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DOTD - Debate of The Day #52
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Post by
OverZealous
English is only my second language and I've never found it difficult. Granted, it is much more common to see ads and tv-shows and such in English than say, German for example, plus you learn it from a younger age here. English has very little grammar and is not hard to speak for a Danish guy like me, I don't see a reason to forcibly change it. If anything, my own language should, as it has grammar with no rules lol.
Swedish (and I imagine Danish, given their similarities) have only one type of grammatic rules: "It works like this unless it doesn't"
But no, I never found English particularly difficult, either - the only thing I had some trouble with was different words for (almost) the same thing. For example, suffering, misery and agony would all roughly translate to
smärta
in Swedish, and it took me a while to get things figured out with those. Other than that, I don't see why English would be all that difficult.
Post by
MyTie
At the risk of endangering Mytie's persecution complex
Ugh. Whenever I see you post, I know it's going to be something unsavory directed at me. It's not some kind of wierd complex I have. You troll me constantly. I find you distasteful, and respectfully request that you stay away from my posts, or involving me in any way in conversations here.
Post by
FatalHeaven
I'm curious how much experience the OP has had with learning languages other than English? As a point of comparison for how difficult English is to learn compared to other languages.
I took three years of French in high school. It was my best subject. It has since faded as I haven't used or been around anyone speaking French in about 7 years. But at the time it was insanely easy to learn. Also, English is my native language so I think it's hard for me to personally gauge how difficult it would be to learn from scratch as a teen or adult who has never spoken it. I also never said English was the #1 hardest language to learn. But it is more difficult than most;
this
2009 poll of online folk ranks English as the 9th hardest language to learn.
Finally, this debate wasn't chosen because of my personal beliefs or experience. Nor have any topics been. They are all chosen at random from websites that highlight popular debate topics.
Post by
168916
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
FatalHeaven
#12:
Rainbow Oreo:
Worth Boycotting Kraft Foods?
As I'm sure all are aware by now, Kraft foods made a bold move on June 25th by posting a photoshopped image of a 6-layer Oreo with the colors of the rainbow on
Oreo's official facebook page.
It was done to recognize Gay Pride month.
Basil Maglaris, a spokeswoman for Oreo’s parent company Kraft Foods, said in a statement that the image was part of a “series of daily ads reflecting current events in a fun way using images of OREO cookies and milk.” Kraft is not planning to sell the rainbow-stuffed Oreo in stores, Maglaris said, as it was created solely for the advertising campaign in honor of Pride month.
They, of course had resounding support from the LGBT community which was to be expected. What astounds me, though it shouldn't, it the amount of hatred it caused from conservatives.
While many of the comments were supportive, some Facebook users pledged to boycott the cookie because of the post.
“I’ll never buy Oreo again,” one commenter wrote.
“Disgusted with oreos,” wrote another. “Being gay is an abmonitation in God’s eyes; I wont be buying them anymore.”
Really? Why not go all out?
Target - Ben & Jerry’s - Levi's - Betty Crocker - Cheerios - Disney World - Starbucks - Wheaties
Tide - Microsoft - The Home Depot - Pampers - Pepsi - Safeway - Crest - Old Navy - Girl Scouts - Macys - JC Penny - Pillsbury - Walgreens - Ford - Gap - Green Giant
All these and more support Gay rights. So here is my question.
Should companies pledge support to causes (not just Pride) or should they remain neutral just to please the crowds who are upset? Did Kraft Foods/Oreo make a mistake? If so, why?
Post by
Adamsm
They didn't; if the common consumer wants to be an idiot, let them. For every boycotter, there will still be a few thousand consumers buying the products.
Post by
MyTie
A couple of facebook users slur homosexuals and that is a "boycott".
OH THE HUMANITY!
You all know, if that self-victimization wheel stops rolling for a split second it will fall over. Gotta keep it going.Should companies pledge support to causes (not just Pride) or should they remain neutral just to please the crowds who are upset? Did Kraft Foods/Oreo make a mistake? If so, why?They sell cookies. Those are there cookies. Those are there ads. If they want to make their cookies into a social platform, that is there decision. Personally, I don't care. I don't like Oreo cookies in the first place, except crunched up in my ice cream.
Post by
FatalHeaven
A couple of facebook users slur homosexuals and that is a "boycott".
OH THE HUMANITY!
My point wasn't the slurs. My point was people saying they were going to stop buying Oreos and/or Kraft Food products because of the picture.
I honestly don't know why I bother. I tried to post it as a legit topic but of course you take a stance that assumes I have some ulterior motive.
Post by
FatalHeaven
They didn't; if the common consumer wants to be an idiot, let them. For every boycotter, there will still be a few thousand consumers buying the products.
This is pretty much how I personally feel. Not to mention half of the people that are going to 'boycott' probably went and got the half eaten pack of Oreos from their cupboard when they saw the picture. Lol.
Post by
Azazel
A thing I find funny is that they complain and threaten about boycotting through facebook, which also happens to support gay rights.
Post by
Sas148
They didn't; if the common consumer wants to be an idiot, let them. For every boycotter, there will still be a few thousand consumers buying the products.
This is pretty much how I personally feel. Not to mention half of the people that are going to 'boycott' probably went and got the half eaten pack of Oreos from their cupboard when they saw the picture. Lol.
Guilty! lol
And I'm not afraid to say that the people who claim "Being gay is an abomination in God’s eyes" can
eat
me.
And clearly then my supporting their decision to run this ad will be considered bias so that's just how I'll leave it.
Post by
FatalHeaven
A thing I find funny is that they complain and threaten about boycotting through facebook, which also happens to support gay rights.
True story. And the horror they must face when the realize Google happens to support gay rights... I mean, I realize people have their opinions and they are entitled to not like homosexuality. But boycotting a product or brand because the brand itself supports gay rights? Thats like me boycotting every store that has a bible in it. Hell, I wouldn't even be able to go to Wal*Mart.
Post by
Nathanyal
Here
is the actual photo page if you can see it. It has 52k+ comments on there. I'm sure there is more than just "a couple of facebook users" saying things like boycott and bashing homosexuals.
And DoctorLore also pointed out,
Kraft does more than just cookies.
If someone is going to boycott Kraft, there are dozens of things they should give up.
Personally, if they want to boycott something let them. They may lose some customers, they may gain some. It is the same way with Obama saying he supports gay marriage. He may lose some supporters, he may gain some supporters.
But I would like to find someone who says they're boycotting Oreo, then go in their home and point out all the Kraft foods they are using.
Post by
FatalHeaven
It is the same way with Obama saying he supports gay marriage. He may lose some supporters, he may gain some supporters.
Everyone I personally talk to sees it as a political 'scam'. We know he didn't mean it. He just did it cause its an election year and he needs every vote he can get more now than ever.
But I would like to find someone who says they're boycotting Oreo, then go in their home and point out all the Kraft foods they are using.
Me too! I almost wish one of my friends would say they are going to boycott as a smartass remark, just so I can play along and point out everything they own thats not just by Kraft Foods but by any company that has ever shown support for Gay Rights. They'd probably be naked, cold and hungry in the street.
Edit: LOVE your signature line Nathanyal.
Post by
Ksero
Kraft knew there would be some backlash when they put this out, they have entire market research teams working on this kind of thing, releasing this image on social media will be a net gain in sales for them and that's one of the reasons they did it. I doubt there would have been a picture posted at all if they had projected a loss in sales from it.
Post by
Adamsm
See that's the thing about humanity; so many idiots, from so many races, backgrounds and religions, all living hatefully together; and people wonder I have no faith in humanity lol.
Post by
Azazel
Even though they're just doing business, they're atleast supporting the right cause while doing so.
Post by
FatalHeaven
Even though they're just doing business,they're atleast supporting the right cause while doing so.
/like
Post by
Azazel
Even though they're just doing business,they're atleast supporting the right cause while doing so.
/like
Hey, pride you know! ^^
Post by
ElhonnaDS
I think that if a company wants to make a statement based on conscience, then they should. A company is owned by people, and is private. There's no reason for them to remain neutral on controversial topics, and only contribute to the "safe" ones, other than to protect sales. And if they feel their statement will increase sales, or is important enough that it doesn't matter if it decreases sales, then there's no reason for them to not support anything they like. Other than following the law and good business ethics, there's no unspoken morality that business has to uphold by remaining neutral- it's a personal institution that exists to make money and do whatever else the owners and managers decided to do with it.
We generally see big companies who will sponsor ads about being healthy, supporting certain charities, or specific initiatives like children's literacy, the arts, patriotism, etc. They'll put out ads to wish happy holidays to customers too. Smaller stores tend to do things like have specials that reward kids for good report cards or playing local sports, give free coffee to the police and firemen, support local issues, etc. We expect companies to be involved with the community, and generally appreciate when they do rather than silently collect all of our money.
In this case, they felt that this was a way that they wanted to take an interest in the community. It just happens that on this issue, there is a segment of the community that disagrees with their stance. It may cost them some business, it may generate some business. But I wouldn't say that a business should remain "neutral" on issues in their community or society. If anything, I think they have a moral obligation not to remain silent on matters of conscience if they feel strongly about it.
@MyTie- I didn't see a single thing about being a victim in her whole post. She asked if they made a mistake, and if they should stay out of politics. That's it. How do you walk around all day completely unable to be civil to people over the most minor of annoyances, and still function in society? How does that relate to your advice in the QOTD "Love?" I don't understand how you can be so against people who don't follow the tenets of loving their brother in their religion on an intellectual level during debates, but be so ready to just snap, be nasty, sarcastic and downright rude whenever you have the slightest inclination to, and with no provocation. And not just about moral issues either. I have watched you describe your co-workers in the most condescending, degrading language possible for being unintelligent, into sports, and uninformed. I watched you pick nasty fights with people over video games, trash Noxy's art and tell Mila she'd look like a hooker in a shrug she liked. You LOOK for an opportunity to be mean to people, regardless of whether you are morally offended or personally involved in the issue or not.
Fatalheaven has taken some real flak for the short amount of time she's been here, because of the Q&A thread and the debate one, and I haven't seen her be rude, or snap back at anyone. How do you justify to yourself how you treat people day-in and day-out? Like seriously- I want you to tell me what thought process goes into you believing that how you talk to and about people is completely fine.
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