Boycott list of transphobic companies?

Azure_sky

Should we boycott these products? If so list the offending companies.

Meteor

Paddy Power

Wandsworth

Only you can decide who you wish to boycott.

Having said that, you have to recognise that, for some people, they find the idea of trans very hard to understand. Wouldn't it be better to spend your time trying to educate some of them, rather than trying to urge others to boycott corporations, and make the world a little friendlier and happier?

Shakti

You could approach from the other direction and have a list of companies who actively support trans folk instead, as I fear a blacklist of companies to boycott would garner them the same type of publicity they have sought to obtain through our appropriation in the first instance.

Leeway5555

http://www.permanet.ie/New/

These guys, their tv ad thing is pretty horrible.

Both meteor and paddy power didnt create their ads out of a position of ignorance, one of their defenses was that "The worked with members of the transgender community". Not a valid defense. Aside from formal complaints, boycotting them is one of the only ways we can get back at them :P

wonderfulname

Paddy Power has already lost my custom over their advertising, should I ever require whatever permanet sells their crassness lost me as did no nonsense insurance, does crass merit an official boycott though?

Paddy Power definitely deserve one, and got one iirc, but did the other companies aim to offend or did they just not know any better? Would it not make more sense to ensure they do? I really think a lot of this stuff is symptomatic of a wider problem and picking out one or two companies for doing what an unfortunately high percentage of people do is counter productive. I don't know what is productive, education and that but how so I couldn't say...

Annasopra

I think education, discussion and good research is very productive - in terms of education and discussion someone recently posted a video of an interview with Jonathan Ross - that showed in my opinion that he actually changed his opinion and views after some education and discussion

Trans Media Watch in the UK does really good stuff in terms of research and advocacy

http://www.transmediawatch.org/

1ZRed

I think a lot of gay people need to cool down about boycotting everything even remotely homophobic/transphobic or whatever. The Meteor ad was a piss take.

It doesn't do any such good to be seen as fighting, arguing and debating about anything gay related all the time. It gets annoying and predictable to listen to.

You should consider boycotting real homophobic companies such as chick fil a, as that is actually understandable but otherwise a lot of people need to develop a thicker skin.

I take the piss out of being gay the whole time, and straight people should be allowed to do that in good nature as well. It can be back and forth too, so we are well able to slag them back.

I've come to realise that constantly bickering over anything that seems homophobic is nearly as annoying as being homophobic.
So I think a lot of people need to lighten up because I don't want to be branded as someone who can't STFU about gay rights just because I'm gay.
I really don't care enough about my sexuality to keep banging on about any little thing with the slightest touch of homophobia all the time.

/rant

*This wasn't directed at you OP. It's just a trend I've noticed the longer I've been around here.

Annasopra

@1zred - Some people take lgbt rights and politics very seriously, some don't. LGBT people are incredibly diverse. We are serious, humorous, political, apolitical. I think that perhaps you might see homophobia perhaps in a different light because of your age. I'm not being ageist here. I am suggesting that because you have grown up in a time where your sexual orientation was not illegal and essentially social attitudes have radically changed in the years since you were born that you might have a different attitude to a lot of lgbt people older than you.

Sir Pompous Righteousness

Leeway5555 wrote: »

http://www.permanet.ie/New/

These guys, their tv ad thing is pretty horrible.

Both meteor and paddy power didnt create their ads out of a position of ignorance, one of their defenses was that "The worked with members of the transgender community". Not a valid defense. Aside from formal complaints, boycotting them is one of the only ways we can get back at them :P

I think a lot of the paddypower ads are specifically designed to offend and promote a reaction, they knew what they were doing I think.

Here's some example:

Let's shoot chavs. Also at the end "You can enjoy a chav free Cheltenham courtesy of Power Power, the classy mobile app for civilized people and the Irish."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoB58_K9jJs

"Wheelies"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-CNdFXNvs

Needs no explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkRfPx--R44

Mild racism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2HW_BYozQA

The blind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEmA_QF30GI

Objectifying women, goal-line technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUBSb9YxhY

Christians won't like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piruMbtUhlI

So I guess you can sort of see a trend.

Owen_S

That Meteor ad does not warrant a boycott, the ad's discussion thread provoked debate on both sides though. As for Paddy Power, judging from their previous childish advertising campaigns, their target market probably doesn't know what 'transphobic' even means.

Annasopra

Mod

Could we keep this on topic ie - transphobic advertising

Also please do not tell people they should not be offended.

Shakti

I think the OP want's to discuss the efficacy of a boycott of transphobic companies not whether this ad or that ad is transphobic or not as there are several threads already dedicated to such examination at length contained within this forum.

1ZRed

mango salsa wrote: »

@1zred - Some people take lgbt rights and politics very seriously, some don't. LGBT people are incredibly diverse. We are serious, humorous, political, apolitical. I think that perhaps you might see homophobia perhaps in a different light because of your age. I'm not being ageist here. I am suggesting that because you have grown up in a time where your sexual orientation was not illegal and essentially social attitudes have radically changed in the years since you were born that you might have a different attitude to a lot of lgbt people older than you.

I understand and I agree with that but the world is changing so quickly now to the point where I don't see it as acceptable to be so anti-homophobic in the future. I mean as in everything must be so politically correct and we mustn't be discriminated against, even if it is in good humour. But what's so equal about that?

As I said times are changing and I don't believe that being so radically defensive of anything that might be perceived as homophobic will stand up for long. I'm tolerant to a point and if it goes over the line of just taking the piss, then I'll speak up. But I find it annoying to keep making big deals out of little things to the point where I see it as a sort of along the same lines as being conservative in ways.

I'll agree that because I'm young that I might see the world in a different light, but that could also be a good thing. IMO, I don't think extremists on either side of the discussion have their place in the future. Hopefully there will be no need for them on this topic in years to come.

Sir Pompous Righteousness

mango salsa wrote: »

Also please do not tell people they should not be offended.

If that was directed at me, I didn't say what people should be offended at at all in fairness. I personally find a lot of paddypower's ads quite offensive, including the transphobic one and the one in the changing room one (it seem imply that gay people have no dignity). The point being about paddypower though, they have a market they target as another poster mentioned, so boycotting them will really have no effect on them financially or force them to apologise.

Leeway5555

1ZRed wrote: »

I understand and I agree with that but the world is changing so quickly now to the point where I don't see it as acceptable to be so anti-homophobic in the future. I mean as in everything must be so politically correct and we mustn't be discriminated against, even if it is in good humour. But what's so equal about that?

As I said times are changing and I don't believe that being so radically defensive of anything that might be perceived as homophobic will stand up for long. I'm tolerant to a point and if it goes over the line of just taking the piss, then I'll speak up. But I find it annoying to keep making big deals out of little things to the point where I see it as a sort of along the same lines as being conservative in ways.

I'll agree that because I'm young that I might see the world in a different light, but that could also be a good thing. IMO, I don't think extremists on either side of the discussion have their place in the future. Hopefully there will be no need for them on this topic in years to come.

These ads are not homophobic though, they are transphobic.
Totally different thing.
When someone takes the piss out of something, they usually do it with the understanding that they dont really feel what they are saying, they are only saying it for comic effect.
Theres is no such understanding from these ads, there is no concern shown for the feelings of trans people.
And if a company has no thought to the offense they cause then why should I buy their products?

Annasopra

The OP asked a few questions - could we try and stick to answering and discussing those rather than getting into off topic discussions

wonderfulname

mango salsa wrote: »

@1zred - Some people take lgbt rights and politics very seriously, some don't. LGBT people are incredibly diverse. We are serious, humorous, political, apolitical. I think that perhaps you might see homophobia perhaps in a different light because of your age. I'm not being ageist here. I am suggesting that because you have grown up in a time where your sexual orientation was not illegal and essentially social attitudes have radically changed in the years since you were born that you might have a different attitude to a lot of lgbt people older than you.

Mango, this young un is almost offended... 1zred's opinions are just that, personal opinions, there are any number of reasons he may hold them, given the diversity of such opinions in his age range age evidently isn't a nice easy way to explain them away, I wouldn't brand you ageist but that post certianly came across as patronising.

stephen_n

Personally I think, any organized approach to boycotting them, would only be counter productive. They would gain far more than they would loose, by any such efforts.

Sir Pompous Righteousness

stephen_n wrote: »

Personally I think, any organized approach to boycotting them, would only be counter productive. They would gain far more than they would loose, by any such efforts.

This is the thing, if you consider, say, PaddyPowers clientele, a boycott by LGBT groups would probably have little, if any, effect. And as you say, they might even gain more because of the added publicity. Rather, I think you need some sort of public awareness campaign against all sorts of transphobia and to be honest there doesn't seem to be much public awareness of transgender issues to start with. Much of the publicity that is given to transgender issues in the media is often flippant and/or negative.

Reventon93

mango salsa wrote: »

@1zred - Some people take lgbt rights and politics very seriously, some don't. LGBT people are incredibly diverse. We are serious, humorous, political, apolitical. I think that perhaps you might see homophobia perhaps in a different light because of your age. I'm not being ageist here. I am suggesting that because you have grown up in a time where your sexual orientation was not illegal and essentially social attitudes have radically changed in the years since you were born that you might have a different attitude to a lot of lgbt people older than you.

Just wanted to say that, im not old enough to have experienced anything close to what has been described except if you count living at home with transphobic parents. The only other thing beside that, i can recall is being put on a transphobes blog, where they had no business to post a picture of me and information about me. Anyway, for me, age has no influence, you believe what you believe. For me, i really want to help people which is why im studying law. For others, its not a big issue, but for me is is the single most important thing right now. I want to help solve the problems that us trans people face daily and i dont think that ignoring the problem is any long term solution to be proud of. And for the record im only 19, so i still have a lot of living to do, but i want to live my in a way that i can be proud of who i am, and what i hope to have achieved

AlexHayden

wonderfulname wrote: »

Mango, this young un is almost offended... 1zred's opinions are just that, personal opinions, there are any number of reasons he may hold them, given the diversity of such opinions in his age range age evidently isn't a nice easy way to explain them away, I wouldn't brand you ageist but that post certianly came across as patronising.

Lol, I love how people think they can use 'Personal opinion' as a shield. If an oppressed minority is telling you you're being bigoted, you don't get to say "it's just my opinion, everyones entitled to an opinion" or variations of that argument. You listen to them and check your privilege. The argument put forth earlier that LGBT people should allow Cis and Straight people to 'take the piss out of them' is so privileged. You don't get to decide for the oppressed that they should just take it and laugh about it. How does letting the bigotry continue help anyone but the bigoted?

Freiheit

I think the greatest source of prejudice of all is the Catholic church as they brainwashed previous generations,the blame for depression and suicides lies at their door...evil Catholic church,I was going to say boycott mass,but there's already one in place it seems.

Annasopra

wonderfulname wrote: »

Mango, this young un is almost offended...

Reventon93 wrote: »

Just wanted to say that, im not old enough to .....

AlexHayden wrote: »

Lol, I love how people think they can use....

Freiheit wrote: »

I think the greatest source of prejudice of all is .....

These are really interesting discussions and there are various discussions going on including;
Is Anti-homophobia a bad thing?
Do LGBT people view the world differently because of their age
Is humour about/against LGBT always a good thing
Religion
Privilege

But they are all off topic

I would suggest if you want to discuss those issues starting a new thread or using an existing one

This discussion is about whether boycotts are a good idea or not and whether you think any other companies have been transphobic

wonderfulname

I think privilege is very much on topic, with the exception of the Paddy Power example, which I view as a disgusting premeditated attempt to insult and degrade for publicity, every other example of transphobia in media appears to me to be an example of privilege rather than actual targeted hatred.
I don't believe withdrawal from a position which is effectively ignorance is beneficial, what changes? As was rightly alluded to in that misguided response to my off topicness privilege is something which needs to be addressed, so I'm wondering if anyone else who has issues with seeing this stuff in media has an idea for a productive alternative to boycotting, I like Trans Media Watch, the only example we have here that also falls under their jurisdiction is Paddy Power and I think they dealt with it professionally and quite impressively. They are better than TENI at dealing with this stuff which is completely understandable as it's their area whereas TENI have to cover absolutely everything, is there scope for media specific advocacy in Ireland?

Regarding other examples, considering this reminds me there are probably a few tabloids that should go on the list, which one published what escapes me right now but there's been a few dodge articles in recent times.

super_furry

Isn't the Meteor advert more about transvestites than transexuals? Although I confess I don't know in the Trans part of LGBT cover both.

Rev Hellfire

super_furry wrote: »

Isn't the Meteor advert more about transvestites than transexuals?

I'll be honest when I saw the advert transsexuals didn't enter my mind, I saw a bad transvestite. Now I can personally see how transvestites might find the advert insulting since they seem to be the true butt of the joke.

But as for the idea of a boycott I think with companies that actively seek controversy you need to ask yourself have you got sufficient support in terms of numbers to actually hurt them financially or are you simply giving them more publicity.

Freiheit

Trans people on their own are too small numericaly to make a difference,their just needs to be,through engagement,a recognition that jokes at trans people's expense,is unacceptable,as unacceptable as it is to joke about blacks or those wheelchairs.

While I wasn't sure at the time,I didn't think there was a huge amount wrong with the Meteor Ad,drag queens frequently take the piss out of gender and this one was clearly doing just that. The Paddy Power Ad was entirely different and massively offensive.

Azure_sky

Shakti wrote: »

I think the OP want's to discuss the efficacy of a boycott of transphobic companies not whether this ad or that ad is transphobic or not as there are several threads already dedicated to such examination at length contained within this forum.

I'm glad a few folk actually bothered to read my post before responding.:)

BattleCorp

Leeway5555 wrote: »

http://www.permanet.ie/New/

These guys, their tv ad thing is pretty horrible.

Both meteor and paddy power didnt create their ads out of a position of ignorance, one of their defenses was that "The worked with members of the transgender community". Not a valid defense. Aside from formal complaints, boycotting them is one of the only ways we can get back at them :P

I'm not seeing what's so wrong with that ad? Pretty horrible is a bit over the top eh?