Do you invest? - DPChallenge Forums

06/12/2008 05:10:00 PM · #26

A complaint/=/a vote in company policy.

Message edited by author 2008-06-12 17:10:29.

Ivo

06/12/2008 05:13:16 PM · #27

Originally posted by egamble:

Originally posted by Ivo:

That is much like spending $2000 in a department store with the ambition of becoming a preferred customer so you can earn the right to complain. That makes little sense.

Depending on how a company is set up, the stockholder could have some sway with how things are done. A regular customer (or preferred customer) has absolutely no vote or 'official' voice in how the company does its business.

I would somewhat agree for the shares of a privately held corporation however most publicly traded companies would only feel the impact of an individual's protest if they were a "significant" shareholder. This usually means a pretty large chunk of change which 99.9% of the population seems not to have.

I still hold fast to the idea that there are more tangible, and meaningful, ways of activism.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/12/2008 05:21:48 PM · #28

Originally posted by Ivo:

I still hold fast to the idea that there are more tangible, and meaningful, ways of activism.

No doubt. I don't disagree. I just think that activism is a waste of time.

We vote with our wallet. Industry listen to the consumers. Most of which don't care. Trying to change the system is just a waste of time, in most cases.

Life is short as it is...might as well pick up a camera, pick up your child, etc...and do something that you love and will have immediate tangible benefits to you and those around you.

Message edited by author 2008-06-12 17:22:40.

tate

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

06/12/2008 05:22:45 PM · #29

One question remains:
I 'EVERYONE' decided not to buy stock in a company that was "unethical", would it make a difference?

06/12/2008 05:24:36 PM · #30

Originally posted by metatate:

One question remains:
I 'EVERYONE' decided not to buy stock in a company that was "unethical", would it make a difference?

I don't think so. Not everyone holds the same 'ethics/ values system'.

Ivo

06/12/2008 05:26:46 PM · #31

Originally posted by metatate:

One question remains:
I 'EVERYONE' decided not to buy stock in a company that was "unethical", would it make a difference?

Reword the question and you'll have the answer:

If everyone decided not to buy the products/services from the "unethical company", would there be a stock to transact?

06/12/2008 05:30:11 PM · #32

Originally posted by Ivo:

Originally posted by metatate:
One question remains:
I 'EVERYONE' decided not to buy stock in a company that was "unethical", would it make a difference?

Reword the question and you'll have the answer:

If everyone decided not to buy the products/services from the "unethical company", would there be a stock to transact?

Especially here in America..if we voted with our wallet..the company would either change policy or go out of business.

Good answer.

Message edited by author 2008-06-12 17:30:22.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/12/2008 05:39:39 PM · #33

Originally posted by egamble:

No doubt. I don't disagree. I just think that activism is a waste of time.

Whoa there... activism is repsonsible for most of the major changes and reforms that have taken place in history... how about civil rights? Women's sufferage? Worker's rights?

Originally posted by egamble:

We vote with our wallet. Industry listen to the consumers.

Which is exactly why activism in the form of a boycott works. Of course an individual boycotting isn't effective, but many individuals organized into a boycott can make a huge difference.

I tend to agree that using your investment account as a way of expressing your political or ethical opinions seems like a waste of time. There are much more effective ways.
But I strongly disagree that *all* activism is a waste of time.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/12/2008 05:40:34 PM · #34

If you're going to protest something, it helps to have the resources available to do it. $10,000 invested in Exxon Mobil back in 1983 would be worth about $2 million now. Yikes. With that kind of dough, you could buy a nice green mansion like Al Gore's. Maybe even put together a documentary or something. On the other hand, if everyone chose not to buy stock in oil companies, then the share price would plummet and the companies could buy back their own stock uber-cheap and not have any shareholders to answer to. Yeah, THAT'LL teach 'em! ;-)

icu1965

Sony DSLR-A200

Sony 75-300 mm f/4.5-5.6

06/12/2008 05:41:51 PM · #35

I don't know that much about investing, but I agree with the OP feelings about not wanting to invest in companies that I don't support. That's why the only stock that I own is in Anheuser Busch. I support it, I like it and with my friends and family, I know my investment will always be good! :)

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/12/2008 05:42:22 PM · #36

yes.

06/12/2008 05:47:02 PM · #37

Originally posted by ososnilknarf:

I tend to agree that using your investment account as a way of expressing your political or ethical opinions seems like a waste of time. There are much more effective ways.
But I strongly disagree that *all* activism is a waste of time.

We can agree to disagree.

:)

Activism...when it involves politics..i.e. Womens Suffrage, Rights for Blacks..etc...are a completely different playing field than whether or not a company puts pollution into the atmosphere.

I never spoke negatively about political activism.

Message edited by author 2008-06-12 17:48:39.

06/12/2008 05:54:53 PM · #38

Originally posted by egamble:

Activism...when it involves politics..i.e. Womens Suffrage, Rights for Blacks..etc...are a completely different playing field than whether or not a company puts pollution into the atmosphere.

I never spoke negatively about political activism.

Then we are in agreement :)
Not all activism is a waste of time.

06/12/2008 05:57:57 PM · #39

Originally posted by ososnilknarf:

Originally posted by egamble:
Activism...when it involves politics..i.e. Womens Suffrage, Rights for Blacks..etc...are a completely different playing field than whether or not a company puts pollution into the atmosphere.

I never spoke negatively about political activism.

Then we are in agreement :)
Not all activism is a waste of time.

Agreed.

:)

Even if I didn't. I don't take things personally...I am pretty laid back. I just like to live life and have fun with my family.

:)

Ivo

06/12/2008 06:00:49 PM · #40

This is far too serious to be debating today. That said, this should answer all your investment questions. Global Century

Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux M MF - Chrome

06/12/2008 06:10:04 PM · #41

Originally posted by Ivo:

This is far too serious to be debating today. That said, this should answer all your investment questions. Global Century

That was great! I hadn't seen that before. Definitely gave me a laugh.

signal2noise

Leica M9

06/12/2008 06:11:40 PM · #42

Originally posted by icu1965:

Not a bad investment as the takeover bid from the German company InBev should drive the stock up.

06/12/2008 06:11:42 PM · #43

Originally posted by egamble:

Even if I didn't. I don't take things personally...I am pretty laid back. I just like to live life and have fun with my family.

I'm with you there.... didn't mean to get all heavy handed or anything :)

06/12/2008 06:26:25 PM · #44

Originally posted by ososnilknarf:

Originally posted by egamble:

Even if I didn't. I don't take things personally...I am pretty laid back. I just like to live life and have fun with my family.

I'm with you there.... didn't mean to get all heavy handed or anything :)

You didn't by any means. Just didn't want you to think badly of me.

:)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

06/12/2008 06:27:11 PM · #45

Originally posted by Ivo:

This is far too serious to be debating today. That said, this should answer all your investment questions. Global Century

that was funny.

I loved the last few seconds.

"You're right, I just assumed you didn't read it"
---'I appreciate your honesty'

:)

jjusa

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

06/12/2008 08:04:50 PM · #46

I still don't see why 'big oil' is something that shouldn't be invested in. If you do not like what they are doing, you do not buy their products. I hope you enjoy the quality of life you can live not using oil as a source of energy to provide your transportation, create the products you consume, and ship thouse products to you. Firms will provide the customer with what they want. The corperation is not at fault, the consumer is. I also lack to see what it is that 'big oil' is doing wrong, and what is unethical in what they are doing.

Message edited by author 2008-06-12 20:05:25.