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Whenever I mention that boycotting is a privilege, I inevitably get people trying to explain how wrong I am.

How “easy” it is to find alternatives.

How “important” it is not to support big businesses like Amazon.

How “lazy” it is not to shop local.

They talk over me, condescend and accuse me of not fighting for the cause.

Disabled people need your support and solidarity.

We’re all in this fight together.

When we tell you something is inaccessible, believe us.

Most of us already feel guilty we can’t do more, but there’s many things that aren’t “easy” for us.

Survival is resistance. It’s not “lazy” to utilize a service that will keep you alive.

Fight the fascists. Not one another.

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in reply to Broadwaybabyto

: something I've learned while living at the corner of Disability and Poverty (not a great neighborhood to be), is that when I choose to boycott a company, usually it makes my life smaller. It's not an inconvenience, it's a sacrifice. Because I can't just turn around and make up for it by shopping elsewhere : it usually means that it's either not accessible, or more expensive... or both. And so it's not the company I boycott, but the very act of filling a need.
This entry was edited (19 hours ago)
in reply to ladyteruki

: being poor means that I almost exclusively buy what I need (if that), as opposed to what I want. What I consume is already the bare minimum (and oftentimes less than that ; my bed broke in September 2022 and I still haven't been able to replace it). So while I can and do boycott Amazon, I could not boycott AliExpress.
in reply to Broadwaybabyto

We do what we can, with brands and outlets, and we recognise our privilege. We also understand that a large demographic 'has' to use online venues, or the cheapest-price stores. They didn't create this mess, and should not be punished.
The people to punish are the ultra-privileged who will not be affected, or who can avoid being affected by buying out of the Ununited States.
in reply to Broadwaybabyto

So much this.

And they never consider people who don't live in big cities (there are so many 'just do this...' that are entirely dependent on living in a big city).

I'm tremendously lucky that there's a greengrocer a few minutes' walk away. Most people don't have that. But where are the independent local businesses that I'm supposed to get everything else from? The sustainable refill shops that will allow me to reduce packaging? The market that lets me buy everything from farms? The shop that will sell me what I need to repair things that break?

in reply to Broadwaybabyto

@Beedazzled one thing I dislike about Mastodon is the tendency to scold people for using certain companies or products.
@Jo
in reply to Charlotte Walker

@purplepadma @Beedazzled Oh yeah Mastodon be like:

TIRED: Don’t use Microsoft products

WIRED: Don’t use Apple products

INSPIRED: Don’t use that version of Linux

in reply to Broadwaybabyto

A friend quoting their dad some decades ago ”if I boycotted everything the union told me to, I wouldn’t be able to feed my kids.”

You do what you can, and it was ever thus.

in reply to Broadwaybabyto

I saw a post about boycotting a retailer the other day which mentioned that it was only a 4km walk to the alternative retailer 😅
They were only talking about themselves and not bugging anyone else so it wasn't a problem, it just really highlighted the difference in what is an "easy" alternative for people in different situations!
in reply to Broadwaybabyto

I will return to shopping locally as soon as they return to wearing masks, so that I don't have to stand in their unfiltered viruses. But I bet they're too lazy for that.

#CovidIsNotOver

in reply to Broadwaybabyto

that's true. Some people need to rely on purchases delivered to their doors, if going shopping is a barrier for any reason (old age, disability, area they live in, etc.). Unfortunately, Amazon has already killed a lot of small businesses who could make local deliveries. It will take time to reverse the trend.

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