DeTrumpify yourself app

[probinson]

I can see why guitar manufacturers would want people to believe that. I can see why some guitarists are scared to buy cheaper guitars. But there is no evidence showing that this is the case, and the guy in the video was creating evidence and presenting it, which shows that the guitar body doesn't matter. He ultimately completely did away with the guitar body and to me, I couldn't tell any difference.

The video is certainly compelling. However, I would say that it's impossible to accurately discern the nuances in sound over a video recording. Also, sound is rather subjective. Hearing a difference is really in the ear of the beholder.

I will agree that wood is far less important in an electric guitar than in an acoustic, but I don't think it's completely irrelevant.

 

[probinson]

Not just food products, pretty much anything you guys sell to my country, if I have an alternative then I'll be picking the alternative.

The DeTrumpify app, which is the topic of the thread, can't help you with that. It focuses only on food products.

 

[Bradskii]

I suppose that's what every boycotter would like to think, but in reality, boycotts rarely hurt revenue.

Tariffs increase the price for consumer. So the consumer often buys less of the product. Do you want to class that as a boycott? Well, that's up to you to determine what's an honest reappraisal of where one's money should be spent and an actual decision not to buy a product whatever the price.

Jack Daniel's Maker's Stock Tumbles—Blame Tariffs

Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey and other alcoholic beverages, was among the S&P 500's biggest decliners Wednesday as the European Union hit back with retaliatory tariffs after 25% U.S. levies on steel and aluminum went into effect.

www.investopedia.com

I did note that you said 'rarely hurt'. When do you think it might actually hurt?

 

[probinson]

Well, if you think that people do these things to just 'look cool' then there's nothing I can say that will change that somewhat dreary opinion.

Nah. It's pretty accurate. Especially if they go home to post on social media to show how cool they are.

Only a few people know that I changed my voter registration from Republican to Independent in 2016. It was an action I took that was symbolic to me. You know what I didn't do? I didn't post on social media looking for validation. It was something meaningful and personal to me. So I guess in that regard, I have indeed "done something" that made no real difference.

But the next time that you do something that you think is right, even though, in itself, it will have no effect on any outcome, just make sure that everyone knows that you're not doing it for the wrong reasons.

Of course, you could just not tell them anything. There's a crazy idea!

Make sure that you tell the cashier and everyone else in the line 'No sirree, me not buying that other brand is not me being cool! Just want to make that absolutely clear.'

Why would I tell anyone why I'm buying or not buying anything? I mean, I guess when you assign motives to everything that's the result, but sometimes, I just want me some Reese's Puffs cereal.

Or maybe you won't do what you think is right. Because it will have no effect! And heaven forbid you don't want to be accused of 'virtue signaling'. The horror...

Eh. Virtue signaling is exactly what it sounds like. You're signaling to others why you're doing smoothing. And yet again, you've moved the goalposts from virtue signaling to doing something that you deem "right" because of personal convictions. And again, I have no idea how you think those two things are even remotely related.

 

[probinson]

Tariffs increase the price for consumer. So the consumer often buys less of the product. Do you want to class that as a boycott?

No, that's not a boycott.

Well, that's up to you to determine what's an honest reappraisal of where one's money should be spent and an actual decision not to buy a product whatever the price.

No issue there.

I did note that you said 'rarely hurt'. When do you think it might actually hurt?

I was quoting the article I posted.

Nevertheless, boycotts can still be effective, according to King’s research. He finds that while boycotts rarely hurt revenues, they can threaten a company’s reputation, especially by generating negative media coverage.​

​

We've got negative media coverage in spades over the foolish and ill-advised tariffs, so I guess if that was the objective, mission accomplished. Although I would argue the negative media coverage is primarily in response to the tariffs and not the silly apps people are using to determine what they should and should not buy.

 

[stevil]

The DeTrumpify app, which is the topic of the thread, can't help you with that. It focuses only on food products.

It's a start.

 

[stevil]

I will agree that wood is far less important in an electric guitar than in an acoustic, but I don't think it's completely irrelevant.

I guess it is hard to give up on long held beliefs, even if one knows they themselves have never seen any evidence supporting those beliefs.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Well, if you think that people do these things to just 'look cool' then there's nothing I can say that will change that somewhat dreary opinion. But the next time that you do something that you think is right, even though, in itself, it will have no effect on any outcome, just make sure that everyone knows that you're not doing it for the wrong reasons. Make sure that you tell the cashier and everyone else in the line 'No sirree, me not buying that other brand is not me being cool! Just want to make that absolutely clear.'

Or maybe you won't do what you think is right. Because it will have no effect! And heaven forbid you don't want to be accused of 'virtue signaling'. The horror...

Well, then what's the "best case scenario" opinion?

If I had some sort of grudge against the leadership of Canada, and decided to "give them the middle finger" by buying some other brand of Rye whiskey instead of Crown Royal (which is the one I'd actually want to buy), and the only people who are ever going to see me do it are other Americans, and no Canadian (much less the Canadian PM) would know I was doing that. Exactly what is being gained/accomplished there?

In that scenario, I'm not consuming the product I actually wanted to get, and the "target" doesn't even know the difference (as it doesn't hurt them, it hurts the makers of Crown Royal)


To me, it sounds a bit Ralph'ish...

 

[stevil]

Well, then what's the "best case scenario" opinion?

If I had some sort of grudge against the leadership of Canada, and decided to "give them the middle finger" by buying some other brand of Rye whiskey instead of Crown Royal (which is the one I'd actually want to buy), and the only people who are ever going to see me do it are other Americans, and no Canadian (much less the Canadian PM) would know I was doing that. Exactly what is being gained/accomplished there?

Self respect perhaps.

It's kinda like giving to charity without broadcasting to everyone that you have donated.
What's the point? Self respect!

 

[Bradskii]

And you think any of that has to do with people not buying Jack Daniels? It seems you may have a problem understanding causation as well.

It's the same as casting a vote that you know will have no effect on the result. There's a gradual swing and people think, hey - maybe one vote makes no difference but if I add mine, and a few other people add theirs... So if enough people cast that useless vote then it changes the result.

Me not buying a bottle of Jack? It makes no difference. But you know as well as I do that people in Canada are actually doing that. They're not buying US products and are opting for Made In Canada. It's international news. Canadian politicians have picked up on this movement. It probably helped swing a few votes.

Maybe if you get a good deal on an overseas holiday you don't consider the atrocious human rights of that countries government. Maybe if there's a good deal on some clothing, you're not worried if it's made in a sweat-shop. Maybe you're not interested in whether chickens or pigs are kept in atrocious conditions and you are just concerned about the price. Because, the argument goes, you making a choice for reasons other than price isn't going to make any difference at all. So why would you bother?

 

[probinson]

I guess it is hard to give up on long held beliefs, even if one knows they themselves have never seen any evidence supporting those beliefs.

Boy, is that ever true!

 

[Bradskii]

Nah. It's pretty accurate. Especially if they go home to post on social media to show how cool they are.

It seems that your problem is with people who you think want to look cool. That not buying a product for personal reasons is just fine. Just don't tell anyone.

I'm not sure you've grasped the concept of a boycott...

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Self respect perhaps.

It's kinda like giving to charity without broadcasting to everyone that you have donated.
What's the point? Self respect!

The only way "self respect" enters the equation is if the PM I was opposed to was a part owner of Crown Royal or something like that.

Otherwise, at best (if the movement caught on), I'd just be punishing random Canadians who happened to work for Crown Royal.


What I think you guys should actually do (if you really want to stick it to Trump).

Boycott the US navy.

Tell him "we don't need your stinkin' navy, we'll protect our own shipping lanes", and then since the US navy would no longer be needed, we can obviously bring those ships back and scale down our military spending... that'd be a strong message right?

...it may end up cutting into some social spending and programs domestically for you, but it'd totally be worth it to give the middle finger to a guy you don't like with a spray tan 5,000 miles away.

...or, did you want to just do the potato chip and soda thing?

 

[probinson]

Maybe if there's a good deal on some clothing, you're not worried if it's made in a sweat-shop.

This was actually discussed earlier in the thread. The exchange went like this.

Just out of curiosity, is China (or any of the other countries that run sweatshops) on your list?

I don't care about sweatshops, I'm not on a virtue crusade.

So no, it doesn't seem that sweat shops are concerning to some.

Maybe you're not interested in whether chickens or pigs are kept in atrocious conditions and you are just concerned about the price. Because, the argument goes, you making a choice for reasons other than price isn't going to make any difference at all. So why would you bother?

Again, now you're talking about personal convictions. It sure seems like you're intentionally conflating one's personal convictions with the virtue signaling of letting everyone know what you're doing and why. Do you understand how those things are different? Because it sure doesn't seem like it.

 

[probinson]

It seems that your problem is with people who you think want to look cool. That not buying a product for personal reasons is just fine. Just don't tell anyone.

I'm not sure you've grasped the concept of a boycott...

Yes, the concept of a boycott is to tell everyone what you're doing. I dunno. I find that silly. But I know that people seek validation in many ways. I suppose pretending like they're "doing something" in solidarity over a boycott is one way people achieve that.

 

[Bradskii]

Nevertheless, boycotts can still be effective, according to King’s research. He finds that while boycotts rarely hurt revenues, they can threaten a company’s reputation, especially by generating negative media coverage.​

​

So that person not buying that bottle of Jack does...well, Jack. But get a lot of people involved, maybe through means of media reports of an app such as the one in question, and it starts to make an impression. But you don't want anyone to let other people know what they think should be done. You don't want them telling anyone else.

As I said, I don't think that you understand how a boycott works. It's like you don't mind someone buying a t shirt with a political slogan on it, but gee, it's not good to have everyone see you wearing it. Hey, that's virtue signaling, man. So uncool!

 

[Bradskii]

Well, then what's the "best case scenario" opinion?

If I had some sort of grudge against the leadership of Canada, and decided to "give them the middle finger" by buying some other brand of Rye whiskey instead of Crown Royal (which is the one I'd actually want to buy), and the only people who are ever going to see me do it are other Americans, and no Canadian...

If this was just a personal grudge then you'd have a point. It isn't. So you don't.

 

[probinson]

So that person not buying that bottle of Jack does...well, Jack. But get a lot of people involved, maybe through means of media reports of an app such as the one in question, and it starts to make an impression. But you don't want anyone to let other people know what they think should be done. You don't want them telling anyone else.

I don't really care if they tell other people what they're doing. More power to them. I just find it silly.

As I said, I don't think that you understand how a boycott works. It's like you don't mind someone buying a t shirt with a political slogan on it, but gee, it's not good to have everyone see you wearing it. Hey, that's virtue signaling, man. So uncool!

I would never wear a political T-shirt. It's like you don't know me at all!

 

[stevil]

The only way "self respect" enters the equation is if the PM I was opposed to was a part owner of Crown Royal or something like that.

Or perhaps the President of USA get held accountable in his own country for high inflation, reduced export sales, high unemployment, failed businesses such as farms, orchards and other businesses that rely on exporting income.

What I think you guys should actually do (if you really want to stick it to Trump).

Boycott the US navy.

Hmmm, next time I need to hire a navy, I'll look for alternatives, thanks for the practical suggestion.

Tell him "we don't need your stinkin' navy, we'll protect our own shipping lanes",

The US navy hasn't been welcome in NZ waters since the 1980's when we went nuclear free.
You guys pretend you don't want the proliferation of nuclear weapons, unless its your own of course. Well we went one better, No nuclear ship is welcome in our waters.

and then since the US navy would no longer be needed, we can obviously bring those ships back and scale down our military spending... that'd be a strong message right?

I really don't care what you do with your navy, as long as they aren't coming into our waters or being used to invade our allies e.g. Canada, Panama, Greenland or Gaza.

But again, thanks for the suggestion, I'll tell the rest of my family not to hire any US Navy ships.

 

[stevil]

Yes, the concept of a boycott is to tell everyone what you're doing. I dunno. I find that silly. But I know that people seek validation in many ways. I suppose pretending like they're "doing something" in solidarity over a boycott is one way people achieve that.

It seems that Tesla sales are massively down and that the Tesla board are looking to kick out Elon. Or did I imagine that?