[pct-l] Nike - The great conspiracy

[blisterfree@surfree.com (Brett Tucker)]

Ron, thank you for your fair and informative response to my admittedly
emotional post. I do see the good that may come from such a
corporate-consumer relationship as in this case Nike is offering. I've done
a bit of wear-testing myself in the past, and know well that the experience
can be of mutual benefit. But in the larger picture, by associating with any
company in a manner that would bolster them in some way, we are either
directly or tacitly endorsing them. It is up to us individually to determine
whether or not that endorsement sits right with our conscience, for instance
based upon the company's ethics.

Of greater concern to me than how and why Nike is pushing their agenda
through the PCTA, is the simple fact that Nike is pushing their agenda. And
by agenda, I'm not implying a conspiracy, but just the furthering of their
influence over the consumer. If customers want Nike, then so be it, and if
some of the readers of this list should land happy shoes as a result, then
the request for testers will have proven itself a well-intentioned gesture.
I've no doubt that it was. But we also have a choice. We can stop and ask
ourselves whether the offer is worthy of our participation. We of course do
not have to grab the prize dangling in the air, simply because it is there
for the taking. My analogy, based on another gripe of mine, would be if
Exxon were selling gas at half price, I still wouldn't patronize the company
because of longstanding ill-feelings over the Valdez oil spill. I'd simply
go somewhere else, probably right up the street a block. The modern world is
rife with choices. Choices involving where our money goes. If we don't like
the business of one business, we needn't look too hard before finding a
better one. I can complain all day about Nike or Exxon, and possibly feel a
bit better afterward, which I do. =)  But the only thing of any real
consequence is my choice.

- blisterfree


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald Moak" <ronm@fallingwater.com>
To: "'Brett Tucker'" <blisterfree@surfree.com>; "Pacific Crest Trail"
<pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Nike - The great conspiracy


> Brett write >> With all due respect, I'm not. And I'm not impressed to see
> PCTA tacitly
> endorsing that particular corporate entity. As with the equestrian
> allowances on the trail, this sort of thing likely alienates a fair number
> of would-be association members. <<
>
> To my limited knowledge, the PCTA neither tacitly nor formally endorses
Nike
> or any other company.
>
> The choice to place the request for testers was solely up to my
digression.
> So if you feel the need to charge someone, at least charge the right
person.
>
> I chose to place the announcement totally as a public service to the
readers
> of the PCTA website, interested members of this and the Backpacking Light
> mailing list.
>
> The PCTA was not paid by Nike to post the article. And since the hundreds
of
> hours spent in both developing and maintaining the PCTA website are
> voluntary, I did not receive any money either.
>
> As a member (hopefully in good standing) of the Long Distance Hiking
> community, I don't necessarily feel that hikers and equipment manufactures
> should have a standoff relationship. Without good feedback from us, we are
> doomed to the equipment dumped on us. Given your apparently close
> relationship with GoLite, I expect at some level you feel the same. If
other
> manufactures were to approach me with a similar request, I'd have the same
> response as with Nike.
>
> On a personal level I don't condemn or praise Nike products, in spite of
the
> fact that I only live a couple of miles from the corporate headquarters
and
> know a number of people who work there. If I were in the process of
choosing
> sides, I'd probably pick New Balance since in my experience their fit and
> durability far exceeds the Nike products. However, Nike contacted us not
New
> Balance.
>
> If you feel that running the announcement is grounds for disassociating
> yourself from the PCTA, I can only say I'm sorry. It is my only intention
to
> provide a site that informative, interesting and balanced.
>
> Ron
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Ron Moak
> Pacific Crest Trail Association Web Master
> http://www.pcta.org/
>
>
>