Letter of the fortnight [Archive] - Forever Delayed

Perdita

27-06-2003, 13:43

A lot of us are always grouching about this issue and that, and we're all intelligent people... I had an idea that I saw on another forum that might be good.

What about forming a 'letter of the week/fortnight' group, where regular as clockwork we find an appropriate address and write a letter of dissent/complaint/protest at some crap we've found.

Examples might be writing to ASDA, or E$$O, or Nestle, but I'm sure there's smaller fish to fry as well.

We'd have to write individualised letters/emails because companies reject cut-and-pasted ones, but it would take a lot of the research work out to have the addresses and links to details, facts, and reports posted on a running thread here. Then we can write really cool, well-informed letters. And of course if you don't agree with the issue at hand, don't take part. If we get replies, we can post them on the thread.

If it could be done by taking turns for someone to do the donkey-work, or just submitting an issue randomly when it tickles us.

What do you reckon?

Oh and can we please not turn this into a 'what's the point of protest' thread, cos we've had it a zillion times and we all know where we stand on it, if you don't think it's any use, you don't have to do it. :P

sbs

27-06-2003, 14:20

Love it, but then again I would wouldn't I.

gofes

27-06-2003, 14:23

Sounds a bloody good Idea to me.

*starts formining a list*

Terminal Young Thing

27-06-2003, 14:35

yer, count me in

socialist cook

27-06-2003, 15:19

Originally posted by Perdita
Oh and can we please not turn this into a 'what's the point of protest' thread, cos we've had it a zillion times and we all know where we stand on it, if you don't think it's any use, you don't have to do it. :P

I hate the fact most people take that stance whenever you have to express an opinion- ie people this week in general studies complaining about doing a bit of philosophy because they didn't see the point. Really bugs me! As for the letter scheme count me in I love writing letters!

Tim

27-06-2003, 15:48

This does sound a good idea, the FD activists. :) There's also the fax your MP website which could come in handy.

EDIT: It would help if I actually put the link in. :o www.faxyourmp.com

Perdita

27-06-2003, 15:50

ooh yeah, that's a good resource.

So's this (http://www.bitchmagazine.com/archives/04_03slash/protest.html). It's a guide to good letter-writing. It's specifically about feminist letter-writing to the media, but broadly it's a good guide for any kind. It looks long, but just scroll past the article to the bullet points for the info.

I'll hang in there until a few more of us have jumped on board, and then we can get going?

:D

pretty in pink

27-06-2003, 16:18

That´s a great idea. I want to try it. I´m just afraid that I´ll find it too stressful to write intelligent letters in English.

swelegant

27-06-2003, 16:37

Count me in too :D This is exactly the sort of thing i like. I remember writings to various politicians and the censorship council requesting a year or so back as part of a campaign to stop women's outer labia from being airbrushed out in porn magazines :lol:

And pretty in pink, you could always write a draft copy and we'll help you polish it :)

Tim

27-06-2003, 16:50

Originally posted by pretty in pink
That´s a great idea. I want to try it. I´m just afraid that I´ll find it too stressful to write intelligent letters in English.

Me too Liisa and English is my first language! I have zero writing skills.

Thanks for that link Amy.

Joe

27-06-2003, 18:44

sounds good to me. :)

Irishpunktom

27-06-2003, 19:44

I wanna play too !

28-06-2003, 00:11

count me in too :D

(I'm a bit bogged down with A level marking at the moment so can't do much research, but will be happy just to write the odd letter in the meantime until I get my life back)

deadstars

28-06-2003, 00:24

Originally posted by al
count me in too :D

(I'm a bit bogged down with A level marking at the moment so can't do much research, but will be happy just to write the odd letter in the meantime until I get my life back)

what he said, but replace A level marketing with work....

:)

maradona

28-06-2003, 18:18

sounds like a good idea, but where are we going to find an issue that everyone agrees on? :D

Terminal Young Thing

28-06-2003, 19:43

Originally posted by maradona
sounds like a good idea, but where are we going to find an issue that everyone agrees on? :D

Well they did say that we could abstain from ones if we so choose...

Screaming Daisy

29-06-2003, 13:44

:cool: that's a good idea it also means that you're more likely to a specific reply from the company instead of we will be taking your ideas into consideration replys.
stay beautiful

Alexkid

29-06-2003, 14:59

Originally posted by swelegant
[B] I remember writings to various politicians and the censorship council requesting a year or so back as part of a campaign to stop women's outer labia from being airbrushed out in porn magazines :lol:

:D Is this a particular soapbox topic for you? ;)

30-06-2003, 00:48

Originally posted by deadstars
what he said, but replace A level marketing with work....

:)

I'm a girlie :) but you weren't to know that. don't work too hard!

deadstars

30-06-2003, 08:31

Originally posted by al
I'm a girlie :) but you weren't to know that. don't work too hard!

well colour me embarrassed! :o sowwy :)

can our first topic of complaint be to the manics and all their related people to get them to turn Nick Naysmyth down in the Mix? He's really really bugging me now....

but i will of course bow down before loftier ideals! :D

Perdita

01-07-2003, 13:31

Hooray OK then, here's our list of people involved, apologies to those whose proper names i really ought to know by now:

Me
Sheila
gofes
Terminal Young Thing
socialist cook
Tim
pretty in pink
swelegant
Joe
Irishpunktom
al
maradona
Screaming Daisy

and I couldn't work out whether Alexkid and deadstars were interested or not. You in?

So, what's the issue? Should we just start with ESSO or Nestle for the hell of it? Suggestions on a postcard please.

deadstars

01-07-2003, 16:05

I'm interested, although i cannot make any guarantees at participation (time constraints), obviously if i feel strongly i will.

its a great idea!

Perdita

02-07-2003, 18:15

I do know of one slightly odd issue that's worth raising awareness about...

I heard from mediawatch's website (who support all kinds of slightly silly boycotts, but I think this is a sensible complaint):

Olympics- Female athletes are forced to be sex tested and many legitimate female athletes are eliminated from competition if they don't fit into an arbitrary genetic norm. Humans exhibit a broad range of chromosomal possibilities and many men who carry extra Y chromosomes are neither tested or eliminated. Test everyone or stop these ludicrous tests. Prince Alexandre de Merode, Chair of IOC Medical Commission c/o Dr. Walker U.S. Committee, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5760.

apologies for being so predictably feminist, but if it's not ESSo and Nestle then I'm bound to find feminist issues cos that's where I hang out. It's basic discrimination, are people interested?

I need to go and fact-check, anyway, cos I don't know how often mediawatch update.

Joe

02-07-2003, 18:41

i love this idea, i think it could really take off :D

Question Everything

02-07-2003, 22:13

i'm up for it

gofes

02-07-2003, 22:33

If you ever run otu of ideas, I'm sure there are a lot of Amensty letters that need to be wrote.

And yes either Nestle or E$$o, sorry had to do that

socialist cook

02-07-2003, 22:35

sounding good! i need to send off me amnesty form soon.:o

Perdita

03-07-2003, 13:40

OK. Apparently Prince Alexandre de Merode died in november 2002, and his successor is Professor Arne Ljungqvist. Well, not exactly, as the olympic website still has de Merode in a kind of posthumous position of authority, he's still president as 'the LATE Prince Alexandre de Merode'... weird or what? D'you reckon they hold seances?

Perhaps the letter could ask whether or not this rule is still in place and if so, could we express our deep disapproval and how this goes against the spirit of the olympics, etc etc...

If you're agreed, get writing! *goes to check addresses*

Next one could be an Amnesty one, or as soon as someone puts up some specifics...

Joe

03-07-2003, 14:12

Where should we address them to?

Perdita

03-07-2003, 14:16

Chair of IOC Medical Commission
c/o Dr. Walker U.S. Committee,
One Olympic Plaza,
Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5760

here, I guess, though I'm trying to check and the Olympic website keeps taking ages to load. They know wey're onto 'em, that's why. Slippery little devils.

swelegant

03-07-2003, 15:22

Originally posted by Alexkid
:D Is this a particular soapbox topic for you? ;)

Well it is sort of. I read an article about it and it struck me as such a ridiculous thing, that the censorship council finds a woman's body part offensive. I mean, they allow men's balls to be in porn magazines, so yeah, it pissed me off. I'm the champion of random causes you know ;)

ginger

03-07-2003, 17:20

I'm new, but up for protest letter writing.

Tim

03-07-2003, 18:14

Originally posted by Perdita
I do know of one slightly odd issue that's worth raising awareness about...

I heard from mediawatch's website (who support all kinds of slightly silly boycotts, but I think this is a sensible complaint):

[quote="mediawatch website"]Olympics- Female athletes are forced to be sex tested and many legitimate female athletes are eliminated from competition if they don't fit into an arbitrary genetic norm. Humans exhibit a broad range of chromosomal possibilities and many men who carry extra Y chromosomes are neither tested or eliminated. Test everyone or stop these ludicrous tests. Prince Alexandre de Merode, Chair of IOC Medical Commission c/o Dr. Walker U.S. Committee, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5760.

Looks like a worthy cause after reading the article - www.mediawatch.com/olympics.html, I don't know what's going on with some of the words in there though. :confused: So, are we going for a complete ban or saying they should also test men, even though they say there is no evidence of a biological advantage.

Perdita

04-07-2003, 12:35

Originally posted by swelegant
Well it is sort of. I read an article about it and it struck me as such a ridiculous thing, that the censorship council finds a woman's body part offensive. I mean, they allow men's balls to be in porn magazines, so yeah, it pissed me off. I'm the champion of random causes you know ;)

I totally agree with you, and as you can imagine, I have a LOT to say about it... but this isn't the place...:rolleyes:

I'm writing mine today, should I post it up in case anyone else wants to look (Probably on how NOT to write a letter). :)

Finn

04-07-2003, 12:46

Count me in ;)

maradona

04-07-2003, 13:17

does this include stuff like testing for testosterone levels? i actually agree with testing for such things and for more drug testing in sport in general (despite my username :D )

however such things can happen naturally in some people so if does then there should be greater degree of leniency shown. actually there is a case in Spain just now with the Bilbao footballer Gurpegi, who was banned for nandrolone but subsequent tests have shown that his body produces it naturally when he exercises so he is allowed to play again.

socialist cook

04-07-2003, 20:08

hehehe maradona's interest would be very apt at this time with the tour de france starting:)

Screaming Daisy

05-07-2003, 18:13

Originally posted by gofes
If you ever run otu of ideas, I'm sure there are a lot of Amensty letters that need to be wrote.

And yes either Nestle or E$$o, sorry had to do that

you're right about amnesty though i went on their site the other day and you could spend a lifetime writing letters for them.
stay beautiful

Screaming Daisy

06-07-2003, 12:36

if anyone is interested you can vote for The Dirty Dozen. the 12 biggest brands that stand out for pollution, animal abuse, lethal tobacco, sweatshop labor, advertising clutter, arms sales etc... The Dirty Dozen (http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/dirty_dozen/)
stay beautiful

sbs

22-07-2003, 08:04

Time to revive this thread I think now the excitement of MOVE and HMV is dying down a little and you folks remember General Discussion is here and the forum has a serious side too.

UEF

22-07-2003, 09:52

Strap on your dungarees and grab your veggieburger, its complaining time! :rolleyes:

maradona

22-07-2003, 10:22

how about the BBC?

or am i the only person disgusted with their fame-academy type programme on asylum seekers....who deserves asylum, vote now and decide :mad:

sbs

22-07-2003, 13:59

Originally posted by UEF
Strap on your dungarees and grab your veggieburger, its complaining time! :rolleyes:

Did you not see what Amy posted! :rolleyes: Are you complaining about people complaining btw:) Or just passing comment?

Originally posted by Perdita

Oh and can we please not turn this into a 'what's the point of protest' thread, cos we've had it a zillion times and we all know where we stand on it, if you don't think it's any use, you don't have to do it. :P

Actually the BBC and "dumbing down" is a pretty good idea, I'm up for that.....or is it just a case of giving em what the want, no bollocks to that it's supposed to entertain and inform

Paddy

22-07-2003, 14:56

I'll be up for this letter thing too, and the BBC seems a good starting point. Something to keep the juices flowing. Aswell as their dumbing down, I'm annoyed by the news department's apparent desperation to 'keep up' with the constant Americanisation of news coverage, e.g. massive newsflash's across the bottom of the screen etc. It's still the best we've got, but it's sliding the wrong way.