[bombcar]

We need shame, really, societal shame that we inflict on those who have to take government benefits, perhaps. Flying an airline that's known to treat their employees like shit should cause the people at the cocktail to look at you strange.

(We kind of have something like this in that shopping at Costco is considered "good" but lots of people won't admit they shop at Walmart - I'm sure they'll be bankrupt soon given how many people don't shop there!)

[eudamoniac]

Not sure if this is sarcasm, but Walmart earnings continue to rise. Being embarrassed to shop at Walmart is largely a coastal elite bubble situation.

For a more applicable example of shame, buying "cheap Chinese crap" is usually looked down on by all demographics or alignments.

[bombcar]

That was the joke, everyone (at least in the coastal elite) says they don't shop at Walmart, but they exist everywhere.

Same with "cheap Chinese crap" - everyone decries it, but apparently everyone is also buying it.

[eudamoniac]

What I meant is that most people do admit to shopping at Walmart with no embarrassment. Not the same for buying CCC. They still buy it but they know they shouldn't. Shopping at Walmart isn't like that.

[ghaff]

Walmart is pretty much the only big discount store available to many people regardless of their income level unless they have personal shoppers picking stuff up for them. I have a nearby Walmart; the nearest Costco is an hour away and it's a different type of product mix anyway. I don't love shopping at Walmart for a number of reasons but it's convenient for many purposes.

[ahhhhnoooo]

> they exist everywhere...

Not in Seattle. There are zero Walmarts in the city.