The boycott of Nike over Kaepernick was an epic fail

Page 1 of 2 [ 21 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,834
Location: Long Island, New York

06 Jan 2020, 3:49 am

Colin Kaepernick's first signature Nike sneaker sells out

Quote:

Nike on Monday released the first signature shoe of activist and former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. It sold out within minutes.

The shoe is the latest symbol of Nike's strengthening relationship with Kaepernick, who has not played in an NFL game since 2016.

In 2018, Nike made Kaepernick the focal point of the 30th anniversary advertising campaign for its "Just Do It" tagline. He appeared in an ad with his photo and the phrase, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." In July, Nike canceled the release of a sneaker that featured the "Betsy Ross flag," reportedly after private criticism from Kaepernick.

In an email, NPD Group industry analyst Matt Powell said the Kaepernick shoe shows Nike is aligned "with their core customers' values" and supports its athletes. Powell said the downside is Kaepernick remains polarizing for some consumers but "they are likely not Nike's focus," an opinion shared by other analysts.

On Twitter, Kaepernick wrote on Monday that retailers Shoe Palace and Jimmy Jazz will donate profits from the sale of his signature shoes to organizations fighting oppression.

The public has spoken with their wallets. If you are against cancel culture like me be prepared to be constantly disappointed, if you are a corporate executive who thinks it is too risky for your company to be involved in politics google the nearest location where you will be soon be applying for unemployment benefits. As they say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity

“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 06 Jan 2020, 4:04 am, edited 2 times in total.

TheRobotLives
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Dec 2019
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,092
Location: Quiet, Dark, Comfy Spot

06 Jan 2020, 4:00 am

He puts his name on the company that's infamous for sweatshop labor (oppression)?

Nike sweatshops
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_sweatshops

_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.

Be the hero of your life.

Borromeo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Jun 2019
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,440

06 Jan 2020, 9:17 am

[quote="TheRobotLives"]He puts his name on the company that's infamous for sweatshop labor (oppression)?

Nike sweatshops
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_sweatshops[quote]

Wear stuff made by artisans, not by slaves. Make slavery impractical. I wear "Thursday" boots which cost me $250 but I have had them for two years, worn them almost daily even walking in battery acid, and they are rugged and functional. The pattern is off the old WWII combat boot and there is not a bit of padding, but they're quite comfortable nonetheless--it's like a pair of all-leather, unpadded Doc Martens.

The cool part? They were made in Mexico by a village of shoemakers, with imported hides from the United States, and should last me another two years if I keep them greased up and change the laces.

_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 134 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 72 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:

06 Jan 2020, 10:37 am

<* cough *> ... virtue signalling ... <* cough *><* cough *>

:wink:

Borromeo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Jun 2019
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,440

06 Jan 2020, 10:41 am

No, just passing on a tip because some members here are bothered by the whole sweatshop thing. I wouldn't have known there were other options out there if someone didn't show me how long things can last if you spring for medium-quality goods. At one time I had a hard time making anything last more than a few months/a year.

_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 134 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 72 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:

06 Jan 2020, 10:48 am

Well, at the risk of seeming hypocritical, I bought a pair of Army surplus boots for $100 plus change ten years ago, with the original "spit-shine" still on them. I wear them to work and when I'm out hunting/camping/fishing/hiking. They still look good and even the treads have held up.

The labels say, "Made In USA".

The_Walrus
Forum Moderator

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,872
Location: London

06 Jan 2020, 11:21 am

ASPartOfMe wrote:

Colin Kaepernick's first signature Nike sneaker sells out

Quote:

Not sure why this would be a disappointment for people opposed to cancel culture?

The racist part of the right tried to have Kapernick cancelled for... let me check my notes... kneeling. They succeeded. They then tried to have Nike cancelled for associating with Kapernick. They failed. Isn’t this failure something to celebrate?

Borromeo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Jun 2019
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,440

06 Jan 2020, 1:26 pm

Fnord wrote:

That's not hypocritical, that's an awesome tip! Thanks for the idea. I really need to up my surplus game.

_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 134 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 72 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,834
Location: Long Island, New York

06 Jan 2020, 1:37 pm

The_Walrus wrote:

ASPartOfMe wrote:

Colin Kaepernick's first signature Nike sneaker sells out

Quote:

Nike canceled the shoe with the “Betsy Ross Flag” long a patriotic symbol at Kaepernick’s request. The flag is seen as racist by some because it was made at time when America’s founders were slave owners. The symbol on the shoe is gone, the flag rebranded as symbolic of racism and Kaepernick is not cancelled, the opposite in fact he is getting very rich off the controversy. If I am in charge of the marketing department I would be derelict in my duties if I did not get my company behind rebranding symbols and people as racist and trying to cancel them. People like me that do not like that sort of of thing better get used to sucking it up.

The_Walrus
Forum Moderator

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,872
Location: London

07 Jan 2020, 6:29 am

Ah, I see.

Kapernick’s situation is, at the very least, complicated. Yes he’s made money by partnering with Nike, but he’s also lost a lot of money and the career of his dreams by being exorcised from gridiron.

While the controversy about the Betsy Ross flag seems contrived in a similar manner to “cancel culture” s**t, I notice two important differences.

Firstly, in cancel culture, specific events are simplified (Nike used an old flag-> Nike did something racist) and then personalised (Nike did something racist->Nike is racist). It then becomes much harder to wash the stain away, and other Nike controversies will be pulled in to show that Nike is irredeemably flawed and so is anyone who associates with it (Kapernick is racist, Williams is racist, etc.). I didn’t see this pattern from the “Betsy Ross bad” lot. I did see it from the “Nike hates America” lot.

Secondly, the controversy here was mostly around either a symbol or a dead person. Betsy Ross and her flag don’t care what people think of her. They cannot be harmed. I would argue that the concept of cancelling a dead person or a symbol is incoherent.

Regardless of whether you are more appalled by the anti-Ross, anti-Nike, or both “cancellations”, the fact that Nike emerged unscathed suggests to me that the cancellations failed.

TheRobotLives
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Dec 2019
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,092
Location: Quiet, Dark, Comfy Spot

07 Jan 2020, 8:49 am

Kaepernick can be a human shield for Nike against labor groups.

_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.

Be the hero of your life.

TheRobotLives
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Dec 2019
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,092
Location: Quiet, Dark, Comfy Spot

07 Jan 2020, 8:57 am

The_Walrus wrote:

Regardless of whether you are more appalled by the anti-Ross, anti-Nike, or both “cancellations”, the fact that Nike emerged unscathed suggests to me that the cancellations failed.

Unscathed? He's one of the most hated people in America.

He repeatedly kneeled during the US national anthem.

This is considered to show great disrespect to the country, the flag, the military.

_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.

Be the hero of your life.

ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,834
Location: Long Island, New York

07 Jan 2020, 11:16 am

The_Walrus wrote:

You can “cancel” historical figures by eliminating any tribute or mention of those people. You can “cancel” living people by destroying their careers and making them person non grata.

Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:

07 Jan 2020, 11:22 am

TheRobotLives wrote:

... He's one of the most hated people in America. He repeatedly kneeled during the US national anthem. This is considered to show great disrespect to the country, the flag, the military.

By whom? And since when is "Disrespect" a crime?

He has the right to express his opinion in any way that does not break the law, and though I may not agree with the ways he expressed it, I will not condemn or "cancel" him for expressing it.

I'm not that closed-minded.

The_Walrus
Forum Moderator

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,872
Location: London

07 Jan 2020, 11:36 am

TheRobotLives wrote:

The_Walrus wrote:

Regardless of whether you are more appalled by the anti-Ross, anti-Nike, or both “cancellations”, the fact that Nike emerged unscathed suggests to me that the cancellations failed.

Unscathed? He's one of the most hated people in America.

He repeatedly kneeled during the US national anthem.

This is considered to show great disrespect to the country, the flag, the military.

Well, LoveNotHate, Nike and Kapernick are not the same thing and that is a distinction I have deliberately drawn in my posts, and at quite some length.

ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,834
Location: Long Island, New York

07 Jan 2020, 4:32 pm

The_Walrus wrote:

TheRobotLives wrote:

The_Walrus wrote:

Regardless of whether you are more appalled by the anti-Ross, anti-Nike, or both “cancellations”, the fact that Nike emerged unscathed suggests to me that the cancellations failed.

Unscathed? He's one of the most hated people in America.

He repeatedly kneeled during the US national anthem.

This is considered to show great disrespect to the country, the flag, the military.

Well, LoveNotHate, Nike and Kapernick are not the same thing and that is a distinction I have deliberately drawn in my posts, and at quite some length.

Keapernick the most hated man in America, people sure have a funny way of showing it.

Page 1 of 2 [ 21 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Jump to:

The boycott of Nike over Kaepernick was an epic fail Post Reply New Topic

The boycott of Nike over Kaepernick was an epic fail