Comments on: A Day of Reckoning for This American Life & Mike Daisey http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 21:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: qckbrnfx http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1375747 qckbrnfx Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1375747 So I'm not allowed to have more than one problem with this? I think there's something very disingenuous about privileged westerners purporting to know what is best for Chinese workers. Encouraging one company to pay artificially high wages (or to pay the same wages and enforce better conditions, which is essentially the same thing) is not a longterm solution because other less scrupulous companies will be given a competitive edge. Furthermore,  the fact that this has been presented as an Apple problem means that if Apple does clean up its act people will likely forget about the whole thing. But the Chinese government can improve things by enforcing legal standards that create a level playing field for all companies. People line up for jobs at Foxconn because it is a hell of a lot better than subsistence farming. Maybe now that China has attracted a critical mass of production facilities, agglomeration effects will mean that they'll be able to start competing on other grounds than cheap labor. But it is China's prerogative to decide when they've reached this point. When they do, I have little doubt that they will begin to enforce stricter labor standards. Just like we did in the United States after we became wealthy enough to start exporting our shit work overseas. So I’m not allowed to have more than one problem with this? I think there’s something very disingenuous about privileged westerners purporting to know what is best for Chinese workers. Encouraging one company to pay artificially high wages (or to pay the same wages and enforce better conditions, which is essentially the same thing) is not a longterm solution because other less scrupulous companies will be given a competitive edge. Furthermore,  the fact that this has been presented as an Apple problem means that if Apple does clean up its act people will likely forget about the whole thing.
But the Chinese government can improve things by enforcing legal standards that create a level playing field for all companies. People line up for jobs at Foxconn because it is a hell of a lot better than subsistence farming. Maybe now that China has attracted a critical mass of production facilities, agglomeration effects will mean that they’ll be able to start competing on other grounds than cheap labor. But it is China’s prerogative to decide when they’ve reached this point. When they do, I have little doubt that they will begin to enforce stricter labor standards. Just like we did in the United States after we became wealthy enough to start exporting our shit work overseas.

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1375437 Dino Cazzo Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1375437 So now it's about poor, mistreated Apple? The story is about APPLE. Not Dell or anyone else. But I don't think they'll be at a disadvantage anyway, what with their half a trillion market cap and enormous bank account.  Care to shift your rationale  again? Perhaps you think it's wrong draw attention to Apple because its logo is a piece of fruit and that's not fair to the companies whose logos are also fruit. Or vegetables. Or something, I don't know, but you'll think of it. So now it’s about poor, mistreated Apple? The story is about APPLE. Not Dell or anyone else. But I don’t think they’ll be at a disadvantage anyway, what with their half a trillion market cap and enormous bank account. 

Care to shift your rationale  again? Perhaps you think it’s wrong draw attention to Apple because its logo is a piece of fruit and that’s not fair to the companies whose logos are also fruit. Or vegetables. Or something, I don’t know, but you’ll think of it.

]]> By: qckbrnfx http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1375019 qckbrnfx Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1375019 I am in favor of strong labor and environmental laws. I would love to see China make improvements in both of these areas. But I have a problem with singling out one company for what is an industry-wide issue. Changes made by Apple alone will only put Apple at a disadvantage relative to its less visible competitors. We saw the same thing when Greenpeace targeted Apple for environmental finger wagging despite the fact that Apple's products were not demonstrably worse than anyone else's. Competition can flourish when all companies are held to the same environmental and labor standards. But when one company is skewered in the court of public opinion while others get a free pass? Not so much. Of course, it's a lot harder to effect legal change than it is to get on the Internet and complain about "hipsters" and "slave labor." But hey, whatever floats your boat. I am in favor of strong labor and environmental laws. I would love to see China make improvements in both of these areas. But I have a problem with singling out one company for what is an industry-wide issue. Changes made by Apple alone will only put Apple at a disadvantage relative to its less visible competitors. We saw the same thing when Greenpeace targeted Apple for environmental finger wagging despite the fact that Apple’s products were not demonstrably worse than anyone else’s.

Competition can flourish when all companies are held to the same environmental and labor standards. But when one company is skewered in the court of public opinion while others get a free pass? Not so much.

Of course, it’s a lot harder to effect legal change than it is to get on the Internet and complain about “hipsters” and “slave labor.” But hey, whatever floats your boat.

]]> By: technodramaturg http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374990 technodramaturg Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374990 As a theatre artist, I was surprised that Daisey's story was taken as journalistic truth (which IS different from theatrical truth).  As a long-time listener of This American Life, I was surprised to realize those stories are taken as journalistic truth, by both the creators of the show and by listeners - I have never thought of TAL as a news show; rather, I guess I thought of them as occupying a space between human interest and fiction (especially considering some of their regular guests).  Daisey's show does not, for me, lose its legitimacy (and the story Daisey is telling has been backed up with fact-checked investigations by NYTimes and others), and I hope his continued (and altered) performance of it sparks some good discussions on the nature of truth, fact, fiction, reality, theatre, etc.  It certainly seems as though Daisey was not up front about some details, and I hope he learns from this experience going forward.  And I actually think that his requirement that the sentence "This is not a work fiction." be placed in the programs of his show is a more egregious incident that what aired on TAL.  TAL should not have aired the episode in the first place (as hey have admitted), if they were unsure of its journalistic accuracy (because apparently TAL is a news show).  The burden, in my opinion, lies a bit more with TAL - and I will certainly listen to TAL with more uncertainty (though not villification) now than I ever experience when I sit in the audience of a theatre.  And I will also certainly think more about what sort of 'truth' audiences are expecting when they come to see shows I have worked on.  It is a complex and complicated situation, one that warrants more discussion than finger pointing, but I do hope the TAL folks continue to examine the place of truth and fact in their show as much as theatre folks are now.  Surprise, both Mike Daisey and Ira Glass are human, and so are we all - this is a very human drama we are seeing played out.  I think we will be talking about this for some time.  And not forgetting about the workers in China who, any way you tell it, do not have the working conditions that they should.  I write this on a Mac, and I do not exempt myself as a player in this important discussion that should move beyond finger pointing as soon as possible. As a theatre artist, I was surprised that Daisey’s story was taken as journalistic truth (which IS different from theatrical truth).  As a long-time listener of This American Life, I was surprised to realize those stories are taken as journalistic truth, by both the creators of the show and by listeners – I have never thought of TAL as a news show; rather, I guess I thought of them as occupying a space between human interest and fiction (especially considering some of their regular guests).  Daisey’s show does not, for me, lose its legitimacy (and the story Daisey is telling has been backed up with fact-checked investigations by NYTimes and others), and I hope his continued (and altered) performance of it sparks some good discussions on the nature of truth, fact, fiction, reality, theatre, etc.  It certainly seems as though Daisey was not up front about some details, and I hope he learns from this experience going forward.  And I actually think that his requirement that the sentence “This is not a work fiction.” be placed in the programs of his show is a more egregious incident that what aired on TAL.  TAL should not have aired the episode in the first place (as hey have admitted), if they were unsure of its journalistic accuracy (because apparently TAL is a news show).  The burden, in my opinion, lies a bit more with TAL – and I will certainly listen to TAL with more uncertainty (though not villification) now than I ever experience when I sit in the audience of a theatre.  And I will also certainly think more about what sort of ‘truth’ audiences are expecting when they come to see shows I have worked on.  It is a complex and complicated situation, one that warrants more discussion than finger pointing, but I do hope the TAL folks continue to examine the place of truth and fact in their show as much as theatre folks are now.  Surprise, both Mike Daisey and Ira Glass are human, and so are we all – this is a very human drama we are seeing played out.  I think we will be talking about this for some time.  And not forgetting about the workers in China who, any way you tell it, do not have the working conditions that they should.  I write this on a Mac, and I do not exempt myself as a player in this important discussion that should move beyond finger pointing as soon as possible.

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374979 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374979 Apple knows that they're free to do whatever they like- slave labor practices, environmental destruction- to run their business, it's their call. They'll just have to put up with the fallout. I'm glad you're willing to admit that it's not about economic protectionism since it's about Apple's freedoms. You're such a humanitarian, at least when it comes to greedy capitalists. Apple knows that they’re free to do whatever they like- slave labor practices, environmental destruction- to run their business, it’s their call. They’ll just have to put up with the fallout.

I’m glad you’re willing to admit that it’s not about economic protectionism since it’s about Apple’s freedoms. You’re such a humanitarian, at least when it comes to greedy capitalists.

]]> By: Greekster http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374810 Greekster Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374810 No, the story is about Daisey and how he lied. You "bait and switched" it into saying his downfall was the result of aggressive PR tactics. FYI: What you are doing is a classic PR move—change the subject to get take pressure off the original topic. Ironic, no? Back to the real issue at hand: Daisey could have done the same story without lying. He had enough truth in part of his argument to make his point. The credible stories are there. But he needed more compelling, emotional heart-string tugging details and when he didn't get them, he made them up. Then ends DO NOT justify the means in this case and it hurts the overall cause of workers rights when guys like Daisey lie and get caught.  And shame on the public if we need entertainers to get us aware of an issue rather that good journalism. No, the story is about Daisey and how he lied. You “bait and switched” it into saying his downfall was the result of aggressive PR tactics. FYI: What you are doing is a classic PR move—change the subject to get take pressure off the original topic. Ironic, no?

Back to the real issue at hand:

Daisey could have done the same story without lying. He had enough truth in part of his argument to make his point. The credible stories are there. But he needed more compelling, emotional heart-string tugging details and when he didn’t get them, he made them up.

Then ends DO NOT justify the means in this case and it hurts the overall cause of workers rights when guys like Daisey lie and get caught. 

And shame on the public if we need entertainers to get us aware of an issue rather that good journalism.

]]> By: qckbrnfx http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374686 qckbrnfx Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374686 It isn't about charity; it's about self-determination. Apple is running a business. You're the one who is treating these people as if they're a charity case. It isn’t about charity; it’s about self-determination. Apple is running a business. You’re the one who is treating these people as if they’re a charity case.

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374581 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374581 Who's stopping them? But this isn't about economic development in China, it's about the questionable ethics of Apple's corporate behavior. It's quite disingenuous to frame this as Apple offering the downtrodden their big chance to shine. That smacks of exploitation under the guise of charity. Who’s stopping them? But this isn’t about economic development in China, it’s about the questionable ethics of Apple’s corporate behavior.

It’s quite disingenuous to frame this as Apple offering the downtrodden their big chance to shine. That smacks of exploitation under the guise of charity.

]]> By: qckbrnfx http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374520 qckbrnfx Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374520 And you would strip away the one competitive advantage that Chinese workers have--the willingness to work longer and harder for less money under worse conditions--because it doesn't correspond with your privileged notion of The Way Things Should Be. Why not let the Chinese people decide this for themselves? And you would strip away the one competitive advantage that Chinese workers have–the willingness to work longer and harder for less money under worse conditions–because it doesn’t correspond with your privileged notion of The Way Things Should Be. Why not let the Chinese people decide this for themselves?

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374398 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374398 Fresh off their victory over the corpulent slave labor whistleblower, Apple is now whining about mean old Uncle Sam and his gosh darn taxes: http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/white-house-unmoved-by-apples-offshore-cash-problem.php?ref=fpa But why CAN'T we bring back the billions we made with slave labor and not pay taxes on it? We're special, we make the toys of the creative class so we shouldn't have to pay taxes! Why, Apple is keeping thousands of baristas out from behind the milk steamer by making them $10/ hour so-hip-they-hurt sales folk! It's not quite the deal we get from our manufacturing slaves but it's about as good as it gets in America!  Fresh off their victory over the corpulent slave labor whistleblower, Apple is now whining about mean old Uncle Sam and his gosh darn taxes:

http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/white-house-unmoved-by-apples-offshore-cash-problem.php?ref=fpa

But why CAN’T we bring back the billions we made with slave labor and not pay taxes on it? We’re special, we make the toys of the creative class so we shouldn’t have to pay taxes! Why, Apple is keeping thousands of baristas out from behind the milk steamer by making them $10/ hour so-hip-they-hurt sales folk! It’s not quite the deal we get from our manufacturing slaves but it’s about as good as it gets in America! 

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374394 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374394 There was nothing spammy about that except for the offense it obviously caused you. There was nothing spammy about that except for the offense it obviously caused you.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374285 Petzl Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374285 Huh? How are they comparable? Daisey's story is an amalgam of facts, hearsay, rumor, and outright lies, which are, by his own admission, bent in a way to manipulate a listener's point of view. This is almost the exact definition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda" rel="nofollow">propaganda</a>. A news story by any reputable organization, like NYT or Nightline is, or supposed to be, reported events and facts. Huh? How are they comparable? Daisey’s story is an amalgam of facts, hearsay, rumor, and outright lies, which are, by his own admission, bent in a way to manipulate a listener’s point of view. This is almost the exact definition of propaganda.

A news story by any reputable organization, like NYT or Nightline is, or supposed to be, reported events and facts.

]]> By: Stephan http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374282 Stephan Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374282 Your position smacks of spamming a comment section Your position smacks of spamming a comment section

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374204 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374204 Wysinwyg, That is incorrect. Apple had not lifted a finger to inquire about working conditions until the crtiticism started. By the way, you used "I think" three times in one paragraph. Perhaps you should aspire to "knowing." Wysinwyg,

That is incorrect. Apple had not lifted a finger to inquire about working conditions until the crtiticism started.

By the way, you used “I think” three times in one paragraph. Perhaps you should aspire to “knowing.”

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1374199 Dino Cazzo Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1374199 Your position smacks of greed under the guise of economic development. Your position smacks of greed under the guise of economic development.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373932 Brainspore Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373932 I wasn't happy to hear about the lies, but I wish other news sources were this up-front and thorough with their retractions. Compare TAL's response to Dan Rather's initial reaction when presented with evidence that the Killian documents were forged. I wasn’t happy to hear about the lies, but I wish other news sources were this up-front and thorough with their retractions. Compare TAL’s response to Dan Rather’s initial reaction when presented with evidence that the Killian documents were forged.

]]> By: qckbrnfx http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373864 qckbrnfx Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373864 I'll just leave this here:  http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/1997/03/in_praise_of_cheap_labor.html This whole business smacks of economic protectionism under the guise of humanitarianism. I’ll just leave this here:  http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/1997/03/in_praise_of_cheap_labor.html
This whole business smacks of economic protectionism under the guise of humanitarianism.

]]> By: VicqRuiz http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373825 VicqRuiz Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373825 I am so bookmarking this for future use. "Honey, I wasn't lying to you.  I was using the tools of theater and memoir." I am so bookmarking this for future use.

“Honey, I wasn’t lying to you.  I was using the tools of theater and memoir.”

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373758 EH Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373758 Uh, the reason Santa Cruz doesn't look like San Jose is because San Jose isn't on the coast. I think your comparative skills might need some work, try after you've calmed down about this local politics issue. BECAUSE APPLE, AMIRITE? Uh, the reason Santa Cruz doesn’t look like San Jose is because San Jose isn’t on the coast. I think your comparative skills might need some work, try after you’ve calmed down about this local politics issue.

BECAUSE APPLE, AMIRITE?

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373737 wysinwyg Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373737  Actually, Dino, I think that's incorrect.  I think Apple had already started a program to improve working conditions prior to the Mike Daisey thing.  In fact, I think I remember a lot of people citing that fact in Apple's defense.  Actually, Dino, I think that’s incorrect.  I think Apple had already started a program to improve working conditions prior to the Mike Daisey thing.  In fact, I think I remember a lot of people citing that fact in Apple’s defense.

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373724 wysinwyg Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373724  I'm pretty anti-Apple.  You can see me arguing with an Apple defender upthread.  I also don't shop at Whole Foods.  But I still think you are full of shit. So do you have any defense for your weird conspiracy theorizing other than accusing everyone else of being Apple/Whole Foods zombies?  (And you're telling other people not to be paranoid...)  I’m pretty anti-Apple.  You can see me arguing with an Apple defender upthread.  I also don’t shop at Whole Foods.  But I still think you are full of shit.

So do you have any defense for your weird conspiracy theorizing other than accusing everyone else of being Apple/Whole Foods zombies?  (And you’re telling other people not to be paranoid…)

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373720 wysinwyg Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373720  Or like the "Million Different Pieces" (or whatever) guy who got stomped by Oprah.  The problem wasn't putting together the piece, it was misrepresenting what the piece actually was.  Or like the “Million Different Pieces” (or whatever) guy who got stomped by Oprah.  The problem wasn’t putting together the piece, it was misrepresenting what the piece actually was.

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373719 wysinwyg Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373719 Oh stop whining about Apple already.  Pretty much everyone I saw second-handing this story was very explicit about the fact that Apple is no worse than other consumer electronics places and probably better than most of them.  You Apple people are getting to be almost as bad as scientologists with the persecution complexes. Oh stop whining about Apple already.  Pretty much everyone I saw second-handing this story was very explicit about the fact that Apple is no worse than other consumer electronics places and probably better than most of them.  You Apple people are getting to be almost as bad as scientologists with the persecution complexes.

]]> By: Steve Miller http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373713 Steve Miller Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373713 <em>"Sure, some of the people in the factory have to be skilled, but the people doing the dirty and repetitive jobs are interchangeable and disposable and treated as such."</em> Pretty sure this applies to damn near anyone, anyplace, who works for another. “Sure, some of the people in the factory have to be skilled, but the people doing the dirty and repetitive jobs are interchangeable and disposable and treated as such.”

Pretty sure this applies to damn near anyone, anyplace, who works for another.

]]> By: Stephan http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373614 Stephan Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373614 The reason why this can happen is because there is enough consumers in the West who too easily and willfully scoop up every outrageous story they read about China. It is called 'fear'. The reason why this can happen is because there is enough consumers in the West who too easily and willfully scoop up every outrageous story they read about China.
It is called ‘fear’.

]]> By: Amelia_G http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373610 Amelia_G Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373610 By "Mr. Daisey's translator," you guys probably mean Mr. Daisey's interpreter. By “Mr. Daisey’s translator,” you guys probably mean Mr. Daisey’s interpreter.

]]> By: Amelia_G http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373607 Amelia_G Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373607 Not the first time anyone noticed. I stopped listening to TAL because you couldn't believe all their stories and because they had a tendency to try to cadge appeal by ragging on eggheads, by making fun of knowledge. It's very playground-esque. The good reports on TAL and on Planet Money tend to involve Alex Blumberg, Nasanin Rafsanjani's husband. He is able to quietly work with people and get good results broadcast. Not the first time anyone noticed. I stopped listening to TAL because you couldn’t believe all their stories and because they had a tendency to try to cadge appeal by ragging on eggheads, by making fun of knowledge. It’s very playground-esque.

The good reports on TAL and on Planet Money tend to involve Alex Blumberg, Nasanin Rafsanjani’s husband. He is able to quietly work with people and get good results broadcast.

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373595 Dino Cazzo Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373595 Isn't it interesting that a company like Apple, run by someone known to be a control freak, would simply outsource the manufacturing of their products to someone else and then claim they knew nothing about how that production process was being handled? I mean, we're talking about a company that wouldn't license its operating system, something that almost killed it. A company that had strict controls for years on who was allowed to sell their products (licensed dealers), ultimately opening up their own corporate stores to gain better control over their corporate image (and, screwing the aforementioned licensed dealers in the process, but I digress).  Does that sound like an organization that would let the manufacturing process remain a mystery? Or did they just forget to ask about workplace conditions? In the world I live in, when we hire a subcontractor, we put them through several screens- liability insurance, credit history, safety record, etc before we'll use them. It's called due diligence. I guess when we're talking about massive manufacturing operations, some guy at Apple just picks up the phone and orders a couple million iPhones from Foxconn like he was ordering takeout? That sound about right? Isn’t it interesting that a company like Apple, run by someone known to be a control freak, would simply outsource the manufacturing of their products to someone else and then claim they knew nothing about how that production process was being handled? I mean, we’re talking about a company that wouldn’t license its operating system, something that almost killed it. A company that had strict controls for years on who was allowed to sell their products (licensed dealers), ultimately opening up their own corporate stores to gain better control over their corporate image (and, screwing the aforementioned licensed dealers in the process, but I digress). 

Does that sound like an organization that would let the manufacturing process remain a mystery? Or did they just forget to ask about workplace conditions?

In the world I live in, when we hire a subcontractor, we put them through several screens- liability insurance, credit history, safety record, etc before we’ll use them. It’s called due diligence. I guess when we’re talking about massive manufacturing operations, some guy at Apple just picks up the phone and orders a couple million iPhones from Foxconn like he was ordering takeout? That sound about right?

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373592 Dino Cazzo Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373592 Dave, you go ahead and close your eyes to slave labor practices because you like having an iPhone. But I think you can  be offended by slave labor and keep the phone. Dave, you go ahead and close your eyes to slave labor practices because you like having an iPhone. But I think you can  be offended by slave labor and keep the phone.

]]> By: Dino Cazzo http://boingboing.net/2012/03/17/a-day-of-reckoning-for-this-am.html#comment-1373591 Dino Cazzo Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=149758#comment-1373591 As someone else pointed out, you don't stop eating to protest horrible practices in the food industry to show your lack of hypocrisy. As someone else pointed out, you don’t stop eating to protest horrible practices in the food industry to show your lack of hypocrisy.

]]>