[Semiapies]

To disenfranchise a whole continent because you are inconvenienced is ridiculous

Oh, please. To not offer a service or website or whatever to people half a world away is not to "disenfranchise" them. I don't think you have room to call anyone else's comments "silly".

[andygates]

It's making your company's products and services irrelevant, as we'll just shrug and move on. That's got to hit the bottom line.

[Semiapies]

No, not really. Not to be shocking or anything, but Europe is not a target market for every company.

[wlll]

Half a world, but only 100ms.

[bardworx]

I would like to share an anecdote with you, which might highlights the difference in mindset some folks have.

When I was 20/21, I worked at PJ Clarke's on the Hudson, a restaurant in downtown Manhattan. Back then, the Merc was still staffed by traders on all floors (they switched to computerized trade desks, I believe, and there were less people there).

During one shift, I had a party of 10+ people and had to grab extra tables from other area. The tables had tops made from granite and heavy. As I was moving the table, the majority owner Phil Scotti jumped in and started helping me. I said something like "I got it" and he looked me in the eye and said "Anything for a buck".

That quote might not be popular but I what I realized is that work is work and money is money. If a multi-millionaire could move tables and his wife (in custom, expensive, suits) can bus tables, then yes...Disenfranchising, or not servicing a bunch of folks, because you don't feel like it is fucking stupid.

I apologize for calling it silly.

[jholman]

I dunno what the point of this anecdote was, but the parent poster was right to mock the word "disenfranchise". If the American business doesn't want the buck, they don't want the buck. If they do want the buck, they do want the buck. Their call, not disenfranchising anyone.