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From the Department of Dumb Ideas: The Apple 9/11 Boycott

Posted by: Arik Hesseldahl on September 13, 2006

I didn’t watch ABC’s “The Path To 9/11,” a two-part miniseries that aired on the Disney-owned network on Sept. 10 and 11. I prefer my entertainment choices to be unconnected to extremely unpleasant personal experiences. So I can’t tell you one way or the other what I think about any political slants the movie may have contained.

But I can tell you what I think of chatter making the rounds regarding a boycott effort targeted at Apple Computer to protest the movie. Since Apple CEO Steve Jobs sits on Disney’s board, is Disney’s biggest shareholder, thanks to Disney’s acquisition of Pixar, the thinking goes, Apple should be singled out for content in the movie that some people think is wrong or misleading about the events leading up to the terrorism attacks and who was responsible for what.

Such a boycott is a dumb idea because as a non-executive director and shareholder, Jobs has practically zero input in the content of this or that Disney film project. That’s not what directors do.

But this brings up an interesting question about the nature of the businesses connections between Jobs, Apple and Disney now that they’re so intertwined. It seems to me that every time a Disney film courts any kind of controversy, Apple is probably going to have to contend with this sort of misguided silliness from time to time. If you’re upset with Disney, express your opininions to Disney management. In that capacity, you’re clearly within reason to express your opinion to Steve Jobs as a Disney director. But venting your rage at Apple and boycotting its products? To me it seems like picking the wrong target.

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Reader Comments

33Nick

September 13, 2006 12:35 PM

It's sad a lot of people don't push their thinking analysis a step further. Boycotting Apple? Why not the actual channel ABC? At least go to the source.

Jobs might sit on the board but doesn't get to dictate anything.

As for me, I was there and I don't need a low viewer rate sinking network to dramatize an event I witnessed. It is low, appalling and as close to peeping tomming as you can get. What gets people to delight in the suffering of others in the name of entertainment? What system can exploit such a dramtatic event and make money off of it?

Want to boycott something? Boycott the advertisers who bought space during those shows.

C'mon people, think a little and please, outside the box.

Perry Clease

September 13, 2006 01:01 PM

The public has spoken and the ratings for The path to 9/11 were dismal. There was a lot of pre-show talk about the inaccuracies presented and that may have helped, but a lot of people don't seem to be ready to review that awful day. Not to mention the Simpsons season opener, oh and some football games.

Meanwhile Apple has taken the wind out of the boycott's sails using the announcements yesterday. Nothing like new iPods, the iTV, and movie downloads to excite and interest people. Interestingly Apple has a lot of Disney movies now for sale on the iTunes Store and The Path to 9/11 is not among them.

Sidebar - Note that it is now The iTunes Store and not The iTunes MUSIC Store

You all have a great day

Mac Scott

September 13, 2006 08:36 PM

I think you are right on with your opinion.  Well, except for the comment about, "...what some people think is wrong or misleading..."  Who was it that said that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts?  A fact is a fact, and the fact is that there were gravely wrong and misleading, wholly fabricated scenes in the movie... a movie that marketed itself as the "truth behind 9/11".

It is why I will not be purchasing any movies on iTunes until (if) they form a relationship with other studios.  Not as a strike against Apple, but as part of a boycott against Disney related products.

jbelkin

September 13, 2006 11:09 PM

This like those who vow to boycott Disneyland ... good luck if you have kids under 11, i'm sure they'll understand ...

In the case of the ipod, make that 21 :-0

Steve Pederson

September 14, 2006 02:50 AM

Apple... as part of the vast RIGHT wing conspiracy? Well there is a former southern senator on their Board of Directors...

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A blog on the daily doings of Apple and the many companies in its orbit, with insight and analysis by two longtime Apple-watchers BusinessWeek Senior Writer Peter Burrows and BusinessWeek.com Senior Technology Writer Arik Hesseldahl.

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