It doesn't really matter, because perfect shouldn't be the enemy of good. You're correct the world is gray, but if you're able to make a product switch without too much effort then go for it.
I mean, if I reduce my plastic use because I stop buying product X then that's still better (in my eyes) than if I did nothing. Or if Company Y has some egregious political ties, I cut them off, but Company Z is a huge conglomerate so I can't cut them off. Still a better deal than doing nothing.
You're missing my point. No one and no company is infallible. It's hypocritical, because if you dig deep enough you will find something that doesn't "align to your values".
It's impossible to 100% follow any value system. It doesn't mean you can forget about any values. Perfection is the enemy of the good. So I don't see your point. All compromises come with a cost (effort, money, lack of features). Everybody chooses which cost they can afford, as it should be.
No, not really. Some sides of the coin are just bad.
I get very frustrated at this "tribal thinking" notion that I hear a lot these days. It's not bad to have values and then at least try to stick to those values.
If someone doesn't like something they shouldn't be forced to endure it. I see this with so-called "cancel culture" too. It's not a cancel culture if you say something offensive and people stop listening. They're not trying to hurt you, that's not their intention. They just didn't like it so instead they go listen/watch something they DO like. That's predictable.
I mean, what's the end goal here? I use a product I don't even like just for the fun of it? Really? But I don't even like it...
After Chick-fil-a openly and vehemently opposed gay marriage in 2015 (and after!), I stopped eating there. And guess what? I don't miss it. I'm not worse off, at all. If anything, I'm better off, because the food is unhealthy anyway. Boom, it's that easy.
Your chick-fil-a example is egregious, that's fair enough.
I'm saying there's some other dirt on something you currently using instead that makes the whole endeavor pointless.
It's hypocritical if you say I disagree with you and I'm boycotting and then go ahead and use another company who has said something you disagree with in the past anyway.
It's the equivalent of the village mob roaming house to house for whatever reason. And then targeting one house specifically as it has better sun than the rest.
I mean, if I reduce my plastic use because I stop buying product X then that's still better (in my eyes) than if I did nothing. Or if Company Y has some egregious political ties, I cut them off, but Company Z is a huge conglomerate so I can't cut them off. Still a better deal than doing nothing.