tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post113655590263105793..comments2023-09-04T06:42:44.489-05:00Comments on Elyce Elucidates: As If I Needed Another Reason to Loathe Wal-MartElycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08268192471510411332noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1137646515169656652006-01-18T22:55:00.000-06:002006-01-18T22:55:00.000-06:00I think you are absolutely right about racism bein...I think you are absolutely right about racism being part of Wal-Mart's infrastructure. The reliance of foreign child labor to save money can never be morally justified. I cannot even begin to penetrate the surface of moral hypocrisy in the relationship of Wal-Mart and its consumers.<BR/><BR/>It is sad to see that many of the consumers I have seen in Wal-Mart fit the painful stereotype of the narrow minded "Commie Hatin'" mentality. This child labor that produces many of the products we buy is overseen by a Communist regime that is responsible for a great deal of our imports (China). Therefore, our economy is essentially dependent upon a COMMUNIST government for trade; <BR/><BR/>Wal-Mart seems to have done a great job of blinding its consumers with convenience by having everything in one place. Overwhelming is an understatement. After a while, consumers' perception of necessity and commodity seem to be blurred simply because the DVDs happen to be next to the vitamins. (Yeah I know it's a bad example but you see where I am going with this)<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that in a society where individuals are continually growing more isolated from one another, these companies (such as Wal-Mart) can sense consumer insecurity exploit these fears by insisting that if we consume, eventually we will have enough material items to fill the hole in society's collective soul. Wake up.<BR/><BR/>Ok, I'm through with my ranting. I enjoy reading your blog and now feel somewhat inspired to start one of my own.<BR/><BR/>Eric (ENGL 3085; M/W@ 12:40)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1137196414738764112006-01-13T17:53:00.000-06:002006-01-13T17:53:00.000-06:00Jessica,I guess I could confess even more: I am a ...Jessica,<BR/><BR/>I guess I could confess even more: I am a musical junkie. I act/sing in them and find queer pleasure in them and all kinds of good stuff, even though they're so often bastions of the status quo.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the WalMart book recommendation; I'll check it out. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, I hope I'm a fabulous protagonist! :)<BR/><BR/>ElyceElycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08268192471510411332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1137125991071888192006-01-12T22:19:00.000-06:002006-01-12T22:19:00.000-06:00Ah! And you are the same Elyce who commented on my...Ah! And you are the same Elyce who commented on my blog. Thank you for your confession--Les Mis is so lovely. Okay. Small world. :)Cranberry Velvethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248657755895183542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1137125881866382682006-01-12T22:18:00.000-06:002006-01-12T22:18:00.000-06:00Hello. I found a link to your site on the Brutal W...Hello. I found a link to your site on the Brutal Women blog. (And was somewhat amused, as I've been writing a story with a protagonist with your name.)<BR/><BR/>In any case--if you ever want a great book about the evils of Walmart--there's a book called Selling Women Short by Liza Featherstone. This woman interviewed hundreds of women about their experiences working on Walmart about the time of the class-action suit against them. (I think it's on sale at Amazon, too.)<BR/><BR/>Also, as a side note, I think your commentary on Fight Club is some of the best I've seen--I've never seen Laura Mulvey applied to it (I loved her work when I was studying film). <BR/><BR/>Good work...Cranberry Velvethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248657755895183542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1136654114901818532006-01-07T11:15:00.000-06:002006-01-07T11:15:00.000-06:00Very true, David. Target has horrid sweatshop lab...Very true, David. Target has horrid sweatshop labor, Taco Bell only recently settled its tomato-grower dispute...<BR/><BR/>Some companies are better than others, and I don't want to just give up entirely. Wal-Mart has particularly offensive hiring and health care policies, Arm and Hammer is unionized and treats employees well, Disney gives (gay) partner benefits...etc.<BR/><BR/>Sorting through it all is exhausting, of course. So mostly I try to read up, reduce the contradictions when I can, and not yell at myself.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, if I tease you about McDonald's, please know I don't mean a serious critique of you by it. Alternately, call me on my shit when you witness it or just tell me to shut up and enjoy your Big Mac. :)Elycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08268192471510411332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15011830.post-1136593264837292032006-01-06T18:21:00.000-06:002006-01-06T18:21:00.000-06:00You make a point which I've considered to some deg...You make a point which I've considered to some degree. You admit having shopped at Wal-Mart on occasion. I, too, visit the place on occasion, maybe once or twice a year. After doing so, I invariably renew my vow not to return for sundry reasons. But what bothers me is, what's the alternative? Is Target so much better? You caught me with a McDonald's bag recently, but I question, "Where's any better?" Taco Bell? Arby's? Regardless of the food quality, which is poor wherever, are any of the places progressive in the least? Other than moving to Short Mountain and producing all my own goods, what choice do I have, especially in Murfreesboro? In Nashville there are greater options, but I can't afford a weekly Wild Oats bill, along with the high price tags that attend other such places--fair trade stores, organic markets, etc.<BR/><BR/>Too often I find myself throwing up my hands, saying "You got me," and shopping places despite my moral repulsion to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com