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More in general, can't all social or political boycotts,... Many of them are in fact attempts to suppress ideas they dislike. Not all. For example, if I boyco

More in general, can't all social or political boycotts,... Many of them are in fact attempts to suppress ideas they dislike. Not all. For example, if I boycott Cuban goods, I'm boycotting the people currently in control of Cuba for their actions. If I boycott opponents of the embargo I'm attempting to suppress ideas. I object far less to the former than the latter. But I admit, I don't fully understand this issue, which is why I'm asking questions to people who claim certainty.

dalke 13y ago
I confess that I have a hard time understanding the Cuban boycott action/idea distinction. The US boycott of Cuba is nominally to suppress Communism in the Western hemisphere. That sounds to me like suppressing an idea. You can say that it's actually boycotting them for specific actions, and not for the general expression of ideas. That seems like a weak distinction - "faith without works is dead". Ideas, without the ability to act on those ideas, have no power or influence. They are dead. Your counter-example, where you "boycott opponents of the embargo", is hard for me to understand without an example. An opponent of the embargo might buy and import a Cuban cigar, in order to protest the embargo. That's an action. Under your action/idea distinction, it's therefore okay for me to boycott that person's action, no? Going back to Eich, Eich did a specific action - donate money to a political cause. That action is the prime, and really only, stated reason for opposition to Eich as CEO. Under your action/idea distinction, don't you find that perfectly acceptable? OKCupid isn't suppressing an idea, only boycotting someone for a specific action. I asked if there was a social or political boycott which you agree with. I'm trying to get a sense of if your objection is to boycotts in principle. You mentioned the Cuban embargo, but I can't tell if you support it, and you haven't said why you support it - that is, which actions/ideas you are against.
- hdishn 13y ago
  Cuba stole American companies (imagine America taking BMW's factories in South Carolina). It's like 7-11 refusing service for someone who robbed them the night before. How many other nations have done something similar with US companies? Do you know what deterrence means?

dalke 13y ago

I confess that I have a hard time understanding the Cuban boycott action/idea distinction. The US boycott of Cuba is nominally to suppress Communism in the Western hemisphere. That sounds to me like suppressing an idea. You can say that it's actually boycotting them for specific actions, and not for the general expression of ideas. That seems like a weak distinction - "faith without works is dead". Ideas, without the ability to act on those ideas, have no power or influence. They are dead. Your counter-example, where you "boycott opponents of the embargo", is hard for me to understand without an example. An opponent of the embargo might buy and import a Cuban cigar, in order to protest the embargo. That's an action. Under your action/idea distinction, it's therefore okay for me to boycott that person's action, no? Going back to Eich, Eich did a specific action - donate money to a political cause. That action is the prime, and really only, stated reason for opposition to Eich as CEO. Under your action/idea distinction, don't you find that perfectly acceptable? OKCupid isn't suppressing an idea, only boycotting someone for a specific action. I asked if there was a social or political boycott which you agree with. I'm trying to get a sense of if your objection is to boycotts in principle. You mentioned the Cuban embargo, but I can't tell if you support it, and you haven't said why you support it - that is, which actions/ideas you are against.

hdishn 13y ago
Cuba stole American companies (imagine America taking BMW's factories in South Carolina). It's like 7-11 refusing service for someone who robbed them the night before. How many other nations have done something similar with US companies? Do you know what deterrence means?