have things I don't like shoved in my face (unless it's for a very good cause, it happens that I give money to the Salvation Army and I like to think that the church tax, I'm still a member of the Church of Sweden, are used for good causes) and I would've done the same thing as you did.

[Mange]

Ghetto edit:
The sentence:

I certainly don't like to have things I don't like shoved in my face

should read:

I certainly don't like to have things I don't believe in shoved in my face

[Jericho Kross]

Only if they are in your face or disrespect yours or others beliefs eg. damn Jehovah Witnesses who come to your fucking door in the middle of the day trying to convert you.

[Johonebesus]

I don't go out of my way to discover business owners' beliefs, however I think I would be sufficiently put off by Frank's site to find another source. Wal Mart always has somebody collecting money at the doors, and usually they have crosses on their signs or talk about ministries or Jesus. I always blow them off, and if the aggressively call me after I've pointedly ignored them, I can get downright nasty. Although I almost feel bad about the time I made a cub scout cry. Almost. The nasty little brat shouldn't have pestered me to but his damn candy after I'd already said no.

[Cairber]

And Cairber, I'd be interested in what the members of this other forum have to say as well. If anything comes up, could you post a link or excerpts?

Well, my post didn't get any replies but I got a PM from a mod:

We are currently considering whether or not to keep the Kozy company in our banner ad rotation. We will update the community in the suggestions forum once the decision is made.

[kheegster]

I wouldn't go out of my way to find the beliefs of a store I patronise, but if they're going to feel free to advertise their beliefs in the open I would feel free to take my business elsewhere if they are not to my taste.

I generally have no problem with public displays of religious belief, but not if they are overtly in support of fundamentalist beliefs.

[The Spartan]

Not surprisingly I see this a lot in Texas. For example, I spotted a Jesus fish on a pamphlet for a particular brand of dog food. The worst one, though, are the lawyers that advertise on TV as specifically being Christian lawyers and stating that it's not immoral to get what the law says you deserve, something to that effect. The one that had me rolling with laughter was one laywer in particular that said god made us with a consience so that we could tell right from wrong. Outright lie. He told us specifically not to get one, then threw a temper tantrum and punished all of mankind when we ate the fruit of knowledge.