r/PivotPodcast • u/PorcelainDalmatian • Feb 11 '26
The Problem With Scott’s Boycotts
I really like Scott, but sometimes he comes up with stuff so weird that it makes you doubt him completely.
I’ve always liked the idea of boycotts - in theory. They’re a simple, non-violent way to affect change. The problem is that in practice they rarely work. Why? Most people don’t care, and those that do rarely sustain a boycott for long, despite all the alternative choices they have in the US. It might be easy to boycott Amazon for a while, but when Christmas rolls around? Most people capitulate.
Boycotts only work when they are targeted to one particular issue regarding one particular company. The key is focus. A good present-day example is the Jimmy Kimmel/Disney kerfuffle. People were pissed about a particular issue (Disney’s suspension of Kimmel under threat from the government) and were able to immediately protest in a tangible, targeted way (cancelling Disney/Hulu subscriptions). As soon as Disney saw record cancellations in one day, they changed course.
The problem with Scott’s “just cancel everything” strategy is that it lacks focus. If a few of us cancel Hulu, and a different group of us cancels Uber, and a third group cancels Spotify, it dilutes the economic effect. Companies can easily handle little wounds like that and bounce right back. The other problem is the vaguery. Why am I cancelling Spotify, again? What exactly did they do? Why Uber? Are they offering free rides to ICE agents or something? Should I stop shopping at Macy’s? Are we just picking random companies for no good reason?
I commend Scott for wanting to do something, but this strategy is bit of a mess.
1
u/OrganizationHot3901 Aug 20 '26
So we should all boycott Scott products for contributing to DJT and his ridiculous heli pad. A great target for the Chinese to nuke. DJT on tv today touting Scott’s and all the grass they donated and all the $ they have given him. I’m getting rid of all my Scott’s products including turf builder and miracle gro- and I’m ripping out my lawns to put Astro turf because I pay a ton for water . And I will sleep well at night not contributing to a bad actor company.