• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I’m not seeing oil companies convincing lots of people that they’re benevolent when they do bad things. Especially not after an oil spill. So your claim that that’s what they’re doing doesn’t make much sense to me.

    • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
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      7 days ago

      They convince people we need their product despite the damage they cause. They still get investors and convince them their company is profitable. They spend billions of dollars lobbying against alternative energy sources like solar, nuclear, and wind… convincing people they aren’t as viable as oil…when some already are and others could be with more R&D. They convince governments to allow for more oil drilling sites, despite the environmental risks.
      They do A LOT convincing all the time.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        They don’t convince people we need their product. We don’t have a choice but use their product. I don’t make ICEs cheaper than EVs. I don’t get to choose what my power company decides to use to generate electricity. I don’t get to tell corporations across the business spectrum not to use plastic.

        Those are not choices I get to make. Or you.

        Also, it’s interesting how you skipped from people to governments as if there’s no difference.

        I’m not sure why you think any significant number of people like oil companies. Do you have any hard data to support that or is it just this sort of conjecture?

        • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
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          6 days ago

          Have you seen people coal rolling? I see it all the time. I get the feeling they love oil companies. People who buy huge, gas guzzling SUVs and oversized trucks they dont need dont seem to have an issue with them. Also governments are made up of people… often elected officials that were VOTED for. I’m not saying everyone loves oil companies. But they convince enough people to like them enough to keep making money.
          And that lobbying I mentioned earlier? Yeah, that’s what keeps the rest of us locked into using their products whether we want to or not. They convinced someone, somewhere to stifle competition like EVs.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            6 days ago

            Do you think any of those people will see an event like this and change their minds? Those people don’t even give a shit about other humans, let alone an ancient monument.

            I will continue to maintain that pissing people off is not a good way to get them to take your side. I keep asking people if they’ve ever intentionally pissed off someone who disagreed with them into agreeing with them and no one has said yes so far.