...to be boycotting this wool shop?

[ilovemargaretatwood8931]

Good afternoon, this is the first thread I've ever started- please be as blunt and honest as you like!

OK, so there's a lovely yarn and needlecraft shop near my home. I used to visit it infrequently and spend too much on nice wools and needles (sometime knitter/ crocheter). A few months ago, some golliwogs appeared in the window display. I find these to be racist and a relic of the past that really isn't appropriate for a public shop display today.

I complained (very politely) about the dolls, and the staff member I spoke to was not keen to talk about it, as she was not the manager/ owner. So I wrote a note to the shop managers/ owners about the dolls, it was brief and respectful. I followed this up by going in there again a few weeks later, and of course the display was still in pride of place. It's still there, many months later.

I understand and appreciate that the shop (I imagine) has the right to have these toys in the window if they wish. But I just don't want to buy stuff from them anymore. I don't want my money to be supporting this unpleasant display of racist knitting goods.

Am I being unreasonable to not give this shop my custom any more?
WWYD?

I should add, I saw another wool shop thread on here, and it made me want to visit my own local... but I just don't think I can.

I think you are overreacting.

YANBU. Shop elsewhere, tell them why.

YANBU if thats how you feel.
Wouldn't bother me personally but I can see why some would find it quite upsetting

Has the manager/owner replied to you? I'd be pretty annoyed at the lack of response if there hasn't been one.

I'm never sure about things like this, I don't know if I would be offended or not but YANBU not to go into any shop that makes you feel uncomfortable.

You're entitled to shop wherever you like, so you can't really be unreasonable.

I think I would do the same as you. YANBU.

OP, was it a wool shop in Hailsham?

Harpy, no, no reply, though I might drop in there to try and have a discussion with them!

Worra, you're right, perhaps it's not an ideal AIBU question.

Nice to have some perspective, thank you all!

Disco, no, in the East Mids. But having said that, I bet there are wool shops all over the place with displays like this.

I wouldn't want to shop there. YANBU.

Take your custom elsewhere. Tell them why. Feel no guilt. It's not like you're under contract to spend £x there, every month. You have every right and reason to give your custom to someone you feel good about spending money with.

That's so funny because the wool shop in Hailsham ALSO has those types of dolls and the owner is very adamant about keeping them on display. Maybe it is a wool shop thing.

Oh dear Disco! I have a feeling it may be... I've seen offending wool shops (!!) before in Essex and Norfolk.

What is it about handicrafts that brings this out?
(So much for the stress relief of knitting!)

What I don't understand is that here is a customer clearly saying 'you are making me not want to shop here' and the shop owners are thinking 'oh, never mind, there are plenty more customers out there' and being 'adamant' that they should keep the dolls there to offend all and sundry.

It shows a frightening lack of commercial acumen. Especially as the dolls are not encouraging any MORE people to shop there.

YANBU

Good points and really appreciate these opinions- thank you all very much.

The 2 people I've discussed this (briefly) with in RL had completely opposite opinions on whether or not the shops display is offensive, and thus on whether I'm being silly or not.

Really am very taken with mumsnet- so many views almost instantly.

yanbu. I'd walk straight out of a shop with golliwog dolls on display.

You've got every right to boycott any shop you like, for any reason you like.

I think this too Norks and Quiet. I shall tell them again next time I'm passing.

YANBU. However, I would ask a few questions (Not that any of these would make you unreasonable in your choice btw, just might explain the failure to take action.)

1. Are the owners of the shop very old or very young? The former do sometimes fail to recognize that those toys are not acceptable now. The latter often will not associate them with racist statements because they have never seen them/ that word used in popular culture, and the dolls actually look nothing like people, of any colour in reality, so they may not understand the racism of them. They may see them as kitsch, vintage toys IYSWIM.

1. Do you live in a predominantly white area? If so, they may not see the issue unfortunately and think you are overly PC.

1. Does the shop have purple and yellow balloons outside?

Whatever the answer YADNBU, and if you want to shop online, I love wool warehouse.

Aren't they called Gollys nowadays?

Probably wouldn't bother me as they're just soft toy dolls after all.

However, I was a bit taken aback to discover my local library (not UK) had a copy of Tintin in the Congo in the children's section. Now that is explicitly rascist!

Interestingly, it had been borrowed a few times.

I'm sorry (and in agreement with op) but the phrase "racist knitting goods" made me smile (in League of Gentlemen type way)

Marmite- 1= yes, quite elderly (well, past retirement age) owners as far as I know. I'm fairly certain that this is where the issue stems from. I think some (certainly not all) of their client bas is also in this demographic, and I think they're going for proper nostalgia. (Which I totally sympathise with.)

2= yes, predominantly white area. I fear the overly PC POV is quite usual here.

3= Haha! I'd love to know what they'd vote! I might go in and give them a green party leaflet!

I shall try wool warehouse though, love wool!!!

YADNBU - I hate these racist relics and would boycott the shop.