Gee what to do today? I know lets boycott!

[stebo0728]

People today are so retarded when it comes to boycotting. We wont even start on people boycotting Arizona, thats a level of retardation I cant fathom, but people who decide they are going to boycott their local BP station because of this oil spill? Come on people, use your heads. First of all, lets assume for a second that BP actually owned and operated these stations (which they dont, except maybe less the 1% of them), but lets assume for a second they do. So we are going to ask BP to foot the entire bill for this spill recovery, then we are going to turn around and not patronize them? How they hell are they gonna have any funds to pay this thing off? Ok with that said, the real story is, BP does not own these local stations, BP does not get money from them, and BP will not lose money on these foolish boycotts. No, instead you are hurting the little man once again. This little man owns these store franchises, and they are the ones whos pocket books you are hurting by your silly boycotts. Boycotting definitely has its role in our economic system, but people lets think before we pull this trigger. Lets be rational and make sure we are actually having an effect on the people we are angry with. I swear sometimes I can hear a great roaring rushing sound as the intellectual value of this nation continues to plummit.

[szh]

I swear sometimes I can hear a great roaring rushing sound as the intellectual value of this nation continues to plummit.

I couldn't agree with you more! Sometimes, it seems to me that we have become a nation of childish morons ... who do not know how to form our own opinions and thoughts without letting the vocal few (sometimes the stridently vocal few) and the media lead us around by the nose.

Sad ...

Z

[IBCoupe]

Not just the media. Two words: Lipstick.

[UpStar]

People today are so retarded when it comes to boycotting.

Notice where I stopped reading your post! I already know where its going.

[IBCoupe]

Which isn't to say that he's actually wrong.

[szh]

People today are so retarded when it comes to boycotting.

Notice where I stopped reading your post! I already know where its going.

Sigh ... today's kids ... with their short attention spans and poor reading skills.



Z

[bigbadberry3]

What CAN a person Boycott to negatively effect BP?

[IBCoupe]

What CAN a person Boycott to negatively effect BP?

Cars?

[stebo0728]

BBB, thats a good question, this industry is so interwoven it makes it difficult to have a single net effect on one entity. But, this brings out the secondary point of my original post. Assuming you could effectively boycott BP. Why would you want to? That makes no sense. We expect them to entirely foot this bill. If they do, and they make things right (as right as humanly possible anyway) then why the boycott? And further if you do boycott them, and the boycott has the intended effect of removing a sizeable amount of revenue from them, how can we then expect them to be able to foot this bill? Dont get me wrong I dont care if this problem results in the dismantling of BP due to financial ruin, but if thats to be the case, we at least need to be sure we get what is necessary for recovery out of them, and the less they take in right now during this event, the less there will be to get from them afterwards for the cleanup bill.

[bigbadberry3]

I have a feeling that BP has loads of money. I'm not a financial analyst by any means but Googling BP earnings shows the billions they've been making prior to the rig explosion so I don't fear the company being unable to foot the bill for the clean up.

Although the boycott may not be effective in the way it is intended, I think it does show that Americans do care about what large corporations do to the country, that we simply won't roll over and are willing to fight. It's a warning to all companies that you are accountable for your actions.

PS: I am still looking online on how to boycott BP effectively.

[stebo0728]

Yes BP has loads of money, but BP spends loads of money to make that money. They operate on a profit margin, and a quite small one to boot, which makes it a fragile balance.

I agree that the boycotting shows a concern, but the means in which it is conducted also shows a great ignorance on the part of the people.

[mattblancarte]

What CAN a person Boycott to negatively effect BP?

How will any form of BP boycott positively affect the economy, environment, etc.? I'm curious about your goals, and what you think can be achieved.

I have zero experience in boycott participation, btw. This is a genuine inquiry.

[WDRacing]

Yes BP has loads of money, but BP spends loads of money to make that money. They operate on a profit margin, and a quite small one to boot, which makes it a fragile balance.

I agree that the boycotting shows a concern, but the means in which it is conducted also shows a great ignorance on the part of the people.

I read somewhere awhile back that they make 3 billion/month in profit. That's not to small of a margin considering that all of the money spent on the clean-up has just now reached 3 billion.

[stebo0728]

You do understand what a margin is I assume. Margins are not measured in dollar amounts. It could be 10 billion per month profit and that does not affect the margin. The margin is the percentage of what comes in that becomes profit. Im not sure of BP specifically but I know that a study was done back when gas was so expensive, and the average oil company makes about a 5 to 10% margin. That means for every dollar they bring in, they only keep about 5 to 10 cents. That is a rediculously low number, the company I work for squaks if margin on something drops below 20%. You can get hung up on the $$ number, that is a pointless figure to look at when you are considering the greed of a company.

[WDRacing]

The amount of money is a %, which can in turn be directly correlated to the margin of profit. Regardless of greed, incoming and out going monies a company that profits 3 billion a month isn't going to get hit by any type of boycott I guess was my point. I just didn't make it to well...I was on coffee #1.

[stebo0728]

Oh damn, you gotta wait till coffee #3 to get started here, LOL

Agreed no boycott is going to have a huge effect ... I was merely venting toward people who demonize high profit $$ figures with no regard to the profit margin % figure. And thats not to say that is what you were doing either, just triggered that rant from me I guess ... LOL