Do you think it's appropriate to play a conservative Christian radio station in a retail store? [Detail]?

Today I was shopping at the Conservative Christian resale shop, and I got a huge dose of, “You need to call your congressman and support the ‘bathroom according to sex at birth’ law.”

I resent it, but I don’t know if I think that’s fair.

I know this isn’t “politically correct” but I was raised with ethics and morals and I will not be silenced.

Conservatives are out and proud about their activities, demanding to look down CHILDREN’S pants and fondling them to “protect the public”. And the Mainstream Media treats them as normal human beings.

The safest policy would be to take the Republican primary voting rolls and re-label them “Sex Offenders List”. I don’t know if chemical castration or lifetime isolation would be best, but something must be done to keep these degenerates away from our children.

Sure. I have no problem with it. If it’s a private business – or especially the Christian Church’s resale shop – why not? Now, I wouldn’t shop there. But at least the radio station would be a loud announcement that I should probably take my business elsewhere.

His store, he can play what he wants.

When I was working at night alone in a store I played heavy opera and loud rock. I cranked the music so loud that you could feel the sound waves. Someone must of complained and I lost that ability . I quit soon after.

Appropriate? For whom; the staff or the customers ?

It’s their store. If they don’t mind alienating those who don’t like the music (and thus losing business) they can do whatever they want in their own store.

They aren’t violating any laws, so it’s their choice.

Annoying, isn’t it?

Sure it’s appropriate. They own the store, therefore they can make policy. I don’t think you would want to live anywhere that this is not true. Nearly every headshop in the US and Canada blared anti-war, anti-government and ant-establishment music during the Vietnam War. I’m sure it drove conservatives nuts, but it was the right of the owners to do so.

Now you know the political stance of the owner/operators of this store. This is a good thing because it enables you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to support them with your dollars. I only wish the Koch brothers’ income streams were so easily tagged.

People vote with their dollars as much or more than they do with their votes. These guys just made it easier for you to do that.

This is also a chance to walk the walk, which is: “I may disagree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it.”—Voltaire

Of course it’s appropriate. Were it my store, I’d damned sure play what I pleased. Anyone offended is welcome to shop elsewhere.

I’m fine with Christian music playing. Commercials and talk shows? That’s very odd to me. They can play what they want, but I wouldn’t want to listen to talk radio that I completely disagreed with while shopping or eating.

I remember the first time I lived in the South and people had all sorts of Christian crosses and biblical quotes in their offices and cubicles. I thought where am I?

I wouldn’t mind, as long as I get what I need in that store. I would feel a bit weird though.

You don’t have to shop there…

I actually enjoy some of the Christian songs. The other day they even played a hymn that I recognize. The problem comes with the hourly ‘nooze’, and then they have an inspirational speaker or preacher at some point in the afternoon.
One day this week the speaker was going on and on about the road to Hell is wide and will accommodate all travelers, but the road to Heaven is very narrow. I wanted to ask someone, “Why?” Isn’t God in charge? Shouldn’t the path to Heaven be wide and accepting and the road to Hell narrow and clearly marked “WRONG WAY!”?
By the way, that is another good reason to not play the Christian station. One day I’ll either shake a believer’s faith, or be expelled from the store.

I have seen the employees fiddle with the radio, trying to turn the Christian crap off. You do not have to be a member of the church to work there.

If it’s a Christian Store it kind of makes sense that they play a Christian Station. It’s probably free, as opposed to a Christian channel on a Muzak station. They could hook up a CD player though, and only play music.

God damn yes it is appropriate to play Christian music in a Christian resale shop. One of the many ways they raise money to pay expenses for the poor, abused and infirm they watch and pray over.

yes it is appropriate to play Christian music in a Christian resale shop

The question wasn’t about music.

Nothing wrong with what they play for music. The key is always ‘know your audience’.

Ummm @Call_Me_Jay Can you point me to a Conservative and even a Liberal Christian radio station that does not play music…pretty please?

^ I believe 1060 AM here doesn’t play music. But I’m not sure what music vs talk has to do with the question.

@DoNotKnowMuch Perhaps I can give you your point but what store in their right mind would play conservative talk radio over the speakers while people shop?? Makes doubtful sense to me….that would scare away more customers than attract IMHO. They would be out of business in less than a month.

If I’m in the store in the afternoon, @Cruiser, the entire visit is likely during a sermon on the radio. See “The Road To Hell” post above.

But I’m not sure what music vs talk has to do with the question.

The original poster described hearing “You need to call your congressman and support the ‘bathroom according to sex at birth’ law.”

If the owner wants it and it’s his store, he can play what he wants. It may not be bad for business, but he’s got to realize that not everyone shares his views.

I was in a restaurant today for lunch and they had Fox News on the TV. I wasn’t going to leave my food and walk out. Meh.

Yeah, it is an irritant but if that is what they want. It is like going into a bank here in Texas; all you will see on the televisions in the lobby is Fox News. Again, irritating but not unexpected.

It’s the proprietor’s prerogative to play whatever he/she wishes in his/her business. I certainly did when I was helping my aunt run her resale shop (well, I wasn’t an owner in the business, but still, I played what I wanted, she didn’t really care). However I tended to turn the volume down whenever a customer was in the store (or I’d just mute it if I were playing death metal or something).

In the run-up to the Iraq war back in 2011 the McDonalds by my work played Fox News. Luckily there was a Arby’s across the street so I just started eating there instead since they didn’t have a TV.

I don’t consider playing shitty music the same as refusing service or the bathroom bullshit.

It would annoy the hell out of me and I wouldn’t shop there, but I agree it’s up to the owner of the store what they play over their speaker system – music or otherwise.

Sure. They can play their Christian music. And I can buy somewhere else.

Most of the hotels I have stayed in in the last six months have Fox News on in the breakfast area. Sometimes the sound is on, sometimes it’s off. I actually prefer the sound on in that situation, and even prefer Fox News to sports, which is the situation in most hotels, one or the other. Fox is not my choice for news, but better than nothing.

In thinking about this further and in thinking about some of the responses, I don’t see the logic of saying “I’m not going to shop there.” Does that mean if someone doesn’t believe what we believe, we’re going to penalize them by withholding our business? Does that mean that unless someone believes what we believe, we are taking our business elsewhere? I shop in Pakistani stores (not sure what religion they are) and stores that are owned by Hispanics who are very likely Catholic. Does that mean I should stop shopping there? Does that mean I shouldn’t shop in a store owned by Jews if I’m not Jewish?

@jca The store is loudly advocating discrimination and bigotry over its loudspeakers. Again this isn’t about music, read the first response above.

It’s not about music, or the owners merely being Christian.

I detest preaching and proselytizing of any sort—most especially that which disseminates discrimination and bigotry—so while it’s a store’s right to play whatever it wishes, it’s my right not to patronize it.

@jca: “In thinking about this further and in thinking about some of the responses, I don’t see the logic of saying “I’m not going to shop there.” Does that mean if someone doesn’t believe what we believe, we’re going to penalize them by withholding our business? Does that mean that unless someone believes what we believe, we are taking our business elsewhere?”

As @ibstubro mentioned, this is a radio station with content like, “You need to call your congressman and support the ‘bathroom according to sex at birth’ law.” I wouldn’t want to support a business that supported these policies. Remember, it’s not as though you have to go up and interview the store owners. Rather, they are publicly announcing their position on these issues.

So, yes – I would not financially support someone or a business in this case.

Like the sex shop that played “Like A Virgin” on a loop all day long
Or a sperm bank playing “if you’re happy & you know it pound your dong”

I find this thread really quite interesting. It seems as though many here don’t believe they should be exposed to any position, music, or content they don’t agree with. I suppose the idea is liberals should only shop in liberal stores while conservatives should only shop in conservative stores. I assume this carries to only Christians shop in Christian stores, only muslims shop in muslim stores, and so forth. I went to an Indian restraurant a while back and I’ll be damned if they didn’t have that Indian music (sitars and stuff). Should I have gotten up and walked out? I would have missed a good meal. The truth is, I don’t care what they play, if I don’t like it I don’t listen. I certainly can’t fault the owner for advertising that may be part of the station they have have on. I think some of you are way too sensitive and I doubt that being exposed to some message you don’t like will really do you any harm.

For once in my life I think I agree with @Jaxk.

Of course, we have the “right” to shop anywhere we want to or don’t want to, and patronize any type of business we want to, but the whole idea of not shopping somewhere because the owner believes a certain thing or plays a certain kind of music or dogma or propaganda is beyond me.

@Jaxk: “I find this thread really quite interesting. It seems as though many here don’t believe they should be exposed to any position, music, or content they don’t agree with.”

I find it difficult to believe that this is what you extracted from many of the responses here. Really?

@Jaxk: “I suppose the idea is liberals should only shop in liberal stores while conservatives should only shop in conservative stores. I assume this carries to only Christians shop in Christian stores, only muslims shop in muslim stores, and so forth.”

I am under the assumption that most stores I shop at are owned by people who hold different beliefs than me. I have absolutely no problem with this at all.

@Jaxk: “I went to an Indian restraurant a while back and I’ll be damned if they didn’t have that Indian music (sitars and stuff). Should I have gotten up and walked out? I would have missed a good meal.”

I suspect you may not have read this thread yet – otherwise, the above sentence likely would not have been typed.

@Jaxk: “I think some of you are way too sensitive and I doubt that being exposed to some message you don’t like will really do you any harm.”

Sensitivity has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Let me try this. Maybe it will help you understand:

You walk into a store to buy eyeglasses (I have no idea if you wear eyeglasses or not – it’s not relevant). While you are browsing the different options, a radio station is on and the host is advocating legal penalties against non-Muslims in the US who don’t follow some aspect of Islam.

You may find that your wallet suddenly doesn’t want to provide money to this business owner. It has nothing to do with sensitivity. Rather, you have the option to support an eyeglass business across the street that isn’t calling for Sharia law. Call it voting with your dollars or whatever you want, but you probably would rather not shop there. Am I correct?

This has nothing to do with people’s beliefs. You’re not walking up to an owner of the store and saying, “Hi, I’m considering spending my money in your store. I’d like to ask you your position on [x].” Rather, when you walk in to the establishment and they are projecting their positions, it’s completely reasonable that people may feel their wallets close up.

Does this make sense?

@jca: “but the whole idea of not shopping somewhere because the owner believes a certain thing or plays a certain kind of music or dogma or propaganda is beyond me.”

You walk into a store to make a purchase. The owner has a sign up that states “Abortion = murder”. Do you say, “hmmm…that is not my opinion, but I think I’d like to give this guy money!”?

@DoNotKnowMuch – You’ll have to forgive me but this whole concept of social engineering via boycotts is new to me. In any of your scenarios, no I wouldn’t lock up my wallet and walk away. If I liked the glasses, I’d buy them. The only thing that might come up would be if someone was screaming “Allah Akbar” and even then it wouldn’t have much impact unless they were holding an AK47 at the time. I admit, that would give me pause. The idea that which radio station they choose would affect me in any way is so foreign to me that I’m trying to understand the rules. I will also admit that if I’m in a lobby with a TV and Racheal Madcow is on, I have to fight the urge to throw a chair at it. That is primarily due to my fear of catching Madcow Disease.

The bottom line is, I don’t care whether someone is pro-life or pro-choice, religious or not, or even which toilet they shit in. If I need socks, I’m more interested in the socks. But if theier is a large segment of the population that is more interested in those things, as a store owner, I need to understand the rules.

BTW – I did read all the posts on this thread.

@Jaxk: “In any of your scenarios, no I wouldn’t lock up my wallet and walk away.”

Fair enough. But the concept can’t be that foreign to you, right? I mean, it goes beyond your initial thoughts that someone may not like sitar music, right?

@Jaxk: “I will also admit that if I’m in a lobby with a TV and Racheal Maddow is on, I have to fight the urge to throw a chair at it.”

Well, this I can agree with you on. Seriously.

Anyway, I can understand your position here, but it is not one that would follow myself. I am not expecting people to have the same money-withholding reaction that I would to something like @ibstubro presented. But I would at least hope that people could comprehend it. It’s not about being offended or having different taste in music.

I am one of those people that doesn’t even hear overhead music so I would have no idea what was playing. Now if the music, talk radio was so loud that I couldn’t think, I would leave even if they were playing my favorite music.

@Jaxk “You’ll have to forgive me but this whole concept of social engineering via boycotts is new to me.”

Lol. Day-in and day-out people are choosing what business to patronize and which to not for a million different reasons. Why is it “social engineering” if that reason happens to be political? Is it social engineering if I choose to go to the tavern that has the cute young redhead with ample breasts who wears low-cut blouses behind the bar, rather than the one that has the squat, wrinkled old man with body odor? Is is social engineering if I choose to go to a doctor who speaks English as a first language, rather than going to one who’s English is somewhat broken?

“In any of your scenarios, no I wouldn’t lock up my wallet and walk away. If I liked the glasses, I’d buy them….”

To be frank, I do not believe you’re being entirely honest with your answer here. You’d have no issue patronizing a business that’s playing a radio broadcast advocating penalties for those who don’t follow Islam? Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on this one.

All of us have our limits as well as principles. But the great majority of the posts here, including my own agree with @Jaxk. On the other hand, I don’t believe there is a person here who cannot envision an issue so offensive as to be worthy of protest as well as a deliberate boycott of those advocating it.

Well maybe I’m an exception but I’ve never walked out of any business due to social, political, or religious issues. When I go shopping, I go where they have the product I want, not where I have political harmony. If I go to the bar with the cute redhead with the ample breasts, it’s because that’s the product I want. I’ve never been to a protest in my life and can’t envision an issue that would send me there. And most of all, I can’t see why I would want to deprive someone of a living just because I don’t align with them on some obscure philosophical point. I’ve never met anyone that I agree with on everything. Maybe I’m just not as vindictive as some of you.

@Jaxk, While I cannot say that I have not done any of the things you mention I do agree with you. I have protested several times, I have engaged in a personal boycott against Walmart, I have on occasion resisted shopping at a certain store for political, social or religious reasons but never walked out of one for such reasons (the only reason I have walked out of a store is because of rudeness on the part of the staff) and I have been known to go to the bar rather than wait for the staff to come to my booth for my order because of an amply endowed redheaded bartender.
But I also don’t think you should deprive someone of a living just because we disagree on something. I cannot fathom wanting to buy a wedding cake or flowers or even craft and hobby supplies from someone who did not want to sell them to me whether it is because of my sexual orientation or the length of my hair; there are others out there who will accept my money in trade.

@Jaxk See, that’s the problem- one man’s “obscure philosophical point” is how the great majority of us looked at the black kids picketing the Woolworth’s segregated lunch counter in 1961. There were a few, a very few white people at first who got it. For some strange reason, the black kids had no trouble with the concept. That example from that era is a particularly pointed illustration of just how blind good people can be to blatant injustice in a land founded on the proposition that “all men are created equal.” Personally, if you manage to get through life without a single incident where you find it necessary to deny someone or some institution your patronage for ethical reasons, I should think you’d be reluctant to brag about it. Come to think of it, life would be just so much simpler if I could accept that all of the evil and injustice has nothing to do with me. After all, I’m not dropping the bombs, bribing the Congressman, etc.

@Jaxk “You’ll have to forgive me but this whole concept of social engineering via boycotts is new to me”
Wow. You mean you missed the entire Civil Rights movement?

I consider ethnic music and integral part of my ethnic dining experience, as long as it’s not loud. Indian sitar music would annoy me after a short while at home, but I quite enjoy it in the restaurant.

TVs in public places annoy me in general, and TVs in public places playing Faux News just piss me off. Enough so that if I could not find seating where I couldn’t see or hear the TV, I would likely leave.

Best cure for horrible piped in music or BS radio talk show is headphones. Headphones are your friends in awkward public spaces. (take it from an outgoing introvert) With the right sound track, your day can feel like a wonderful David Lynch or Tarantino film.

@Jaxk

You can try to dismiss things as “obscure philosophical points” all you want, but where you put your money matters. For example: there are certain musicians who’s work I dig, but I won’t give them a dime because they are known to have connections to groups engaged in spreading racial hatred. I won’t patronize Chik-Fil-A, because they are known to take their profits and fund groups that actively work against the civil rights of some folks I care about. (Admittedly this one’s kinda moot anyway, as there is no Chik-Fil-A near me, and even if there were I have other preferences, in terms of taste/etc, for crappy fast food chicken). There’s a regional chain of ice cream shops that are owned by a guy who’s a near constant Republican candidate for various offices (always loses). I have no problems patronizing these shops because, while I might not vote for the man, he doesn’t use his shops as a platform to broadcast his politics, nor am I aware of him using his profits towards any cause that stands in opposition to my personal principals.

@ibstubro – Actually I did miss most of it. I was in the Navy from ‘65–71 and they frowned on us participating in those things. Frankly I don’t recall the civil rights movement being about boycotts anyway. The bottom line is that I would rather argue my point than silence my opposition. That’s why I’m on this site. Believe it or not, there are a couple of people here that disagree with me politically. I don’t want to silence them or even put them out of business/work. I’d rather hear what they have to say and deal with it. I am curious however, if you were hiring someone and found out during the interview that they were ardent pro-life, would you not hire that person because of it.

^I was friends with a neighbor and his wife for almost a year and thought they were the nicest people. One night my then husband and I went to a club with them. As the man started drinking, he started bad mouthing jewish people. He then started ranting about them. He then took off a big ring that he wore and showed us a swastika he had tattooed on his finger. He said he had to hide it from people or he would never get a job.
We left and never spoke to them again.

So, @Jaxk, you play Rush Limbaugh at your station?

I would never bring up abortion in an interview, @Jaxk, so it would depend on the way the “ardent pro-life” showed up. If they felt so strongly about it that they had to insinuate it into the interview situation, you-betcha, I would not hire them on that alone. The interview would be for a job that pays them to work, not proselytize.

Montgomery bus boycott
And here’s a link that will apparently enlighten you.

Believe it or not, I missed the entire Civil War, and yet I know quite a bit about the Union v Confederacy.

@ibstubro – No I don’t have Rush on the radio. The music is for the customers to insure a short but pleasant vist to the store. The store is not an appropriate venue for talk radio of any stripe. I don’t want customers or employees standing around listening to the radio. It’s a convenience store.

As for the interview situation, it would come more likely as a legitimate question such as “I see you did volunteer work last year (from the resume), what did you do?”. The response may be something like “I ran the local chapter of the Pro-Life Action League”. I assume you would then end the interview and look for someone more in line with your political and social philosophy.

I do admit that I did boycott the Montgomery bus line. I haven’t been on a bus in 60 years so I’m not sure it was really a wilful boycott but I certainly did ride the bus. Of course it helped to not be in Montgomery either.

I am surprised that you missed the civil war. It was a real hoot.

@Jaxk “The store is not an appropriate venue for talk radio of any stripe.”
Exactly. Unless you were trying to force your values on your customers.
Now that I think on it, there is a charity thrift in St. Louis where the volunteer was complaining one day that the management had told her she could not listen to Conservative Talk Radio during business hours.

As far as your Pro-Life interview scenario? Did you happen to know that my S/O is ardently Pro-Life, having joined the marches on Washington, etc?

I wouldn’t give a shit what social-political views my employees held as long as they did their job and didn’t use my business as a platform to air their views. Proselytize on your own time, not on mine.

@ibstubro – No I didn’t know that. Sorry to hear about your divorce.

13 years, @Jaxk.
I can empathize with Pro-Life, but as an agnostic male I feel it would be hypocritical of me to be anything other than Pro-Choice.

Christian music makes me irrationally angry for some reason completely unrelated to religion. I often keep earphones in my purse so I don’t have to listen to whatever crap music they are playing in a store and also to avoid having conversations with creepers.

Yes.