Are you planning to pump gas on May 15th?

Question

Do you think the boycotting will really help? I see this going around alot & was wondering you oppion on it. Here it is if you haven't seen it:

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices.
Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all myspace members are asked to not go to a gas station in protest of
high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the myspace network, and the
average car takes about 20 to 30 dollars to fill up.

If all myspace members did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
$2,200,000,000.00 (that's BILLION) out of the oil companys pockets for just one day,
so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the
Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) repost this bulletin repost it with
'Don't pump gas on May 15th

I am NOT saying this will work. I was just asking your opinion, so no one needs to freak out at me lol

Answer 1

good idea. and thanks for posting this question because I was completely ignorant of it until I read this. but I will have to mark my calender since I cant remember any thing these days

Answer 2

That's not really a question but here I go.

In theory I will need gas that day. My car takes 18 gallons to fill up and my range is about 350 miles. I will drive that in 2-3 days. If I need that gas on the 15th, and want to join the boycott I will then buy the gas on the 14th or stick it out to the 16th. What happens then is yes the companies make less on the 15th but MORE on the day before and after.

People are going to buy gas no matter what, its just a matter of when. What we need to protest is the USE of oil, not the cost. I could do a better job protesting by not driving.

Not buying the product at all is a true protest, not postponing the purchase.

Answer 3

If you believe that the oil companies are gouging us, then here is a perfect opportunity for them to do so even more.

A smart oil executive will realize that if no one is buying gas on the 15th, then those who would ordinarily fill up on the 15th will either do so on the 14th, or maybe stretch it to the 16th.

So what if on the 16th, prices suddenly go up a dime a gallon? Those who were stretching to make it to the 16th are now forced to pay an even higher price.

Say 10 million people who would normally fill up on the 15th decide not to do so. Let's say 5 million of those decide they can wait until the 16th. Say average fill up is 15 gallons. So on the 16th, if the oil companies all go in cahoots with one another and raise prices a dime a gallon, they'd make an extra $7,500,000 off of this stupid protest.

That's what I'd do if I were an evil oil executive. If I can figure it out, I'm sure the smart executives can too. Maybe they are actually the ones promoting this worthless protest to gouge us even more??? And the best part is, they get the useful idiots who think this protest is a good idea to promote it for them.

Wow! What a conspiracy!

Answer 4

People are too gullible (stupid) to think that not buying gas on one day is going to bring down the prices. The oil companies only look forward to the day after! What brings down the price is a continuous less fuel usage by the consumer. Then there is a surplus and the price comes down. Then what happens, less oil is refined because less is needed, this causes a shortage and the price goes back up. Regardless what people think, it's still "supply & demand". By the way, there is no way that there are 73,000,000 members of Myspace, who made that up? If I need gas on the 15th I will get my usual $10 worth.

Answer 5

The way I see it, it is like anything else, if you keep getting something, it shows the company that you want it and you will pay for it at not matter what cost, however, if you stop getting that item, the company will realize there is some reason(s) that they aren't being bought and they will make changes in order for that product to be sold again or they will stop selling it all together. Therefore changing the price or giving better quality. It just makes companies think that whatever they are doing is acceptable and sometimes it really isn't.

Answer 6

The next day they will buy $4,400,000,000.00 of Gas so unless ther willing to use alternate fuel sources or get out of the fuel game all together the protest will not work.
Now if 73,000,000 people decided to make a real commitment and walk to work for a week, that would be a fundimental change.

Answer 7

A one day boycott will prove a point,but nothing more.
What I propose is to one oil company at a time,boycott their gas for an entire month. For example no one buys Exxon/Mobile in the month of June. Then in July , Shell ,then Chevron in August and so on.
That type of action would not only prove a point ,but hit them where it counts , their wallet.

Answer 8

If I need gas on that day - yes. What is this boycott going to accomplish. The gasoline is already paid for to the biggest profit takers- the oil cartels and oil companies. It only hurts the poor slob who owns a gas station and has to pay employees and feed his own family.It is stupid to boycott. Just car pool or walk or take public transportation more as a habit.

Answer 9

I'm not opposed to higher gas prices. I'll be traveling on the 15th, so I plan to fill up.

If people want to reduce their consumption to offset the price increase, that's fantastic and a better, more lasting contribution to the real problem.

So on May 15th, my feeling is people should walk more, bundle errands, buy locally produced food and material goods, carpool, bike, take public transportation....and the list goes on and on.

Answer 10

The premise behind this message is inherently flawed, because consumers not buying gasoline on one particular day doesn't affect the oil companies at all. The 'gas out' scheme doesn't call upon consumers to USE less gas, but simply to shift their date of purchase and but gas a day earlier or later than they usually would. The same amount of gasoline is sold either way , so oil companies don't lose any money.

There was no successful 'gas out' in 1997.

Answer 11

What about the days before and the days after May 15th?