• unconsequential@slrpnk.net
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    17 hours ago

    I hate to be that guy but this whole thing has frustrated me deeply. It shows we’re willing to fight back and do know how, but our selective use of that power is rather superficial.

    Yes, I understand this was very important in the realm of speech but it still has an overtone of celebrity culture. Most people can’t be bothered to boycott to end genocide or to protest legislation or support the courts or to advocate for worker rights or healthcare, but to save a celebrity that makes this nightmare easier for them to swallow every night? Sign everyone up!

    It feels less about protecting free speech and fighting fascism and more about them protecting their humor drug that makes “the bad place” more palpable.

    Americans know how to fight back they’re just unwilling to do it unless their TV personality who gives them feel good juice is on the milk carton. I know that’s harsh but it’s just frustrating watching everyone cry about how helpless they are until their feel good nightly placebo(s) was/are on the line.

    Again, I get the importance and the way the target was clear etc. It’s just frustrating to watch people cry they don’t know what to do then step up big time for famous people but not their communities, neighbors or their own family’s wellbeing.

    This is a huge win and I don’t mean to detract from that. Please keep boycotting and hopefully this drives it home to more people that this is an effective tactic across the board. I just needed to vent a little.

    • jacksilver@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      I think it actually shows we don’t know how to fight back.

      With Disney all they had to do was unsubscribe (or in some way contact Disney) to show their frustration.

      How do I do that with ICE? How do I do that with Republicans (when all of my reps are Democrats).

      Disney has a bottom line they worry about, but this administration doesn’t care about my opinions or my wallet (look at the direction the economy is going). So even if I could directly tell them I’m not happy with things (and I do in some ways), they don’t care.

      • InputZero@lemmy.world
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        56 minutes ago

        A coordinated effort to withhold the tax revenue the state expects would probably do it. Unfortunately that’ll land whomever participates a prison sentence.

    • Alaknár@sopuli.xyz
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      11 hours ago

      To show your support for free speech and protest US government’s actions all they had to do (in this instance) was to unsubscribe from Disney+.

      How do you protest for the ending of the Palestinian or Uyghur genocides? Who do you boycott? What do you unsubscribe from?

    • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      I hear you, but cancelling 1/4 of your streaming services with the knowledge that can be reversed easily at any time is hardly the same as protesting or boycotting something tangible or an entire industry. I don’t think this has anything to do with celebrity worship, and it has everything to do with how easy the protesting can be.

      This protest could be done from home in three minutes, you don’t suffer the consequences until the end of the month, and we all know less TV is better for us regardless of speech so there’s very little downside.

      I agree Americans aren’t doing enough. I wish we were doing more.

      • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
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        15 hours ago

        People also arent directly paying Israel $20 a month or whatever, which can be cancelled at a whim. The most support that the average American sends to Israel is via US tax dollars. Good luck not paying your taxes just to send a message without ending up in prison, not to mention being unable to buy anything through typical means

        • Sideshow_B00b@lemmy.zip
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          13 hours ago

          Excellent points from you and the person you responded to. I’d still argue that a minimum effort - maximum effect action of canceling subscrptions is still a lot better than just ”hopes and prayers”.

          As pompous as this may sound I do think subscription cancellation is an awesome protest tool that might, in best case scenario, affect Disney’s future business decisions. Maybe they won’t hire Alex Jones or make a musical animation about how great Hitler was if they’re afraid that their bottom line will be hit hard.

          But yeah, we’re living in a timeline where Indiana Jones punching a nazi is a hate crime so the bar for things to be happy about is veeeeery low.

    • iglou@programming.dev
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      14 hours ago

      Sadly, most people are selfish and don’t give a shit about horrors happening in another country on the other side of the world.

      That’s why, by the way, when news report on horrors, they state “173 dead people including 2 americans”, even though it absolutely does not matter where piece of land the victims were born on.

    • Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      16 hours ago

      There are a lot of lethargic people who think “Liking” a post will change the world for the better. Canceling Disney services is one of the lowest effort things we collectively could do as it also provides the side benefit of removing a monthly expense in these overpriced times.

    • reddifuge@lemmy.world
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      17 hours ago

      I canceled 2 accounts. It was strictly about fighting fascism and supporting free speech.

      I don’t even remember who it was. Falon or Kimmel? I don’t watch either.