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This seems to me to be the same argument people use for boycotting companies that use foreign sweatshop labor paid cents on the hour to make clothing and it doe

This seems to me to be the same argument people use for boycotting companies that use foreign sweatshop labor paid cents on the hour to make clothing and it doesn't make sense to me. If working like a robot is cruel, why are people doing it? Because it's better than their alternatives? Ok then, how exactly does taking that option away from them help? I'm all for a strong welfare state, universal income, state funded scholarships, and other "lift people up" sort of activities but I just don't see how punishing companies for utilising low value labour does that.

Qwertious 9y ago
" If working like a robot is cruel, why are people doing it? Because it's better than their alternatives? Ok then, how exactly does taking that option away from them help?" The idea behind boycotting sweatshop labor is that it creates a market for non-sweatshop clothing, which creates a better-paid alternative for the people working like a robot.
- Joeboy 9y ago
  Additionally consumer boycotts tend to be directed at specific companies and serve a specific purpose, eg. trying to institute cross-industry agreements or get compensation paid to workers or their families after factory fires or collapses or whatever.
- lmm 9y ago
  Does it work? What kind of changes (if any) do these boycotts effect - e.g. do they lead to better working conditions abroad, or just eliminate foreign jobs in favour of onshore ones?
- icebraining 9y ago
  Assuming it doesn't create a market for actual robots.
dkersten 9y ago
As sibling comment says, sweatshop labour (or underplayed employees in food chains) reduce the cost of the product/service, undercutting the businesses that don't have predatory practices, who then cannot compete and go out of business leaving the ones that underpay their staff as the only option and "better than the alternative" only because the alternative has been driven out of business by these practices. Besides, why support something that perpetuates human misery? (I mean that as a philosophical question, not trying to judge anyone. I buy stuff from companies that I probably shouldn't buy from too all too often...)
bamboozled 9y ago
"If working like a robot is cruel, why are people doing it? Because it's better than their alternatives? Ok then, how exactly does taking that option away from them help?" Surely, you're not that naive? How do you live with yourself?

Qwertious 9y ago

" If working like a robot is cruel, why are people doing it? Because it's better than their alternatives? Ok then, how exactly does taking that option away from them help?" The idea behind boycotting sweatshop labor is that it creates a market for non-sweatshop clothing, which creates a better-paid alternative for the people working like a robot.

Joeboy 9y ago
Additionally consumer boycotts tend to be directed at specific companies and serve a specific purpose, eg. trying to institute cross-industry agreements or get compensation paid to workers or their families after factory fires or collapses or whatever.
lmm 9y ago
Does it work? What kind of changes (if any) do these boycotts effect - e.g. do they lead to better working conditions abroad, or just eliminate foreign jobs in favour of onshore ones?
icebraining 9y ago
Assuming it doesn't create a market for actual robots.

dkersten 9y ago

As sibling comment says, sweatshop labour (or underplayed employees in food chains) reduce the cost of the product/service, undercutting the businesses that don't have predatory practices, who then cannot compete and go out of business leaving the ones that underpay their staff as the only option and "better than the alternative" only because the alternative has been driven out of business by these practices. Besides, why support something that perpetuates human misery? (I mean that as a philosophical question, not trying to judge anyone. I buy stuff from companies that I probably shouldn't buy from too all too often...)

bamboozled 9y ago

"If working like a robot is cruel, why are people doing it? Because it's better than their alternatives? Ok then, how exactly does taking that option away from them help?" Surely, you're not that naive? How do you live with yourself?