For example if you have a store and your main profit is from porn magazines and cigarettes (or even candy and pop) and that is something you are against is that hypocritical?

Or if you buy tons of WalMart stock because it's going up and you NEVER shop there?

Does it depend on the situation? What if people are actually physically harmed or if it wasn't a scam but pretty close to it for example some of those As Seen On TV items then how do you feel?

I'll give you guys a chance to answer then I will.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I myself would never care to make money off something I don't agree with. Doesn't matter if it was hurting someone or not. Just my personal feelings.

Jen

__________________
Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL!

I think it's a personal thing. You have to decide what's more important to you, profit or your personal beliefs. I couldn't profit from something I found unethical. I could never sell cigarettes or drugs. I wouldn't be comfortable with myself. I know that a lot of people wouldn't see it that way. The argument could be made that those people would buy it anyway and the seller might use the profits for good.

As for stocks, I only buy stocks in companies' whose management and ethical philosophies I support. I would never be able to scam someone, either. I just feel too strongly about my personal beliefs to compromise them for money. I guess that's why they call it selling out.

Renee

What about profiting from copying internet coupons that say one per household and you make more than one and use it? How about $25 off 25 purchase and using several coupons?
How about selling stuff on ebay that you got for free or at a reduced price and making an excessive profit.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Is it OK? Sure it is....if it's not illegal. Does that make it *right*? Depends on who you ask. I couldn't sell cigs or buy WM stock because I detest both. The money isn't that important to me. I also can't support actors/actresses movies if I don't like what they do in their personal life. I KNOW it's their personal life and it shouldn't matter but it does to me. I usually wish I didn't know so much but the media and internet put it out there even when you aren't looking for it.

So, would it be OK for me to do....no, it wouldn't

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Well I don't think I could sell cigarettes but I would sell candy. And if it was a product that was kind of a scam like the foot pads you put on then I could not sell that either.

And I am still torn on the WM stock I mean I don't agree with a lot of companies like WM and McDonald's but that is where people spend their money. As an investor (if I were investing this is all purely hypothetical) I think it would be worth at least a look.

If I had a little neighborhood store I think maybe people would be upset at the no cigarettes thing. I would have to make up for it somehow. Cheap milk prices or some kind of loyalty program or something to make them come in. People really love their cigarettes!

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I wouldn't sell anything if I was personally against it - then again I don't mind pron.

__________________
Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

If I owned a store. I would sell things I liked, that I enjoyed, like a spice store.
I wouldn't sell porn.. because.. well... too much free porn on the internet for that to really sell well, I think.
Cigarettes.. no way! Cigarettes killed my Mom.. so I hate them.

Walmart stock.. yessireebob!

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

What's that? Some form of porn so weird that they spell it turned around? LOL you and your mate are twisted!

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I am in sales and I have a hard time selling products I don't believe in or don't believe really work. For example, I worked for a car dealer that really wanted us to push the 'extras'.....rustproofing, VIN etching, accessories, etc etc. Most of those things are PURE PROFIT for the dealer and don't add much if any value. Consumer reports always says Do Not Buy, but I would have lost my job if I hadn't tried.....one of the reasons I left the business.

__________________
"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

Yeah, can you believe, the government wants to tax more money on cigarettes to pay for health care.
Can you believe, making more money on something you don't believe in.
kaballard

Many years ago, my dh was out of work and found a job selling insurance. He just couldn't do it. He didn't feel it was an honest way of making a living. His job was to try to talk old people into purchasing it, knowing that they couldn't afford it. His career lasted a few weeks, he didn't sell one policy On a good note, he did meet several wonderful old ladies who thought he was just a doll, and he put on a few pounds eating all the cookies and sweets they offered him.

It's "ok" as long as it's legal. If it's legal, then its up to your personal code of ethics, integrity, whatever you want to call it.

I couldn't directly sell something I thought was harmful (like cigarettes) or unethical (like unnecessary insurance policies) or that go against my personal beliefs (like pure-bred dogs). However, I know that some of the mutual funds I own probably do have money in some of those things. I'm not sure how you can avoid it in that case, though I do try to invest as responsibly as possible outside my 401k. (Inside my 401k, I'm limited in my choices.)

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

This one has me confused... you have personal beliefs against pure-bred dogs? Can you explain? I'm just confused as to what anyone would have against them. TIA

Just a guess, but I assume she meant puppy mills and all that go along with the puppy mills. I could be wrong--I often am when I assume!

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I was thinking that she meant that pure breeding is cruel such as breeding dogs to achieve a certain "look". I found this quote online and I was assuming the poster meant this:

"Now, the registered purebred societies have generated monster dogs in search of stupid ideal breed designs. Look at the flattening of the bull dog face. That's sadistic. So is the current bull dog body shape. From an engineering standpoint it is stupid. Or look at the short hind quarters of German Shepherds. Or how about the unnaturally much more narrow snout of today's rough collies? Lassie's descendants are probably dumber as a consquence of the skull shrink caused by the pursuit of a narrower snout. How about thinking of the quality of life of dogs before creating freak show animals and calling them normal?"

but I too could be wrong

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Personally everything we do in life is all about choices your choice either to do it or not. Personally I would never ever ever own a store that sold cigarettes or cigars or alcohol as I am againist any at all 1000 percent. As far as puppy mills again very very personal issue with me on all levels I hate them to the core, its so sad. I would have to think that is someone owned a porn store they themselves like a tattoo artist or piercing store, most owners as I have seen personally participate in those issues. You cannot be a straigth lace conservatist and own a tattoo or piercing store. Again bottom line for me personally for me if it is something I am not into , why in the world would I promote it anymore on any level. As far as Ebay I go back and forth sadly this is the only place I am able to find hard to find coupons, so yes I purchase and sell, however I use my money I earn to obtain pp for hard to find high priced coupons..Again life is all about choices . Catherine

excuse me? Ever heard of "straight-edgers"? They can be some of the most tatt'd and pierced people, but they are extremely conservative thinkers (no drug/alcohol, no pre-marital sex, no abortions, etc.) They don't fit the stereotypical "conservative" appearance, but they damn sure behave and believe conservatively.

Expand your view ILL. Look around, explore outside your comfort zone and your pre-conceived ideas of people.

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I know lots of conservative people who have tats and piercings. Tats and piercings have nothing to do with being conservative IMO

__________________
Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Excuse me Marliynk but once again you do not know it all nor do I however from having children all whom have tattoo's and piercing and plenty of their friends I have visited many tattoo and piercing parlors in fact 2 weeks ago . My son Tommy got his lip ring and his girlfriend did the top of her ear. And their friend got her belly bottom pierced. Now while I was in there and many other shops all of the people who work there were full of tattoo's and piercings of some sort.I am not saying that 100 percent of them show their work, but I disagree with you and say they do its their profression. When was the last time you visited such a parlor, please do not tell me if you did they were wearing suits and ties??? On a personal note Marilynk I do live outside of my comfort zone why would you say something like that. The same could be said for teachers, people in poltics , doctors do you see them walking around with exposed tattoo's or piercing not so. On this we disagree. Like I said I personally would never operate a store that sold cigarettes, cigars , or alcohol because I hate it all so much and would never ever promote it, same with a puppy mill. As far as working in a tattoo parlor I have 13 earrrings and one tattoo and I love rock and roll and men with long hair so it would be fine with me. Just speaking my views on the op subject. Catherine

I, personally, have two tats. Both of my sisters have numerous tats.
I have been in more than my share of tat studios, and piercing places.
The intent of my post was not to say I knew it all, but to let you know that you were pigeon-holing people based on a superficial issue. You stated that a person couldn't own a tat or piercing establishment and be a conservative. That is a pretty broad statement.
Tats and piercing aren't necessarily just expressing one's self, sometimes tats have hugely significant personal meaning to a person---conservative or liberal notwithstanding. You can't paint a tat or piercing artist as not conservative, simply because they own and operate a tat/piercing studio.

Back to the OP--somethings are areas of gray. There is no black or white. Kiddie porn is HORRIBLE, Playboy and Penthouse though?
Which is worse: beer or gin? Wine or bourbon?
sell cigars, but not cigarettes?
It's a personal issue. Only YOU know what YOU can live with.
Personally, I don't understand how a man of God (minister) can enter a major political race....

__________________
Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I personally don't consider Playboy or Penthouse to be porn I was more thinking of you know Jugs or Teen Girls or whatever perverted mags they keep in the back lol.

As far as alcohol boy is that a gray area! Alcohol itself is not bad and is sometimes good but too much of it is a different story and I would never have the Thunderbird or Night Train or stuff that has no redeeming value at all.

And I would NEVER sell certain types of toys either.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I think one needs to look no further than the US Armed Forces to find many examples of tattoed people with relatively conservative views/values. Face it, that was a pretty dumb statement....as is often the case when people paint with very broad brushes and speak in superlatives and with extreme emotion.

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

My oldest daughter is relatively conservative. She has several tattoos, and at one time, had pink hair. She reads her bible daily, doesn't drink, smoke or use foul language. I just got my first tattoo last fall, at the age of 46. It was such a liberating moment for me. I don't read my bible daily (but I do talk to God occasionally), I like a nice cold beer and I also find myself saying a few bad words now and then.

Cjs 216 it was not a dumb statement that is your views.There is a old saying if you cannot say something nice say nothing at all... Op this was a great thread thanks . Catherine

What do politics and what your body looks like have to do with each other?

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Susiecat it has nothing to do with political views and how your body looks like I was simply making a statement I and I said me personally feel about the subject nothing rude or nothing mean , just something I personally feel to be true of most people who have multiples tattoos or piercings or love heavy metal music, men who wear their hair long. Again I could or perhaps even be wrong, however to tell me that my statement was in bad judgement is not right. Again to op sorry this thread is not about me and will not be discussed anymore so sorry kindly forgive me if I took over the thread I never ever mean't it to be that way thanks. Peace. Catherine

In these economic (hard) times I don't feel like I have to luxury to pick and choose any more. Unless it goes completely against your morals, and doesn't hurt anyone else, I'd say go for it.

__________________
Mary

That's a big part of it. Also, when there are so many homeless dogs, I think it is unethical to breed or buy purebred dogs. If you love dogs, give a home to a homeless one.

Less important to me - I think a lot of people are scammed by "breeders" who charge huge sums for so-called purebred dogs that are really just mutts (labradoodle, comes to mind). Go to the pound and get a unique "purebred" mutt!

Those are all just my opinions. I realize that there are breeders and purebred dog owner and fauxbred dog owners who will vehemently disagree. I was just specifying something I would not invest in that I realize is not illegal or evenly commonly considered unethical.

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I n the immortal words of Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

__________________
I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."