So, there's this chicken place...

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I don't eat there, myself; not since learning my money would be going to some causes I find objectionable. It usually does an OK business around here.

Yesterday, it was crowded. Cuh-rowded.

I learn this not because I went by. If I had gone by, it would have been to sit silently in the drive-thru lane until it became uncomfortable to continue to do so, that is, until someone approached me. I figured this may be three minutes.

Is this in any wise illegal? It would be slowing down their business, business which they apparently were going to get at any point regardless because a national media figure urged them to go on that day, so it wouldn't be taking away their business.

What if a number of people did the same thing at 10-minute intervals?

I muse over these things because there seemed to be a large amount of money flooding toward this business whose views and supported causes I find objectionable. There seems to be little way to counteract that large economic influence.

H.P. Lovesauce wrote:

Is this in any wise illegal?

It could trespassing, disturbing the peace. You'd basically be picketing, and the law surrounding that is by no means simple, even if you don't actually get in the way of people as you suggest.

I think you'd be behaving rudely and would do more harm than good when it comes to changing minds.

Doesn't seem to make much economic sense either - accepting for a moment the definition of "anti gay group" that activists have posited, the company's donated $1.7 million, compared to more than $6 million for other nonprofits. This is out of a revenue stream of roughly 4 billion per year. So generously, that sandwich translates to 2 tenths of a cent to these groups? So blocking 20 people from the drive thru (assuming they are not there to make a political statement, in which case they'll just go in) will keep 4 cents out of the groups you don't agree with. You could make a much bigger impact volunteering your time or donating ten bucks to an organization that supports ideals you agree with (as well as not be arrested or ruin someone's lunch hour) - just a suggestion.

On a lighter note...

I've been having a hard time finding a credible source, but apparently said chicken place uses a chicken supplier that feeds their chickens beef by-products. That would make said chicken place's advertising campaign a little ironic. However, this chicken place is a private company and is not required to disclose where their chickens come from.

[url wrote:

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Ingr... general, the feed contains from 68 percent to 82 percent grain —corn, soy and wheat — with the balance comprised of vitamins, minerals and protein-based products.

Assuming that's honest; "protein-based products" could indeed include beef by-products or virtually any other source of protein. In my experience if ingredients are vague like that it's usually not because they don't know but rather because they don't want you(as in the consumer) to know.

Apparently people in the LBGT community are going to protest the chicken place on Saturday by going in, buying food and kissing people of the same gender.

I don't have a problem with people boycotting Chik-Fil-A. I also don't have a problem if they get a legal permit to protest nearby. However, I'm not sure it's worth getting arrested. IMHO the owner may be ignorant but his actions a far cry from the bigotry of the 1960s, where protesters had to resort to drastic civil disobedience. The owner of Chik-Fil-A is not advocating violence against the LGBT community, or to bring back sodomy laws, or to ban gays from eating at their establishment. So while I think it's fair to call him predjudiced, I don't think it's fair to accuse Chik-Fil-A of being a hate-filled organization. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing sight of actual hate speech and hate crimes, which are still very much a danger for LGBT folk.

And I'm also livid at the attempts by elected officials to threaten a business that has broken no labor, safety, or discrimination laws. That's a very dangerous precedent. This op-ed in the Week says it better than I can:

http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/23...

Based on CNN's spin, politicians in several large American cities attempted to disprove Cathy's notion of a free country in which people can operate their businesses regardless of their religion or political point of view. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino sent a letter to Cathy stating that "[t]here is no place for discrimination on Boston's Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it." (Chick-fil-A's website explicitly states that they do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in employment or in commerce, by the way.) A few days later, Menino had to retract that statement, after belatedly discovering that mayors and cities can't discriminate on the basis of political or religious belief.

In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel declared that Chick-fil-A did not represent "Chicago values," and suggested that Chick-fil-A invest its money elsewhere. Chicago, by the way, has the third-highest unemployment rate in the nation among major cities, so it seems odd that its mayor would tell Chick-fil-A to take a hike for having the exact same position on marriage that Emanuel's former boss — President Barack Obama — held the entire time Emanuel worked at the White House. Even more odd, at the same time Emanuel declared Chick-fil-A fast-fooda non grata, he rolled out the red carpet for Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to have his acolytes patrol Chicago neighborhoods. Not only is Farrakhan a well-known anti-Semite, he also opposes same-sex marriage. In fact, Farrakhan publicly blasted Obama for flip-flopping on the issue in May.

Emanuel later backed down, but not one of the local aldermen, who still demanded a pledge from Cathy to quit associating with groups that oppose gay marriage as a prerequisite for a business permit. A councilman in New York made a similar threat. San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee kept his attack on freedom of thought to Twitter, noting that the closest Chick-fil-A outlet was 40 miles away — and that the company shouldn't try to get any closer.

What's this? Politicians are saying things they're not going to necessarily have to back up in order to gain easy points with their constituents? Why, I never! Truly these are the end times.

bnpederson wrote:

What's this? Politicians are saying things they're not going to necessarily have to back up in order to gain easy points with their constituents? Why, I never! Truly these are the end times.

No, I'm pretty convinced that if there wasn't public pushback those politicians would have happily ignored the First Amendment.

garion333 wrote:

Apparently people in the LBGT community are going to protest the chicken place on Saturday by going in, buying food and kissing people of the same gender.

Totally the best protest idea I've heard so far. Awesome.

Maq wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Apparently people in the LBGT community are going to protest the chicken place on Saturday by going in as zombies, buying food and kissing people of the same gender.

Totally the best protest idea I've heard so far. Awesome.

FTFY

I'm with Norman. The risk analysis doesn't work. If you're going to boycott, then just denying them your sale will cause far, far more discomfort, even if it is offset temporarily by another person. Letting people know what you think and why is not a bad idea, either.

Blocking drive-throughs? Not effective.

Maq wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Apparently people in the LBGT community are going to protest the chicken place on SaturdayFriday by going in, buying food and kissing people of the same gender.

Totally the best protest idea I've heard so far. Awesome.

Fixed this one myself. It's today.

Or could be a dick to some random employee like this guy:

And then lose your job for your efforts.

Being self righteous isn't exactly a good thing. "I feel purposeful." Yup, because this is what it's all about. Right?

Ugh. That guy was a complete dick.

"I don't know how you live with yourself and work here," Smith says to the employee, before calling himself "totally heterosexual" and saying there's "not a gay in me" and "I just can't stand the hate." He also says "I'm a nice guy, by the way."

I get that he's mad, but working yourself up over an issue and then berating a person who has NO power to change anything and is getting a low wage to dispense chicken through a window is not the way to go.

Plus, being an executive and asking a low-level worker how she can live with herself for working at Chikfila is kind of insensitive to the plight of workers in the U.S. in a country with high levels of unemployment and falling real wages. Where else is she going to work?

Funkenpants wrote:

"I don't know how you live with yourself and work here," Smith says to the employee, before calling himself "totally heterosexual" and saying there's "not a gay in me" and "I just can't stand the hate." He also says "I'm a nice guy, by the way."

I get that he's mad, but working yourself up over an issue and then berating a person who has NO power to change anything and is getting a low wage to dispense chicken through a window is not the way to go.

Plus, being an executive and asking a low-level worker how she can live with herself for working at Chikfila is kind of insensitive to the plight of workers in the U.S. in a country with high levels of unemployment and falling real wages. Where else is she going to work?

Yeah. Every bit as tone deaf as those "appreciating" the company yesterday.

Agent 86 wrote:

Or could be a dick to some random employee like this guy:

And then lose your job for your efforts.

Good - from what I saw in the video that guy is a world class prick. And I'm wondering if he's such a great crusader of good against "evil" corporations, does he also go protest outside BP gas stations, Halliburton headquarters, Apple stores or any major bank? I rank massive destruction to the environment, war profiteering, using child labor in China, and plundering the middle class WAY ahead on the evil scale than Chik-Fil-A.

Here's an interesting argument for the boycott. Makes you wonder what kind of people are crowding together at the restaurants. That is: not the kind with whom I wish to be acquainted.

DSGamer wrote:

Yeah. Every bit as tone deaf as those "appreciating" the company yesterday.

It's a very odd phenomena to me. I was on another board with a bunch hardcore right wingers when the movie Passion of the Christ came out, and they would post proudly about how they'd just gone out to see the movie and had bought extra tickets to support it because liberals didn't like religion. Like they were sticking it to me by giving the movie studio $9.

That is my issue. Why would you do anything that opens your employees up to scorn, anger, these kinds of scenes? This is an institution OPEN to the PUBLIC welcoming this kind of scorn.

I have worked at places that do pretty heinous work, but you have security, electronic doors.

This is a fast food restaurant playing free and loose with their employee's safety because the board thinks men kissing men is icky. Bring on the lawsuit that Chick Fil A is not maintaining a safe working environment.

jdzappa wrote:

Good - from what I saw in the video that guy is a world class prick. And I'm wondering if he's such a great crusader of good against "evil" corporations, does he also go protest outside BP gas stations, Halliburton headquarters, Apple stores or any major bank? I rank massive destruction to the environment, war profiteering, using child labor in China, and plundering the middle class WAY ahead on the evil scale than Chik-Fil-A.

Even if gay rights is your top issue, this one's a head-scratcher. Like, I assume many people at the kiss-in or whatever voted for Obama. Who ran as a "one man, one woman" candidate who would not support gay marriage at the federal level.

So like, a President is no big deal, but a $3 chicken sandwich is like, feeding an engine of HATE and INEQUALITY or whatever?

I guess I get the appeal of doing something like chanigng your facebook pic to you kissing another dude in front of a chick fil a, but it just smacks of... well, slacktivism if not outright hypocrisy.

NormanTheIntern wrote:
jdzappa wrote:

Good - from what I saw in the video that guy is a world class prick. And I'm wondering if he's such a great crusader of good against "evil" corporations, does he also go protest outside BP gas stations, Halliburton headquarters, Apple stores or any major bank? I rank massive destruction to the environment, war profiteering, using child labor in China, and plundering the middle class WAY ahead on the evil scale than Chik-Fil-A.

Even if gay rights is your top issue, this one's a head-scratcher. Like, I assume many people at the kiss-in or whatever voted for Obama. Who ran as a "one man, one woman" candidate who would not support gay marriage at the federal level.

So like, a President is no big deal, but a $3 chicken sandwich is like, feeding an engine of HATE and INEQUALITY or whatever?

I guess I get the appeal of doing something like chanigng your facebook pic to you kissing another dude in front of a chick fil a, but it just smacks of... well, slacktivism if not outright hypocrisy.

Some people have to pick and choose their fights. While Obama only came around to supporting gay marriage this year, he also during his first term: ended DADT, refused to support legal defenses of DOMA, and changed his public opinion to support gay marriage.

NormanTheIntern wrote:
jdzappa wrote:

Good - from what I saw in the video that guy is a world class prick. And I'm wondering if he's such a great crusader of good against "evil" corporations, does he also go protest outside BP gas stations, Halliburton headquarters, Apple stores or any major bank? I rank massive destruction to the environment, war profiteering, using child labor in China, and plundering the middle class WAY ahead on the evil scale than Chik-Fil-A.

Even if gay rights is your top issue, this one's a head-scratcher. Like, I assume many people at the kiss-in or whatever voted for Obama. Who ran as a "one man, one woman" candidate who would not support gay marriage at the federal level.

So like, a President is no big deal, but a $3 chicken sandwich is like, feeding an engine of HATE and INEQUALITY or whatever?

I guess I get the appeal of doing something like chanigng your facebook pic to you kissing another dude in front of a chick fil a, but it just smacks of... well, slacktivism if not outright hypocrisy.

I think you're completely missing the point.

#1 - People can hold two concurrent thoughts at once. They can be disappointed at Obama and also be angry at a restaurant owner.

#2 - I'm pretty sure most people don't think a "$3 chicken sandwich is, like feeding an engine of hate and inequality or whatever". I'm pretty sure this thing amped up when Christians decided to show appreciation for the owner by throwing an "appreciation day".

Actually someone has already done the whole block the drivein lanes thing....

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20120802/NEWS/308020027/Man-arrested-at-Chick-fil-A-released-from-jail?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CNEWS

He was arrested.

Since this is now the only open thread on this topic I assume this is the place to talk about this......

I honestly really dont understand why folks feel like picking up the axes and burning sticks over this. The guy who runs Chick Fil a has every right to speak his mind and say what he thinks. None of that should really be surprising considering their pro christian stance on everything. If you feel he is evil\bad\wrong whatever then dont eat in his restuarant period.

To announce that we will not let this company into our town, or they have no right to do business then how exactly is that being inclusive? Look I support gay marriage, frankly I dont think the goverment doesnt have any right to say who can or should get married. But that doesnt mean I think its right we should take away the rights of others because they happen to disagree with what I think.

They have a right to open a business and run it, for me to proclaim "they shall not pass" is just silly. Now if foks want to not buy their chicken or not support that guy then I say by all means. But to demand they be shut down just shows how far we have to go if we want to be open minded as a society.

KingGorilla wrote:

That is my issue. Why would you do anything that opens your employees up to scorn, anger, these kinds of scenes? This is an institution OPEN to the PUBLIC welcoming this kind of scorn.

I have worked at places that do pretty heinous work, but you have security, electronic doors.

This is a fast food restaurant playing free and loose with their employee's safety because the board thinks men kissing men is icky. Bring on the lawsuit that Chick Fil A is not maintaining a safe working environment.

That was a thought provoking post. Well said.

mcdonis wrote:

Actually someone has already done the whole block the drivein lanes thing....

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20120802/NEWS/308020027/Man-arrested-at-Chick-fil-A-released-from-jail?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CNEWS

He was arrested.

Since this is now the only open thread on this topic I assume this is the place to talk about this......

I honestly really dont understand why folks feel like picking up the axes and burning sticks over this. The guy who runs Chick Fil a has every right to speak his mind and say what he things. None of that should really be surprising considering their pro christian stance on everything. If you feel he is eviladwrong whatever then dont eat in his restuarant period.

To announce that we will not let this company into our town, or they have no right to do business then how exactly is that being inclusive? Look I support gay marriage, frankly I dont think the goverment doesnt have any right to say who can or should get married. But that doesnt mean I think its right we should take away the rights of others because they happen to disagree with what I think.

They have a right to open a business and run it, for me to proclaim "they shall not pass" is just silly. Now if foks want to not buy their chicken or not support that guy then I say by all means. But to demand they be shut down just shows how far we have to go if we want to be open minded as a society.

I think the issue isn't that he 'spoke his mind'. That was just the final trigger. The actual anger and hurt came from the millions of dollars the company funnels into anti-gay groups each year, as RNG mentioned above. By comparison, In and Out Burger has bible verses printed on all its wrappers, and is owned by a conservative christian family - but they're not using their belief as a cudgel to attack the rights of other Americans, so there isn't a backlash against them.

In short, it's the behavior of Chick-Fil-A that's being attacked, not its beliefs.

Tanglebones wrote:

In short, it's the behavior of Chick-Fil-A that's being attacked, not its beliefs.

Well said.

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