Welcome, Business folks - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 10, 2005

Welcome, Business folks

Date: Mar 10, 2005

Excellent post.

Date: Mar 10, 2005

But please, let's not assume that everyone who attended is against the faculty. Out of 185 people there had to be a few who disagreed. Future actions will tell the tale. After all, look how quickly information was funneled to this board.

Otherwise, your post is excellent, and I do will let my dollars do the talkin' and the walkin'

Date: Mar 10, 2005

I too. . .

Date: Mar 10, 2005

Yes, LVN. I agree. I am specifically directing my plans to boycott against anyone who publicly condemns faculty.

Date: Mar 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Wise Eagle
"I just want to set the record straight for you. No one on this board has ever advocated violence against anyone. Using violence has never been mentioned. If you are carrying a .44 under the seat of your car, it isn't because of threats from USM faculty or students. I am sure that many of you realized that you were told stories like this to heighten your mistrust and suspicion of the faculty--to paint them as dangerous people. Nothing could be more untrue. I will speak for myself in saying that I will use boycotts of businesses that don't support the university's faculty and students. I, for one, am eager to see the list of people who attended tonight. I'll keep it in my car as I drive around Hattiesburg. Since technological accomplishments received such focus tonight, I'd like to talk about a very simple principle of physics. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you wish to publicly condemn the faculty of my university, I won't spend my money at your business. I won't do business with your bank. I won't buy gasoline at your convenience store. I won't stay at your hotel. I won't buy a car at your dealership. I won't dine in your restaurant. I'll go somewhere else to have my photos developed. And this goes for my family, too. So, disregard anything you heard about anyone on this board threatening anyone in the Hattiesburg community with violence. But pay heed to what you heard about boycotts. "

We must be careful and remember that all who were at the meeting were not in the camp of the small group of organizers. Let's be careful and not paint all with the same broad stroke.

Date: Mar 11, 2005

If there are new visitors to this board, I am sure they will quickly see that this is no monolithic conspiracy. There are persons of many viewpoints who post here and manage to tolerate each other reasonably well.

I am of two minds regarding a boycott. Certainly it is the right of anyone to take their custom where they will, so I endorse any individual's decision in that regard. But such action must be taken with care. Especially collective action.

Should I boycott the small business that hires USM students, because I perceive the owner as pro-administration? What about my bank where the president supports Thames, but my loan officer is very suspicious of him? Similarly, do I leave my accountant, with whom I am very pleased, because she works for Nicholson & Co.? Or if I am two months into a six month listing with Coldwell Banker, do I just refuse to show the house I want to sell because one of the local co-owners was an organizer of the Thursday Night Throwdown?

In my opinion, a boycott can create or exacerbate a spirit of confrontation. Continued efforts at reasonable discussion are more likely to sway public perception.