Carrotmobs and Slactivists

Katherine Mangu-Ward | June 4, 2009

A snazzy little animation illustrating an idea of capitalist flash mob. Of particular interest: The explicit rejection of the use of government intervention to force businesses to change around the 40 second mark.

From Time magazine:

The movement was born on March 29, 2008, when hundreds of green-minded patrons poured into a San Francisco convenience store after [founder Brent] Schulkin solicited bids from 23 stores in the area to find the business that would promise to spend the highest percentage of Carrotmob profits on more energy-efficient lighting.

The crowd spent more than $9,200 at the K&D Market, which then fulfilled its pledge to plow 22% of the day's revenue into greener lighting—with the haul from the Carrotmob providing enough cash to make all the improvements recommended by an energy auditor (and Carrotmob supporter)....

The reverse boycott is perfect for the growing cadre of slactivists—slackers who care just enough about causes to sign online petitions and join Facebook protest pages but lack the time, money or drive to do much else.

Via Last Free Voice

Comments

robc|6.4.09 @ 12:44PM|#

flash mob crowd

FTFY

|6.4.09 @ 1:12PM|#

"reverse boycott"

Isn't that called patronage?

Xeones|6.4.09 @ 1:18PM|#

Did anyone else initially think "carrotmobs" had something to do with Carrot Top, and feel a surge of horror?

|6.4.09 @ 1:20PM|#

Did anyone else initially think "carrotmobs" had something to do with Carrot Top, and feel a surge of horror?

FAST CARROT TOP ZOMBIES...RUN!!!

Dave|6.4.09 @ 1:24PM|#

'"reverse boycott"

Isn't that called patronage?'

More like patronage with demands, but cool stuff. Hope it works better than "everyone don't buy gas at exxon stations today" stuff that floats around in emails

|6.4.09 @ 1:51PM|#

Unfortunately, the logic will be lost on my leftard acquaintances.

As they seem to think that the only way a company can be more profitable is to pay the employees slave wages, maintain horrid working conditions and fire as many as possible, they will similarly think that all a business has to do is behave badly purposefully to garner Carrotmob attention and then "improve" their practices with the now-new profits from the reverse-boycott.

I grant that this is a remote, but definite possibility, but it will be the first thing out of their mouths as the most likely outcome.

|6.4.09 @ 1:54PM|#

Another thought is that this is similar to something I proposed when the ADA was being bandied about in 1990. I asked why associations representing the disabled couldn't work with retailers to improve access and post lists of disabled-friendly businesses that they should patronize and reward for their efforts.

Nope. The lawyers needed a full-employment program, so we got the ADA instead.

|6.4.09 @ 2:08PM|#

Job security, biotch.

|6.4.09 @ 2:14PM|#

Touché!

|6.4.09 @ 2:21PM|#

I'm surprised that someone hasn't come up with a conspiracy theory that states that the sole purpose of the American legal and political systems is to promote the employment and higher incomes of attorneys. The Disilluminati? Selachimorpha?

squarooticus|6.4.09 @ 2:24PM|#

Awesome.

T|6.4.09 @ 2:28PM|#

I'm surprised that someone hasn't come up with a conspiracy theory that states that the sole purpose of the American legal and political systems is to promote the employment and higher incomes of attorneys.

Around my house that's usually considered to be a given, not a theory. But I live with a recovering attorney, so the household perspective may be a little skewed.

|6.4.09 @ 2:36PM|#

the sole purpose of the American legal and political systems is to promote the employment and higher incomes of attorneys.

When its the stone truth, it doesn't need your wacky conspiracy theory.

|6.4.09 @ 2:37PM|#

I was thinking that maybe it was so open and obvious that it lacked that "I'm in on the secret" component that conspiracy theorists so love.

My grandfather was a Mason. I think I'd like to be a Mason, so I could be part of yet another secret cabal that rules the world.

LarryA|6.4.09 @ 2:44PM|#

A conspiracy theory everyone agrees with isn't any fun.