This makes me see red! What is wrong with these people?
 

Apparently the American Family Association is upset because Walmart is selling Brokeback Mountain in their stores. And somehow this is promoting "evilness" and Walmart is caving in to the "homosexual lifestyle". These people need to get a life! They really need to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves why they care so much about something that doesn't effect them in any way, shape, or form. Just because they don't agree with homosexuality doesn't make them rulers of the universe! I'm sorry, I know I am not making any sense, but this just makes me mad!

And, Brokeback is a damn goood movie and it was nominated for tons of Oscars. Obviously this is a movie that people want to see!

The American Family Association needs to understand that America is the the "Land of the Free" and they are fighting a losing game.

:sorry: for my rant!

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/04/040606walUpdt.htm

Actually, I was surprised when I saw that Walmart was carrying the movie, since they're always so high-and-mighty when it comes to promoting family values/their lame-brain idea of morality.

I suppose though that it just came down to the bottom line. People will buy Brokeback, so Walmart's gonna sell it.

I? Bought my copy from Amazon.

That's nothing. I was working at Blockbuster Video when Brokeback Mountain was hitting the theatre -- and when I mentioned to one of my co-workers that I wanted our copy of the movie poster before anyone else got it; the customer at the counter got upset and said "why would you want to watch that ****?" Also, the morning we started rotating it on our trailer sets, a woman walked out of the store when it came on and said "I'm never coming back here again..."

I quit the week before it came out, but my former coworker Marie said it rented out in the first day...and for anyone who understands how Amarillo is -- that is a near miracle.

Our Wal-Marts have posters for it when you walk in the door...

Well..
 

If Wal-Mart is so concerned about morality, why do their employees get treated like crap?

The world is full of politically correct bull****. So much in fact it's choking society lately.

You tend to find the type of people that are complaining are the ones that use topics such as homosexuality as an excuse from looking at their own problems. Not so much with society but with themselves personally. They are people with deep rooted problems and focus these on others in the form of discrimination. Most of the ones I have met are very religous too which is interesting.

I'm not gay, I don't think I really know any gay people (apart from all you guys on here! :lol: ) but I really don't have a problem with it at all. I do have a problem with people that try to stop freedom of expression and choice and this is a case of that I think.

I always give the same answer to these types of individuals. Choice.... You can choose what you see, hear, read, watch, eat, wear etc. If you don't like it then f**k off somewhere else, the world is a big enough place for everyone to get some space of their own.

:wavey:

So...your'e in a thoughtful mood today then Mac? :thumbsup:

It's all about making $$$$$$ Christy, they always want more, no matter how much you get for them, theyr'e all greedy ( and I work for one of them here!)

Let me start by saying that I don't believe in censorship.

However, Walmart, Blockbuster and other retail outlets have the right to sell what they deem "appropriate." Brokeback is not the first film, book or CD that has been banned from their retail outlets. Plenty of others (gay subject matter or not).

The best thing to do, as a consumer, is not to support their values by shopping at their retail stores. Ever. Do not give them a dime. I know it's easy to bitch and moan but still go ahead and buy low priced products.

You really want to take action? Write their corporate headquarters, state your view and again never shop there. Ever. No matter what. Probably won't make any difference. But at least you took action.

But that is easier said than done. In my hometown - you either shop at Wal-Mart or you go without. There is only one other grocery store and the prices are so high that many cannot afford to shop there - especially those trying to feed families. There was a mass exodus of grocery stores when Super Wal-Mart hit my hometown and now that is pretty much your only option :shrug:

I would like to not support them - but then again I'm on a very very tight budget and often times I can get all that I need at Wal-Mart - it's ****ty but what else can someone do?

Don't bitch and moan about it then. Never bite the hand that feeds you.

I would go without (and I have at times in my life) rather than support censorship. I'd re-arrange my budget (and consumer products) to allow for shopping at other retail outlets without giving up my hard earned finances.

Well again, I'd like to see you try to do that with five children, hell even ONE child, only ONE other very very expensive option for shopping and no money. Good luck. I do not have to agree with all that Wal-Mart does etc - and I can bitch about it as much as I want, since my money actuallY GOES to the place....perhaps it's you all who have nothing at all invested who should stop bitching and moaning.

If you hate Wal-Mart then why do you care if they're selling Brokeback Mountain or not? It goes both ways.

Anyway- I hate what they're doing to the market - it's because of them there are no other shopping choices, but sometimes things aren't as easy as re-arranging a budget.

I have to preface this post by saying that I honestly don't know what it is like to have to pinch pennies. I have been fortunate enough always to have money at my disposal, ALTHOUGH I have worked since I was 16 and saved a large, LARGE chunk of that money for instances that I am in now, where I am unemployed and am returning to school. That being said, take the rest for what it's worth.

WalMart hasn't done anything to the market. Consumers have allowed WalMart to grow into the spectacular giant that it is. Now, I'm in no way disputing the fact that it is EXTREMELY difficult to balance a budget with a family, especially FIVE children. However, I do have to ask, what did people do BEFORE WalMart came to their communities? I would venture to guess that the grocery stores did not raise their prices extremely in the presence of WalMart, though I could be wrong. But, the fact remains, if there WASN'T a WalMart, one would HAVE to shop at another grocery store with higher prices. WalMart makes it more convenient and easier to balance a budget, but is it really impossible to do so without WalMart...if WalMart didn't exist? I don't know honestly...it's just something to think about.

First off - WalMart and, yes consumers helped it along, HAS changed the face of the grocer/discount store market. One cannot dispute that because it's just plain fact.

Before Wal-Mart there were MANY option for families. In my hometown for instance there were several grocery store chains, and since there were many there was competition as well as fair and competetive pricing.

Enter Wal-Mart. Cheap cheap cheap. They undercut many stores - and hench all but maybe one hang around to compete. But they can't really - hence the outrageously high prices (but hey the affluent need a place to shop that isn't a ghetto Wal_Mart).

So - yes, people did fine before a Wal-Mart. Even in communities where there is still diversity in the marketplace - it IS very possible for a family or perso to do without Wal-Mart. But there are places where that is not possible.

personally...if walmart and only one other similar store was available in town i would choose the one other similar store (dependent upon which store that is) as opposed to forming lines at the zoo. ive shopped walmart um once and didnt find the pricing that dissimilar to that which i have seen elsewhere...we are talking pennies...and my preference for a store is product availability without the mom and five kids in tow :shrug:

There are tons of groccery stores where I live, and a Wal-mart super center. They are about to build a new one much closer to me. The only impact Wal-mart has had has been on K-mart here. In fact, the new Wal-mart is going where K-mart is now, once they close.
They all have their moments as far as bargains go. I just have to watch the weekly ads, and sometimes that's a pain. I'd rather get everything in one place if I can.

You know, I think a good way to send Wal-mart a message would be for everyone who is going to purchase Brokeback Mountain to purchase if FROM wal-mart. Money talks and I think that could sway this and future decisions to keep what some feel is objectionable on the shelves and available for more enlightened customers.

My question though is Wal-marts inventory on a company wide basis, or does it depend on region?

Don't be so exclusive just cause you have kids. Any one individual can be dirt poor and barely able to take care of themselves and make ends meet. Having children only compounds the problem. And five no less! Wow. Someone should have budgeted for birth control or better yet, abstinence.
If you can't afford them, don't have them.

You sound bitter. What's the point of bitching and moaning over something you don't want to take responsibility for? So you don't have to agree, but you'll give them your hard earned dollars? What you're really saying is: I agree, here's my money.

I don't. It's not about Brokeback. It's about censorship. I stated that clearly in my first post. That's not the first film, book or other media that has been censored or attempted to be censored. Farenheit 911 is another example. Plenty of others. Besides Wal-Mart is not banning Brokeback anyway. But their are organizations that want to ban it from being sold. Wal-Mart has had its share of censorship from time to time. Which is why I don't shop there. Plenty of other alternatives. Plenty.

True. But then consumers just like you made it all happen. Also, not everyone is good at making a realistic budget and willing to make alternative choices. It's all too convenient to buy into the hypocrisy.

Their censorship is ongoing, it never really ends. They still won't stock Sheryl Crow's self-titled album because of the "Watch out, sister/Watch out, brother/Watch your children while they kill each other/With a gun they bought at Wal Mart discount stores" lyrics in "Love Is A Good Thing." Just like they won't stock albums with parental advisory warnings on them unless they're censored, and until recently, I read that they wouldn't stock unrated movie titles and they still won't stock NC-17 releases. Though I think the best was when they banned Jon Stewart's "America: The Book" because of the nude Supreme Court Justices. Priceless!

If their tendencies towards censorship weren't enough to not shop there, their business practices and abusive treatment of employees should make people think twice about handing them any cash.

Try living in Oklahoma...
 

the state with the most Wal-Mart stores in the US....As I have stated before, Within 100 miles of any direction of our residence is 54+ Wal-Mart stores (Almost all are 24 hour "Super Grocery Stores") with 3 more being built.

And like you said, either you shop at Wel-Fare Mart (I call 'em that because it bothers me when a company has to train their employees on how to apply for "Government assistance" programs during job training, while at the same time this multi-billion dollar a year company can claim a tax break on hiring someone who just happens to be on"Government assistance") or you do without...I HATE Wal-Mart, But have to shop there (bka-Necessary evil) since they have monopolized the grocery/retail market which leaves no other shopping options (When we move closer to OKC, in the near future, we will be shopping at Target...Which will be a welcome option).

Hell, I recall an online article on yahoo.com about Wel-Fare Mart's monopoly in OKC, Whereas in the last 5 years they have taken over 46% of ALL the retail market in OKC alone and about 30 local grocery stores have gone out of business due to not being able to compete with Wel-Fare Mart's everyday low-BS-prices since the "Stupor Store" idea was first created.

Oh, just dont get me started on the shopping carts that Wel-Fare Mart purchases from Unarco Commercial Products (One of my former employers for a few years), I learned to hate Wel-Fare Mart way back then by their "contractual tactics" that were used towards my employer.

One thing I can clearly say, I NEVER PURCHASE MUSIC EVER (!!!) FROM Wel-Fare Mart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Selling an R-Rated movie but ya cant carry an album with the occassional word F**k is absotively HYPOCRITICAL!!!!

Wow....you're a real prize.

First off, I don't even have children.

Second - sometime people's circumstances are such that they have children they CAN afford - but then something unforseen happens. Either way - it's not up to you to tell people to not have children. Once they're here it's a parent's responsibility to feed and clothe them the best way they can.


You're right - not everyone is willing to make hard budgets and not "buy into they hypocrisy" But there are bigger fish to fry in the world - you don't like Wal-Mart? Don't shop there - it's that simple -but if you dont' shop there - then quit bitching about their censorship practices - what do you care?

Like you said - there are several other choices.

That said, I'm betting that many many more LEdgies shop at Wal-Mart than will openly admit it...I'm just sick of the self-righteous belittleing of those of us who do because we're simply trying to live within our means.

THANK YOU!

I'm not saying I love Wal-Mart - but people seem to think that we're simply too lazy to find other options...well believe it or not there are places where there ARE no other options. I came from a place like that.

And I understand the concept of "go without" as I grew up doing tha t- but you can't "go without" basic food stuff lol - and well sometimes it's only about the Wal-Mart.

I was raised...
 

somewhat poor, but in my hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma we ad more retail choices...Whereas now we have either shop at Wel-Fare Mart or you dont shop.

For Debbie & myself to shop, the closest town with shopping is 26 miles away (52 miles roundtrip)....And guess what is the only shopping option you have in Anadarko, Oklahoma? That's right, Wel-Fare Mart

If Debbie & myself were to avoid shopping at Wel-Fare Mart then we will have to make a 45 mile trip (90 mile roundtrip) to Lawton, Oklahoma...Where you have either Wel-Fare Mart or a failing K-Mart to shop at.

I would love to shop at K-Mart, as I did when I was younger, but their prices at much higher than Wel-Fare Mart's "everyday-BS-low prices" (I will estimate K-Mart is about 25-35% higher on average than Wel-Fare Mart on basic items...If not higher).

The way we figure is that we can either "feed the large money grubbing monopoly" and save our $$$$, Or we can try to help "the little guy/underdog" by spending extra $$$$ for higher priced items and end up being broke...And when you have someone in a family with either a severe illness (ie-Cancer) or with a possible severe illness (Or even if you have mouths to feed such as children) you try to be tight with the $$$$ you have for a budget...Even if it means going against your own morl belief and having to "give in to the Evil Empire" that you dispise!

Trust me, I would love to see more shopping options in the smaller towns around the OKC area so I could take my $$$$ elsewhere from Wel-Fare Mart, But I dont see that happening...if EVER!

Man...yeah...that sucks. In my hometown (in New Mexico) we did get a Target, and we have a K-Mart. But yeah, the prices are significantly higher. The Target is ok - so that is good for paper goods and hygiene products. But there is only one other grocery chain in town and it is way higher than Hell-mart. WAY higher. Not just pennies...we're talking dollars.

Even here - I shop at a grocery store called Wegmans - but for a dessert I like it's $1.76 at Hell-Mart - and $2.76 at Wegmans..that's quite a difference. Still -now that I'm no longer a college student I try to not shop at Wal-Mart...that was until a rash of unexpected dental work and car work put me in a position where I'm WAY Strapped :( It's hard all over....and sometimes - well you just gotta bite the bullet. And Wal-Mart carries the milk I drink (a lactose free-variety) - whereas no other store does :(


Anyway - I hate K-Mart actually more than Hell-Mart lol - so that's not even an option for me....I gotta take care of me and my doggie - and it's nice to have a few dollars left over in the case of unexpected problems....sigh.

No ****? Ya, think?
I'm not saying not to have kids. But you sure had better think real hard before you go and have kids you can't support. This country is filled with that very real problem. Unloved, unwanted and uncared for children. So yeah, I care about it. We're over-populated as it is, and frankly no one needs to have that many children any more. Not here. Not in a country that simply can not support it. I pay taxes, so I do support those in need, just like anyone. But a little education and forethought go a long way in preventing this problem.

Quit projecting. I wasn't belittling anyone. People can do what they want. Just don't bitch without good cause to back it up. It makes you look pathetic. And again, I was talking about censorship, not Wal-Mart specifically, even if they do.

You're no treasure either. Too bad you can't think logically and rationally as opposed to just being reactionary. I never made a snide comment to you.

Actually I think very logically and rationally. You don't know me obviously - thinking I had kids and all :confused:

Either way - you can think what you want....and I won't "react" to you any longer. And I was making actual real and valid points about Wal-Mart and the climate of shopping. I said you were a real prize because you (from what I gathered) you basically told me not to have children then you assumed I had (which is very rude).

I agree about the over population actually - and yes, education is key...BUT who am I to tell someone with a great income and job not to have five kids...then telling them if one loses a job or gets downsized..."Well ya shouldn't have all those kids!?!" Whatever.

Deanna & Richard, I guess I'm totally spoiled because I have--literally--dozens of grocery stores within, say, fifteen minutes of me where I can buy food & groceries. But sometimes I hear from people in small towns or some backwoods borough where there is literally only one market ... or one gas station ... or one shoe store ... or one whatever, &c.

Southern California cities just flood over with choices, until life here becomes a series of deliquescent options.

The more populous the region you live in, the clearer you can see the benefits of a (relatively) free market. If one guy charges too much for his widgets, another guy is right there to grab the customers with lower-priced widgets. Round & round it goes; where it stops, nobody knows.

It makes one really appreciate a truly free market, & make one very impatient with government (or "citizen watchdog" groups) tampering with that marketplace (outside obvious concerns about safety & fraud--but those are crimes, & government should play a role in crime prevention & punishment).

You're not serious, here, about not complaining about things (bitching) because they don't directly affect you, right? :confused: The world would be a lot better if more people bitched about more unfair/wrong/detrimental things that are going on.
Did I read that wrong?

Nah - I was saying that more in a tongue and cheek manner. I mean I think that the genocide in Darfur is horrid - it doesn't affect me, but you can bet I'll speak out against it...and some of the environmental attrocities going on in India...totally doesn't affect me...BUT I'll speak out.

I was just sort of trying to go at the issue from the other side..as in - if y'all don't shop at Wal-Mart - then why do you care if they sell Brokeback Mountain or not - or if they only sell censored cds...eh....I don't even know why I got involved in the issue at all really....

No? what was that bit about budgeting in for birth control?

that sure looked snide to me.....:shrug:

btw: you can plan and try and forsee any eventuality, but life almost always has the ability to throw you a curve ball, so no matter how much you save or how many safety nets you try and erect, there is ALWAYS the possibility that you overlooked something or that something will happen completely unlooked for.....such as you could get in an accident and lose a limb or go into a coma and lose your job/insurance and now have all those hospital bills to pay for on TOP of all your other expenses.....there's just no way to be completely prepared. thats unrealistic thinking on your part.

I don't live in a very large town, but we have dozens of grocery stores and markets. We have the big three super stores- Walmart, Kmart, and Target. I admit, I kind of like Target! And we also have a bunch of large grocery stores, specialty stores, and farmers markets, as well as produce stands.

Walmart is my last choice! However, I sometimes shop there if I need an item late at night. Walmart is really the only 24-hour grocery store. And, if I am baking cookies at three in the morning, Walmart can be a lifesaver.

However, I have vowed never to go back there after a horrible experience. I was in the DVD section and a man with one of those huge, wide brooms/mops was sweeping the perimeter of the store. I was apparently in his way. He didn't give me any warning and screamed "Excuse Me!!!!" while practically knocking me over with his broom! He litterally was sweeping my feet because I didn't have fast enough reflexes. I was pissed! Walmart honestly will hire anyone. What I wanted to say to this man was "On what planet is it appropriate to treat a customer like that?" But then I remembered, I was at Walmart!

:laugh: No offense - but if THAT is the worst experience you've ever had at a Wal-Mart then you're doing pretty good. My ex-boyfriend once got into a HUGE argument with a cashier - security had to escort him out. SOOOOO...when we'd go to Wal-Mart, because, again - in my hometown that was pretty much the only optin, we'd ram our carts into thing purposely....knock **** over....really childish and stupid - and really we were making no point at all - it just made us feel better. Those poor employees - they have to deal with jerks like us everyday - and the people they work for treat them bad to boot - I usually let rudeness or curtness from a Wal-Mart employee pass...

I love the commercials with all these happy friendly employees, clean aisles and friendly customers...I wanna go to THAT Wal-Mart :laugh:

It is my last resort for most things- although, like I said - they'r ethe only ones who carry the brand/type of milk I drink - which means I actually do shop there when I can't afford the more expensive Lactose-Free milk at other stores...

Deanna, can you take an OTC lactose aid to help with that? lactaid comes to mind....

Soy Milk. Soy Milk.

Yeah - I can do lactaid and such - I don't know why I don't. That's definitely something to think about though! I mean - I assume I can do the Lactaid thing - I take it when I know I'm going to be eating large amounts of ice cream.

The weird thing is though - I'm not totally lactose intolerant. It's just milk. I love skim milk - but I can't drink it without icky consequences. I can do ice cream, cheese etc..but no milk...I'll give Lactaid a try w/ milk and see what happens.

And as per soy. Well I love soy milk in espresso beverages - Soy Latte (yum) and I love a Soy Chai..BUT I can't stomach it on my cereal or straight :( I could probably get used to it - but I actually like the taste of skim milk lol...

goodthing you dont shop anywhere i do
really childish stupid? really ****ty

I was generalizing (I don't see how it was directed at you specifically. The world does not revolve around you. I was responding to your use of a 5 kid scenario):
"Any one individual can be dirt poor and barely able to take care of themselves and make ends meet. Having children only compounds the problem. And five no less! Wow. Someone should have budgeted for birth control or better yet, abstinence.
If you can't afford them, don't have them."

I actually never thought you had 5 kids. I doubt you'd have the time to post here if you did.

And you're right, I don't know you and you don't me. That we can at least agree on. I still think you assumed much more than I ever implied, which is evident if you read through the posts.

However, no matter how rich you are, 5 kids is way too many in the world of today. Look what's happening in China. Eventually, with time, when our streets and cities are too crowded, there just may be a limit on procreation. Course, living where you're living, you won't see it as quickly. But for me, living in a very urban environment, I already see the repercussions daily.

I guess crashing shopping carts in stores is a more amusing past time for you.

i was surprised to see my superwalmart carrying it also, matter of fact they had it in a huge display, i also noticed that they are starting to sell the "unrated" version of movies, which they never did before~

The Wal-Marts near me actually are clean and the greeters are friendly. :shocked: But I don't shop there anymore. It is rediculous that the Waltons are in the top 10 of richest people in the world but cannot offer healthcare to their employees. Not to mention the way they favor male employees and their censorship practices.

I can't imagine it being the only option to shop at, that would really make me struggle with my conscience/wallet. I guess just avoid shopping there except for the necessities if their policies bother you. Shop at other retailers online to get kitchen gadgets, towels or whatever. Target.com has so much to offer. You can get anything on Amazon.com. But I can see that if there is no other grocery store within your budget you don't have much choice. People who've never been poor have a hard time understanding that. But when you have to make a choice between milk or no milk there really seems to be only one option.

:rolleyes: Umm......well it's good to know that none of you have ever done anything childish and ****ty. In case no one noticed..I said ex-boyfriend, this was a long time ago. Don't judge.

:] give us s'more examples!

Exactly.

I can't, in good conscience, shop at Wal-Mart for these and other reasons. Plain and simple.

However, I'm not about to berate someone because they choose to shop there.

Instead of channeling all this rage at patrons of Wal-Mart why not channel it instead at this huge behemoth of a corporation that cares more about a huge profit margin than they're underpaid, underappreciated employees? Wal-Mart execs could make a lot of internal changes that would greatly benefit both consumers and employees, but they choose not to because they are more interested in money than people. I mean, it can't be stated any more plainly than that. Oh yeah, and by the looks of things they are also more interested in empty, abstract, principals such as "family values" :rolleyes: than the 1st ammendment, so, shop for your DVD's and c.d.'s elsewhere.

And Christy, I enjoyed your comment about Wal-Mart's twisted concept of "morality." Sums up the situation entirely to me ;)