Gugny Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 In partnership with USA Today, Starbucks has launched a week-long campaign under the banner “Race Together” to get staff and customers talking about race. In a video message, Schultz urges “partners” to write the phrase on their paper cups “to facilitate a conversation between you and our customers.” A USA Today supplement, set to be published March 20, includes a number of “conversation starters,” including the fill-in-the-blank question: “In the past year, I have been to the home of someone of a different race ___ times.” It looks like Starbucks wants the employee to write the message on the cup to invite a conversation. Writing the words "Race Together" on the cup is fine, but if the customer hits the employee with a question about race relations, this could end in an assortment of ways: 1) The employee stands there dumbfounded not knowing what to say because he just wants to end his shift and go home; 2) The employee engages in a conversation with someone who believes there is no "race" problem and it escalates quickly to a point where the hot coffee ends up in someone's face, or 3) The employee and the customer have a great, in depth conversation re. race relations (this is the goal obviously), or 4) Customer puts a cardboard insulator around the cup covering the words and walks out. Yes, I don't see this ending well, at all. I like the idea of encouraging others to discuss a topic ... but the baristas shouldn't be any part of it. Perhaps they pick 20 issues; racism, abortion, war, dirty politicians, governmental transparency, etc ... and pre-print them on cups. Then encourage patrons to engage in a conversation, that day, about the topic on the cup they're given. Something like that.
plenzmd1 Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Nailed it. If I really need some comically misinformed 19 year old social justice warrior telling me how the world works I'll just browse reddit or tumblr. OT i know, but i have a couple of friends that work at Starbucks to get the heatth insurance. Pretty cool company that way, and not all the barisstas 19 yr old knuckleheads. That being said, i still don't want to talk to them about anything but coffee....and the Bills. Guy at the one closest to me is a big Bills fan.
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 i think this is a good move by Starbucks....most people don't go to starbucks just for the coffee, it's the attitude of the place. We all know you can get better and cheaper coffee at any number of places, but Starbucks has become almost a 'hyde park' type place where social awareness and discussion is prevalent and encouraged. Wouldn't bother me one bit...now if they do that when i am at Wawa, that's another story all together..... What's Wawa?
The Big Cat Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Um...aside from being intrusive and scold-like, it's also kinda preaching to the choir, is it not?
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) What's Wawa? WAAA???? a "service station" like Sheetz, Flying J etc etc etc sometimes more than just a "quick stop" Edited March 17, 2015 by BillsFan-4-Ever
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Nailed it. If I really need some comically misinformed 19 year old social justice warrior telling me how the world works I'll just browse reddit or tumblr. Standing in line marking time Waiting for the welfare dime 'Cause they can't buy a job The man in the silk suit hurries by As he catches the poor ladies' eyes Just for fun he says, "Get a job" That's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is Ah but don't you believe them Said, hey little boy you can't go where the others go 'Cause you don't look like they do Said, hey old man how can you stand To think that way, did you really think about it Before you made the rules? He said, "Son, that's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is Ah but don't you believe them" That's just the way it is That's just the way it is Well they passed a law in '64 To give those who ain't got a little more But it only goes so far Because the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar, no, no, no That's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is
DC Tom Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I'd enjoy that. I've never seen anyone but a pasty white-bread hipster working in my local Starbucks.
LB3 Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Nailed it. If I really need some comically misinformed 19 year old social justice warrior telling me how the world works I'll just browse reddit or tumblr.
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I'd enjoy that. I've never seen anyone but a pasty white-bread hipster working in my local Starbucks. You need to get out more... Hit more diverse areas. ;-P
DC Tom Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 You need to get out more... Hit more diverse areas. ;-P Yeah...DC's very homogeneous.
Chef Jim Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I hate their coffee to but I'm thinking of going this week. Me: So what does this Race Together mean? Barista: It gets us talking about race relations. Me: Huh. Well FYI my coffee is the only thing I like black.
IDBillzFan Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 You should have led with I think their coffee tastes horrible. and moved on. Also isn't this a PPP topic? just asking. No. It's not a PPP topic. Or at least it won't be until some tool decides to participate in a way that only trolls and doesn't contribute. A healthy, productive conversation about any topic is one through which the participants each learn something new whilst engaging in a civil, respectful discussion. I look at this this way: when I walk into a Trader Joe's here, there are always some idiots outside from Greenpeace or some other group. I have the ability to walk by them, do my shopping, pay, and then walk by them again without any interaction. I know this is part of Trader Joe's, and choose to keep going there. However, the moment I am checking out at Trader Joe's and the checkers spend the next week repeatedly asking me what I think about saving the delta smelt, I no longer go to Trader Joe's. Not being a Starbucks person, I have to wonder if their customers will generally care about this or not.
The Big Cat Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 No. It's not a PPP topic. Or at least it won't be until some tool decides to participate in a way that only trolls and doesn't contribute. I look at this this way: when I walk into a Trader Joe's here, there are always some idiots outside from Greenpeace or some other group. I have the ability to walk by them, do my shopping, pay, and then walk by them again without any interaction. I know this is part of Trader Joe's, and choose to keep going there. However, the moment I am checking out at Trader Joe's and the checkers spend the next week repeatedly asking me what I think about saving the delta smelt, I no longer go to Trader Joe's. Not being a Starbucks person, I have to wonder if their customers will generally care about this or not. People have legitimate SB addictions, or at least have convinced themselves of as much. I wouldn't expect their sales to slow down because of this. Certainly not for any meaningful period of time.
Chef Jim Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 No. It's not a PPP topic. Or at least it won't be until some tool decides to participate in a way that only trolls and doesn't contribute.
IDBillzFan Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 People have legitimate SB addictions, or at least have convinced themselves of as much. I wouldn't expect their sales to slow down because of this. Certainly not for any meaningful period of time. I tend to agree with this. Last week I went with my son on his 4th grade trip to Sacramento. A 48-hour whirlwind through our state capital with 11 other kids and their parents. I was stunned how we couldn't move on to the next tour without one of the parents giving a report on where the nearest Starbucks would be. Not the nearest coffee, mind you, but Starbucks.
The Big Cat Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I tend to agree with this. Last week I went with my son on his 4th grade trip to Sacramento. A 48-hour whirlwind through our state capital with 11 other kids and their parents. I was stunned how we couldn't move on to the next tour without one of the parents giving a report on where the nearest Starbucks would be. Not the nearest coffee, mind you, but Starbucks. Yeah. It's weird. And this new stunt is obnoxious, IMO.
Jauronimo Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Standing in line marking time Waiting for the welfare dime 'Cause they can't buy a job The man in the silk suit hurries by As he catches the poor ladies' eyes Just for fun he says, "Get a job" That's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is Ah but don't you believe them Said, hey little boy you can't go where the others go 'Cause you don't look like they do Said, hey old man how can you stand To think that way, did you really think about it Before you made the rules? He said, "Son, that's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is Ah but don't you believe them" That's just the way it is That's just the way it is Well they passed a law in '64 To give those who ain't got a little more But it only goes so far Because the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar, no, no, no That's just the way it is Some things will never change That's just the way it is That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is What is your fascination with me today? At least attempt to make sense.
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) No. It's not a PPP topic. Or at least it won't be until some tool decides to participate in a way that only trolls and doesn't contribute. Not being a Starbucks person, I have to wonder if their customers will generally care about this or not. understood. Don't we often find that the case though? someone has to go the extra mile to mess up a conversation. I don't like the taste of Starbucks coffee, I find it over priced and when I do go to Starbucks with a co-worker I ask for a medium coffee. Edited March 17, 2015 by BillsFan-4-Ever
Chef Jim Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 What is your fascination with me today? At least attempt to make sense. Good luck with that.
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Yeah...DC's very homogeneous. You said "local." They must not be hiring "locals" then. ;-) What is your fascination with me today? At least attempt to make sense. I don't know. I just read your post and thought of the old man in the song... Go w/it J-mo! ;-) Good luck with that. He's gonna need it! Luck that is! :-)
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