Wayfair (a website) Is Being Criticized For Selling Stuff

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  1. GA Anderson profile image84
    GA Andersonposted 5 years ago

    Wayfair, a home furnishing web site is being threatened with a worker and consumer boycott for selling camping cots to Homeland Security for the detention centers.

    What the hell?

    Do you support such thoughts?

    'Shut down the concentration camps': Wayfair employees walk out, hundreds protest

    Social media democracy. Hey Wilderness this is your mantra; "Bread and Circuses" Everyone with a keyboard can make a social impact. My gawddd.... somebody please turn on the lights.

    Come on folks, is this really how you think democracy should work? Social media will be the death of America. How damn cynical, and, apocryphal is that message.

    Rule by hashtag and "likes" Amen brother, may God's mercy be upon you. 'Cause reality sure as hell isn't going to be on your side.

    GA

    1. IslandBites profile image93
      IslandBitesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      So, why are you so worked up about social media in this specific issue. The link you share is all about employees, a letter they sent, a walkout/march?

      1. GA Anderson profile image84
        GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

        I am worked up because there were other links - from social warriors, that  reiterated the thought. Demonizing a company for selling beds. Sheesh!

        The specific issue is secondary to the point of, where as a society, we place our priorities.

        GA

        1. IslandBites profile image93
          IslandBitesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Priorities...

          Some people want a company to sell beds, some don't want a company to profit from children's suffering...

          That's democracy in action, my friend. smile

          1. GA Anderson profile image84
            GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            ". . . profit from children's suffering . . ."

            Yep, that's democracy alright.

            Are the companies that sell food or medicine to the detention camps guilty of profiting from children's suffering too?

            GA

          2. Sharlee01 profile image84
            Sharlee01posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            The people that prefer a company not to sell cots or beds to the government for the shelters to get people off the floors due to it promoting human suffering.  While they fight what they feel the good fight ultimately people are sleeping on the floors.  Their thought process seems nonsensical?

            I think it sheds a poor light on their protest,  to me they look foolish, as they really just did not consider the true problem. The reason beds are needed... Men, women, and yes children need these beds.

            I would have no problem with these workers protesting any of the multitudes of problems that are occurring in the border facilities but in my opinion, their protest against Wayfair made no sense. I am with GA there was no reason to demonize Wayfair for selling beds

    2. Don W profile image81
      Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Are you shocked that customers have recognized they can affect change via social media, or shocked that they are wielding it in relation to a cause you don't think is worthy, or both?

      1. GA Anderson profile image84
        GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

        "Shocked" wouldn't have been my word choice Don, I support the concept of consumers voting with their wallet.

        Like you, I am hesitant to make an assumption, but you have left me to guess what cause it is you asked me about. Given the topic, I would assume that "cause" would be one against the detention of children. Or could it be the one against inhuman treatment of children?

        I see both of those causes as worthy, but don't see their application to Wayfair's action. So . . . apparently, the answer is neither.

        GA

        1. Don W profile image81
          Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Companies (in general not necessarily Wayfair) have been using their economic might to lobby government and organize against the interests of ordinary people in different ways for years. Whether it be to ripping-off consumers, harming people and the environment, or exploiting workers. Consumers using social media to exert influence on companies is not necessarily a bad thing. "Let the market decide" is the maxim often used to criticise government intervention. Isn't this the market deciding?

          1. wilderness profile image95
            wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            The court of public opinion is seldom worth much, for it depends on ignorance and emotion far more than fact.  This is a case in point, for there cannot possibly be anything wrong with selling mattresses to the government for criminals to sleep on; the option is to sleep on concrete.

            But facts and reason don't count; only that Wayfair has been implicated in the "horrific treatment" (read: criminals are not set free) at the border.

            1. Don W profile image81
              Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              "The court of public opinion is seldom worth much, for it depends on ignorance and emotion far more than fact. "

              You mean the type of "ignorance and emotion" displayed by pearl-clutching, fear-mongers bleating that the country is about to be destroyed by all the half-starved, dehydrated families crossing the southern border? When you show me the "facts and reason" that supports such xenophobia, then you can claim to care about such things. Until then, your comment is little more than hypocrisy masquerading as a valid viewpoint.

              1. wilderness profile image95
                wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                Right!  The mob is always well informed and their claims and actions are always well reasoned and based on factual data.

                Needless to say, I will disagree with this statement.  Including the idea that millions upon millions of additional people entering the country will cause no harm.  Is their temporary state of dehydration the determining factor there - if they haven't drunk enough water it means it takes no resources to support them?  This, just as I said, seems to support the idea that the mob depends on emotions (dismay and horror at the plight of people walking across the desert to violate the law) and ignorance of what it is actually costing us to support those millions.  It certainly is not based on facts and well reasoned conclusions!

                1. Don W profile image81
                  Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Look at you trying to sound reasonable. I know your views on immigrants wilderness. I've seen you express them many times. Those views consist of almost nothing but "ignorance and emotion". For evidence I offer every comment in every discussion we've had on the subject. In every single one, you have ignored fact after fact that does not support your narrow view, and provided "evidence" in the form of links to right-wing blogs and other questionable sources. So forgive me if I don't buy your sudden distaste for ignorance and emotion. Prejudice and fear-mongering against vulnerable people is not only ignorant it's literally xenophobic. The fact you subscribe to that, while at the same time condemning others for supposedly not relying on facts and reason, serves only to highlight the hypocrisy. That hypocrisy makes your opinion on the subject of "ignorance and emotion" less than valid.

                  1. IslandBites profile image93
                    IslandBitesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    smile

                  2. wilderness profile image95
                    wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    Perhaps if you actually read those "right wing blogs", checked them for truth and thought about what was being said you'd understand the gravity of unlimited immigration a little better.

                    Until then I don't expect you to read anything that doesn't agree with your bias.

              2. Sharlee01 profile image84
                Sharlee01posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                It seems it's becoming very easy for some in our society to philosophize any given situation, even such a humanitarian crisis. But this one takes the cake... It seems pretty clear that these workers that chose to protest Wayfair for the sale of beds or cots to the government are using the suffering of others that are in a crisis. It would equate to not supplying the people of Flint Michigan with water to prevent them from drinking water with lead in it. Protesting the water company, and demanding the water system be fixed before buying water... I would seem this unch have little to no common sense. They want to seem like bleeding hearts caring about having detainment facilities but it's clear they care nothing for human beings that are in a situation that is a humanitarian crisis.  It's shocking to me that anyone can see any value in this form of protesting.

                It should not shock me our Congress cared little about the crisis for many months they sat on it, many stating there was no crisis.

                1. wilderness profile image95
                  wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  It seems to me that the biggest thing of interest to these "bleeding hearts" is to denigrate and demonize President Trump.  That they have let it sit for months (or years, given the photos from the Obama era) is set aside in the hopes of being forgotten...so they can pretend it is all about Trump and Oh My, what a terrible, evil person he is!  We'll set aside and forget that there "Is no crises at the border" for the same reason.

                  Those people are no more than pawns in a political game of "Get rid of Trump!".  When we have liberals aiding caravans of them, then turning around and decrying what a terrible thing it is that they're here, well, it becomes obvious just what is going on.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    Yes, it is clear many were aiming their rath at president Trump. It mazes me how narrow-minded this bunch was to the fact that at this point beds are needed, who the hell cares who sell them to the Government.  It also bugs me that this crew showed zero empathy, only slanted political hate. Where is our society headed?

                2. Don W profile image81
                  Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  That comment is part of a 6 comment thread. Taking one comment and presenting it out of context is at best ill-advised, at worst duplicitous.

                  In particular my comments to wilderness related to the hypocrisy that he should criticize others over depending on "ignorance and emotion" over fact. If you had exchanged the number of comments I have with wilderness over the years on the subject of immigration, you'd know why I consider that to be hypocritical from him. 

                  So before you insert your thoughts into a discussion, I suggest you take the time to appraise yourself of what it's actually about. A simple review of the exchange wilderness and I would have told you it was less to do with this particular protest and more to do how hypocrisy reduces people's credibility and simply makes them look two-faced.

                  That's a lesson you would also benefit greatly from.

                  1. Sharlee01 profile image84
                    Sharlee01posted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    I added my opinion and made it quite clear. 'It seems it's becoming very easy for some in our society to philosophize any given situation, even such a humanitarian crisis. "

                    phi·los·o·phize
                    /fəˈläsəˌfīz/
                    Learn to pronounce
                    verb
                    speculate or theorize about fundamental or serious issues, especially in a tedious or pompous way.

                    Your last six comments certainly showed you were philosophizing on a very serious issue.

          2. GA Anderson profile image84
            GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Don, I did say I agreed with the concept of consumers voting with their wallet, (another way of describing this social media thing), but my discussion was specific to the Wayfair example. Do you think their actions fit your explanation of possible valid scenarios?

            GA

            1. Don W profile image81
              Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

              They want the camps shut down. From the story you linked to:

              "Solidarity with Wayfair Workers! Shut Down the Concentration Camps!"

              Trying to disrupt the supply chain that enables the camps to remain open makes sense relative to that stated goal.

              1. GA Anderson profile image84
                GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                Would you support such disruption--for the same purpose and reasoning, if the companies involved were food and medical supplies, vendors?

                It appears, (that is conditioned on an inference drawn - not direct statements of support), by your comments that you support the workers' protest because their goal is to protest the detention camps policy.

                In this case, the protest amounts to preference that would have the detainees sleeping on the floor.

                Would you remain supportive if the protests were against vendors of food and medical supplies? Or have I misread your comments and you are not supportive of the Wayfair workers' protest?

                To avoid confusion, I too support the workers' Right to their protests, but I think my comments have made clear what I think of this particular protest.

                GA

                1. Don W profile image81
                  Don Wposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Who said I supported the disruption?

                  I'm taking a page out of your playbook GA. I am neither confirming nor denying my support for the action. I'm just looking at the logical consistency of it.

                  The stated goal is to shut the camps down. Disrupting the supply chain is consistent with that goal.

                  (the view from the top of this fence is amazing by the way. I can see why you like it up here).

                  1. GA Anderson profile image84
                    GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    You only took 'half a page' Don. I must direct you to my caveat that the "support" I noted was only an inference drawn from the context of your comments.

                    Also, you are a bit behind the times. I jumped off the fence, (relative to certain legal assertions), when the Mueller report came out.

                    As for those other vague character assassination topics, I was never on the fence. I am solidly in the camp that they are a political and power-holder gambit.

                    To you "logical consistency" point, I am not sure I understand. I feel I was consistent in my support of the workers' action as a concept of consumers' voice, but my criticism was of the wisdom of that particular 'voice'.

                    Of course, the next question is; Do you support the shutdown of the detainment centers? If so, then you must also support the disruption of food and medical supplies to the camps. But, I don't think you would support that. I know I wouldn't.

                    A follow-up question would be where was the support for the disruption of these detainment camps when those first 2014 images became public. Of course, I am speaking of the caged images from the Obama administration.

                    Were there any protestations of the supply chain then? Why not?

                    You look for logical consistency Don, wouldn't the answer to that last question also demand an explanation of "logical consistency"?

                    My fence post seat is long gone Don. There are still issues I am undecided on, the legality of many of these current topics is one area, but the "get Trump" mentality and efforts of the 'powers that be' is not one of them.

                    GA

                  2. Zack Dylan profile image68
                    Zack Dylanposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                    Stopping the sale of beds is hardly disrupting the supply chain. A bed is a luxury not a necessity. The outrage and press coverage in the weeks leading up to Wayfair selling the beds to DHS was that there were not enough beds and that there were people sleeping on the ground. It seemed pretty obvious from that statement, that the goals of those outraged was to ensure simple luxuries were provided to the detainees. Now in comes the Wayfair employees trying to stop the sale of beds to DHS. This protest is completely counterintuitive to the goal.

    3. crankalicious profile image89
      crankaliciousposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I work in an industry where I've had this problem.

      People don't seem to understand how purchasing works. The vendor and/or merchandiser is not responsible for who buys their product. They merely offer it for sale. If the Dept. of Homeland Security wants to buy Wayfair's cots, that has nothing to do with Wayfair.

      If a Nazi buys a cot from Wayfair, that does not make them a supporter of Nazis.

      Now, if Wayfair actively went out and solicited the Dept. of Homeland Security because they saw and opportunity and offered a discount; etc. then maybe there's an objection.

    4. profile image0
      Hxprofposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      The consumer can boycott away - nothing wrong there.  Those working for Wayfair may find themselves out of a job, and with good cause.

      But the hoopla over Wayfair selling cots that'll be used to address the conditions in the detention centers, which have caused many to redefine the centers as concentration camps, is a little weird.  Do you want the situation addressed or not?

      What a head scratcher.

  2. Live to Learn profile image59
    Live to Learnposted 5 years ago

    I saw this. My first thought was they should let them stay out. Lock the doors and hire staff that understands if they want to determine who to sell to they are welcome to start their own company.

    As to an attemp at a public boycott, they will have to determine if they want to cave in. I mean, seriously. The inhumanity of selling beds so people can sleep above that floor. The inhumanity is just mind boggling.

  3. JAKE Earthshine profile image66
    JAKE Earthshineposted 5 years ago

    https://hubstatic.com/14581536.jpg

    Just a message to all the "Nationalists" around here: Most immigrants come to America to work hard and pay taxes not to FLEECE elderly individuals out of their life savings at DEFUNCT "Trump University" like the 2 winners above have been accused of, so if anyone should be "CAGED" in a concentration camp maybe they should start with these 2 weirdos:

    These "so called "Detention Centers" are being defined as unlawfully criminal "Concentration Camp's" by many Americans, not unlike the facilities of nazi germany: These locked up children and or parents will SUFFER from Trauma Symptoms and even worse the rest of their lives if they actually survive: Any company who participates in this ABOMINABLE Activity by supplying any type of product to these jails should be BOYCOTTED to the Maximum Degree:

 
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