It's difficult to be sure that everything in a modern life hasn't been tainted by someone's abuse of another human being. Actually, it's a probability that at some point your possessions or food or entertainment cost someone something vital... their lives, even.

But you sit there smug in your apathetic little corner of invulnerability and judge those who fully admit that they don't always succeed in living their creed? That's lame. At least they have achieved a consciousness regarding the consequences of their purchases.

It's easier to mock people who give a shit than to actually give a shit, I know, but do try to extend some respect to those who at least recognize that they might be compromising a higher principle.

Your 'gotcha' just exposes the real purpose of your original post, which was to specifically attack pot smokers as being hypocrites. Obviously you really don't give a rats ass about the sweatshop workers at all... they're just a prop in your rather weak assault.

Beyond that, I'm interested in exactly what "posturing" you're accusing me of here. Could you actually cite something relevant? Or are you just name-calling?

In fact, if you'd taken notice of my recent posting of the Slavoj Zizek lecture, you'd be aware that I'm extremely dubious about the whole notion of ethical consumption. Which is why I used the phase "modern market capitalism makes slave owners of us all".

The entire economic system upon which we rely for sustenance drips with the sweat of the exploited. I want to see that change, but it won't happen by closing down a few sweatshops and buying Fair Trade coffee. Indeed, it's Zizek's contention (and one I tend to agree with) that such things only serve to prolong the injustices by providing us with meaningless salves for our collective conscience.

I can lament that system, certainly. I can try to contribute towards its replacement, but I don't claim to be clear of the shadows it casts.

I once spent a lot of time and energy campaigning against things like sweatshops, and I still applaud those who do so. Where I'm aware of exploitation in the supply chain, I avoid it of course. But it works both ways, pooley. Condemning people here for buying sweatshop pot (even though many of us don't) is only valid if you condemn people for buying other sweatshop products.

And that condemnation includes you.