Washington Post publisher takes blame for non-endorsement debacle

[ShazzieB]

81. I think the keyword is "knowingly."

People who shop online do so because they find it convenient, and it works for them. It's really that simple.

I doubt it even occurs to the vast majority of folks that ordering something online might adversely affect the ability to shop in person in some localities. That possibility honestly never entered my own mind until I read your posts in this thread. I'm sorry to hear about what's happened in your area. I imagine the impacts are different in different places, but unless someone lives in such an affected place, they wouldn't know.

Personally, I haven't noticed the kind of differences you describe where I live, with the exception of bookstores. Amazon has had an undeniable impact there. There is no shortage of places to shop for other things, however, and grocery stores abound around here.

As for Amazon, I don't like Jeff Bezos any better than the next person, believe me. But the fact is, Amazon is very successful, because it does what it does extremely well, and as long as that continues to be the case, it will continue to make money for its owner. If I were to personally decide not to use Amazon anymore, I'm sure it wouldn't affect Bezos' bottom line one iota; but it would have definite negative impacts on me that I will not go into.

I guess I'd say I'm a bit jaded about my personal ability to affect the bottom line of any billionaire. Also, if I tried to boycott every single large corporation that has business practices I don't agree with or supports causes I don’t support, I honestly don't know what would be left. I admire people who are willing to make that effort, and I used to be one of them, but the older I get, the harder I find it to make personal sacrifices for noble reasons. (That's just where I am right now; I'm not advocating that others adopt the same approach.)

In the end, we're all just trying to survive in a tough world, and we all have to do what we're able to do and what works for us personally. Those factors are going to be different for each individual. I would never judge anyone else's choices in that respect, and I don't need anyone else's approval for my own, including the fact that using Amazon for certain things works well for me.