Are Boycotts Blase?

Here's an interesting read from the Chicago Trib on the changing nature and possible impact of boycotts in the Internet age.

"Most are not even boycotts at all ... but just a call for a boycott, which is really just a way to get attention," Friedman said.

A search of the word "boycott" on Google turned up current or dormant calls for boycotts of Microsoft, Nike, Gillette, Delta, Sinclair Broadcasting and Israeli goods, among many others.

Dennis Greenia of Co-op America, a group that supports liberal causes, used to track boycotts but stopped because there were too many to monitor and those interested could check the Internet.

Comments

[Michael]

Arthur Frommer {of Frommer's Guide to Aruba
published September 2005} took air time on radio news today Sunday November 13 to criticize the
boycott of Aruba. His rationale is that noone boycotts US states when people go missing.

This smacks of crass commercialism and a fear of
loss of income not for the citizens of Aruba, but for the lack of sales of his travel guide.

This conflict of interest and misuse of public airtime is equivalent to a US Supreme Court justice complaining about activists outside of
an abortion clinic which the justice has a financial interest in.

The umbrella Corporation which owns the Frommer
publications is www.wiley.com and I think it is time for them to muzzle the octagenarian loose cannon and ask him to apologize for advocating that Americans should ignore the feeling of lack of security for tourists visiting this Dutch possession.

[Michael]

Arthur Frommer {of Frommer's Guide to Aruba
published September 2005} took air time on radio news today Sunday November 13 to criticize the
boycott of Aruba. His rationale is that noone boycotts US states when people go missing.

This smacks of crass commercialism and a fear of
loss of income not for the citizens of Aruba, but for the lack of sales of his travel guide.

This conflict of interest and misuse of public airtime is equivalent to a US Supreme Court justice complaining about activists outside of
an abortion clinic which the justice has a financial interest in.

The umbrella Corporation which owns the Frommer
publications is www.wiley.com and I think it is time for them to muzzle the octagenarian loose cannon and ask him to apologize for advocating that Americans should ignore the feeling of lack of security for tourists visiting this Dutch possession.

[tara]

We came back from Aruba trip. Our daugther wasn't very happy cause we kept lecturing her about the safety on the beach and not allowing her visit C&C. There was a dark cloud over our head.

[Let Freedom Ring]

While I feel for the Holloway Family lets not lost sight that there are many other young people out there missing too. Also while I applaud the work that Tim Miller does he does need to follow the laws of the Land. For if he does not then he is no better than someone who has broken it.

[Brooke]

"Posted by: Michael | Nov 14, 2005 3:45:04 AM"

You are SPAMMING this entire Blog with this outrageous post.

DAN please note:
this post is is by a SPAMMER! PLease boycott this poster (sorry couldn't resist) But seriously he is spamming!

[Brooke]

EXCELLENT Article!
Boycotts may or may not have any affect except by a group of radical fanatics. During the elections of 2000 and 2004 more so-called boycotts were issued that now people have learned to totally IGNORE THEM!

This boycott will make some do exactly the opposite because all it does is to bring attention to a beautiful island to someone who may have never even thought about Aruba.

For a politician to call for a boycott because ONE PERSON is missing, is outrageous! How many AMERICANS out of MILLIONS who have visited the island went missing? So are Americans truly at risk? What about countries like France or England as example? The despise Americans and Americans are warned to be vigilant why hasn't any politician called for a boycott to those countries??

Ridiculous!!

People whether they are teens or adults are RESPONSIBLE for THEIR own actions as are the parents of Natalee the parents are to blame for their missing daughter as they were told by their own family how dangerous C&C was and yet they sent her KNOWING FULL WELL the dangers of C&C!! Now they want to accuse everyone and everything for THEIR Mistakes and punish an entire country for their mistakes. Saying they are trying to protect adults, Americans, from what? Adults are certainly CAPABLE of making right decisions and protecting themselves. Why did BT and all her friends and all the searchers fo to Aruba for months at a time? Did they have protection at ALL times they were there? What about all the TV talking heads and any other American that were there for months at a time were they harmed? Whaere they fearful the entire time they were there.
Get real and grow up people!
All that called me a lunatic look in the mirror!

[Botched]

Brooke, you are not only a Lunatic you are an idiot as well.

[cindi in pa]

Now, now. Martha Stewart say's , we should wake with a smile on our face and a positive attitude.

[nelson]

Straight to the point Brooke very well said idiots are the ones who dont want to accept reality, those are the idiots. Now can somebody explain to me millions of Americans went to Aruba if this was a common practice in Aruba then alot more then just Natalee must be missing there.Everybody that ever went there only had good words to say about Aruba how nice, friendly and safe it was, and thats why they go back over and over again.

[KeesVanZandt]

What I find weird about this whole boycott business is that calling for a boycott is illegal for a govenor according to the US law: Which states that allies of the US cannot be boycotted by companies or state officials. So why isnt there some form of response from the federal government?

IF GOV BOBS BOYCOTT CAUSES AN ALABAMA TRAVEL AGENT TO VIOLATE US TRADE LAWS - THEN HE IS GUILTY OF COLLUSION.

THE U.S. ANTIBOYCOTT LAWS PROHIBIT U.S. COMPANIES AND THEIR FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES FROM ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF ANY FOREIGN BOYCOTT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

In Holland The Hague will vote soon about if we will send additional troops to aid the US in afghanistan and iraq.... Can they honestly ask the mothers of these Dutch soldiers to send their sons to fight for america if they knew that on the other side of the world the dutch people were being mistreated like this? The direct effect of this boycott would be more american yellow ribbons?

Please think before you act!

[RICK]

Keesvanzandt: Why would the US Government enforce such a law? Is it illegal or not for foreigners to cross our borders at will? Given the total lack of leadership in this country, it doesn't seem out of place to me. Govenor Rileys' endorsement of this boycott must have been analytically surveyed by lawyers upon lawyers before shooting his mouth off. But, then again he is from Alabama and he may be just the fool they elected. We'll see how this postures in the anals of our government.

[Brooke]

"Brooke, you are not only a Lunatic you are an idiot as well.

Posted by: Botched | Nov 14, 2005 10:00:08 AM"

There, silly, gee now do you feel all better, go back to kindergarten now before they think you went missing.

[RICK]

Yeah. So what's wrong with Brooke? This a fair statement about a mother who knew the dangers of "Girls gone wild" on the islands. Natalee didn't deserve her fate, but on the other hand she did have chaperones and "friends" to watch the situation. Where the hell were they? I think that MB crowd is as guilty as anyone. Real friends watch out for each other. One, two or three strangers walking out of C&C with Natalee going bye bye. Something wrong and missing there????????