Who wants to SCREW Focus on the Family?

[giza]

In a nutshell, Focus on the Family is a right-wing religious organization. Among other things, they want to "make gays straight", which is reason enough for them to be on my sh*t list.

So what would you say if I told you that you could order merchandise from their store for FREE? Well, not free, but for a donation of $0.00. Don't believe me? See:

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/warrenelliscom/715657.html

I just ordered 3 copies of the Chronicles of Narnia from them.

You can order up to $100.00 "suggested donations" worth of stuff this way. My recommendation? Sell the stuff on eBay or whereever, and give the money to the ACLU.

Comments

[triggur.livejournal.com]

Oh, rock. :)

[omnibahumut.livejournal.com]

[kovucougar.livejournal.com]

I've seen this start to make the rounds a lot since the Stranger had it in an article.

I wonder how long before they stop sending free stuff.

[gizmo-nine.livejournal.com]

actually... you can go back through, log in again, and order more stuff... and just keep going with it over and over.
I just ordered 3 copies of the Chronicles of Narnia DVD and the audio CD collection.
I figure they will make cool auction items at some convention charity auction.

[just-the-ash.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks! I'd already ordered the DVD yesterday, and was figuring I'd have to wait for it to arrive to order the audio CDs, but I just placed an order for those too. Something to listen to while I'm grading papers! :>

[giza.livejournal.com]

Depends. If they have a lot of this outsourced, they might not notice for quite some time. :-)

[netcrimes.livejournal.com]

Frelling A.

I hope this works.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

I couldn't do it. I wanted to, I really did, but it feels like stealing...
And I know in a way they're trying to steal us from our sexuality and rights... but still... -.-

I've wanted Les Miserables soundtrack for quite a while now =P

[furahi.livejournal.com]

... and I do resent them because their site was one of the first my mom found after I (abit forcibly) came out to her and she turned to the Internet for ... help understanding, I guess...

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

How about using a fake name? I'd like to see someone order something there with a name like Haywood Jablowme

[giza.livejournal.com]

Why do anything to tip them off?

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

I did it to try and be moderately amusing. I don't think anyone will give the name a second thought.

[boixboi.livejournal.com]

One injustice cannot erase another. I am not going to try and stop this campaign actively, but I think it is a bad idea. The backlash for the left when this gets out will be major, especially among these types whose hatred is already so heightened.

To express it in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."

[giza.livejournal.com]

They're not asking for /payment/, they're asking for /donations/. And the very definition of "donation" is a voluntary gift. In this case, I'm declining to volunteer.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're not stealing, if the price is optional they can't blame you for not wanting to pay it. Legally there's nothing wrong with it.
Ethically? well... every person has different moral values, I'm nobody to judge... but I do judge and I like that you're getting back at them, I just can't do it myself

It probably makes me a hipocrite or a coward =P

Here in Mexico several places have this concept called "mandatory donation", which is another way to say "price tag", but it makes it sound so much more noble that way ;P

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

And furthermore, I think the goal is for them to get your real name and phone number. The donation thing is just a side or a bonus if they actually get it.

Armed with your name and phone number, they can then say that "oh, this person now supports our views" and then other people might actually think you support their agenda, even though you would have no intention of doing so, and either do I.

Was the fake name a bit below the belt anyway? Probably, and I most likely won't be doing something like this again. The free stuff from a group that promotes bigotry and hate, and having even an address in their system associated with me, IMO just isn't worth the hassle it may generate further down the road.

[giza.livejournal.com]

I gave my real name and phone number.

What I didn't tell them was that it's my home phone, the ringer for which is turned off. So if they try to call, they'll never get an answer.

And hey, if they want to send their junk to my snail mail box, it's their dime!

[triggur.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but "showing them love" is not going to win you anything.

It sucks to admit it, but humans are contentious, xenophobic, violent animals, and anybody that thinks they can win a war with hugs is going to wind up crushed.

Sorry, hate to block the moonbeams. But there's reality out here.

[triggur.livejournal.com]

Yeah. ANd I've decided if they want to call me, I'll listen intently and ask all the right questions and keep them on the phone _for_as_long_as_I_can_ without buying anything. :)