Anti-Americanism

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I am thankful for any and all tips on inexpensive options for my photography, and would like to thank those that post them, no matter if they are available to me or not.

I don't think anyone is taking the user to task for their choice in store, the fact is that in some places, these large chains are the only option. What I think is being lamented is the growing monopoly that some conglomerates have over retail options. These stores are successful largely because they offer cheaper options than local stores can due to purchasing power...that said, as a cost of this, the relationships that many small retailers had with their customers are being lost. Every new advancement/technology comes with an associated cost, and I think that it is those costs which are being discussed here.

I would hope that people would not stop posting bagains from any store and that if someone finds this thread particularly irrelevant or offensive that they might skip past it while trying to assume everyone's best intent.
 
kiev4a said:
Too bad most stores frown on interior photographs. I'm going to Seattle via Spokane soon. I could take a photo in every Wallmart along the way of the same aisle--or I could take 10 photos of the aisle in one Wallmart---same difference.
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They do frown very severely. If they are anything like the Walmarts in Texas, their goons will bust you, see my story and photo:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/571629.html
 
backalley photo said:
poiltics, religion, sex...and leicas...all touchy subjects for the net and this forum...😉

joe
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One eventually reaches a point in life where talking about Leicas is more fullfilling than talking about sex because the chances of actually fondling a real Leica are better than ........🙂
 
I did not find the topic offensive. Having said that, prevention is better than cure. Just so people are aware of my unpublished rules 🙂

There will be no bashing of the USA or other country tollerated on this site. If such a thread gets by its because I missed it.

There are PLENTY of other forums where this type of activity can happen and create tense feelings between members. For the most part I think we all get along quite well and would like to keep this place as friendly as it is today.
 
Roger, you didn't even come close to "USA bashing". Don't let one overly sensitive individual cause you any grief.

This is as close to an International Community as any other group on the internet and if the United Nations played by our rules, think how much better the world would be! If we have politics, it's Leica vs Canon or Nikon vs Contax and so on and so forth. Personally, I like 'em all. 🙂

Walker
 
Down with anti-anti-crackerbarrelism! ; )

The problem with chain restaurants in my opinion is that (as one poster mentioned) they do take the local flavor away from places--and maybe contribute to people not being as adventurous and open to new experiences as they once might have been? I can go to Missisippi and have the same cheddar soup as at home, how comforting. Why am I in Mississippi again?

My job is study abroad...so I hope to try to impress upon my students the differences between places, and that they should embrace the experience of that difference. So hence my dismay when that cheddar soup even becomes available in places like Sevilla and Dublin.

(Not saying there are CBs in those cities, but just wait...!)
 
Roger, I'm an American living in Texas, which is W Country. No offense was taken. I even got a chuckle from it.

I have a Walgreens walking distance from my apartment and only shop there when it is absolutely necessary.

As, Walgreens did where I live, the big box stores / national chains come into a neighborhood with a cookie cutter mentality. - Mean while - the small local businessness have struggle to survive in a less than hospitable business environment. Real estate values is what usuall does them in.

I've probably said too much already. You never know what constitutes being unAmerican these days.
 
Being anti-big business is as American as apple pie. Anyone with a passing familiarity with U. S. history has heard of the monopolies and their bashers - dating back to before the turn of the 20th century.

Not so long ago, Sears Roebuck was the largest retail company in the nation. I can recall many (notably including Consumer Reports) who disparaged Sears (and always managed to rate their products in the lower half of the ratings). Many of leftish sentiments avoided Sears, simply because it was the biggest. Nowadays, Sears is down a few notches from the largest, which is currently Wallyworld. And guess what - these days Consumer Reports highly regards many Sears products, especially appliances. Furthermore, to no surprise, the lefties disparage Wallyworld, largely because they refuse to go union.

I would agree that large stores should probably stay out of smaller communities, for reasons already noted. But I also happen to live in a town with ONE camera store, and they charge what the traffic will bear. Once I bought a roll of Velvia 50 slide film at their price, I went back to mail-ordering from B&H in NYC. So there is still the matter of competition by price, and most of us favor the lowest prices we can find.

I see nothing specificilly anti-American going on here - it's a world problem, not an American one. Then again, whether or not it IS a problem still remains open to discussion.
 
Hello Joe, no pun intended, but how did "sex" become a touchy subject on this forum. I thought everyone was for it.

Krasnaya_Zvezda a fellow Texan, "Howdy!" You mean all those teenagers with camera phones are not taking photos inside the store. Then I guess they really can be used as a cell phone.
 
I shop at Walgreens a lot, but I certainly don't get offended when someone points out that it seems like there's one every 75 frickin' FEET, fer cryin' out loud. I also don't get offended by someone pointing out that they don't open another checkout lane until people are lined up to the fire exit, that it always takes twice as long as it should to check out because there's always some cute little blue-haired lady at the head of the line who just KNOWS she's got that coupon for 25 cents off Preparation H somewhere in the bottom of her handbag, etc., etc.

As far as I'm concerned, this is all part of the human comedy of being an American, and I don't mind people laughing about it as long as it's clear that they're laughing WITH me, not AT me.

On the other hand, for example, if I were to riposte that France could use a few more Walgreens because then maybe the inhabitants might wander in and buy a can of deodorant at least once a year, then THAT would be nation-bashing humor. And heavens, we don't want THAT on this forum!... unless it's REALLY funny, that is. (My definition of "really funny" is that it's funny enough to make the victim laugh at it. I'm sure my example above does not conform to this definition, and I hereby apologize to any French persons, deodorant users or non-users, Walgreens employees, and anyone else who found it offensive. It was supposed to be an example of offensive humor, after all...)
 
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Yeah, it is a love hate relationship with most chain stores, many of whom are multinational and the only allegiance they have is to profit and not any country. Had I read the thread I would not have taken any offense.

Bob
 
we have no room for walgreens in the pacific northwest as all available realestate has been bought by Starbucks!


Seriously, in Vancouver there are two across the street from each other on opposite corners of an intersection. Sheesh!
 
Chris, the way that works is with two Starbux across the street from one another, no one will dare open up an independent coffee shop within a few blocks of that location.
 
yeah i know...if anyone has seen the movie 'best in show' (shot here) the yuppies talk about meeting eachother because one was at the starbucks across the street from the other...i found myself laughing until i realised it was a subtle jab at vancouver...funny though.
 
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