[macko]

So I'm surfing through Google news the other day at work and come across this article about an organization calling for a boycott against Ford due to Fords' placing of ads in gay-orientated publications. This organization, the American Family Association (AFA) threatened Ford previously with a boycott and [unfortunately] Ford pulled their ad campaign. Shortly after, they reversed their decision and ran the ads due to pressure from the gay-rights community.

Okay, so Ford is a little flakey and doesn't necessarily have a strong commitment to the gay community but I find it ridicules that in this day and age we have groups like the AFA, a family oriented group, discriminating against gays. Now I understand that our current administration is golfing with people of pro-family mindsets but then again I think just about everything the Bush camp does is effing backwards. It just seems to me that to be gay today must feel a bit like being say, black in the 70's. Yeah sure you're accepted (for the most part) but there's a clear enemy out there that feels threatened by your lifestyle for whatever reason and they're not afraid to hide it. Maybe that's a bad comparison, but I was born in '79 so that's the best I can come up with.

Here's a great quote from the VP of Volvo. Now keep in mind, this is posted on the Boycott Ford website which promotes family values.

“For us, it was very natural to address gay families. We’re targeting people with modern day values. It’s a value set and the Volvo-minded consumer is very diverse. ‘Family’ is much more than the traditional family.” - Thomas Anderson, executive vice-president of Volvo Cars North America, a division of Ford Motor Company, on definition of family.

Baffling isn't it? What a great set of values to pass upon your children, to promote un-acceptance and public persecution of individuals based on their lifestyle. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. Maybe not surprised, but saddened. Great job on the progressive thinking, America.

Oh and the AFA, it's based out of Mississippi. Go figure.

 

[sanjuro]

Funny, a gay member of my family owns a Ford Focus. Good family car for her and her baby...

 

[Serial Midget]

Yeah! Fight the power!!!

This is probably the wrong forum but I kind of feel like the issue ebs and flows, marketers must feel that the homosexual demographic is a major source of potential income.

I don't feel any particulilar discomfort that they withdrew the campagne but I am uneasy thinking that homosexuality is a market demographic. But then I guess a lot of demographics could be broken down to sexual preference.

Meh... you can slap a rainbow sticker on anything. ink:

 

[konabiker]

YEaah. Fycking queers!

 

[Serial Midget]

YEaah. Fycking queers!

I think you just made his point.

 

[noname]

Okay, so Ford is a little flakey and doesn't necessarily have a strong commitment to the gay community
.

Fords in business to make money, not pander to interest groups, that being said, gay people have money. I'll wager that there are more gay people with money(and willing to spend it on fords) than there are members of AFA(and they likely all drive Chevies anyway). therefore, if I was at ford, I'd be trying to sell to gays . Although most of the gay people I know drive European cars.

 

[macko]

Right, and it actually Volvo that's advertising to the gay demographic which goes more along with your observation of gay people driving European cars. I completely agree that Ford is in the business of making money (though they haven't been doing very at that lately, eh?) and they'll advertise to the market of greatest potential which why they should have stuck to their guns and not pulled the ads in the first place. That's not necessarily the point, though.

I just find it absurd that we have [family values oriented] organizations in this country that will not recognize a demographic of people based on their sexuality. Like I said, I shouldn't be surprised.

...and you're right, this was probably started in the wrong forum. I didn't know we had a political subforum on here. It can be moved if the great golden monkey in the box deems it necessary.

 

[noname]

Right, and it actually Volvo that's advertising to the gay demographic which goes more along with your observation of gay people driving European cars. I completely agree that Ford is in the business of making money (though they haven't been doing very at that lately, eh?) and they'll advertise to the market of greatest potential which why they should have stuck to their guns and not pulled the ads in the first place. That's not necessarily the point, though.

I just find it absurd that we have [family values oriented] organizations in this country that will not recognize a demographic of people based on their sexuality. Like I said, I shouldn't be surprised.

...and you're right, this was probably started in the wrong forum. I didn't know we had a political subforum on here. It can be moved if the great golden monkey in the box deems it necessary.

true, I have been noticing more gay people coming through my shop lately(have a volvo shop in VA). Most of Volvos engineers design their cars with women in mind (73% of Volvos owned by Women) so I guess that carries over pretty well to the gay community.ink:

 

[LordOpie]

let's get this moved to the Political Forum :devil:

The Focus on Family religions group is scary powerful and such groups should have political power, but they lobby even more than tobacco used to do.

 

[JRB]

Some group came to Temple yesterday to protest a soldier's funeral, because she was gay or something. I say, live and let live. If these people continue to allienate and persecute gays, or any other person, particularly in a time of sorrow, I hope they all burn in hell.

 

[Austin Bike]

I've boycotted ford since the early 90's. Owning 1 mercury cougar was enough for me. My family buys all fords.

replaced transmissions
replaced engines
replaced drive trains
replaced almost the entire car

They were happy it was all under warranty. A 36,000 mile warranty. What idiots.

I put oil in my car for over 80,000 miles now. And only every 15,000 miles. Only problem was power windows and they fixed those out of warranty.

Viva deutschland!

 

[Andyman_1970]

The Focus on Family religions group is scary powerful and such groups should have political power, but they lobby even more than tobacco used to do.

Focus on the Family is somewhat normal compared to AFA.......which is big here in Christian circles here in the Little Rock area. Their little "news" or current events show is a wonderful demonstation of being out of touch with the world around them.......I guess they have nothing better to do than boycott Ford, complain about Will and Grace and Queer Eye, than actually do something that Jesus actually teaches.........like take care of the poor or the marginalized of society..............

Of course I'm made out to be the freak Christian because I think those AFA folks have lost the plot.........but oh well.

As for Focus on the Family and their political power, Jesus Himself tells His follower not to chase after the things pagans chase after, money and power........when was the last time I heard a sermon on that.........oh yeah...........NEVER.

 

[Serial Midget]

Most of Volvos engineers design their cars with women in mind (73% of Volvos owned by Women) so I guess that carries over pretty well to the gay community.ink:

Now that WAS offensive... suggesting that gay men want to be women or at least drive like women or maybe dress like women. Well - theres an offense there somewhere.

 

[noname]

Now that WAS offensive... suggesting that gay men want to be women or at least drive like women or maybe dress like women. Well - theres an offense there somewhere.

Makes me think of one of my gay friends who does drag. Reba frikkin Macintire!

 

[Toshi]

Most of Volvos engineers design their cars with women in mind (73% of Volvos owned by Women)

did you just make that up? where did that stat come from?

 

[ummbikes]

It looks like it is less than 60% acording to this report from Ford.
http://www.ford.com/NR/rdonlyres/e7ayv6lvpdp2neh3naintfhplwilasmwfx64tfmx4hldf5627sinjkexbi3dxhsuudygyl4jozadusllssj4krp6f3f/CC_2003ENG.pdf

 

[noname]

did you just make that up? where did that stat come from?

I am a volvo technician and have a small shop here. I receive lots of Volvo specific publications. Volvo even has an all female design team that released their first concept car aimed specifically at women a few years ago. 73% may seem a little high at first, but remember that the stat is a few years old but doesn't seem to have changed much. Most of my customers are female, and many of my male customers have their cars titled either in their wifes name or jointly.

 

[noname]

It looks like it is less than 60% acording to this report from Ford.
http://www.ford.com/NR/rdonlyres/e7ayv6lvpdp2neh3naintfhplwilasmwfx64tfmx4hldf5627sinjkexbi3dxhsuudygyl4jozadusllssj4krp6f3f/CC_2003ENG.pdf

Yeah, my stats are a little old, overall volvo ownership from 2000(all cars still on the road), that was the last time I mad the trip to corporate HQ in jersey, also the last year before F@#d bought them. Now their cars suck. Go figure.

 

[Da Peach]

Should't these groups be spending more time trying to convert gays rather than worrying about how they spend their money?

 

[Andyman_1970]

Should't these groups be spending more time trying to convert gays rather than worrying about how they spend their money?

Or feeding the hungry, or giving shelter to the homeless, or clothing people who have no clothes....................why do what Jesus says, that just complicates things.

 

[Serial Midget]

Should't these groups be spending more time trying to convert gays rather than worrying about how they spend their money?

Convert "them" to what?

 

[Andyman_1970]

Convert "them" to what?

Being hateful and judgemental of course..................

 

[Andyman_1970]

Interesting quote I saw on this subject.............

I simply cannot understand why so many evangelicals consider same-sex marriage as the prime threat to the virtue of heterosexual families. Honestly, which has ruined more marriages: The extramarital affairs that are so brazenly celebrated on Desperate Housewives or the decision of two men or two women who love each other to make their lifelong commitment public? I don't think there is any doubt about the answer to that question. Yet most discussion of sex and values in the church veers inevitably to the gay and lesbian issues.

 

[Silver]

Interesting quote I saw on this subject.............

That quote has an easy answer:

Most people aren't gay. It's easier to rail against something when the temptation isn't there for you to fall into that particular sin (sin in the sense the religious person would mean, I obviously think the concept is meaningless.)

 

[fluff]

Interesting quote I saw on this subject.............

Andy, you're clearly not a true christian. Take up yoga instead.

 

[Andyman_1970]

That quote has an easy answer:

Most people aren't gay. It's easier to rail against something when the temptation isn't there for you to fall into that particular sin (sin in the sense the religious person would mean, I obviously think the concept is meaningless.)

I agree........there is no way I'm going to "turn" gay...........women are just too dang hot. So I guess I don't see how that is a "threat". We watch stuff like Queer Eye with no reservation, but our Christian friends gasp when they find out.........I don't see the problem, I'm not going to "turn" gay because I watch Carson teach some dude how to dress......LOL.

Anyway............I guess I'm not a true Christian.....

 

[Andyman_1970]

Take up yoga instead.

We watched an interesting TV segment on meditation Sunday morning before church and my wife and I were both like "Hey that's what Jesus taught people to do..........."(the whole going off to a quiet place to pray). Of course our religious friends probably think we're pagans...........oh well.