Sex Sells... But What About Social Consciousness?

[Athena]

I've always tried to shop at establishments that I consider to be socially conscious. I'll get my rare cup of coffee at Starbucks rather than the other guy because I like the fact that their baristas are relatively well-paid (nothing to raise a family on, but it might save a few youngsters from stripping to get through school), even part-time employees qualify for benefits and they're involved in a buttload of local, national and international charity. The same goes for all my purchases. If I've got the choice of a philanthropic corporation, I'll buy from them.

But with President Obama's call to service, something weird is starting to occur. Corporations are no longer content with luring me in with their own charitible efforts... Now, they're asking ME to do the work.

Slate has noticed it too. Chevron, Liberty Mutual and, yes, Starbucks, have all waged advertising campaigns that echo the sentiments of Obama's vague request for responsibility. It's brilliant, really - they get to ride Obama's coattails and identify themselves as socially conscious (reaping all the benefits that come with it) without doing anything.

Community service is good. We should all be doing something because, the more we do for each other, the less the government has to do for us. But, to be honest, this whole "corporate motivation" campaign strikes me as disingenuous and makes me feel icky.

What do you think? Am I just being cynical and these corporations really are trying to make an impact, or is this just another thinly-veiled marketing technique?

[Silvahalo]

I totally agree with you statement on doing more fore each other. It's not so much a moral stance, than it just makes sense, to conserve, recycle, etc.

Community service is good. We should all be doing something because, the more we do for each other, the less the government has to do for us. But, to be honest, this whole "corporate motivation" campaign strikes me as disingenuous and makes me feel icky.

What do you think? Am I just being cynical and these corporations really are trying to make an impact, or is this just another thinly-veiled marketing technique?

Although Chevron frames its campaign as being about energy conservation, that's a bunch of hooey. All other things being constant, if every gullible soul riding Washington's buses and trains performed the simple conservation miracles Chevron proposes, energy consumption would fall, and so would prices. As prices fell, the nongullible would take advantage of the depressed prices to consume more and thus drive the price back up.

I'd like to believe corporations are trying to make a deference, and I think there are those who really do care.
Alas, mostly I think, it comes down to the bottom line. How they can make a buck and not do anything. That may just be cynical thinking...really, I hope not.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I have never been swayed by this type of "advertising". I've been known to rant on products I prefer touting works I support just because I don't like the "guilt trip" or "feel good" marketing ploys.

At some point, everyone will jump on the "good works" bandwagon and then folks will cease to look at it or care. It will become like "brand loyalty". Then they will think up a new tactic to sway our purchases.

Besides, I don't want to eat shitty food just because a restaurant supports the "Save the Titmouse" movement or volunteer their workers to give pan-handlers a day off.

[Athena]

Besides, I don't want to eat shitty food just because a restaurant supports the "Save the Titmouse" movement or volunteer their workers to give pan-handlers a day off.

Oh, totally. I'm not going to buy an inferior product simply because of a company's mission statement.

And that's just it, really. I think people should see through these ads for what they are. They're not even legitimate philanthropic effort - they're just another ploy. More smoke and mirrors. These companies are trying to *appear* conscientious rather than actually *being* conscientious, in many cases.

When it comes to commercials, you had either tell me about your product, or be hilarious (think E-Trade). If you fail to do either, all I'm going to do is change the channel.

[flawed_existence]

Oh, lordy. Well, to put this put there, I despise Starbucks. Their coffee smells like cat pee and they're so fucking hip it makes me gag. But the main reason I hate Starbucks is the same reason I hate WalMart. They come into small towns with their slick marketing and superior financial position and wreak havoc on local businesses. (And that's not just a South Park plot.)

But I also consider it extortion when employers push employees to donate to United Way (or fill-in-the-blank-charity) through payroll deduction. It's none of any corporation's fucking business where my charity dollars go. Expecting me as an employee or customer to do charity work, whether on the company's time or not, is completely out of line.

Unfortunately, schools are going the same way. Students are being required to perform a certain number of hours of community service in order to graduate. And if you don't have community service on your application to college, it looks really bad.

That's all so wrong. Community service, charitable giving; these things are intended to be altruistic. I don't help others in order to get a fucking merit badge or smilie in my goddamn personnel file. I don't even take my charitable contributions off on my taxes. It's none of the fucking government's business who I support.

I tell my sons this at least once a week: It's not what you do when people can see you. It's what you do when no one is around that counts.

In other words: helping others isn't something to get a goddamn pat on the back about. JUST DO IT!

And it really seems that this who PR thing is more of a Left Coast idea, anyway. East Coasters just aren't as suceptible to 'feel-good' campaigns.

[swivel]

What do you think? Am I just being cynical and these corporations really are trying to make an impact, or is this just another thinly-veiled marketing technique?

All three are correct!

[theskyisfalling]

Most corporations, in my opinion, don't care about charity anyways. They do it to look good or appeal to the bleeding hearted (which I am). Bottom line is, MOST OF THEM JUST WANT YOUR MONEY, whether they give some to charity or not. Don't get me wrong, there are companies out there that do care and want to be socially responsible. Others just do it for tax purposes or to make themselves look good. I don't think a corporation should be obligated to be charitable. Businesses are what they are.
I wish there was more social consciousness. It seems like too many companies today chase the dollar and forget about who is spending it.
I'm prepared for my ass reaming now Athena. I'm holding my butt cheeks tight...come and get me.

[Athena]

Oh, lordy. Well, to put this put there, I despise Starbucks. Their coffee smells like cat pee and they're so fucking hip it makes me gag. But the main reason I hate Starbucks is the same reason I hate WalMart. They come into small towns with their slick marketing and superior financial position and wreak havoc on local businesses. (And that's not just a South Park plot.)

Well, specific coffee preferences aside (I'm a tea drinker and Starbuck's Tazo is pretty great)... Hating Starbucks is easily as hip as Starbucks is, these days, and hating Wal-Mart is, well... uninformed. Easy mistake to make, though, as liberals really push the whole anti Wal-Mart thing, but, when you get right down to it, not only is their argument generally without merit, but what little merit it does have typically applies to ANY large company.

Now, I'd be hard pressed to compare Wal-Mart's business practices to Starbucks', but, in Wal-Mart's case, they only drive out small business in rural communities and more distant suburbs. This is because they provide economic benefit to the consumer there (one-stop shopping at cheaper prices). In urban areas, however, they often HELP small businesses, even those that are in direct competition, by bringing more traffic to the area.

That said, what's so inherently good about small business that you would hate its bigger competition... simply for being successful? I'm genuinely curious, as it would help me shape my point, here. What does small business do for you that Wal-mart can't? Now, I know what small business does for me that Wal-Mart can't, but I've never had any of my favorite small businesses be put out by them, either.

As for Starbucks, they are paying their employees more than small business baristas typically make (by a significant amount) AND providing generous benefits. In fact, Fortune listed Starbucks as the #2 best large company to work for in the U.S. in '05. So long as you can still find coffee you like within a decent proximity (which I imagine you can - I live in the Starbucks capital and there are still half a dozen independent baristas between home and work), why wouldn't you want a Starbucks around, as Starbucks is doing nothing but good for your community?

That's all so wrong. Community service, charitable giving; these things are intended to be altruistic. I don't help others in order to get a fucking merit badge or smilie in my goddamn personnel file. I don't even take my charitable contributions off on my taxes. It's none of the fucking government's business who I support.

I tell my sons this at least once a week: It's not what you do when people can see you. It's what you do when no one is around that counts.

In other words: helping others isn't something to get a goddamn pat on the back about. JUST DO IT!

And it really seems that this who PR thing is more of a Left Coast idea, anyway. East Coasters just aren't as suceptible to 'feel-good' campaigns.

I certainly feel you, on this point. But what about when not enough people bother being altruistic? We still need volunteer work done, so isn't it good that we're being encouraged (rather than forced)? I would disagree with mandatory charitible payroll deductions or mandatory community service for students, but is it really so bad that employers, schools and businesses are willing to offer incentives?

[Athena]

Most corporations, in my opinion, don't care about charity anyways. They do it to look good or appeal to the bleeding hearted (which I am). Bottom line is, MOST OF THEM JUST WANT YOUR MONEY, whether they give some to charity or not. Don't get me wrong, there are companies out there that do care and want to be socially responsible. Others just do it for tax purposes or to make themselves look good. I don't think a corporation should be obligated to be charitable. Businesses are what they are.
I wish there was more social consciousness. It seems like too many companies today chase the dollar and forget about who is spending it.
I'm prepared for my ass reaming now Athena. I'm holding my butt cheeks tight...come and get me.

Not your turn today, sky.

I do have qualms with your signature, but that's a story for another thread. :P

[theskyisfalling]

Is it a nature versus nurture argument? About my sig? By all means pm me. I love your logic and cool headed crass.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Is it a nature versus nurture argument? About my sig? By all means pm me. I love your logic and cool headed crass.

Don't PM her! I wanna watch! How else am i gonna figure out anythign if I can't see everyone's side of the argument?

[Athena]

If I recally correctly, swivel established a thread about free will that outta suit our needs, assuming the exact argument hasn't already been had. Undoubtedly, swivel's already done some work for me. I'll see if I can't dig it up.

[theskyisfalling]

Dig, dig, dig. Must see.

[MichaelJCheaney]

I've always tried to shop at establishments that I consider to be socially conscious. I'll get my rare cup of coffee at Starbucks rather than the other guy because I like the fact that their baristas are relatively well-paid (nothing to raise a family on, but it might save a few youngsters from stripping to get through school), even part-time employees qualify for benefits and they're involved in a buttload of local, national and international charity. The same goes for all my purchases. If I've got the choice of a philanthropic corporation, I'll buy from them.

But with President Obama's call to service, something weird is starting to occur. Corporations are no longer content with luring me in with their own charitible efforts... Now, they're asking ME to do the work.

Slate has noticed it too. Chevron, Liberty Mutual and, yes, Starbucks, have all waged advertising campaigns that echo the sentiments of Obama's vague request for responsibility. It's brilliant, really - they get to ride Obama's coattails and identify themselves as socially conscious (reaping all the benefits that come with it) without doing anything.

Community service is good. We should all be doing something because, the more we do for each other, the less the government has to do for us. But, to be honest, this whole "corporate motivation" campaign strikes me as disingenuous and makes me feel icky.

What do you think? Am I just being cynical and these corporations really are trying to make an impact, or is this just another thinly-veiled marketing technique?

Personally I think Obamas request for more responsibility is BRILLIANT. I say this because now in a year or two he can come out and say, "Well I asked companies to be more socially conscience, they didn't heed my call, so now we mandate it, by raising business taxes or something to that effect"

It gives him a way to look like he is doing something and makes everybody feel like he is also doing something.

So how is this any different than what the Madison Ave. folks are doing?

Its all just warm and fuzzy and doing nothing substantial to help anyone.

I also believe that giving MUST come from the heart. Because the second it is forced on somebody, it becomes a hey look at me! Aren't I a great person for doing some thing, I really should have been doing all along, ego-boost and nothing more.

And paying 5 bucks for a cup of coffee? Are you outta your friggin mind?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

And paying 5 bucks for a cup of coffee? Are you outta your friggin mind?

It's like eating in a restaurant... food tastes better when someone else makes it. I can't make Caribou Coffee at home that tastes that heavenly. Besides, I don't have an espresso machine in my car.