Filed under: Humor, Retail, WWDC, Stocking Stuffers
Well-meaning but misguided grinches try to kill Apple Store Christmas
SAEC, aka "Santas against excessive consumption", targeted an Apple Store in London this year and were not met with open arms. "Sing your own songs to each other this Christmas!" they pleaded, sort of missing out on the point that there's no happiness like the kind you can buy via consumer electronics. Police were called; the protesters stood their ground. Eventually the police left them, presumably with a warning. Afterward the humbug Santas went to bolster the financial bottom line of a nearby Coffee vendor, spending their money on honest caffeine rather than on the durable goods that the good lord intended.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael said 11:31AM on 12-18-2006
These people really annoy me! They dress up in cheap Santa outfits, which are probably made in sweatshops and protest at corporations to clean up! These people could spend their time helping those less fortunate than themselves. There are plenty of charities in London this time of year, which could do with extra help.
Corporations are big because we make them BIG!!! The consumer has freedom of choice. I work hard for my cash and so I can buy what I want!
I care about the environment and social responsibility - however these idiots have hijacked the the fantastic idea of SANTACON fo their own political gain!
Reply
J.Nagle said 11:32AM on 12-18-2006
Were these Santa's smoking a fatty while protesting...or is that just the guy in the illustration?
(In other words, odd choice of accompanying picture.)
Reply
The Jerk said 11:44AM on 12-18-2006
I was a bit confused about the picture, too. Maybe she’s trying to say that they should smoke a fatty to chill out? You know, instead of being ridiculous people.
Reply
confused said 11:48AM on 12-18-2006
I don't understand why you posted a picture of Santa smoking a joint, with marijuana leaves in the background.
Reply
vicki said 12:49PM on 12-18-2006
The picture is from a movie called "Bad Santa", hence the connection to the idiots poorly dressed as Santa thinking that they are going to hold people back from buying their iPods. "Sing your songs to each other"? They probably were on drugs to believe that anyone would fall for that line...
Reply
Nic said 4:42PM on 12-18-2006
a) the TUAW pic has nothing to do with SAEC and b) has anyone bothered to read the actual article?. I thought it rather amusing and they seemed like a bunch of people trying to make a serious point without taking themselves to seriously in the process.
They aren't insisting that everyone suddenly gives away all their toys and go live in a forest just that we think a bit harder about our consumption.
The only real grumps I saw in the article where the Apple store staff who seemed to be rather unfestive if not paranoid as they seemed to think it was a marketing stunt. Oh well merry xmas, bah humbug!
Reply
Tom said 5:49PM on 12-18-2006
Damn hippies
Reply
sxtxixtxcxh said 7:03PM on 12-18-2006
er.. the first few comments are referring to an illustration that has since been replaced with this promo photo (in case the comments weren't making sense to anyone).
Reply
J.Nagle said 7:11PM on 12-18-2006
Just to clear my name, when the post was first added, it did feature an illustration of a mean-looking santa smoking a LARGE marijuana cigarette. I had seen this illustration on concert posters in the past.
Obviously, Erica (or someone else) changed the photo between the time when I posted and 12:49P, when Vicki posted and told us all that the photo was from Bad Santa.
Okay, that's all.
Reply
pseudoprometheus said 7:58PM on 12-18-2006
I do think there's a genuine point behind concerns regarding a 'consumer culture' (i.e. read the book Affluenza). Yet when people actually protest about it, it's embarrassing because as far as I know, there isn't a way to get the idea across without it being misunderstood. Oh well.
[Amusing though, isn't it ... how TUAW and Daring Fireball poked fun at Microsoft for their screw up with an image, and then TUAW has one of its own, only except it's marijuana and PR consciousness?]
Reply
Chris said 2:55PM on 12-19-2006
What a stupid way to waste time at the holidays - they could have been volunteering at a soup kitchen, or an orphanage, or a women's shelter. Instead, "sing songs to each other"? What the hell does this even mean?
I'm consistently amazed by how some people seem to be really threatened or offended by the iPod as a cultural device. We've had portable music before, hippies - it's really no different than the walkman or discman, except that the media is better.
Reply
DASMB said 10:20PM on 12-19-2006
I don't have a whole lot of "things." But one of the things I can't do without is my iPod. I listen to it all day at work and at the gym to keep me focuses. I listen in the car on the way home and in crowded shops to shield myself from stress. In a way, the iPod helps keep me sane.
Would these people would rather I sing to myself?
Reply
Sherman Homan said 9:30PM on 12-20-2006
More clever Apple advertising! Apple has to tone down the high cost, expensive store angle. So they hired clowns to protest and make Apple seem like a victim. More good media coverage!
Reply