Jubenhimer
Member
Traditionally, if a corporation or business is doing something you don't like or don't support, the most obvious response from us as consumers is a boycott. That is, refrain from purchasing or supporting their products until they get the memo that something is wrong, and thus should fix it. But has boycotting ever been historically effective? And how do you approach it? For me, I almost rarely boycott entire companies. Reason being is that, if a company is putting out some bad products that I don't like or aren't interested in, I don't think the right approach is to take it out on the legitimately good products they're releasing or good things they do, because I feel that both sends the wrong message, and in the case of content creators, is pretty unfair to the effort and work they put into the good stuff.
The only exceptions, is when a company like Blizzard or Konami did seriously awful things, and has nothing else worth supporting. So the way I approach boycotting is, I only support the stuff a company puts out that I feel is actually and legitimately good, while avoiding everything else. My thinking is that if companies see that the stuff they think people want, ends up failing hard, while the stuff that people actually want is doing way better, they'll get the message, and double down on what their consumers actually want.
An example would be Disney. I don't like Disney at the moment, I don't hate them with a passion like I do with Google, but I dislike how monopolistic the company has become. That said, I will still support and watch the good things they do occasionally put out, such as their TV cartoons, and Pixar films, while avoiding or taking no part in most of their other stuff like Live-Action remakes or the new Star Wars films. To me, this in theory, should send the message that nobody wants your crappy live-action retreads or bland Star Wars films, but we still do like a good animated film or series, and you should do more of that, instead of buying every franchise in existence.
Do I think boycotting is actually effective? Yes and No. The problem with a boycott is that it requires a large amount of customers to come to a consensus, and that is often very difficult, sometimes impossible to do. Brand devotation is very strong with a lot of people, and a lot of them are willing to spends hundereds of dollars on crappy stuff, just because its the latest product in a franchise. But when most fans and consumers do consensually get fed up with BS, the results do show. Going back to Disney, the more recent Star Wars films are now underperforming at the box-office, and the new Galaxy Edge ride at Walt Disney World isn't doing the numbers the Mouse wanted. Why? Because Star Wars fans are finally sick of the incompetent way Disney handled the franchise for the last 3-4 years. Disney eventually took the hint, and announced recently that Star Wars will be going on a long hiatus after their plans to give the MCU treatment blew up in their face. The only exception to this, is The Mandalorian, which is at the very least, a step in the right direction, but still not quite there yet.
The only exceptions, is when a company like Blizzard or Konami did seriously awful things, and has nothing else worth supporting. So the way I approach boycotting is, I only support the stuff a company puts out that I feel is actually and legitimately good, while avoiding everything else. My thinking is that if companies see that the stuff they think people want, ends up failing hard, while the stuff that people actually want is doing way better, they'll get the message, and double down on what their consumers actually want.
An example would be Disney. I don't like Disney at the moment, I don't hate them with a passion like I do with Google, but I dislike how monopolistic the company has become. That said, I will still support and watch the good things they do occasionally put out, such as their TV cartoons, and Pixar films, while avoiding or taking no part in most of their other stuff like Live-Action remakes or the new Star Wars films. To me, this in theory, should send the message that nobody wants your crappy live-action retreads or bland Star Wars films, but we still do like a good animated film or series, and you should do more of that, instead of buying every franchise in existence.
Do I think boycotting is actually effective? Yes and No. The problem with a boycott is that it requires a large amount of customers to come to a consensus, and that is often very difficult, sometimes impossible to do. Brand devotation is very strong with a lot of people, and a lot of them are willing to spends hundereds of dollars on crappy stuff, just because its the latest product in a franchise. But when most fans and consumers do consensually get fed up with BS, the results do show. Going back to Disney, the more recent Star Wars films are now underperforming at the box-office, and the new Galaxy Edge ride at Walt Disney World isn't doing the numbers the Mouse wanted. Why? Because Star Wars fans are finally sick of the incompetent way Disney handled the franchise for the last 3-4 years. Disney eventually took the hint, and announced recently that Star Wars will be going on a long hiatus after their plans to give the MCU treatment blew up in their face. The only exception to this, is The Mandalorian, which is at the very least, a step in the right direction, but still not quite there yet.
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