5 ms·

Over the last year I have severely cut my contact with these mega-corporations. Don't order from Amazon, google services is limited to the rare use of ``!g'' fr

by z_open 9y ago

Over the last year I have severely cut my contact with these mega-corporations. Don't order from Amazon, google services is limited to the rare use of ``!g'' from duckduckgo, and I tend to get groceries from smaller grocery stores (relative to Walmart). What I've learned is how easy it is to do. People just want what's familiar, to do what they did yesterday, and don't realize how much of a non-issue the alternatives are. I'd recommend giving it a try. Now if I could just get rid of Comcast.

bagacrap 9y ago
"Smaller than Walmart" rules out roughly zero stores.
- djsumdog 9y ago
  OP is probably talking about Target, Kroger/QFC/Smiths, literally any other retailer. I stopped shopping at Wal-Market around 2009 (I think). I realize Target, Bi-lo and others have adopted a lot of the same practices WM used in order to simply stay competitive and especially with stores like Target, they know customers may pay a premium just not to shop at the mega store. So it might be symbolic at this point, you can't really vote with your dollars, but I have the money and save plenty, so I might as well try and do what I can. I rarely shoped at Amazon and quit shopping there entirely after moving back to the US in 2016, to Seattle, and seeing Amazon as nothing more but the new Wal-Mart, not just for retail, but for server hosting as well.
tinbad 9y ago
My usage of Amazon increased exponentially since we had twins. As a parent, the 1/2-day free delivery of anything from diapers to wipes to random items like kids cups or books, I can’t even imagine having to go to the store for these things anymore. Especially with one shout to Alexa. It really makes a huge difference in quality of life, when running out even for the smallest errand can be a multiple hour process.
- jaredhansen 9y ago
  It's all in what you value. If, as a parent, it's more important to you to save time than have a good way to send signal your virtue to internet friends (you monster!), then you're on the right track.
icantdrive55 9y ago
I'm doing the same. Robert Reich did a video about the hypocrisy of most Americans. It's on his FB site. Yes--ironic it's on FB. And most of us knew we were hypocrites, but don't have the real money to make a difference? Anyway, I do try to buy from companies I respect, but I think we're alone. My father was called cheap back in the day, but he was a principled buyer.
icebraining 9y ago
Well, direct contact. DDG gets data from Microsoft, the small grocery store buys from large distributors of Big Ag products, etc. That said, the "buffer" they provide can sometimes be nice.

by z_open 9y ago

bagacrap 9y ago

"Smaller than Walmart" rules out roughly zero stores.

djsumdog 9y ago
OP is probably talking about Target, Kroger/QFC/Smiths, literally any other retailer. I stopped shopping at Wal-Market around 2009 (I think). I realize Target, Bi-lo and others have adopted a lot of the same practices WM used in order to simply stay competitive and especially with stores like Target, they know customers may pay a premium just not to shop at the mega store. So it might be symbolic at this point, you can't really vote with your dollars, but I have the money and save plenty, so I might as well try and do what I can. I rarely shoped at Amazon and quit shopping there entirely after moving back to the US in 2016, to Seattle, and seeing Amazon as nothing more but the new Wal-Mart, not just for retail, but for server hosting as well.

tinbad 9y ago

My usage of Amazon increased exponentially since we had twins. As a parent, the 1/2-day free delivery of anything from diapers to wipes to random items like kids cups or books, I can’t even imagine having to go to the store for these things anymore. Especially with one shout to Alexa. It really makes a huge difference in quality of life, when running out even for the smallest errand can be a multiple hour process.

jaredhansen 9y ago
It's all in what you value. If, as a parent, it's more important to you to save time than have a good way to send signal your virtue to internet friends (you monster!), then you're on the right track.

icantdrive55 9y ago

I'm doing the same. Robert Reich did a video about the hypocrisy of most Americans. It's on his FB site. Yes--ironic it's on FB. And most of us knew we were hypocrites, but don't have the real money to make a difference? Anyway, I do try to buy from companies I respect, but I think we're alone. My father was called cheap back in the day, but he was a principled buyer.

icebraining 9y ago

Well, direct contact. DDG gets data from Microsoft, the small grocery store buys from large distributors of Big Ag products, etc. That said, the "buffer" they provide can sometimes be nice.