Comments on: Ford placates conservative group, angers gay advocacy groups - Dec. 6, 2005

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 01:39:53 +0000

Hey, I’m a straight designer! Well, a web designer. You wouldn’t want to see what I’d come up with for a car.

But I’m joining you in sending a letter to voice my anger.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:55:05 +0000

I agree. We should express our displeasure with Ford’s actions as forcefully and loudly as we can, especially since our side is so greatly outnumbered.
I wrote a letter to Ford this afternoon letting them know that, given their recent actions, I won’t consider their products in the future. Not that I would have, anyway. Their designers must be straight, yo.

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 20:29:35 +0000

Michael, I know you don’t personally support what Ford is doing. I also agree, that general society won’t react the same as to what Ford is doing now than if it was the KKK. But that is a sad comment on the state of American society right now. And what we need to be doing is equating the AFA with hate groups like the KKK, and making sure that in our own minds we realize that what Ford is doing is an act of cowardice and prejudice that society shouldn’t stand for, or write off as the perogative of a corpoate entity that enjoys enormous benefit from being part of this society. If people like us don’t start drawing the line on what is acceptable in a civilzed world, no one will.

By: freakgirl

freakgirl — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:02:13 +0000

They can choose to withdraw support from us and we can choose to withdraw support from them, in turn.

I think this really sums it up, Michael. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Ford may realize in a year that this was a terrible business decision. Or not. Either way, I don’t see them having my business for the time being.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 18:46:04 +0000

Like I said, I’m not applauding or defending Ford, just understanding them. I agree, Charlie, that there is very little difference between the two scenarios you present. I don’t think the difference is god, though. The difference is in what the response will be. Ford bows to the KKK and there would be an epic public and political outcry. In this case, though, what do you think the response will be? Should we expect Ford to stand up to this organization against its own self-interest? Maybe we should. Should they defend us even if it’s not smart business? Maybe they should. But they are not a government entity vested to protect our rights or priveleges. They can choose to withdraw support from us and we can choose to withdraw support from them, in turn.

By: GeekBoy

GeekBoy — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 18:18:02 +0000

This just seems like a stupid way to do business to me. Give in to a bully once, and odds are, you’ll be asked to do so again. And again. And again. It’s all fine and well to go the route of short-term monetary gain by avoiding a boycott. But if Ford believes that this is the last they’ll hear from the AFA, they’re terribly deluded. Especially now that the AFA knows how easily they’ll cave. And now the general public knows how spineless Ford is. Long-term, this is more likely to hurt them than help them.

Ford would have been better off coming up with some kind of compromise solution that made both sides half-happy, rather than folding 100% to the whims of only one side. If you’re going to let politics run your business for you, then you damn well better be ready to play the role of the politician. Or you may just find yourself “voted out of office” in a few years.

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 18:12:48 +0000

Michael, I understand that it is a free market economy, but let’s just say for arguments sake that Ford was pulling advertising aimed at blacks in black media becuse the KKK had a problem with it. Really, when you think of it, there is no difference between that example, and what Ford did. A major corporation is pulling advertizing to a minority group based on the protest of a hate-based organization. Just because the American Family Organization wraps their hatred in their belief in some mythical creature no rational person could believe in, we’re not supposed to call them on it.

By: joshua

joshua — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 17:28:39 +0000

Ford’s #3 dude is gay…i wonder how this has gone over with him and what he had to say about it.

By: freakgirl

freakgirl — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 17:20:40 +0000

I’ll agree with you there. I do understand this is all about money, but that doesn’t make it right in my book.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 17:18:20 +0000

I saw that. So far they’ve refused. Look, I’m not applauding Ford, but I think the support they show for their employees places them ahead of many other companies.