There’s an intriguing debate going on over at GayOrbit regarding a subversive way of screwing with anti-gay bigots Focus On The Family. Michael posted Wanna Piss Off Focus on the Family? earlier yesterday:
Here’s how it’s done!
Focus on the Family, the horrid anti-gay evangelical church based in Colorado Springs that wields too much power for anyone’s good, has a store on their website that will give you books, CDs, and DVDs absolutely free of charge.
…
Update: I just ordered about $100 worth of crap. Suggested donation? $96. Actual donation? $0. But I’m getting the Chronicles of Narnia collection!
As with anything in the blogsphere, this suggested method of sabotaging FoF isn’t without controversy. Michael defends his actions:
Again, I encourage you to go get some cool merchandise from Focus on the Family. I got a few things I wanted. Having said that, there are those who think I am stealing, and they are going to write to Focus on the Family to tell on me. Meh. Go ahead.
But, no. It’s not stealing. I’m getting a couple books and a DVD I want and I am not required to give a donation at all. Stealing would be going through a backend and defying the law to get goods that I am required to pay for. FotF does not require you to pay for this stuff.
Today, there is a further post with excellent and very balanced replies, especially by Andrew of Aggiepundit.
Personally, I tend to feel like Robbie of Malcontent does: it’s a childish, juvenile (although viscerally satisfying in a “Nyah, nyah!” fashion) way of “striking back” at a large, well-organized, and (sadly) influential anti-gay group. But does it really have an impact? Does it drain their finances at all?
Probably not. The only way I can see it having an impact is that if every GLBT person in America followed through and ordered items. Obviously, that isn’t going to happen. So it’s a moot point.
What isn’t a moot point is using our respective voices when we can to educate and speak out about the equality we deserve. I think that cumulatively, thoughtfully composed and balanced responses to FoF’s insanity will have more effect. There will always be opposition to us, and we cannot eliminate it. But we can counter it productively, and that should always be the goal.
Technorati Tags: Focus on the Family, sabotaging, stealing, anti-gay, equality
Right on. I won’t lie… I secretly enjoy silly acts of disrespect when it comes to an organization as personally loathsome to me as FoF. But the real blow to their pseudo-logic is consistently being tolerant, open-minded, intelligent, well-read and even when it comes to talking about equality and the rights deserved of all people, regardless of sexuality, race or religion. So often groups like FoF preach under the guise of thoughtful, researched fact when they are truly promoting intolerance, disrespect and prejudice…based on their personal moral beliefs. It’s infuriating to me but screaming back obscenities and TPing their office won’t stop it. Intelligence and tolerance will always win!
I’m right there with ya. It’s sooooo satisfying to the 5 y/o in me to screw with people like the FoF and their ilk. It sates a really deeply-ingrained human characteristic for revenge.
Buuuut… reality is a bit different. Sure has been fun to daydream about sapping their coffers, though.
Although TP’ing their offices… now I might be able to get behind a nighttime assailing of their admin areas. I feel all “Alias” all of a sudden!
I like the idea of effing with those who deserve it most (FoF being the poster child), but they have corporate underwriters funding their publications anyway (no doubt) and it drives up their numbers to say that X number of thousand people have ordered resources from them. They can use that as leverage to get more funding and, of course, to trap the gullible a-holes who think, wow, all my neighbors are supporting this screwed-up organization — maybe they should check them out.
Believe me, I worked the non-profit circuit and “more money than brains” wasn’t coined for nothing. Some idiot’s going to write a big fat check to fund the printing, postage and continued spreading of their hatred. Sadly enough.
And the funny thing is that people get upset when you point out that it’s childish, juvenile, unethical, AND ineffective.
You would know better than anyone eh, NDT?
It’s a fallcious concept to think taking the FoF’s goods will work. And I believe it was you (forgive me, too many back n forth’s to be sure) who said it would give them ammo to keep saying negative things about us. That alone should give anyone pause about trying this.
In the end, I think it would only satisfy oneself, and do the larger community nothing but harm. And that’s just not worth the price to me.
Thanks for stopping by, it’s nice to see you.
Yes, I did mention that, Lachlan….and aside from it simply being unethical, that was by far the biggest reason.
And I appreciate the welcome very much….friendly faces have been rather scarce lately.
You’re welcome here any time, NDT. I welcome all POV’s, and without different opinions, there is nothing to learn from and debate.
Yes, I have come to agree with you -I had been fairly ambivalent about the subject until I read further and watched the debate unfold- that it is unethical. While FoF set themselves up for abuse (and not just by gay folk wishing to derail them, but anyone who wants free stuff and doesn’t want to pay), it certainly does not mean that stooping to that level is a good idea. In fact, I remain convinced that doing so would be the karmic equivalent of kicking a dog. A really big, anti-gay dog, but still.
It’s not worth it. I want to win equality fairly, and with as much composure and grace as possible.
I’m with Lachlan on this. The best way to “get to” FotF members is to show them gays aren’t all angry anti-Christians out to tweak the faithful every chance they get, but regular people just trying to live life like everybody else.
Pranks like this just generate hard feelings in the FotF camp, and don’t benefit anyone—except maybe Michael!