Starbucks, Same-Sex Marriage and Getting Facts Straight

I was talking to Linscott but … why stop with Starbucks? He listed 10 pro-gay companies who a gay website said are pro gay. Boycott them all or boycott none. Now if you have to be gay to work there … that may be a case for boycotting or if they say “one dime out of every dollar goes to support XYZ cause” that might be another. But simply because the president said the company was tolerant (which seems patently false) you are going to stop buying their coffee?

Go for it. But there a lot more companies out there to add to your list.

Now if there was an obviously Christian company, like Hobby Lobby or Chick-fil-a then a reverse boycott would be in order … if you don’t mind supporting the “new evangelical” SBC :)

Jeff

Dan,

My larger point is this. If anyone was upset at how Chick-fil-A was treated, they should not try to treat Starbucks the same way. I find that inconsistent.

I don’t think Christians were upset THAT others protested about Chick Fil A, I think they were upset about WHAT they were protesting about and WHY.

Hi James,

I think that was going on before you joined SI. But if you look back, you will see the threads. I also interacted with alot of Christians offline. Many said that it was terrible that all he was doing was exercising his free speech and that he speech was right. I agree on both points. My only problem with the CFA controversy, is many considered buying a chicken sandwich a win for the Gospel….um no. But I was still in agreement.

Now, I think you are right about what people actually thought. But what they argued was that it is a free speech issue.

Gay marriage is sin. I have no problem saying that. But I am not going to do to that company the same that the people on the left tried to do to CFA. I would rather try to engage people for the Gospel. I don’t think political activism works, but at one point I did. Now I believe, it usually detracts from the message, and often puts politics above the Gospel.

Greg

I do see value in your comments. My point really never was to engage your argument. We all make choices everyday about how we will use the funds the Lord provides. Personally, I think question the whole coffee shop world. $5 for a cup of java?!? But to each his own. And I really don’t buy the “the coffee shop is my office” bit either. But again … to each his own. I have used places like this for the occasional place to hook up to the internet when traveling but I find them distracting, personally.

Blessings

Jeff

One other point, coffee shops are emphatically not selling coffee for 3-5 dollars a cup. They’re selling an experience which can include free wi-fi, and a place to meet with people in a “between space.” It’s not at work and its not at home either. It’s a place where people feel comfortable meeting a stranger. So I would encourage folks to stop with the pure economics of which coffee is cheaper and look at opportunities for the gospel these places provide that don’t otherwise exist at McDonalds (in and out really fast).

[Shaynus]

One other point, coffee shops are emphatically not selling coffee for 3-5 dollars a cup. They’re selling an experience which can include free wi-fi, and a place to meet with people in a “between space.” It’s not at work and its not at home either. It’s a place where people feel comfortable meeting a stranger. So I would encourage folks to stop with the pure economics of which coffee is cheaper and look at opportunities for the gospel these places provide that don’t otherwise exist at McDonalds (in and out really fast).

So, why does the nearest Starbucks (at least to me, in Sioux Falls, SD) have a drive-thru? Hmmm?

 :)

There is some degree of truth in your observation. I would just observe that the kind of people you are going to meet there are the people who can afford to spend their day drinking $3-5 coffee while gazing at their iPad. As good a connecting point that can be for some people, there are plenty of other places that can function in a similar role- the playground, the cafe at your local grocery store, the sit down area at your local mall… I mean, if you’re honest a lot of fast-food places like McDonald’s fill the same role you’re speaking of. just go in before 8 AM in some of them and see the retirees and such drinking their senior coffees… seriously. Our local Hardees teems with people like that before 8 AM every day.

Never underestimate the produce section of the grocery store as a place to meet people. The problem is, there is a Starbucks IN my local Kroger.

[Shaynus]

One other point, coffee shops are emphatically not selling coffee for 3-5 dollars a cup. They’re selling an experience which can include free wi-fi, and a place to meet with people in a “between space.” It’s not at work and its not at home either. It’s a place where people feel comfortable meeting a stranger. So I would encourage folks to stop with the pure economics of which coffee is cheaper and look at opportunities for the gospel these places provide that don’t otherwise exist at McDonalds (in and out really fast).

In the few times I’d been to a Starbucks, I never saw “experience” listed on the menu.

Some Craigslist rapist like the “safety” of Starbucks to meet their potential vicitms. [1] (Bing it, you’ll find a few more.)

If meeting someone for the first time, it is always advisable to do so in a public place, that could be anywhere from McDonald’s, Borders, Burger King, bowling alley etc..There’s nothing unique about security at Starbucks that should be seen as an endorsement as a safe place to meet people for a selling pitch.

And considering their angst against Christians, attempting to spread the gospel in a Starbucks would likely be interpreted as “hate speech” and you’d likely get kicked out in 2 minutes.

[Shaynus]

One other point, coffee shops are emphatically not selling coffee for 3-5 dollars a cup. They’re selling an experience which can include free wi-fi, and a place to meet with people in a “between space.” It’s not at work and its not at home either. It’s a place where people feel comfortable meeting a stranger. So I would encourage folks to stop with the pure economics of which coffee is cheaper and look at opportunities for the gospel these places provide that don’t otherwise exist at McDonalds (in and out really fast).

I sometimes wonder how long this business model will work or if there’s something else that might soon take its place. One of the reasons I rarely went to Starbucks anyway (and there were several) is because I could almost NEVER find a seat. We have three Starbucks less than 1 mile from our offices and probably 5-6 more if you widen that to 3 miles and I can rarely find a seat free. Plus, most of them only seat about 20 people at most. People camped out at a 4-topper with a laptop, people curled up in a chair with a novel, college students working off a hangover with a nap and a cold latte collecting cobwebs in the two-toppers in the corners, there’s simply not enough space to regularly find a table for 2 for a quiet and sometimes personal conversation. I usually just turn around and head to Panera’s and get a soda. And please don’t tell me if the CEO of Panera advocates polyamorous relationships, clubbing baby raccoons or adding a rainbow to the US flag or something. I’m running out of options. :-)