Gas boycott is a HUGE success! Everywhere you look people are not buying gas!

[GOTV]

I've never seen such HUGE support for a boycott.

As I drove into work today I saw lots and lots of other commuters driving in to work instead of buying gas.

Walking from the garage I saw bunches of people walking, reading the newspaper, drinking in coffee shops and all of them - every last one - was NOT buying gas.

At my office and I've seen ALL my co-workers, in solidarity with us, working instead of buying gas.

Just got back from the restroom and EVEN IN THERE you could find people NOT buying gas.

I don't think any protest in history has had such large participation.

Hopefully we'll take a lesson with future protests. You know those protests where you actually had to DO something? Show up at a certain place and a certain time... blech! Make noise? Try to be seen? And then not as many people would show as you thought and everyone would be all disappointed?

How foolish we've been.

These protests where you DON'T do something are the wave of the future. Certainly everyone has seen what I have seen and we now know that pretend boycotts are the only way to really cause change.

And the best part of these pretend boycotts is ... I'm still allowed to use the product we're boycotting! It's not cheating - it's part of the plan. SHEER GENIUS!

LONG LIVE SLACKTIVISM!!!!!11

[NightWatcher]

1. Congratulate me, I didn't buy gas Monday or Tuesday

woo hoo, I'm winning the gas price war......wait I need to fill up today. If I do, I wont need to buy gas Thursday or Friday and possibly Saturday.

[question everything]

39. My reaction, too

how can you conclude anything about what people are not doing?

It is just as "no terror attacks sine 9/11 thanks to Gitmo or the Patriot Act."

[GOTV]

68. Exactly. How does an invisible protest send a message? n/t

[endarkenment]

2. I confess: I scabbed this morning.

I am so ashamed.

But tomorrow I promise to boycott the gas station!

[habitual]

3. not only that, but my nearest gas station just closed yesterday

obviously due to the lost revenues.. !!!

[endarkenment]

17. So did mine!

Then it re-opened this morning.

[GOTV]

19. We're having an effect! I'm going to not buy some more gas! EVERYONE! DON'T BUY SOME MORE GAS!

[magellan]

4. We haven't bought gas since April 16

That's how little we drive. So I guess we were boycotting before boycotting became fashionable. :)

[Jackpine Radical]

5. I boycotted for the entire past week

except for a few minutes yesterday when my tank was nearly empty. Now I'm ready to boycott for another whole week.

[panader0]

6. I filled the tank days ago, and it'll last a week or more.

[bigtree]

7. Ridicule motivates!!

Long live apathy!!

Here's an idea: Let's dissuade as many folks from participating in this action and make the predictions of its ineffectiveness a self-fulfilling projection. :eyes:

[GOTV]

9. This pretend boycott cannot be effective even with 100% participation so it is worth ridcule....

As has been pointed out ad nauseum, it stupidly does not call for reducing use. It carries the false notion, backed by wrong headed math, that changing the day we pay for gas will cost the oil industry billions and, most stupidly, it does this is a way that is almost totally invisible.

NO ONE SEES PEOPLE NOT BUYING GAS because we don't notice people buying gas in the first place.

It's a stupid idea that catches on because it's easy, sounds plausible and too many people do not think critically. Further, it fools people who might be willing to do something into thinking they HAVE done something when in fact they've done nothing and thereby reduces the chance for real action.

[bigtree]

16. effective in what?

You offer your own definitions of 'success', but we aren't restricted by those definitions. For instance, everyone who participates in ANY protest doesn't have to subscribe to all of the predictions and claims for their participation to have meaning and significance.

I think we all come to these protest actions with our own motivations, and we carry out our part in these protests with whatever diligence or direction that we choose; often exceeding the goals or intentions of the organizers.

As for this action giving folks a false sense of 'doing something', I would suggest that most folks who participate come to this already involved in other more concrete efforts . . . like me. Others should be encouraged for their interest, not repeatedly ridiculed.

[GOTV]

18. In what it claims it will achieve. That is, finacial hardship for the oil industry and lower prices

... for gas. That's their stated goal and it is not achievable with the plan they have.

You are personally free to participate imagining other possible benefits. I'm am only discussing the goals called out in the email and how their plan does not help achieve those goals.

> As for this action giving folks a false sense of 'doing something',
> I would suggest that most folks who participate come to this already
> involved in other more concrete efforts . . . like me.

You might be right. You might be wrong. In any case, if you want the goals that were stated you'd be better off keeping your time and attention on these other efforts.

> Others should be encouraged for their interest, not repeatedly ridiculed.

They should be encouraged to think more critically and more thoroughly so that they are not tricked into ineffective effort. If they will not, then ridicule is not their biggest problem.

[bigtree]

22. In this case, the ridicule is intense and, I think, counter-productive

No one is being 'tricked'. Most folks aren't idiots who can't think critically. We come to these actions with our own motivations and decide if the action suits those. In this case, my own motivations are suited by this action; as I imagine others' who will participate are as well.

[GOTV]

27. Everyone who bought the argument and forwarded it on was tricked....

as surely as those who forward the "bill gates will pay you $1 for everyone you forward this message to" are tricked. They all have good intentions, but that doesn't make their actions smart.

In the case of the Bill Gates email, they're just wasting their time. With this they are relieving people of their motivation to "do something" about the oil industry by giving them something to do that has no effect on the oil industry. It's motivation wasted.

If, as it seems you are suggesting, that people know this pretend boycott is ineffective at reaching its stated goals but forward it on anyway without correcting the text - what does that say about them? Dishonest? Deliberately malicious?

I don't want to believe that about so many people. I'd prefer to believe they were well meaning but duped.

Then there's a whole other class, who have been shown the facts, and still argue that it can be effective to change the day you pay for the gas you use without changing the amount you use. That's the group that needs a clue stick.

I think sarcasm can serve as a clue stick.

Here are the facts

1) Changing the day you pay for your gas doesn't change the amount of money the oil industry makes
2) This is not an effective message sender because not paying for gas on a certain day is not visible.

As long as you don't seek these goals you have not been tricked. But if you think you're doing either of these things by participating in this pretend boycott, you have been deluded.

[bigtree]

30. I heard this from my son without any of the claims of hurting the industry

I also heard this described on radio without the claims. Everyone who attends or participates in particular protests don't always subscribe to the claims of the promoters, and clearly there will be folks with different motivation for participating who effect their part in the boycott in their own way. Nothing 'pretend' about those efforts at all.

An example: The anti-war rallies. My hometown coalition solicited participants to stand on our street corner to 'end the war'. We came and participated for a summer. We didn't 'end the war'. But, we came and protested, nonetheless. Were we 'duped' by the appeal?

[GOTV]

34. It's not about you.

So I'm not that interested in where you personally heard about it or how the idea was sold to you. You don't need to defend your choices to me.

There are plenty of blog readers on various who are still posting their beliefs that this action is in opposition to the oil industry.

I don't know what your personal motivations are, and I don't mean any offense by this but I don't really care, I'm addressing the claims of the popular email going around and what seems to be the majority opinion of the supporters of this pretend boycott, which may not include you. If it doesn't include you personally, that's fine. What I'm saying may not apply to you. I think it applies to many of the people who remain supporters.

> An example: The anti-war rallies. My hometown coalition
> solicited participants to stand on our street corner to
> 'end the war'. We came and participated for a summer.
> We didn't 'end the war'. But, we came and protested,
> nonetheless. Were we 'duped' by the appeal?

No. In that case you were not duped. You were not told it would end the war (I assume). People are saying that the pretend boycott will lower the earnings of the oil industry which it cannot by design.

On top of that you did something that was visible. Participants may have met other people who were protesting with them and formed bonds that will be useful in future protests. That's what organizing is. No one, through not paying for gas that day, will be thrown into to contact with other gas protesters. It's a totally solitary and invisible act that neither promotes organization not does it provoke others not participating.

That's 3 fundamental differences between what you did then and what the pretend boycotters are encouraging now.

1) The goals were in line with your action
2) The action was visible to those not participating and could provoke or influence others
3) The action could bring people together to strengthen anti-war ties.

[bigtree]

35. you took all of this time criticizing individuals, including myself

and you say 'it's not about me'? I think it's amazing that you think it's responsible to knock on folks for participating and claim you weren't attacking them personally. I don't think you have a clue about what is motivating folks who say they'll participate. I don't think you give a damn about what motivates them any more than you care about my own motivations. You seem satisfied to argue points which many participants may well agree with. These folks haven't expressed an disagreement with at all by just deciding to participate.

1) The goals are very likely to be in line with the actions of those who choose to participate. You don't seem to care to find out.

2) The action could very well have more visibility to those not participating and could provoke or influence others if there was a better promotion. In fact, one of the 'debunking' arguments I've heard gives the poor promotion as a reason for their conclusion of it's potential ineffectiveness.

3) The action could (and is) bringing people together; maybe not as many as you would consider significant

[GOTV]

41. Yes, I'm critisizing those who buy the argument. If that's not you, then I'm not talking about you.

> and you say 'it's not about me'? I think it's amazing that you think
> it's responsible to knock on folks for participating ....

... in a ridiculous pretend boycott that cannot further the goals that they claim to have ...

> ... and claim you weren't attacking them personally.

I *am* attacking *them*, or at least, their beliefs. I'm not attacking YOU because you claim not to be among them. You claim that you are not participating to harm the oil industry financially. You have other motivations. Fine, then this thread is not about you personally.

It is about the others though.

> I don't think you have a clue about what is motivating folks who say they'll participate.

I know what they come here and say. And the ones who say their sticking it to the man, so to speak, are foolish and I'm trying to point that out. I don't know what your personal motivations are but if you think you're hurting the oil industry or strengthening organizations, then I am talking about you. If your don't, then I'm not.

> You seem satisfied to argue points

Yes.

> which many participants may well agree with. These folks haven't
> expressed an disagreement with at all by just deciding to participate.

I've seen them make there case here and at other message boards.

> 1) The goals are very likely to be in line with the actions
> of those who choose to participate. You don't seem to care
> to find out.

If they have their own personal goals fine. More power to them. Their goals may be reasonable, they may not be. If they express their goals I may agree, disagree or ignore them.

The public reasons given in the original postings and emails however are ridiculous.

> 2) The action could very well have more visibility to those
> not participating and could provoke or influence others if
> there was a better promotion. In fact, one of the 'debunking'
> arguments I've heard gives the poor promotion as a reason for
> their conclusion of it's potential ineffectiveness.

It's already well promoted. You heard it on the radio and you heard it from your son.

Still, NOT buying gas is NOT visible. You and I don't buy gas most days. No one will see us not buying gas on that day. Everyone's day will look exactly the same. The action is invisible as my OP tried to say.



> 3) The action could (and is) bringing people together;
> maybe not as many as you would consider significant

Oh yeah? Where are we all gonna meet when we don't buy our gas next Wednesday?

[BuyingThyme]

48. Show us where on DU you criticized anybody for buying this argument.

I know for a fact that you have been doing something entirely different, but I thought it would be fun to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your partial honesty.

Go for it.

[GOTV]

65. My OP criticizes everyone who thinks this pretend boycott will achieve its stated goals n/t

[BuyingThyme]

73. So you made the people up?

[truedelphi]

43. About the whole other class

You say: Then there's a whole other class, who have been shown the facts, and still argue that it can be effective to change the day you pay for the gas you use without changing the amount you use. That's the group that needs a clue

yep there is that whole other class.

They are everywhere and they are us.

If you have ever slapped a "save the Whales" bumper sticker on your gas guzzling SUV.

If you use any product that you don't need - an extra lightbulb, a bottle or two or three of several dozen of the following:
fabric softeners, Cleaning products (why not water and vinegar?), Air fresheners, air deoderizers,

New casual clothing (why not visit the local thrift shop?)

If you live somewhere where you worry about water purity - Get a decent water filter rather than buying five bottles of purified water each week.

Personnally - living in the country I pretty much cannot NOT buy gas, but I feel that by never buying the above, the manufacturers are all using tha much less energy.

[GOTV]

66. That class is not "us", it is some of us. Many here understand the flaws in the plan n/t

[PVnRT]

77. An utterly worthless action

One day of not buying gas? It won't even be noticed because, guess what, PEOPLE STILL USE IT AT THE SAME RATE AS ANY OTHER DAY.

But, if it makes you feel like you're a Macho SuperCool Rebel, hey go for it. No need to do any real work to bring about change, let's just shoot for the warm fuzzies.

[ray of light]

8. look--to be successful people have to boycott gas long term!

So find carpools! Use mass transit if possible. Consolidate days at work so you're going in less often (if you're allowed to).

Skip the mall. Skip the little runs. Hike or bike to the store instead.

[corkhead]

10. I promise to boycott between fillups, as I have for years

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. As Mark Twain (nearly) once said: Boycotting's easy. I do it all the time.

[GOTV]

13. It's even easier when you only pretend to boycott by continuing to use the product you're boycotting

... which is why this pretend boycott email was widely distributed. It requires no real effort other than to remember to fill up the day before.

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. SLACKTIVISM!

[GOTV]

14. Praise Bob! n/t

[bigtree]

23. RIDICULIVATION!!

iT'S fUN (aND pRODUCTIVE) !!!!

[slackmaster]

25. YEEEEEEEEEE_HAW!

Slacktastic!

[JVS]

56. We gotta get back our slack!

[conspirator]

76. DONT FORGET that you are still buying gas when you ride a bus or buy food transported by fossil fuel

vehicles. A lot less though.

[Javaman]

15. There was a protest?

:rofl:

[global1]

20. Wow - That's Good News Considering The Boycott Wasn't Scheduled Until May 15th......

so we got a couple of days lead on it.

[GOTV]

21. But, I saw all those people not buying gas today! Surely they can't ALL be wrong!

You must have the day confused. Just look around you.

[ecstatic]

24. Are you on Exxon's payroll?

:shrug: Why is so much of your energy devoted to STOPPING the planned boycott?

[havocmom]

31. Are YOU on Exxon's payroll? Why waste time on pretend-fixes?

One day 'boycott' = slapping a yellow magnet on the car and thinking that gave the troops support.

Those who point that out are not working for Exxon, they are working for sanity and logic.

[RestoreGore]

69. And are those pointing that out also doing something about it then?

Just curious.

[GOTV]

70. Whether they are or aren't, this gas boycott is defective by design ...

... you may be curious about the motivations of those that are pointing out the flaws but that doesn't address the fact that the boycott won't affect the oil industry, won't be seen by others and is in fact not a boycott at all.

[havocmom]

71. I drive less than 1500 miles a year

I wear out a lot of shoes.

Gas? every couple of months.... maybe

[piedmont]

26. Look at me! I'm not buying gas right now!

Take that, big oil!

[KharmaTrain]

28. We'll Really See One Hell Of A Boycott At $5 A Gallon

Price run-ups like this hurt the little independent operator/owners as they deal with a small margin on their gas sales and make their real money on the other "junk"...when people don't buy gas, they don't buy the junk either. Also drive-offs and security problems increase. Several of our local 24/7 stations are closed late nights now.

[realisticphish]

29. I haven't bought gas since August

:patriot:

...mainly because I don't have a car.

The only way a boycott works is if it is sustained over a long period of time, and focuses on a single company. Everyone boycott Exxon for 3 months, and yeah, prices might drop. Protesting for one day with no particular gas company as a target simply means that you'll buy your tank of gas the next day, and there will be zero effect. Buying gas is not a daily activity, so a few people moving their fill up day by a few days will not be noticed by the industry

[Strelnikov_]

37. Why do you hate America?

Your refusal to participate in the Consumoconomy^TM aka The American Dream^R has been noted.

[realisticphish]

38. I'm a liberal student

who doesn't drive a car, I'm an ACLU member, I post on DU, and I'm a psychology major. I'm pretty much the antimurkin poster child :D

...though I do like beer, steak, and football. But hockey too, and that's a Canadian sport, so I guess it counteracts the football.

[PVnRT]

79. Doubtful

Gas is fungible, and if Exxon can't sell it to Exxon stations, they will sell it elsewhere. Prices will level out. Much more profound change is needed, like using less gas overall, rather than targeting a company.

If all else fails, all they need do is ship unused gas to China.

[LynneSin]

32. I swear this dumbass idea originated from a right-winger

Someone who was trying to figure out a way to make progressives look dumb. And this protest, the umpteenth of it generated since Bush got into office, is proof positive that someone has an agenda with this protest and it's not to create profit losses with the oil company.

[bigtree]

33. How nice. The DU labeling act.

I swear the opposition to this idea originated with . . .

[Initech]

40. I've been saying that it's a stupid idea since I first heard about it

For one thing I never believe anything I read in e-mail chain letters. Two, even if you don't buy gas on said day, you still own a car. You will be buying gas on another day.

[greyl]

44. The email I rec'd specified hurting the "Middle Eastern Oil Companies".

I'm fairly certain the person who forwarded it to me is a right-winger, fwiw.

[LynneSin]

51. I do make it a practice to buy from companies that have less Middle Eastern Oil

I believe two of the better companies are Citgo and Hess. However, all gasoline is a blend of petro from countries from all over the world so it's difficult to go 100% Middle Eastern Free.

I have no clue what kind of impact I'm making buy using just these stations (ok in a pinch if there is nothing around and I'm on "E" I'll go even to the Exxon) but I'm gonna buy gas and it makes me feel a bit better knowing I'm helping out companies that I feel aren't as much as the problem.

Citgo is probably my favorite, which is mainly from Venezuela. Hugo Chavez donated low-cost heating oil to seven north eastern states a few years ago when the winter was bad and heating oil prices were going skyward up. One of those states who benefitted was Delaware - I thought that was a positive thing!

[AuntPatsy]

36. lol

[WI_DEM]

42. Heck, I didn't even know there was a boycot, but I walk 3 miles to work most days anyway

[Babsbrain]

45. Is there any wonder that BushCo is still in business?

We KNOW they are criminals...nothing is done about it.
We KNOW they are looting this country at the expense of the people..nothing is done about it.
We KNOW they stole the elections...nothing is done about it.
We KNOW they lied to us...nothing is done about it.
We KNOW our country is being run by third rate hacks with no experience other than writing checks to *...nothing is done about it.

And now, someone wants to do something about it. Call it desperation, frustration, hope...whatever. People are screaming on the inside and want an outlet for their feelings. So they don't buy gas for ONE day. It is something. They are not stupid enough to think that one act alone will lower gas prices. But it is something.

Let those who want to scream on May 15, scream. Don't make fun of them. You don't have to join them in NOT buying gas, but don't ridicule those who want and need to do something.

[LynneSin]

52. But what are we solving - I probably won't buy gas on the 15th

I'll probably buy it on the 13th when I'm heading home from visiting family and that gas will last me for a week.

I am a major supporter of a good protest but this is one that serves no purpose whatsoever. Eventually those of us with cars will buy gas. It's not a challenge for me to buy gas on a day other than the 15th. This type of protest has been debunked by Snopes as something that has very little affect whatsoever.

[Babsbrain]

58. Oh for chrissakes!

Can't some of you think for yourselves? Snopes said...snopes said. This is NOT about trying to lower the price of gas. Get it?

So, what you ridiculers are saying is "if you're not with us, you're against us".

Sorry about the rant but this is ridiculous and a very sad testament to our unity.

[LynneSin]

59. No, you're the one that don't get it

Trust me, I'm someone who loves a good boycott, but this is one that serves no purpose and will have absolutely no impact on society or any corporation.

But god forbid if you feel better not buying gas on the 15th then so be it. Hey, I know I won't be buying gas on the 15th so I guess you could count me in as part of the protest but that's only because I know I buy gas in Lancaster when returning from visiting my family (it's 10-15 cents cheaper in Lancaster and I'll be driving thru there on the 13th

[nadinbrzezinski]

57. Tell that to the execs who will laugh all the way to the bank

you want to be efffective, REDUCE YOUR CONSUMTION PERMAMENTLY

Doing this on a single day will affect them how?

As to bush, been to the dmemonstratioons, marched when it was not popular, so don't try that with me

[firefox_fan]

46. I haven't bought any gas since 1997.

Should I get a prize?

[huskerlaw]

47. ...

:spray:




:yourock:

[GeorgeGist]

49. Next month's promises to be even hugher ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=848668

[LynneSin]

54. Oh goodie - a day when many people do stay at home

I know I'm usually at home doing laundry, dishes, and housecleaning. So I'm not sure how the 24th will vary from any other day of the year

[Seabiscuit]

50. I went to sleep last night instead of buying gas. Don't I deserve a medal or something?

[LynneSin]

53. I went to sleep last night with a really bad case of gas

I have got to stop eating Breyer's Ice Cream - it's really good but too much milk makes me gassy.

[Seabiscuit]

60. This could get ridiculous...

I gassed myself to sleep buying ice cream.

But you know what, I really think we all need:

MORE COW BELL!!!

[LynneSin]

61. Tuesday is going to be a day without cowbell

I have to stand up for something and damnit, I'll forgo a day without cowbell if it can make a difference

:hide: (not from you - from the masses ready to hang me by my toes for my pissy attitude)

[Seabiscuit]

63. I can live without buying gas, but I can't live without COW BELL!

[bryant69]

55. Brilliant!

Masterpiece!

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[tammywammy]

62. At the gas station today, I was the only one there

I put 2 gallons of diesel in today. I drove a little extra already this week...meeting with my realtor and visiting my mom.

But I don't feel bad, I gotta get to work some how.

[Chemical Bill]

75. I got 8 gallons of biodiesel yesterday...

but no petroleum.

Bill

[Raine]

64. I thought the boycott was next week on the 15???

:shrug: oh well, I didn't buy gas today cause I already bought it yesterday. :D

[GOTV]

67. Yes, it is, not that you'll be able to tell from looking n/t

[uppityperson]

72. Wow! I wonder if we can protest more tomorrow?

I guess we don't have to wait for the 15th to not buy gas?

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. I'm waiting for the price to go up over $3 a gallon

I might even wait till it reaches $4 a gallon.

[Connonym]

74. The Ministry of Plenty announces gas boycott plusgood

it has exceeded all projections