Sometimes our quest for doing what’s right is just plain wrong
I’ve been reading and hearing about liberal celebrities pushing for a boycott of Soul Cycle and Equinox. Not that anyone asked me, but IMHO, sometimes we who consider ourselves more left-leaning or liberal can take our quest for social justice too far. (Gasps are heard from the audience)
There’s a difference between pulling your business from a company whose policy and work specifically go against your principles; it’s another if you boycott a business just because one of its investors does. Trust me: you don’t want to go down that path. I guarantee you there are tons of companies with investors who politics you disagree with.
I hope you’re not too attached to your iPhone, b/c Apple’s record is not too great when it comes to the work environments for some of its factories overseas. You may want to stop going to ALL movies, because there probably isn’t a male studio exec or producer who hasn’t done or helped to do things to innocent women that pale in comparison to hosting a fundraising for an a-hole politician (have you burned or deleted your old copies of all your Miramax and Pixar films yet?)
Both Soul Cycle and Equinox have been vocal and engaging supporters of LGBTQ+, pro-woman, and racial justice issues. Why hurt a company where the company itself is doing good in the world just because a key investor is supporting someone who isn’t?
Stephen Ross is worth nearly $8 billion. Boycotting Soul Cycle and Equinox won’t hurt him. Sure, it’ll send a message. But his dinner is most likely still going to happen, he’s still going to be worth billions, and two companies who have been doing good in the world will probably stop because studies show that companies which are that vocal about doing good are most susceptible to these boycotts because it appears hypocritical if word gets out that one of their execs or investors, etc. is bad.
The other people to get hurt will be the low wage workers at these companies, many, if not most of whom are in the demographic SJWs care about.
Don’t get me wrong. I think there is a time and a place for social action like boycotts. But IMHO, we should be very particular when and how we do it, lest we 1) hurt the wrong people and causes we really support, and/or 2) find ourselves living on the top of a mountain in Timbuktu living off the land because that’s the only way to ensure your money doesn’t support anybody bad.
Just something to think about while you’re jogging at the local 24 Hour Fitness this week.
