Woolworths: " We Are A Muslim Business"

[agchristie]

This, from Germany. Sign of things to come?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/735211/Woolworth-Germany-cancels-Christmas-Dortmund-customers-Muslims

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - it is not I that is reading something that isn't there - it is the readership of the newspaper who read 'We are a Muslim business ...' which is an untruth.

You and I are perfectly capable of dissecting the content and analysing what has been said, and how, and why, and what the truth actually is, or as is more often the case, isn't.

But newspapers appeal to people who will take the headline first, maybe skim the text, and certainly not analyse the truth out of it.

If that were not the case, then the Express would read like The Times, whose readership are not waiting with Pavlovian responses at the ready.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, the readership will have been aware that Woolworths isn't a Muslim business. No analysis necessary.

//Spokeswoman Diana Preisert said: "Woolworth is, of course, not a Muslim company. //

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - we can go around this if you want, but the message the paper intended its readers to take is very clear - the main strapline advises that 'Woolworths store cancels Christmas over Muslim customers'.

Now you and I know that that is simply not the truth, so why did the paper print it? because they wanted its anti-Muslim readership to take that bit in, and never mind the actual truth which is further down.

I know enough about the way the media works to know that your eye-catching headlines and straplines are what draw readers in, but that is not an excuse to simply like in them.

[andy-hughes]

Or even lie in them!!

[andy-hughes]

divebuddy - //The tortuous way some people try and twist things so that they don't have to accept a self evident fact never ceases to amaze me. What is so difficult to grasp about this "Woolworths" situation. //

I am not sure if I am in your list of 'some people' here - but I assure you I am not.

My point is nothing to do with the reasons why this store is not stocking Christmas goods - it is pointed out in the text that sales last year indicated that there is no viable customer base for them - I have no issue with that as a fact.

My issue is with the way the story is headlined - which is with a complete untruth - Woolworths is not a Muslim business, and the store has not cancelled Christmas for any reason - Muslim or otherwise.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //but the message the paper intended its readers to take is very clear - the main strapline advises that 'Woolworths store cancels Christmas over Muslim customers'. //

But that's exactly what's happened. How difficult is it to understand?

[naomi24]

... which hopefully leads us back to discussing the main issue.

[RandyMarsh]

Woolworths are not the company who decides if christmas is cancelled or not.

That honour belongs to coca cola.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //andy-hughes, //but the message the paper intended its readers to take is very clear - the main strapline advises that 'Woolworths store cancels Christmas over Muslim customers'.

But that's exactly what's happened. How difficult is it to understand? //

That is not what has happened at all!

The store has not 'cancelled' anything - it is not stocking Christmas items - if you think that equates to 'cancelling Christmas' - then you may not fully appreciate what the word 'cancel' actually means.

Allow me - cancel

1. decide or announce that (a planned event) will not take place.
"he was forced to cancel his visit"

synonyms: call off, abandon, scrap, drop;

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, 'cancel' was your word - not mine. I told you earlier you're reading what isn't there - and you are - but if you want me to explain why I borrowed your word it's because that branch of Woolworths has called off, abandoned, scrapped and dropped its sale of Christmas items.

Now can we please call off, abandon, scrap, and drop this nonsensical conversation and hopefully get back to the real subject of the thread?

[hereIam]

Woolies used to be quintessentially British. Hate how things have changed.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - The headline says, quote 'We are a Muslim business' Woolworths store cancels Christmas over Islamic customers.'

I am a little mystified as to how you conclude 'cancel' is, as you put it 'my word'. It is not 'my word' it is the paper's word - it is there in their headline.

You say - // I told you earlier you're reading what isn't there - and you are -//

Well clearly I'm not - because it is there!

// ...but if you want me to explain why I borrowed your word it's because that branch of Woolworths has called off, abandoned, scrapped and dropped its sale of Christmas items. //

That is not what the headline says - the headline says "Woolworths store cancels Christmas over Muslim customers'. and that is different from saying // ...that branch of Woolworths has called off, abandoned, scrapped and dropped its sale of Christmas items. //

One is not selling Christmas items - no dispute there.

The other is about cancelling Christmas - very much a dispute there.

Quite why you fail to see that these are not the same is something I continue to fail to understand.

It's only nonsensical because you are making it so with your determination not only not to see what is posted in the OP - but to infer that it is me who is not seeing things correctly!

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, for goodness sake! In order to demonstrate your objections you posted synonyms for the word 'cancel'. With regard to its Christmas sales, that branch of Woolworths has done all of those things. Now please stop this. It's detracting from the point of the OP.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - Let me make this very simple -

The headline says that the store has cancelled Christmas.

The store has not cancelled Christmas, because it can't cancel Christmas.

You are the one dragging our pointless argument on because you wilfully accuse me of reading something that is not there, obliging me to point out that it is there.

OK - I have made my point as clearly as I can - if you choose not to grasp it for reasons of your own, that is your choice.

Back to the OP.

As I have pointed out from the beginning, the headline and strapline are simply factually inaccurate because the paper wants to infer that the reasons why the shop has no customer base for Christmas items is because of an influx of Muslims, and a dearth of Christian customers.

That may - or may not - be true, there is no evidence provided either way.

My sole argument is not with the concept of Muslim intake into the area, but that the paper has lied deliberately to create an impression which may or may not be factual.

To be clear - my argument is not with the store, or its stock control, nor Muslims moving into the area, or Christians moving out - my argument is with a paper that is telling lies to stir up trouble.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //The store has not cancelled Christmas, because it can't cancel Christmas.//

It's cancelled Christmas in that branch of Woolworths. Christmas no longer exists there.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I refer you back to my post at 15:39.

The idea that the store has 'cancelled' Christmas is a hysterical overreaction to simple market forces - nothing more than that.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //Naomi - I refer you back to my post at 15:39. //

If it's all the same to you I won't bother.

[andy-hughes]

It matters not at all to me - I know that what I have said is correct, and anyone reading the thread will agree with what I have put.

If you wish to compound your ignorance, then that is your choice.

[agchristie]

@ Andy

Which do you think is the most concerning issue?

A newspaper headline that distorts the facts?

OR

Dortmund, the eighth biggest city in Germany, now having only a 30% Christian population and an increase in Muslims?