Diversion Tactics

November 13, 2009 in Discussions Ahoy, Featured, RtI with 14 Comments

diversiontactics

Christians can be really good at many things, but one thing that they excel at is “diverting attention”.  I put that in quotes because I feel that we generally draw attention to whatever it is we’re trying to protest.

We’re really good at blowing things out of context and making it a bigger deal than it actually is.  Take The Last Temptation of Christ, for instance.  I tried to watch it not too long ago.  If you thought Willem Dafoe was weird in Boondock Saints, you should see him as Jesus.  It’s a terrible movie.  It really is, and not because of a heretical take on the scriptures.  It’s just a poorly done movie, and I wouldn’t have even known it existed if it wasn’t for people “protesting” it back in the day.

Christians are one of the main reasons that I read all the Harry Potter series (I liked it because it was good), The DaVinci Code, and one of the reasons that I just recently watched Religulous.

There’s just something about people telling you that you shouldn’t watch something that makes you want to so bad.  Sure that’s probably something we should all work out on our own, but why do we think that protesting something is going to stop a movie from being made?  Freedom of speech.

As we near towards Christmas, the age old arguments are bound to rear their ugly heads again.  Happy Holidays everyone, and all that.  Ugh.

Have you ever boycotted a movie, book or other?  Why’d you do it?  Did you watch or read something because of someone else protesting it?  What’d you think?

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14 Responses to “Diversion Tactics”

  1. Helen November 13, 2009 at 4:46 am #

    Yes. Other. I won't use Pam™ cooking spray because I read that they donate to Planned Parenthood. I also boycott AT&T for the same reason. I don't actually search out things to boycott. It's just that once I know that something I buy ends up funding abortion, I can't enjoy it anymore.

    Movies and books….there are lots that I don't care to see, but I am not sure it is correct to say I am boycotting them.

    Reply
    • the_original_xy November 13, 2009 at 2:15 pm #

      regarding your stance on abortion

      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,"
      Evelyn Beatrice Hall

      and i boycott ATT because they have crappy service.

      Reply
      • Nick the Geek November 13, 2009 at 10:27 pm #

        I agree that we should defend the right to say what people want but there is a big difference between saying things and killing the unborn. Further if a person doesn't want to have their money going to support a system they don't agree with then they don't have to spend their money on that. This is certainly reasonable.

        If I found out that Bubba's Bait shop gave 10% of their profit to the KKK I wouldn't buy my bait there even if they had the best bait in town. If they were the only bait shop I'd have to dig up my own. I'm not saying the KKK doesn't have the right to say stupid and ignorant things. They certainly do and I will defend that right. I'm not even saying Bubba's Bait Shop can't support them in their stupidity. I am just saying that I am not going to knowingly support foolishness myself.

        I hope you see the difference.

        Reply
        • the_original_xy November 14, 2009 at 12:40 am #

          i never said that i you can't decide how to spend your money and that you can't have your own beliefs. what i said was that i disagree with the point of view presented and that even though i disagree with it, i still respect it. i will admit that it may have been inflammatory for me to say anything at all since i realize that my point of view is likely the minority at a blog such as this.

          but let me give you an example, and a real one at that, to give you some perspective.

          to graduate from my technical program, i need to do two internships. the first one starts very shortly. because i am in a fairly small town and because there are many others that need to do internships also the only place that has accepted me is Planned Parenthood. should i fail my courses and waste 18 months of my life and thousands of dollars because i disagree with their policies? what would you do? i don't really want to work for them, but i don't really have a choice.

          Reply
          • Nick the Geek November 14, 2009 at 12:58 am #

            Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I read the quote to be saying that you feel that Helen, and other prolife individuals, should defend prochoice propaganda because it better supports freedom of speech.

            I think within your scenario I would say you should do what you believe to be right. Personally I would find another option. I am not a politic antiabortionist. I respect people who are as long as they aren't spreading hate and death, but I feel like there is a better way to handle things. I could not intern at planned parenthood though because I do not support their tactics either.

            I am too vocal to work at a place like that. I'd end up paying my fees to the school but part of the way into the internship I would be asked to discontinue the program. Knowing this I wouldn't have even applied there.

    • bman November 14, 2009 at 6:04 am #

      Question: What if you found out that while AT&T gave 10% to planned parenthood, they gave 20% to pro-life causes and 20% to Christian orphanages around the world?

      Companies, in my opinion, just give money to anyone for tax breaks. There are plenty of companies who probably give to a myriad of causes that you'd disagree with if you knew about it, but they also give to a bunch of other non-profit initiatives.

      Reply
  2. the_original_xy November 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm #

    boycotts and protests make me laugh. mostly because the vast majority of them are completely stupid and pointless and won't accomplish anything. sometimes they work, but the cases you brought up, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, were heavily boycotted and protested and are some of the best selling books and movies of the all time. the recent Left 4 Dead 2 boycott is one of the dumbest things ever. there are better ways to fight back. the best being to contact whoever you're boycotting/protesting.

    Reply
  3. Nick the Geek November 13, 2009 at 10:22 pm #

    I do protest a lot of things. Mostly I protest lame Christian protests. Of course my personal mode of protest involves trying my best to ignore them because they are lame.

    I don't speak against anything I don't know about, so before I said anything about Harry Potter I read it. It was good and so I don't speak against it. I also read the Da Vinci Code. I didn't like it and one part was so offensive I almost put the book down for good. I don't dislike it because of the reasons most are offended by. I hated the weird sexist ideas and the Jewish sex cult worship thing was the part that really offended me. The movie kinda glossed that over. On the other hand I didn't have to read the Golden Compass. The author flat out admitted it was more or less the opposite of the Chronicles of Narnia and his goal in writing it was "to kill God in the eyes of children"

    Anyways, I think that we should be much more proactive as Christian. Teach values and speak love. That kind of positive reaction is more effective than the negative stuff we pull off.

    Reply
    • the_original_xy November 14, 2009 at 12:41 am #

      you should enjoy this comic then

      http://abstrusegoose.com/a/205.htm

      Reply
      • bman November 14, 2009 at 5:58 am #

        Nice obscure reference.

        Reply
    • bman November 14, 2009 at 5:57 am #

      The Golden Compass was a book that I wanted to read based on the movie (and the protests). The author did come out and say that he was trying to write the "opposite" of Chronicles of Narnia, but in reality, his books suck. They're terribly written, and come no where close to the quality of writing of really any other book.

      His "message" was really poorly developed, and the books really felt like a significant let down. If that's what's supposed to be the atheist Chronicles of Narnia, then I feel bad for them to be honest.

      Reply
  4. FanciNanci November 14, 2009 at 5:09 pm #

    It's fine to boycott and protest … but before doing so, be sure to do your homework to see if what you have 'heard' about a company, for instance, is actually the truth. Also, regarding whether to do an internship with someone you don't share beliefs could be a real 'enlightenment', giving you insight into the 'other side' … not meaning, you would change your mind, but that you might be even better equipped to argue your position. Isn't it always good to understand the 'other view'? And … the experience might make for a great paper some day if you have to write one.

    Reply

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