Mastodawn

Cavyherd Jul 6

I have to keep an eye on this in myself. Pay attention, & watch the analogies in my own life. It sickens me that I have to patronize Corporate Food. Yes, there are alternatives. But most are alternatives that, for various reasons, either I can't afford, or I can't physically get to, or both.

Capacity is real. Limits to capacity is even realer.

DoNotPunchDown Jul 6

I couldn't agree with you more. It is a privilege. And people should listen and support.

I'm pushing hard for a #GeneralStrike It should be those of us who are able. There should be mutual aid and decency. If people are unable to join, no one should push them or judge them.

What you're experiencing should never happen.

ladyteruki Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto : something I've learned while living at the corner of Disability and Poverty (not a great neighborhood to be), is that when I choose to boycott a company, usually it makes my life smaller. It's not an inconvenience, it's a sacrifice. Because I can't just turn around and make up for it by shopping elsewhere : it usually means that it's either not accessible, or more expensive... or both. And so it's not the company I boycott, but the very act of filling a need.

ladyteruki Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto : being poor means that I almost exclusively buy what I need (if that), as opposed to what I want. What I consume is already the bare minimum (and oftentimes less than that ; my bed broke in September 2022 and I still haven't been able to replace it). So while I can and do boycott Amazon, I could not boycott AliExpress.

Hugs4friends ♾🇺🇦 🇵🇸😷Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto We do what we can, with brands and outlets, and we recognise our privilege. We also understand that a large demographic 'has' to use online venues, or the cheapest-price stores. They didn't create this mess, and should not be punished.
The people to punish are the ultra-privileged who will not be affected, or who can avoid being affected by buying out of the Ununited States.

morfil (any)🌈Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto I hear you. It is in deed a strange mechanism where both the people for whom finding an alternative has become second nature and does not feel like it costs effort AND the people who have to really apply themselves to make it happen can do what you just described. The first one out of a lack of empathy, the second one out of fear they would have to admit to themselves how much effort it costs them and fear they would not be able to sustain the effort once they admitted. And that's not even counting the preaching thing.
It can be hard to just be emphatic and let go of all notions and plans.

*Ada - Np-93/237

@broadwaybabyto me when i boycott big pharma by finding a nonexistent insulin alternative

RolloTreadway Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto So much this.

And they never consider people who don't live in big cities (there are so many 'just do this...' that are entirely dependent on living in a big city).

I'm tremendously lucky that there's a greengrocer a few minutes' walk away. Most people don't have that. But where are the independent local businesses that I'm supposed to get everything else from? The sustainable refill shops that will allow me to reduce packaging? The market that lets me buy everything from farms? The shop that will sell me what I need to repair things that break?

3Jane Tessier Ashpool Jul 6

@RolloTreadway @broadwaybabyto all replaced in large part by Amazon unless you try really hard

Vashti Jul 6

@3janeTA @RolloTreadway @broadwaybabyto And often still not accessible. I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of a thriving high street with independently owned everything.

I have a butcher, greengrocer, yarn shop within two minutes of my front door. But I can only get there (or cook food from scratch, tbh) once in a blue moon when the stars have aligned.

monkeyflower jelly bean Jul 6

@3janeTA @RolloTreadway @broadwaybabyto yep people started pointing it out with Walmart and then also Amazon. It's so hard to get people to understand that capitalism and buying cheap has real consequences.

monkeyflower jelly bean Jul 6

@RolloTreadway
💯 Geography matters so much - here in California I really feel it as I see all the new developments being built without local jobs or grocers or services, where there will be fires before the mortgage is paid off, and there will be an hour+ commute every day each way.. and that's considered affordable because of the rent/mortgage cost but it ignores how much they're going to pay for cars & gas & the cost of their time, and how they'll just be generally vulnerable to all the other things.
@broadwaybabyto

Juha Autero Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto Isn't the whole point to use your privilege to make the world a better place?

CaveDave Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto yeah, it really depends on environment. It's easy for me to boycott Amazon ... because there's no Amazon in the country I live in. They break too many union laws. Makes it way easier to shop local. It would be extremely difficult if I were in the US where Amazon has such a hold on the economy

Mark Koek Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto There will always be lots of people who are mainly interested in showing off their political correctness.

🦇 Domo

@broadwaybabyto I see this in the vegan community too. I believe when it comes to boycotts or food restrictions, we really need to make sure we specify "to the best of your ability", because boycotts are good and they work, but we can't be excluding people whom a boycott is inaccessible.

*sparkling anxiety* Evelyn Jul 6

@domo @broadwaybabyto I have at least once gotten into it with a vegan to the point where I listed my food restrictions, and had them say essentially "Oh, well, I guess in your case..."

*gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, & all types of beans & peas (eg, soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, etc)
**eggs & dairy, too; but those are moot when arguing with a vegan

🦇 Domo

@Gorfram @broadwaybabyto yeah, I'm vegan (since 2017ish) but occasionally need to downgrade to vegetarian because of my eating disorder. I need to be eating at regular times to prevent binging cycles, and finding 100% vegan food at all times is not always practical, so I may need to eat a protein bar with milk, maybe once every couple months. I try to always keep a vegan one on me, but that's not always possible either. We do what we are able to in order to make the world a better place, but we must meet people where they're at.

Also, yes, I feel awful for those with extreme food allergies trying to go vegan, especially if that involves soy and/or peanuts. The vegan selections are getting better, e.g., pea protein, but we're not quite there , and in the meantime, do what you can. If meatless Mondays are all you can do, or just choosing the pea protein burger when it's available, then that's fine. Anyone who shames you when you're trying your best isn't a good vegan.

*sparkling anxiety* Evelyn Jul 6

@domo @broadwaybabyto Thank you 😊 😊

Jen Jul 6

@domo @broadwaybabyto yes, absolutely.

I would quite happily never eat an animal product again. But it's remarkably difficult.

Between the various disabilities, demands, and restrictions affecting our household, we end up engaging in various food surplus schemes. This is good, because it's cheap, easy, and addresses an environmental issue. But it tends to come as a pre-packed bag with little choice on contents, and it only works if everything gets used.

Charlotte Walker Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto @Beedazzled one thing I dislike about Mastodon is the tendency to scold people for using certain companies or products.

Misuse Case Jul 6

@purplepadma @broadwaybabyto @Beedazzled Oh yeah Mastodon be like:

TIRED: Don’t use Microsoft products

WIRED: Don’t use Apple products

INSPIRED: Don’t use that version of Linux

Charlotte Walker Jul 6

@MisuseCase @broadwaybabyto @Beedazzled mmm hmmm

Jonathan Lamothe Jul 6

@MisuseCase
*BSD has entered the chat*

Marge吴静玫 Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto @ixi I do not think it is easy at all. I by no means live in a small town, but I don’t live in a city. There’s a shit ton of stuff I cannot find in the store. I am sorry folks have been shitty to you about this.

kit Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto A friend quoting their dad some decades ago ”if I boycotted everything the union told me to, I wouldn’t be able to feed my kids.”

You do what you can, and it was ever thus.

WearyBonnie Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto
I saw a post about boycotting a retailer the other day which mentioned that it was only a 4km walk to the alternative retailer 😅
They were only talking about themselves and not bugging anyone else so it wasn't a problem, it just really highlighted the difference in what is an "easy" alternative for people in different situations!

Alexander 😷Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto I will return to shopping locally as soon as they return to wearing masks, so that I don't have to stand in their unfiltered viruses. But I bet they're too lazy for that.

#CovidIsNotOver

3Jane Tessier Ashpool Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto I’m well off and not disabled and avoiding Amazon is a lot of legwork! And if you buy direct from vendors instead of Amazon the shipping costs too. It’s not cheap OR easy!

~* Sarah 🇨🇦Jul 6

@3janeTA it depends on the item, but I've had a lot of luck finding things where direct from the manufacturer results in a lower price than Amazon (and often free shipping).

Personally, though, I've been trying to avoid buying non-essentials other than the occasional book from my local indie bookstore. Too many brick and mortar stores around me might not be as bad as Amazon or Walmart, but still donate to the GOP.

3Jane Tessier Ashpool Jul 6

@stellarsarah @broadwaybabyto very true in my town as well!

flamingored Jul 6

that's true. Some people need to rely on purchases delivered to their doors, if going shopping is a barrier for any reason (old age, disability, area they live in, etc.). Unfortunately, Amazon has already killed a lot of small businesses who could make local deliveries. It will take time to reverse the trend.

UkeleleEric Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto I agree. Also, we ALL have some degree of compromise in our lives just to live. Like selling some of my time to a big company to provide food and sustenance.

Twotired Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto My ask would be this: just do what you can.

Andrew Abdalian Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto thank you for writing this. when I see well-intentioned but misguided posts where people scold everyone to live their values, my argument has been strictly economic, but youve reminded me of another important argument.

It’s unfair to demand that everyone stop participating in the system that has been created, in which huge companies both provide useful, inexpensive, and ubiquitous services and engage in shitty business practices.

Most people are just trying to survive.

Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto Well, I'm German, and Amazon cancelled my customer account and won't give me a new one do to my Schufa rating. I literally cannot buy anything at Amazon anymore.

Cysio

@LordCaramac @broadwaybabyto wait, you can't buy shit from Amazon with a bad credit score?

Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC Jul 6

@me @broadwaybabyto Not in Germany, it seems.

Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC Jul 6

@me @broadwaybabyto It's even worse, my Schufa rating has improved significantly since then, but it appears I'm still blacklisted at Amazon.

Coach Spore Diesel Jul 6

We have to survive under capitalism in order to fight it.

People need to do whatever it takes to survive. Other people need to stop judging them for it and instead help provide the alternatives they advocate.

Empower people! Don't tear them down.

Phillip

@broadwaybabyto One of my local supermarkets is going on strike. I want to support it as much as I can, but as someone with a lot of dietary restrictions, it’s also one of the only places in town with that many options for me. Anything I can feasibly buy elsewhere, I will, but I will still have to do some shopping there.

monkeyflower jelly bean Jul 6

@broadwaybabyto yep, and then people who are not disabled want to say "but what about the disabled" about why they keep doing the same stuff and can't make personal changes. Such a frustrating dynamic.
Like yeah, some people need it, so we should make it available due to need - but if you don't need it, taking the handicapped spot, or driving, or buying cheap shit from Amazon is still a dick move. Disabled people are way less likely to have a car, and way more likely to get hit by cars, and I get so pissed at able-bodied people who justify their car use in the city with "what about the disabled". Yeah, this is why we need better bus services, and inclusive zoning, and delivery/pickup/drop-off parking zones, and people not to park blocking sidewalks and bike lanes, and adaptive bikes and bike racks, not increased dependency on an increasingly expensive tool.