I’ve been thinking about social awareness. I never thought I was more conscious about humanity, the earth, animal life, etc than other people, but incidents have occurred that lead me to believe that I am. I do a lot of research about companies, businesses, stores, products, etc so that I can make choices that are in tune with my values and beliefs. I’ve noticed that very few of my friends do the same. They all shop, eat, travel, etc with no regard to how their choices affect the world, and affect themselves.
I recently began to do more in depth research and I realize that I have been buying products and shopping at businesses that have unethical business practices. Now that I know this, I plan to change what and where I buy. When I mention this to people they don’t seem interested. Most people that I know want to do what is easiest, cheapest, and in their best interest at the moment. I don’t understand this.
Take Walmart for example. I don’t shop at Walmart because I don’t agree with their business practices. The reasons that people shop at Walmart, in my opinion, are:
1. They don’t have the luxury of shopping elsewhere. Either there are no other stores in their area because Walmart has shut them down, or they live in a rural area. Perhaps they don’t make enough money to spend on socially conscious goods from reputable businesses. Shopping at Walmart is cheap and there are many, many people in this country (speaking about the US) who cannot afford to shop elsewhere or who have to travel to get to other stores. I don’t judge anyone who shops there if they are in this category.
2. They are unaware that Walmart is practicing unethical business – in their products, with their employees, with the labor producing the products, etc. I would not judge anyone in this category either; most people don’t do research prior to shopping.
But I’d like to believe that if people become knowledgeable about Walmart and if they can afford to shop elsewhere they would. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case.
This past week when I was at the beach with my friends there was a Walmart in town. I happened to mention a couple of times about my disdain of Walmart, and my friend asked me what I have against people who shop at Walmart. I told her I have nothing against the people who shop there, I have a problem with the store itself. I explained to her some of the reasons why I am opposed to Walmart. She said she shops there and she likes it. I don’t think my explanation will change her mind.
This same friend recently got a puppy. I found out that she bought it at a pet store. I asked her why she got it at a pet store rather than from a reputable breeder, or from the humane society and she said she wanted this particular breed and there are no breeders in our area, and this place seemed very nice. I told her that the puppy’s mother lived in a puppy mill and told her about the conditions of puppy mills. I knew it was too late for her to change where she got her puppy from, but perhaps if anyone asked her she could tell them a better way to get a puppy. She seemed upset, and told me that this pet store gave her “papers” and her puppy has “parents” and is “registered”. Well, all dogs have parents, and anyone can get papers. I asked her why she didn’t talk to me about getting a puppy because she knows I did a lot of research before I got my dog. She said she didn’t think of it. She asked me if I thought her puppy was ok and healthy and I said of course I thought he was, and he is.
Then last week we were talking about that conversation. She said she was upset when I told her a pet store is not the best place to get a puppy, but then she realized, “Oh, it’s just Harriet telling me this stuff” and then she felt better. Like I’m such an extremist and my viewpoints are so outlandish that she shouldn’t get upset by anything I say. I didn’t mean to make her upset, I just wanted her to know some facts about the situation.
My other friend was telling me about someone we know who goes through people’s refrigerators telling them about all the bad things in there and how either they are bad for their health, they are inhumane, or bad for the environment. My friend doesn’t invite her over anymore. I would never do that, I only explain my reasons and my research if anyone asks. Sometimes, however, things slip out, like my Walmart comments. I do have to be more careful because people think I’m judging or having a holier than thou attitude.
I guess I don’t understand why people do the things they do if they know their actions have repercussions. Everything we do or buy sends waves throughout the world, from 8 year old child laborers in Thailand, to cattle on a factory farm in Iowa. Why do people seem to not care, to only want to do what is cheapest, easiest, and quickest for themselves?
Are you socially conscious and how do you think you compare with others? Do you talk about your feelings with other people and how do they respond?
I do all my weekly shopping at Walmart because we have a 24 hour one very near my house. The agoraphobia is so bad that I can only shop very late at night when there are hardly any other people in the store. The people who shop there for the reasons you cite do not have to just shop and be silent. I complain. Everyone else can, too. Whenever I want something that is a non-food item and I hope to get it at the Walmart during my regular trip, I complain to the manager about the deep need for the company to purchase items made in the United States wherever possible. I tell them it is unpatriotic and self-destructive to do otherwise when their own countrymen are so vastly unemployed. I don’t get into the sweatshop labor issue, but in the back of my mind I hope that Americans would be more likely to squawk when they discover things like that here (and YES, it does happen here, because we abuse our immigrants). I also periodically email the headquarters, identify myself as a regular customer, and request more environmentally friendly products in the store.
I think other people must be doing the same. I have noticed more environmentally friendly products coming into the store in the last several months. They even sell reuseable shopping bags that are biodegradeable and made from recycled materials. They keep them well stocked and right up front by the registers. I have noticed an upgrade in the quality of employees as well. I can’t imagine some of them working for no real benefit, but I don’t ask them that, of course. Walmart is just like any other business. They will serve up what the public demands. There is an alternative to boycott. Walmart has a market share to protect just like everyone else, lest they go the way of the dinosaurs. I think people should complain. Gawd knows I shoulder the responsibility of three or four customers in that department and I would appreciate a little help.
:-)
I agree with EH, it’s everyone’s personal responsibility to complain about practices. I totally agree with you on pet stores, Harriet. A person should always go to a reputable breeder or the humane society.
Hello! Just catching up on your blog–I hope you had some relaxing time on your vacation!
I have to agree w/ you on Walmart–it is not just the practices they have…..but, here, it is so busy and unorganized with long, long lines, it is just overwhelming.
For social responsibility convos….I’ve learned the friends I can have them with and the ones that I just don’t–the ones that make fun of me or the ones that roll their eyes (although, part of me hopes something gets threw). Although, I have found with the friends that I can talk about real things and real change, that it is amazing, rewarding conversations. And, (what I like the best)–the majority of those, I know from yoga and similar situations!
I don’t shop in box stores since I have agoraphobia as well. I also live in a rural area and would have to travel to get to one. I didn’t know anything about Walmart so I will now do some research. I agree with you on pet stores and will not support them in any way. If the subject of pet stores comes up then I will state my opinion and the reasons for it. Usually it is a mutual conversation and everyone is ok with whatever is said.
I try my best to be more socially conscious, but I often don’t so the resaearch, so aren’t always aware of the issues. But if I read somewhere, or am told of the issues, I usually do my best to do the right thing. Like for example, if I ever get a dog, I’d go to the local SPCA to pick one up.
When I lived closer to the city, the only everything-you-need-right-here store I had available to me was Wal-Mart (which is crazy, considering that in-town is supposed to equal more options!). I planned shopping trips around visiting my parents and siblings in the ‘burbs (where they have other chains), but I always felt like crud when I had to make an emergency run to Wal-Mart.
Otherwise, I’m a vegetarian (wrestling with a pressing desire to develop discipline and knowledge enough to go vegan), and try to be conscience of my day-to-day decisions to be eco-gentle. And I foster pets for a local rescue, so am with you on the puppy mill stuff.
There is a saying I saw once on a dog rescue board: “when I know better, I do better.” It sums me up pretty well—I am always learning.
I would say I’m a little bit more “in the know” than your average person, but I am still pretty much in the dark. My cousin (and best friend) is extremely research oriented and often lets me know the most recent findings or if I am doing anything that she thinks is unhealthy/unsafe/unscrupulous etc. I don’t find any harm in people telling me things, in fact that is really how I get most of my information. I will talk about it if it is brought up, but it is not something that I generally think about in my day to day life. I used to shop at Walmart in college, mainly because it was cheap and the only thing close but now that I am on my own I do the best I can to contribute to my local economy by going to farmers markets, etc. I still fall for what is cheap and easy at times…
Just adopted a senior cat from a shelter. I will always use this as my first source of pets! I can’t stand how inhumanely animals are treated. There is a pet store in my town and it has people picketing almost every weekend, taking videos of their “unloading” new arrivals. It’s just crazy sometimes.
Thanks everyone, you guys are great. I’m glad there are other people who think like I do (how come I don’t know any in real life though?) and you opened my eyes to other ways of looking at things.
Harriet, I just came from Walmart and I saw something there that made me think of you because I thought you might like to know about it. Just inside the door at the main entrance, there was a young man sleeping on one of the benches. The poor guy can’t have been any more than 25. The employees were letting him sleep there and no one was bothering him or trying to make him leave. It made me feel a strange rush of affection for the place. And maybe for people in general, as there were a few shoppers and no one was complaining or acting weird about it. I’m glad the poor kid was able to get some kind of a little break from someplace.
Ethereal – thanks for that comment. That does make me feel good. It was very kind of the employees to let the man sleep there. I actually don’t have a problem with the employees of Walmart, and here is a good reason why. They are regular people just like you or me.