This was posted on the latest open thread: "I work for a Safeway Starbucks, and we are going to lose the 'The Way I See It' cups because of a few grumpy old people with no sense of humor. The cup that started it was #230, Joel Stein's comment about how "Heaven is overrated..." Its freakin' dry humor, people! So now the Safeway bigwigs are trying to dump the whole program so that no one is offended. We had to go through every single sleeve of Venti hot cups in the store and pull out every single one with #230 on it. Corporations suck."
HERE IS THE FULL QUOTE:
The Way I See It #230
"Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can’t wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They’re basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell."
-- Joel Stein
Columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
Quit whining.
That's how business works; especially retail like Starbucks. If a corporate initiative offends people, regardless of the merits, the company has to make a decision on how to proceed. When you cater to the public, you can't be surprised to find "all types" out there. As soon as you start demanding that people do it your way, you begin to lose your clientèle.
Posted by: djm | October 02, 2007 at 12:44 PM
So wait, we pull the "Heaven is overrated" cups and keep the intelligent design cups? Sigh.
Posted by: Em | October 02, 2007 at 01:04 PM
I always thought that Joel Stein was overrated. His stuff is thoroughly idiotic and really juvenile.
Posted by: | October 02, 2007 at 02:00 PM
I've not read his columns, but I have to agree with him about the concept of heaven that is presented to us. Eternity sitting on clouds playing a harp? Sounds pretty boring to me too. It was meant as tongue in cheek humor, some people need to learn to relax and not take offense at every little thing.
Posted by: Kat | October 02, 2007 at 02:37 PM
My husband actually got one of these cups in the past month or so. He looked at it - said "I don't need to read about church while I'm having my Sunday morning coffee", and drank the rest of his coffee while reading the paper---NO BIG DEAL!
I'd never even have thought to complain - but some people will complain about anything!
Posted by: | October 02, 2007 at 03:01 PM
What do you want to bet that the people complaining loudest have the most politically oriented bumper stickers on their cars?
Posted by: Lou Sussler | October 02, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Gee, I'm glad I don't have a Safeway to shop at - I'd have to boycott the place for censorship.
because that's all it is - not caving in to any group, or making a "business" decision, but Censorship.
You'd think that some of these yahoos would realize that most of us are adults, and can make our own decisions, rather than having them made for us.
If I choose to read the cup or not, that's my business. When you take away that right,then that's REALLY my business.
Posted by: sbuxnewbie | October 02, 2007 at 04:46 PM
Shouldn't it be Starbucks that has the say on whether the cups get tossed? Safeway could get their license pulled for now following what Starbucks wants.
Posted by: | October 02, 2007 at 05:03 PM
I enjoyed that quote and found it humorous, but I can see how certain people would get their panties in a wad.
People need to loosen up. It's like fortune cookies, sometimes they are good, sometimes they suck. You either read or don't, laugh at it or don't and then move on with life.
Posted by: Diana | October 02, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Seriously, these religious nutbags need to figure out they aren't the only people in the world, and "the way I see it" is about real people with real opinions. I'm an athist and I didn't complain about the 'life is a school for angels' and the 'god has a plan for everybody' cup they shouldn't complain about something that simply points out that anything for an eternity good or bad, is boring.
Posted by: John | October 02, 2007 at 07:09 PM
: (
That was my favorite cup quote.
At the bottom of the cup it says that the "The Way I See It" quotes aren't necessarily the views of Starbucks. So why do they feel the need to pull them? Ughhh.
Posted by: Savannah | October 02, 2007 at 08:37 PM
What is wrong with you people? Is there no concept of business decisions?
John, it is you people who do the most complaining...it is your anti-religion complaining and griping that causes the most irritation.
Posted by: | October 02, 2007 at 09:18 PM
Re: "I don't need to read about church while I'm having my Sunday morning coffee."
Oh, the irony! ;)
Posted by: Hirayuki | October 02, 2007 at 09:42 PM
That's the kind of quote that would start my morning off right. Maybe I'll have to start reading them more often!
God bless.
Posted by: Kevin | October 03, 2007 at 12:53 AM
Seriously, these nutbags need to figure out they aren't the only people in the world, and "the way I see it" is about real people with real opinions.
You do realize that you just called Jesse Jackson and his ilk “nutbags” as the folks in this case are just walking his steps.
Posted by: | October 03, 2007 at 07:02 AM
last time i checked they were starbucks logos on the cups, not safeways.
can safeway really do this, or do they just have to "ask that this be done"--and what makes anyone think that #230 is only on a safeway/starbucks cup?!
overreacting is soooo overrated..
Posted by: HAS BEAN | October 03, 2007 at 07:53 AM
People actually take the time to remove the sleeve and read those things? ;-)
Posted by: Herman M. | October 03, 2007 at 08:05 AM
The way I see it... the whole damned thing is stupid. Hi Jimbo!
...Pat Nerr
Posted by: Pat Nerr | October 03, 2007 at 08:27 AM
"You'd think that some of these yahoos would realize that most of us are adults, and can make our own decisions, rather than having them made for us."
Oh they realize it, but they still want to make the decisions.
Posted by: Kat | October 03, 2007 at 10:16 AM
I have "The Way I See It" #287 on my cup today, and I quoteth:
"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."
-Madeleine K. Albright
Former Secretary of State and Ambassador to the U.N.
They printed the word "hell"! Should I be offended? LOL. Ridonkulousness. It's just a quote, and he's a satirist, isn't he (the columnist)?
Posted by: Melina | October 03, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Why do some Christians have such a martyr complex? They think everyone is out to get them and see every action or opinion that doesn't fit their narrow world view as a personal affront. Did Jesus come back and say, "Just kidding, the Old Testament rules are back in effect"? Or is the Golden Rule still primary? How would you feel about someone being offended by a song and tearing that page out of all the hymnals?
If you don't like the cups, you're welcome to get your coffee elsewhere.
Posted by: Grebby | October 03, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Wow, the people on this site who are complaining about "yahoos" and "religious nuts" are so hypocritical. If the comment in question was something like "diversity is overrated" or "equal rights are wrong" then they would be demanding boycotts of Safeway and attacking Starbucks for putting hate on dispaly. It's sad, really. Ridiculing Christianity is just good fun and anyone who complains is narrowminded, but anyone who dares to crticize liberal orthodoxies is "filled with hate, etc..." So if it's OK for quotes attacking God and Religion to be put on Starbucks cups, how about quotes attacking athiests, hippies, cynical people or fans of emo music?
Oh no, I forgot, to the posters on this particular thread it"s only funny to attack and ridicule things that you personally object to, feel threatened by or don't care about.
Posted by: Seth | October 03, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Seth I totally understand where you're coming from because it does seem like making fun of Christians is the last accepted form of ridicule.
However - on the other side, a quote on a cup is a quote on a cup. In the end it's going in the trash. I don't think anyone is going frame their cup or put on their car as a bumper sticker. I don't have a problem at all with a diversity of opinion being on the cups (at least they cover all sides) and to be perfectly honest, I found the quote kind of funny.
Still those who are overly critical of people's complaints need to really look at the other side of things and realize how many silly things have been pulled because of PERCEIVED offense to some group or other - it's certainly not Christians who have a monopoly on being offended.
Debb
Posted by: Debbie | October 03, 2007 at 01:12 PM
"Shouldn't it be Starbucks that has the say on whether the cups get tossed? Safeway could get their license pulled for now following what Starbucks wants."
Yeah I think a LOT of people here are missing the fact that a LISCENSED company made this decision.. goodbye starbucks and safeway contract.
Posted by: SUPERBARISTA | October 03, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Seth,
Your analogy fails in a number of respects.
1. You say yourself that the people on this site are complaining about "religious nuts" and "yahoos" and then you talk about how it is wrong to ridicule Christianity. What people on this site are complaining about is not Christianity. It's Christians. Particularly Christians who act like "yahoos" and try to impose their narrow view of the world on everyone else. Making fun of anyone, regardless of religion, race, etc. is fair game, particularly those who tend to take themselves a little too seriously. Over-zealous Christians present a pretty big target for being made fun of in that respect.
2. That quote does not in any way attack God and/or religion. Its a tongue in cheek joke about heaven. If you take a minute and actually READ the quote, you'll find that what it does do is acknowledge the presence of heaven and hell, thereby acknowledging the existence of God. Additionally, it states in abundantly clear terms that heaven is BETTER than hell. No attack there.
3. Attacking religious "yahoos" is a little different than saying that "equal rights are wrong." I think that most people in our society would agree that striving for equal rights such as equal protection under the law, and equal pay for equal work regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. is a good thing. Notice, by the way, that I said "equal", not "special" (no twisting of my words will be allowed). Compelling everyone subscribe to YOUR view, or my view, or anyone's view, would not be equal protection. If you believe in the concept of equal rights, then everyone is entitled to their own viewpoints. What no one is entitled to do is prevent me from reading someone else's viewpoint, just because you happen to have (misguidedly) found it offensive.
Posted by: ex-sbuxmanager | October 03, 2007 at 04:27 PM
FFS just get rid of the whole stupid writing on the cups. Why do we have to have so much clutter on everything these days? The same people who come up with this sort of thing are the folks who got everybody to buy clothes with advertising all over them. Idiot moderns.
Posted by: Kevin | October 03, 2007 at 05:48 PM
The simple solution is to get a reusable coffee tumbler at any dollar store and never have to think about what may or may be written on your cup ever again.
Posted by: Gordon Davidescu | October 03, 2007 at 06:55 PM
Gee- I don't recall saying anything about "religion" or "Christianity". I was railing against the Yahoos who have determined that Prior Restraint - Censorship, by any other name- is something that we, the people, should like.
I stand by my comments.
Posted by: sbuxnewbie | October 04, 2007 at 03:34 AM
Aren't they just serving customers, giving them what they want?
Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Speedmaster | October 04, 2007 at 07:28 AM
oops. according to quote #287 i'm going to hell myself. am i going to get all up in arms and throw a fit about it? nope. you know why? because it's a coffee cup! an inanimate object! it's not attackign anybody, because it can't. repeate after me: IT'S JUST A COFFEE CUP!!! quite possinly one of the most non-threatening things possible! if you don't like it, just slap the sleeve on it and it magically dissappears. problem solved!
Posted by: chi-town's best/angriest barista | October 04, 2007 at 10:46 AM
I am going to write this v e r y s l o w l y ...only the GOVERNMENT can censor people.
Posted by: | October 04, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Instead of focusing what quote is on the cup, why don't people make a big deal about what happens to the cup AFTER its one time use. I'm a semi-new barista at the Bucks (3 months...EEE) and the amount of trash we throw away/cups we use is really disturbing, espically because most of that will end up in a landfill.
Pressure Starbucks to use more eco-friendly (I know, I sound like a dirty hippie) disposable cups...or give a bigger discount for travel mugs people bring in to use. Bio plastic derived from corn to line the cups....sleeves that are compostable (that's right, toss em in the compost and grow some veggies)....AH! I WOULD DIE OF HAPPINESS.
Posted by: Brutopia | October 05, 2007 at 08:53 AM
So as a religious person myself I was not offended by this cup in the least bit... honestly I actually laughed out loud :). I think that the majority of the quotes on Sbux cups are silly and once read never thought about again. The one thing that makes me frustrated (not mad) is the fact that sbux changes its cup designs for certain movies that are coming out... comon let me just drink a Starbucks cup with no other advertisement.
Posted by: JimiV | October 10, 2007 at 04:43 PM
go screw yourself and the high horse you rode in on. who the hell(yeah i said hell {better pull my post, lest lesser minds be offended} online) complained about that? have you read most of the quotes? "womens bodies are viewed as ornaments, mens bodies as instruments" as a male(according to safeway) i should have all of these cups burned, and all women who chuckled when they read the quote beaten then, huh? you really need to pull your head out of your ass and stop being so politically correct. this is a liberal company! did you see the benefits package? you and your "domestic partner" are eligible for insurance....ahhhhh you people make me feel more ignorant by the da... :( anyone else catch the irony in that this all happened in a "safe" way??
Posted by: #8575 | October 10, 2007 at 04:46 PM
How about a cup quote which says something like "Diversity is too confusing?" Or "Liberals live in a fantasy land". It seems attacking traditional values in the name of accepting all opinions is ok. Sbux should just make coffee.
Oh well, it just retail.
Posted by: Reynoldsburg | October 19, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Best quote ever !! Thanks Joel for saying it like I've think it.
Posted by: ImTheGirl | October 24, 2007 at 02:47 AM