To think boycotters only see one side of the story and are ill-informed?

[Username2018]

I’ve worked for a couple of companies who are regularly boycotted. I have been massively impressed with their commitment to R&D and education, and corporate social responsibility generally, despite the public thinking they are Satan.

They don’t get everything right, there have been mistakes, they are not perfect, but these were due to employee error, not because of a corporate strategy. And what these companies ‘give back’ directly and indirectly is largely not known by joe public.

AIBU to think most boycotters don’t weigh up the good and the bad and just go along with the propaganda they see from not necessarily reliable sources??

Boycotting is useful only to make people feel they can control something they don't like.

I don't think anyone in industry really worries too much, it's all publicity. I personally use the nestle boycott to guide me in identifying "those type" of people and avoid them. I have yet to hear anyone make a case apart from quoting the internet. Instead of doing something so useless to improve their own psychological wellbeing, why don't they give up their time and volunteer to help people who need help nearby in the here and now. plenty of people in the UK who can't feed their children at all and certainly can't choose to boycott.

Haba And I shall join gettingthere in her boycott of Hermes and Dyson in solidarity. Because I'll never be able to afford anything from either
Think she means the shit delivery firm rather than the high end scarf and bag seller. 😉

I peak Nestle'd everyone on the maternity ward by switching the TV over from the soaps to the news.

That's a joke right? Nobody is that rude in real life! But hey, as long as the stupid people are being educated, who cares how awful their hospital experience is. I do not believe anyone would really do that.

JJS888 Tell it not in Gath, but the true function of a boycott is to make the boycotter feel virtuous.

I am 52 vintage and in my parents’ household there was no Outspan or South African Sherry. I don’t suppose we brought down apartheid.

@Idontmeanto unnessecary

Entirely relevant I’d say!

I also boycott Nestle. I think I know enough about their practices around baby formula & water to be satisfied with that decision. And it does matter to big business, if enough ordinary people swerve their products it has an impact.
Are you getting paid to do PR on MN of a Sunday morning OP?

JJS888 Of course you dont believe it.
And of course its not at all rude for one small group to hog the TV and watch the same episode of the soaps twice a day.

Just as in your world its not terrible for people to go into hospital and kill babies, as long as the babies are dead weeks later so they don't have to see it actually happen.

ohwhatfuckery ah, that Hermes?
Oops!

Personal boycotts do have an impact. Just think how many people each of us know. You don't need to be rude, just factual, when you explain why you can't accept someone's offer of a KitKat.

As soon as I read the title and first line Nestlé sprang to mind. I chose to start boycotting them and all their affiliated companies at the age of 14, and having recently become a mother I feel even more strongly about their unethical practices.

It's like the OP wants to split everything dichotomously, i.e that boycotters must view such companies as entirely evil/incapable of good. I'm sure Nestlé employ plenty of people who are lovely, I'm sure as a company they do things to try and improve. Doesn't mean that I have to accept their practices with regards to formula or choose to buy from them.

@shelentei Yup, Nestlé own SMA (and I believe SMA own Aptimel?? Please correct me someone if I'm wrong!) I was very distressed when hospital staff gave my newborn baby SMA without even asking me (I had brought a non-Nestlé alternative with me just in case but was always planning on breastfeeding).

I am assuming you work for nestle op and in that case yab very u. They have and continue to cause the death of countless babies in pursuit of profit, they will never get a penny of my money to fund that.

There's a difference between choosing not to buy products you believe are unethically produced, and boycotting a company - which is an organised campaign.

I boycotted South African produce during the Apartheid era, along with many others.

I choose not to buy products made with palm oil or non-free range eggs.

In my personal case the company we boycott put us as a family through hell through poor treatment of employees (us) so that's all I need to know, thanks.

There's a difference between choosing not to buy products you believe are unethically produced, and boycotting a company - which is an organised campaign.

Nope:

"Refuse to buy or handle (goods) as a punishment or protest."

OED.

I nearly started a thread a few days ago asking what people boycotted as I feel quite uneducated about some companies. What’s the boden issue?

YABU

People can boycott who they like for any reason or none.

My choice not to buy unethical products isn't a boycott though. It's not a punishment or protest. I choose to buy an organic chicken from Sainsbury's rather than a factory-farmed one, because I'm supporting better ethics and values.

And when I check labels of other products for palm oil I'm barely aware of who the manufacturers are. I just don't want to indirectly support the palm oil industry, I'm not protesting against it.

www.babymilkaction.org/nestlefree#overview Kissthealderman I hope the link works

My choice not to buy unethical products isn't a boycott though.

Perhaps, but it doesn't need to be organised to be a boycott, was my point.

Well done OP, you have given everybody a reminder of what a shit company Nestle are
"access to water should not be a right"

Was not unaware of the Nestlé issue but equally not aware enough, so thank you. Have also looked at, and downloaded the Buycott app. Thank you MN, I'm a lot more savvy now. Shall continue to boycott those brands that I already do, and read up on more. My broad research, very much my choice.

The picture on the link are a hoot! Lots of people walking round brandishing the nestle and nescafe brand looking smu for the much smaller boycott stuff underneath. No wonder nestle don't take these people seriously 😀

Blimey, I didn’t even know about the nestle water thing. Yes thanks for highlighting it.