4 ms·

If I inform a corporation that I will not do business with them while a person is in their employment, am I oppressing that person or am I using my freedom of s

If I inform a corporation that I will not do business with them while a person is in their employment, am I oppressing that person or am I using my freedom of speech?

throwaway894345 6y ago
If I say "it would be unfortunate if something happened to your job", am I issuing a veiled threat or am I using my freedom of speech? It's possible that I'm not making a threat, but we know it's unlikely. Technically it amounts to intent (do you intend to ruin someone's livelihood or are you just making a bizarre statement for indecipherable reasons?).
- CathedralBorrow 6y ago
  I agree with everything you said. Can you comment on my question though?
  - throwaway894345 6y ago
    I did. I said it technically depends on intent; however, in practice it's implausible that you weren't issuing a threat, and threats don't constitute free speech.
    - CathedralBorrow 6y ago
      Ok I'm confused so can you please help me? My example was absolutely a "threat" in the sense that yes, I in that example would be serious about voicing my opinion and my intention to not voluntarily do business with that imaginary corporation while they employed that person. I would be "threatening" to do something which is entirely my freedom to do; to vote with my wallet. But if I understand you correctly, this would be going outside my freedom of speech. Which implies that I do not have the choice to not do business with them. As in, I am obligated to purchase goods and services from them. I am clearly misunderstanding this because that can't be right. Where did I go off track?
      - throwaway894345 6y ago
        Of course you have the choice of whether or not to do business with them. Nevertheless, threats are not free speech.
        CathedralBorrow 6y ago
        I'm still confused. I am completely free to choose whether or not to do business with them, but I am not allowed to tell them about my choice? Or am I not allowed to speak about it at all, regardless of who listens?
        throwaway894345 6y ago
        Issuing threats is not free speech. You're still free to choose with whom you do business. Terribly sorry, but I don't know how to make it simpler than that. Good luck in your pursuits.
        jaccarmac 6y ago
        Ah yes, and of course whether or not something is a threat depends on intent. And who could be a better judge of intent than ... throwaway894345. Who I'm sure has an incredibly nuanced way of determining intent that doesn't boil down to "SJWs have bad intent".
giancarlostoro 6y ago
You're extorting a company, let's even call it quid pro quo.
- CathedralBorrow 6y ago
  But is my freedom to choose who I do business with not a fundamental part of capitalism? It's important to have that choice, don't you agree?
  - throwaway894345 6y ago
    That freedom, like many others, is limited. You may also be dismayed to find that you aren't free to tell someone that you will do business with her on the condition that she sleeps with you. This is quid pro quo harassment.
    - CathedralBorrow 6y ago
      I'm not dismayed at all, and would appreciate it if you could refrain from painting pictures of what you think my state of mind might be. Thanks. Are you saying that I am breaking the law by telling a company that I will not do business with them as long as they employ some person? Just to head off future misunderstandings on my part I'd like to get this clear first.
      - throwaway894345 6y ago
        It was a hypothetical. I wasn't speaking about you specifically. Anyway, I've explained in another thread as simply as I'm able. Good luck on your educational endeavors.
- Klinky 6y ago
  This would be hard to legally call extortion, since consumers are free to do business with who they please, and there is a strong history of boycott activity. Also if it were illegal, then many negotiating tactics become extortion. Is threatening to leave a company unless you get a raise now illegal extortion? Is demanding a lower cable bill or else you'll go to a competitor now illegal extortion? I would consider these more ultimatums than extortion. Also extortion always includes quid pro quo, but not all quid pro quo is illegal. Context matters.
paulryanrogers 6y ago
So a boycott?
- CathedralBorrow 6y ago
  Sure, is my choice to boycott a company also an act of oppression?

If I inform a corporation that I will not do business with them while a person is in their employment, am I oppressing that person or am I using my freedom of speech?

throwaway894345 6y ago

If I say "it would be unfortunate if something happened to your job", am I issuing a veiled threat or am I using my freedom of speech? It's possible that I'm not making a threat, but we know it's unlikely. Technically it amounts to intent (do you intend to ruin someone's livelihood or are you just making a bizarre statement for indecipherable reasons?).

CathedralBorrow 6y ago
I agree with everything you said. Can you comment on my question though?
- throwaway894345 6y ago
  I did. I said it technically depends on intent; however, in practice it's implausible that you weren't issuing a threat, and threats don't constitute free speech.
  - CathedralBorrow 6y ago
    Ok I'm confused so can you please help me? My example was absolutely a "threat" in the sense that yes, I in that example would be serious about voicing my opinion and my intention to not voluntarily do business with that imaginary corporation while they employed that person. I would be "threatening" to do something which is entirely my freedom to do; to vote with my wallet. But if I understand you correctly, this would be going outside my freedom of speech. Which implies that I do not have the choice to not do business with them. As in, I am obligated to purchase goods and services from them. I am clearly misunderstanding this because that can't be right. Where did I go off track?
    - throwaway894345 6y ago
      Of course you have the choice of whether or not to do business with them. Nevertheless, threats are not free speech.
      - CathedralBorrow 6y ago
        I'm still confused. I am completely free to choose whether or not to do business with them, but I am not allowed to tell them about my choice? Or am I not allowed to speak about it at all, regardless of who listens?
        throwaway894345 6y ago
        Issuing threats is not free speech. You're still free to choose with whom you do business. Terribly sorry, but I don't know how to make it simpler than that. Good luck in your pursuits.
        jaccarmac 6y ago
        Ah yes, and of course whether or not something is a threat depends on intent. And who could be a better judge of intent than ... throwaway894345. Who I'm sure has an incredibly nuanced way of determining intent that doesn't boil down to "SJWs have bad intent".

giancarlostoro 6y ago

You're extorting a company, let's even call it quid pro quo.

CathedralBorrow 6y ago
But is my freedom to choose who I do business with not a fundamental part of capitalism? It's important to have that choice, don't you agree?
- throwaway894345 6y ago
  That freedom, like many others, is limited. You may also be dismayed to find that you aren't free to tell someone that you will do business with her on the condition that she sleeps with you. This is quid pro quo harassment.
  - CathedralBorrow 6y ago
    I'm not dismayed at all, and would appreciate it if you could refrain from painting pictures of what you think my state of mind might be. Thanks. Are you saying that I am breaking the law by telling a company that I will not do business with them as long as they employ some person? Just to head off future misunderstandings on my part I'd like to get this clear first.
    - throwaway894345 6y ago
      It was a hypothetical. I wasn't speaking about you specifically. Anyway, I've explained in another thread as simply as I'm able. Good luck on your educational endeavors.
Klinky 6y ago
This would be hard to legally call extortion, since consumers are free to do business with who they please, and there is a strong history of boycott activity. Also if it were illegal, then many negotiating tactics become extortion. Is threatening to leave a company unless you get a raise now illegal extortion? Is demanding a lower cable bill or else you'll go to a competitor now illegal extortion? I would consider these more ultimatums than extortion. Also extortion always includes quid pro quo, but not all quid pro quo is illegal. Context matters.

paulryanrogers 6y ago

So a boycott?

CathedralBorrow 6y ago
Sure, is my choice to boycott a company also an act of oppression?