I don't understand the boycotting thing that's going on or the overwhelmingly positive reactions to the boycotts.

In the civil rights era, boycotts were done inside of institutions that were practicing discrimination. That made sense; actively disregard the unjust rules until it hits a sort of critical mass and can't be resisted anymore.

Canceling your shows in a state that has bad laws is not taking a stand in the same way. It presupposes that the people or the businesses you're canceling on support the law or even have anything to do with the law and that's it not simply a case of a legislator/executive gone rogue (which is generally what it is).

It's wrong for the same reason that sanctions are wrong. Sanctions don't directly harm the rulers, but they do directly harm the individuals that are being ruled over.

4/1/2015 6:44:33 PM

4/1/2015 7:48:21 PM

god damn, how is someone so dumb?

4/1/2015 8:45:57 PM

Man, you guys don't even try to have a discussion anymore. I got an emoji and an ad hom.

4/1/2015 8:58:41 PM

lol

4/1/2015 9:04:53 PM

no fire-hoses, so no point boycotting

4/1/2015 9:06:55 PM

You are not quick. I'm gonna help you through this one.

In the civil rights era, people boycotted the actual institutions that were discriminating against them.

In this case, artists are boycotting Indiana businesses that have not shown support for the laws and have not been shown to discriminate or have any other connection with the new laws, simply because they are located in that state.

In a world where states and their people are believed to be one in the same, I'm sure this all makes perfect sense.

[Edited on April 1, 2015 at 9:46 PM. Reason : ]

4/1/2015 9:36:12 PM

I think Pence and the Indiana legislature caused a lot more direct harm to the individuals they rule over than the collateral damage inflicted on them by a band and the guy from Parks and Recreation canceling shows.

The point was to send a message and it worked. I'm sure a progressive Woolworth's waitress lost out on some tips in 1960 also.

4/1/2015 10:23:24 PM

Quote :

"The point was to send a message and it worked."

Did it? The main group of people it reached was millennials that already were on board with the message. It's the Fox News watching old people that you need to reach, and I don't they're going to be on Upworthy or Buzzfeed any time soon.

4/1/2015 10:30:32 PM

He's rolling it back isn't he?

And Fox News reported on the boycotts

4/1/2015 10:40:53 PM

Quote :

"It's the Fox News watching old people that you need to reach, and I don't they're going to be on Upworthy or Buzzfeed any time soon."

No you don't. Those people believe Jeebus is on their side and no amount of discussion is going to win them over. You need to reach the people who aren't paying attention and don't follow the news closely. People who can be motivated to take action because they support gay rights and/or they want to see their favorite artist come to their state.

The fact that it hurts individuals and businesses in the state is the point. They and the business community will contact their representative and let them know they are NOT okay with this. Politicians won’t be happy to realize they scared off millions of dollars in revenue just to please the backwoods hicks in their state.

4/1/2015 10:49:09 PM

Also maybe the outside groups just didn't want their brand even possibly being associated with discrimination. Maybe they were worried that their fans or part of their crews would be subject to discrimination if they showed up. There are some selfish, personal reasons they might boycott that don't necessarily involve overturning the law.

4/2/2015 6:51:26 AM

Quote :

"In this case, artists are boycotting Indiana businesses that have not shown support for the laws and have not been shown to discriminate or have any other connection with the new laws, simply because they are located in that state."

Such actions aren't unique to this issue. Like it or not, it's an oft used tactic to get businesses within the jurisdiction of interest to place pressure on the government for change, whether or not they have been openly involved in the issue from the start.

4/2/2015 8:59:20 AM

NC is backing away from our own version of this bill because of the backlash

but no, it was ridiculous and doesn't make sense

4/2/2015 9:05:12 AM

I think it's important that we have some perspective, I mean, in Iran, they hang you for the crime of being gay.

4/2/2015 8:50:38 PM

wow

http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/3/8339383/indiana-memories-pizza-religious-freedom-crowdfunding-campaign

Quote :

"Indiana pizzeria raises $500,000 after saying it wouldn't cater a gay wedding"

4/3/2015 10:09:05 AM

Better than the colored getting it doe

4/3/2015 11:36:10 AM

^^ up to $789k now, they will prob get over a million over this. wow



i love the irony that many in the LGBT want to punish/boycott people for their opinions which is the same thing that LGBT claims to be a victim of.

4/3/2015 4:58:08 PM

no, it's not the same

4/3/2015 5:04:58 PM

i thought sean haugh made a couple good points:

Quote :

"what you are witnessing is american society as a whole puking up the toxin of hatred for non-heterosexuals. the revulsion pointed directly at indiana - unlike, say, saudi arabia - is the point at which we as a nation seemingly suddenly accept the next step in human enlightenment. that’s how our hive mind works. as soon as we see a majority of people adopt a position, well, golly, it’s just always been that way and anyone who defends the old ways is just being some incomprehensible barbarian. what you are also witnessing is the most pointed division in quite some time between the fundamentalist christian and big business wings of the republican party. both the democrat and republican parties are vaguely principled coalitions that really only coexist to cobble together a majority. as long as it costs nothing, it’s okay to let a coalition partner have their way. but here you are seeing a huge statement, loud and clear, from the big business faction, no way, this is going to cost us money. considering that the business people are the ones with the money and thus really in control, it’s no surprise similar efforts in arkansas and north carolina have ground to a sudden halt."

4/3/2015 5:12:55 PM

Quote :

"that’s how our hive mind works. as soon as we see a majority of people adopt a position, well, golly, it’s just always been that way and anyone who defends the old ways is just being some incomprehensible barbarian."

Sometimes, this is a beneficial group behavior. There a lot of people that care about status a lot more than justice, so if claiming to care about justice affords them status, then they work towards causes that happen to be just.

4/3/2015 6:49:05 PM