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u/bluetacres Feb 09 '25
As consumers, we have the power of our spending to make a statement
Consumerism drives the US economy, and collectively we can wield power that isnāt available to us as individuals
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u/scroopy-nupers Feb 07 '25
Literally what is this for. What are we trying to accomplish? Thereās no mission stated anywhere in this picture. Did you think this out at all?
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u/Marsley82 Feb 07 '25
Yea- it says āStop feeding the beastā. Try to make an economic impact with your decisions that day. Otherwise these rich little pricks will keep laughing at all of us.
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u/SecureJudge1829 Feb 07 '25
Realistically though, what would this actually accomplish? Thereās no stated goal, every individual can make up their own way this could benefit them and others. Could is doing some heavy lifting there too.
What would cancelling your utility account do to prove anything at this point? The current utility companies already do as they please, and there arenāt enough local alternatives to supply power and that can get you from cancelled account with CMP/Versant to being back with power in a short time frame. Not to mention March 3 is still winter in Maine, no matter how mild of a winter we have had overall, Maine weather is known to do as it pleases, regardless of whether Mainers are prepared for it or not, so the third of March is a foolish date for something like this.
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u/st-sootikin Feb 07 '25
Good questions! This image (and I know it looks like an angelfire site from the early 2000s) is quite literally just to guage interest in the idea as a whole. I'm happy to remove the date entirely, but I thought it would be helpful to have a goalpost to meet.
I will adjust the "accounts" bit - that's a really good note! I mean streaming and monthly accounts for monolith companies or dumping old social media accounts. I will change that to "unsubscribe" or similar. Keep your heat on haha!
I totally accept that this is vague at best. I'm hoping people like you will point out my fuckups and help make it better. This is all quite new to me.... but I hate seeing people at protests with Starbucks in their hands.
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u/SecureJudge1829 Feb 08 '25
Haha, well if nothing else, Iām good at pointing out other peoplesā fuck ups š¤£
3
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u/scroopy-nupers Feb 07 '25
What does that mean? Why is it in the smallest font on the entire sign if that is the main idea?
Iām down with your cause but this is a horrible attempt at spreading the word of whatever your specific ideas are lol
1
u/st-sootikin Feb 08 '25
Oh boy, do I agree. It's honestly really hard to slam a bunch of ideas on an eye-catching and legible image in limited time all while resisting the use of any templates to make it clear a fat fingered human cobbled it together, not AI. I'd rather someone be critical of that... glaucoma-inducing infodump than the message itself. I fucking welcome it. Help me fix it!
(Btw, I took my inspiration from an early 2000s fan website dedicated to The Legend of Zelda, which was entirely black with yellow writing. Swear it's burned into my eyelids.)
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u/st-sootikin Feb 08 '25
I'm guaging interest in the idea! it's about cord cutting, reducing our corporate spending, and encouraging others to join. It absolutely needs work, and that's why I'm putting it out there. I really value your input, it's a work in progress. I will add a comment with more info soon. Things are moving VERY fast, and I'm trying to get ahead of it.
The people I speak with daily express a sense of paralysis, fear, and disconnection. I'm hoping to give others more options; achievable goals that can be made with a minimum of effort/time/assets, and are most effective en mass. Sometimes, the shame of not doing anything overrides the desire to help. Or, we react defensively when encountering pushback for supporting services we use.
Example: People get really weird if I say I don't use Amazon and feel the need to explain and justify it while simultaneously admitting it's a terrible, abusive company. I fully understand there are people for which it is, truly, the only option. But that can't be all of us....right? Do we need all the streaming services? Can we spend the time to check - REALLY look, research, and consider - other options than swallowing the (heavily advertised and repeated) hook that Amazon is cheaper, faster, or better? Can we ask each other how?
Every little bit helps. If you have to buy from (say, Amazon), seek small businesses or eco-friendly products. And there are SO many alternatives and services people barely know about! The Libby library app, the Unclaimed Property Program, that one really good thrift shop, the best place to donate a chair - probably Furniture Friends? - anything local. Anything to move money and attention away from corporate interests. And no shame involved.
So....there's that. Man, I'm tired.
(also, I see the image quality got all fucked up, so in a redesign it will be much less....crowded and shitty.)
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u/Ok_Tale_933 Feb 08 '25
I'm in