I seen too many internet forums saying that if you don’t boycott X, Y, and Z, then you’re a “terrible person”. What do you think about that?
If they’re doing it out of ignorance, I’d tell them what’s wrong with X and let them decide for themselves.
If they’re doing it out of necessity, I’d help them look for viable alternatives, and leave them alone if there are none.
If they’re doing it out of support for X after I specifically told them why X is bad, then yeah I’d judge for a bit, then leave them alone.
Yes, but only silently
It depends. The problem with purity tests is that you’re never 100% pure. It’s why even vegans hate vegans: you can never be vegan enough. I try not to judge, but I would judge if a friend, for example, bought a diesel truck with no use for it, or a cybertruck in general. That’s doing actual, active damage, at the expense of you as a person, why are you doing it?
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Context matters quite a bit here. Not all boycots are created equal.
I used to be the guy who wandered into Target every other week to get one thing and left with an $150 cart full of junk I didn’t plan on buying. I joined the boycotting over their DEI policy shift. I wouldn’t judge someone for continuing to shop there. Though I would encourage them to spend less. I view that boycott as an important lesson in respecting all stakeholders and not bending the knee to authoritarianism, but hardly an existential crisis for anyone or anything but Target.
I’m not sure if I’m technically boycotting Tesla because I’ve never done any business with them. However, it’s my firm conviction that someone who buys a Tesla today, is a piece of shit. Someone who knowingly invests in Tesla is a piece of shit. If they’re someone I continue to interact with after that they’re very likely to hear about it.
Tesla, in my opinion, is complicit in everything Elon does. It has proactively financed, and propagandized oppression and undermined democracy and the functioning of a government that is supposed to serve and represent me. Anyone who buys a Tesla today is also complicit.
I work downtown in my city for the state government. I usually see at lest 1 tesla per day if not more parked downtown. I’m excited when I see one that’s dirty because I can wet my fingertip and wipe dirt away in the shape of, “Fuck Tesla and Fuck Elon.”
Yes. My son has a genetic disorder and receives care from my country’s socialized medical system. Donald Trump has threatened to annex my country. I would not be able to afford the treatments that keep my son alive under Trump. I boycott American goods like my child’s life depends on it. People need to understand that Trump’s threats towards the USA’s former allies imply deadly consequences. Fuck Trump, fuck maga, and fuck anyone who supports them by buying their shitty goods. Unless you have absolutely no choice, don’t buy American.
a little. was kinda disappointed when some in my friends group bought the switch 2. but you can’t expect people to value the same things you do, but the judgement is natural as long as it’s in perspective.
No, it’s the same with vegans / vegetarian, I think what they are doing is noble and I try to do as much as they, but I don’t look down or judge people for not being able to do it.
There’s enough shit in the world to worry about to start putting people down for not following every single boycott.
That said, fuck Nestle.
It kind of depends on the reason for the boycott and how widely it’s understood. Like I for sure judge anyone who buys a cybertuck today.
Or a MAGA hat. Or a Trump card.
Buy a new Tesla now? You’re a piece of shit. No exceptions.
So many Australian’s buying Tesla’s but as an Aussie I can only agree with you
Some people may not be informed about what is happening
They probably dont care about what a rich person does in a country on another continent
Then I’m definitely judging them for that, too.
“Davon haben wir nichts gewusst” was a shit excuse back then and an even worse excuse now, in the internet connected world.
Tap for spoiler
Davon haben wir nichts gewusst" (“We knew nothing about that”)
Everyone saw that Hitler salute in 2024. There wasn’t a person on the planet who didn’t see that. I highly distrust anyone driving around in a 2025 Tesla, the new ones with the knockoff versions of the Lucid light bars. Creepy AF to see, especially in a theoretically “progressive” area. Salute aside, he’s an enemy to just about everyone on the planet for multiple reasons.
At least we know now.
Ugh, I just really don’t want another ICE car. I like the Lightning and the SilvErado but I can’t justify spending 70k. Would be great if another car company had an affordable option for an AWD car or crossover with 300+ miles range.
You can get an ioniq 5 2025 with 318 2wd or 290 AWD. But they are more expensive due to Trump’s tariffs and rebates that he clawed back.
Yeah man, agree with this 100%.
Here in Canada, the products we’re boycotting have been marked down because people wouldn’t buy them otherwise. Someone that has less money than I have might need to buy the cheaper products so I’m not going to judge them for that.
It depends, If say it was JK Rowling that she is 100% public amount wanting to harm trans people (including trans kids) including using her money to fund that. Then Yes I wouldn’t like it, If it’s just something minor then probably not, Depends how close to home it comes really but I rather educate than through hate.
It’s 2025, if someone is still giving money to Rowling I just assume they value children’s stories about wizards over trans people’s lives.
Mostly no, but if the company killed their kid or something like that and they continue to defend it, I start to judge.
I’ve learned that the vast vast vast majority of people don’t care. I can spend all my time hating everyone for being lazy and ordering daily items from Amazon, or eating Chick Fil A, or whatever, but I’ll end up hating 99% of the population. I don’t have time for that.
All I can do is focus on myself and what I spend my money on. Sure I educate where I can, but you don’t want to be the preachy person either, because they’ll just start ignoring you. Do what you can, but if you’re going to judge people for buying things - you’re going to judge everyone - and then that’s more on you.
Agree. Except buying a new Tesla now. As a former Tesla owner, if you buy a new one now, fuck you. There is no excuse for ignorance here.
Agree there, Tesla is pretty dang obvious, and it’s a huge purchase. It’s not buying a non-organic tomato or a chicken sandwich, it’s very clear where the money goes, and you had to make a very clear conscious decision about it that you will be living with for years to come.
Probably the most grounded answer here.
Would you not judge people for putting a gun to the head of a child and pulling the trigger?
Because buying from some companies is paying the salary and the bullets of the people who do exactly that.
When people are designated as “terrorists” you can even be held criminally liable under the current system, if you keep doing business with them. Shouldnt the same standard apply for people doing business with genocide?
Those are completely separate examples and you know it.
If you think that giving a murderer money so he can buy a gun to murder people with is not related to the act of murdering people, i would love to hear the explanation.
First of all, you’re demanding me answer something that is completely separate from the original argument. OP asked about judging other people for their purchases. You are asking about an action that presents direct violent harm, something completely different. Purchasing something from a company may support violence in some way, but purchasing an item may support the company’s practices, but it does not necessarily mean that every purchase directly funds those harmful actions. Your comparison is quite literally the “Appeal to Emotion” fallacy, it is not a good-faith argument, you are trying to present an emotional picture that isn’t relevant, and I won’t buy into it.
All the time on the internet this happens. Someone here put it very well. Someone can ask “What is 2+2” and a commenter will reply “4”. Someone else then will inevitably reply “Well what about 2+3?! You didn’t even consider it!”
The question was asked and answered, you’re asking something completely separate.
No.
The holier-than-thou consumer nonsense becomes a tad silly when you realize you’re typing out your judgement on a computer assembled with child or slave labor. And every single one of us is using a device in that category.
I appreciate people trying to be conscientious, but judging other people’s consumer choices is silly to me.
