How an IN business used the new law to take from idiots

[EVT1]

www.tmz.com/2015/04/01/memories-pizza-closes-indiana-deny-service-gay-wedding/

Oh the demand for wedding pizzas

Small town, nobody asked for their opinion on anything, they called in to a radio station to make a statement, and apparently in one day they went from a wildly successful business in a small town of maybe 2000 people to bankruptcy in a day thanks to the law

50K worth of go fund me.

I love it! 

[Virgil Showlion]

Actually, they're up to $450,000.00 in donations.

www.gofundme.com/memoriespizza

And according to your own link, they've temporarily closed their doors because of threats, etc., not bankruptcy.

This is two misfires in a row now. You're not hoping to topple Paul out of first place are you?

[Virgil Showlion]

Also, they didn't have a shootout with police using legally-obtained assault rifles, and they don't have a giant poster of George Zimmerman in the storefront window.

[b2r]

  I wonder what's in the Tripple XXX Root Beer at 2:07?  

[mmhmm]

They're not "taking" from anyone. People have a choice whether to donate, or not.

[b2r]

Apr 3, 2015 0:23:57 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Got to hand it to 'em, it was a great publicity stunt. They probably made more in one day on gofundme than they have in the last ten years running a pizza joint in a small town. Pretty savvy business decision.

  Yeah, that girl sounds savvy.   More like liberal media plans backfiring!
  

[tallguy]

Apr 2, 2015 23:05:59 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

This is two misfires in a row now. You're not hoping to topple Paul out of first place are you?

I don't think that is possible.  Paul has lapped the field so many times that as long as the engine is sputtering he can still limp in for the win.

[Deleted]

s Reason Editor in Chief Matt Welch noted earlier today, Memories Pizza was forced to close because of death threats the business received in response to its owners' statements regarding RFRA and service to gay customers (they said they would serve anyone but could not in good conscience cater a gay wedding). And that's a terrible thing, regardless of what one thinks about religious freedom, or gay rights, or discrimination. No one should be threatened with violence, period.

Many in the media—particularly on the right—are now accusing those who reported and re-reported the story of irresponsible journalism. And they have a very good case.

The owners of Memories Pizza, the O'Connor family, did not willingly seek out controversy, deny service to a gay person or couple, or even go out on a limb to suggest that they would. No, they merely responded to a question from Alyssa Marino, a local reporter for ABC 57 News who had come to their shop in search of a story.

And they did give her a story—but not the one she reported. Her initial headline was "RFRA: First Michiana business to publicly deny same-sex service" (Michiana is the region in Indiana where Memories Pizza is located). That headline implies two things that are false. The O'Connors had no intention of becoming the first Michiana business to do anything discriminatory with respect to gay people; they had merely answered a hypothetical question about what would happen if a gay couple asked them to cater a wedding. And the O'Connors had every intention of providing regular service to gay people—just not their weddings.

That policy, while not as gay-affirming as many of us supporters of same-sex marriage would like, isn't as discriminatory as what the headline claims. And though ABC 57 changed it at some point, several bigger outlets ran with the distorted version. PJ Media has a good rundown of it: The Huffington Post reported, "Indiana’s Memories Pizza Reportedly Becomes First Business To Reject Catering Gay Weddings," and BuzzFeed ran with, "Indiana Pizzeria Owners Say They'd Deny LGBT People Service."

Stripped down to the actual facts, there wasn't much of a story here in the first place, writes PJ Media's Scott Ott:

If I were forced to mark out a story line, it would be this: A nice lady in a small town tries to be helpful and polite to a lovely young reporter from “the big city.”

In other words, Memories Pizza didn’t blast out a news release. They didn’t contact the media, nor make a stink on Twitter or Facebook. They didn’t even post a sign in the window rejecting gay-wedding catering jobs. They merely answered questions from a novice reporter who strolled into their restaurant one day – who was sent on a mission by an irresponsible news organization.

As I said yesterday, I don't agree with the policy the O'Connors articulated, though I would defend their right to practice it—in both theory and actuality. I would also defend the right of people to criticize it, though I would question the wisdom, necessity, and productivity of doing so in such a harsh and stridently condemning manner. The death threats are another matter; no one has the right to threaten violence against someone else.

The people who made those threats are at fault, but so are the journalists who erroneously reported on this story—who made a merely unfriendly policy seem like a declaration of pending discrimination against the next gay person to walk through the front door of Memories Pizza.

reason.com

[deziloooooo]

couple asked them to supply food for a wedding they would have to refuse...A web page asking for donations to help the owner here raises almost a half million dollers.....Owner never said they would refuse gays coming in and just ordering food..it was the supplying food for a Gay wedding that they had a problem with...According to the article on the subject, they had not actually had a Gay couple ask for such a service..just a what if...


www.courant.com/nation-world/chi-indiana-pizzeria-gay-weddings-20150402-story.html

While I have absolutely no problem with Gays marrying..in fact if I was invited to such a event..wedding..by gay friends , no problem at all and would go happily  to such a event..However, I also have no problem with this business or any other refusing service to a gay couple for a wedding...then again as I type that I am having second thoughts about my feelings on this...

I guess it's the business itself..a small MOM / Pop pizza business ..owner has a problem with gays being married...while in my mind to have such a problem is silly, to refuse a nice business order, say 25 large pizzas assorted..a dumb decision..who am I to diss someones religouse feelings, but say a large national chain..same refusal..there I have a problem with it..Am I alone with such feelings....? Anyone..?

The big thing on this article and happening..a web site asking for donations and it hitting almost a half million..now that really blew me away and no I am not contributing..

[Shooby]

Yes, let's go shut down all those evil Mom and Pop shops!

[Shooby]

Big Mom and Big Pop!

[sarcasticgirl]

Silly shop owners, a gay wedding would never serve pizza!

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using proboards

[Virgil Showlion]

Merging this thread with the previous one started on the same topic.

    - Virgil (Mod)

[OldCoyote]

Apr 3, 2015 7:51:17 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

What's even better is that a pizza restaurant in WI is being targeted with hate mail and comments for the audacity to have the same name as the one in IN. 


wbay.com/2015/04/02/mistaken-identity-leads-to-pizza-business-scrambling-to-save-their-companys-name/

The controversy surrounding the religious freedom law in Indiana has an Outagamie County pizza company dealing with a case of mistaken identity.

It has a similar name as an Indiana pizza parlor that’s taken heavy criticism for its anti-gay views.

“Cool. Gluten and gay free. Creeps,” was a comment – since removed – posted on the business Facebook page of a Nichols, Wisconsin pizza company.

Owner Mike Premeau says that comment bothered him.

After nearly two years in business, Memories Gourmet Pizza Company in Nichols is facing an identity crisis.

“People on the internet have chosen to target our company when we’re not related to nor do we have any interest in this company in Indiana,” says Premeau.

The business shares a similar name to Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana – a parlor facing backlash after its owner said it wouldn’t provide pizzas, if asked, to a gay wedding.

The confusion has led to nasty posts on the Nichols company’s Facebook page, and several phone calls.

Most of the calls started with “do you discriminate against gays?”


...Read the rest by following the link

Nothing like the hate from the gentle Intolerant gay community and their backers towards an innocent company,   Oh well that's just too bad   yea we could care less.

[Virgil Showlion]

Apr 3, 2015 8:52:01 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Apr 3, 2015 7:51:17 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

What's even better is that a pizza restaurant in WI is being targeted with hate mail and comments for the audacity to have the same name as the one in IN. 


wbay.com/2015/04/02/mistaken-identity-leads-to-pizza-business-scrambling-to-save-their-companys-name/

Nothing like the hate from the gentle Intolerant gay community and their backers towards an innocent company,   Oh well that's just too bad   yea we could care less.

It's the right kind of intolerance. What is confusing people about this?

The wrong kind of intolerance is valuing one's religious beliefs more highly than society's, and declining to facilitate or participate in immoral enterprises that society has deemed moral.

The right kind of intolerance is valuing society's beliefs above all else, and persecuting or destroying the religious man's business unless he forsakes his beliefs and agrees to facilitate and participate in immoral enterprises.

[EVT1]

Apr 3, 2015 7:11:47 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Wow, that is a pretty good return for the G fearing pizzeria!

That plus the store's assets should net them at least $510,000.00. Not bad for a three day marketing campaign.

Will they actually get the money, and what will they net after taxes?

That's the way I saw it- any business owner with half a brain staring into a camera knew what was going to happen.  It paid off quite well.  Can't wait for Sarah Palin to visit and order some pizzas when they reopen.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 2, 2015 23:42:58 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

They're not "taking" from anyone. People have a choice whether to donate, or not.

and let's face it: to someone like David Koch, $1/2M is chump change. 

[Virgil Showlion]

If the campaign keeps up, they'll be millionaires by the end of the week.

I don't know. I think in good conscience they should refuse the money and reimburse all the donors. Although... I suppose their business isn't able to run and some compensation is warranted.

That's the trouble with these campaigns. All the money in the world won't fix the underlying problem, no matter which side of the debate you're on.

[b2r]

One of the signs on display at Memories Pizza.

static1.businessinsider.com/image/551d4551eab8ea4e1ac2b3a4-915-545/screen%20shot%202015-04-02%20at%209.33.08%20am.png

What a hateful family these O'Connors are!   God bless them! 

[b2r]

[djAdvocate]

so, sue them.  seriously.  are we eScared of Mooslimbs?

[Opti]

Apr 3, 2015 13:10:24 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

If the campaign keeps up, they'll be millionaires by the end of the week.

I don't know. I think in good conscience they should refuse the money and reimburse all the donors. Although... I suppose their business isn't able to run and some compensation is warranted.

That's the trouble with these campaigns. All the money in the world won't fix the underlying problem, no matter which side of the debate you're on.

Maybe yes, maybe no. The Gofund me campaign was created and set up by some guy

on the beloved Blaze website. It remains to be seen whether it will really end up in the

pizzeria's hands or was a money generating idea by the guy who created the campaign.

I was very dubious at first, but given it was set up by someone else, I'm more suspicious

of the GoFund Me campaign creator. I am disappointed in those who chose to leave hateful

messages on the FB page, but not surprised. There are some things it is better to say little

about or pick a small audience.

[mmhmm]

Apr 3, 2015 13:39:21 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

so, sue them.  seriously.  are we eScared of Mooslimbs?

Think of the poor moose! The moose can't move without moose limbs! 

[Opti]

OK b2r, I think 5 seconds was too much on that video.

I hate fishing expeditions. Are none of these conservative militants

aware that the "gay" wedding cake had nothing to do with the

wedding cake but everything and all to do with the fact that the owner

*KNEW* the couple were gay?

All this crap about making "gay" and "straight pride" wedding cakes is

beyond ridiculous for me. Wedding cakes do not have writing on them.

Heck, even exciting groom's cakes usually do not as well, just exciting

shapes, colors or whatever to celebrate the groom.

If you are trying to have them write "Joan and Jay" , "Janet and Joan" or

"Jay and Bob" you probably aren't trying to order a wedding cake. You

walk in and start with the obvious, I want to order a wedding cake. They

ask for how many people and you should be discussing sizes, types of

cake and then decoration. Only conservative set up artists think writing

on a wedding cake is going to impress or change the minds of the public.

The cake was not gay. There was no writing that was gay. Really how hard is it

to get that? A wedding cake not sold to gay people. FYI, wannabe gotcha film-makers.

Pose as a gay person or couple. And not obviously so. Wake me up when you all get a clue.

TYVM.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 3, 2015 15:08:43 GMT -5 Opti said:

OK b2r, I think 5 seconds was too much on that video.

I hate fishing expeditions. Are none of these conservative militants

aware that the "gay" wedding cake had nothing to do with the

wedding cake but everything and all to do with the fact that the owner

*KNEW* the couple were gay?

All this crap about making "gay" and "straight pride" wedding cakes is

beyond ridiculous for me. Wedding cakes do not have writing on them.

Heck, even exciting groom's cakes usually do not as well, just exciting

shapes, colors or whatever to celebrate the groom.

If you are trying to have them write "Joan and Jay" , "Janet and Joan" or

"Jay and Bob" you probably aren't trying to order a wedding cake. You

walk in and start with the obvious, I want to order a wedding cake. They

ask for how many people and you should be discussing sizes, types of

cake and then decoration. Only conservative set up artists think writing

on a wedding cake is going to impress or change the minds of the public.

The cake was not gay. There was no writing that was gay. Really how hard is it

to get that? A wedding cake not sold to gay people. FYI, wannabe gotcha film-makers.

Pose as a gay person or couple. And not obviously so. Wake me up when you all get a clue.

TYVM.

well done, Opti.  what the right does best is straw man arguing, and you did an excellent job of illustrating that, here.

it is a shame that some find that logical fallacy compelling, but that is what a generation of dittoheads gets us.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2015 13:10:24 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

If the campaign keeps up, they'll be millionaires by the end of the week.

I don't know. I think in good conscience they should refuse the money and reimburse all the donors. Although... I suppose their business isn't able to run and some compensation is warranted.

That's the trouble with these campaigns. All the money in the world won't fix the underlying problem, no matter which side of the debate you're on.

I agree with the bolded. The rest of that sentence however is questionable... because there's only one "wrong" side in this issue. The side that's for discrimination in a public business (that would be the "Christians that refuse to serve gays" side... in case anyone was confused).

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2015 13:33:05 GMT -5 b2r said:

The same standard should apply to Muslim bakeries. It's a CAKE. They aren't being invited into the gay couple's bed... they are being asked to provide a fluffy/spongy baked good with icing on it, for a perfectly legal activity... something that they advertise that they do!

[b2r]

  I believe the gofundme campaign is officially over, and the grand total is... $842,387  

   www.gofundme.com/memoriespizza

[Icelandic Woman]

Apr 3, 2015 19:23:30 GMT -5 b2r said:

  I believe the gofundme campaign is officially over, and the grand total is... $842,387  

   www.gofundme.com/memoriespizza

This really does reaffirm the stupidity of so many people here in the US. With so many worthy causes they could give money to, like animal causes and veterans organizations and homeless shelters, this is what they are giving money to? Pathetic and sad!

[EVT1]

Holy crap! 

The sad part is that it wasn't so much about the money than the message the money sent- what a waste.  Only in America.

How does that work anyway- some guy at The Blaze set it up- does he just transfer it to the people?  Does he have to?  Who is paying the taxes?  Where can I find a reporter to tell my refusal to service gay people story to