this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2026
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class action lawsuits pretty much only exist to enrich lawyers
While generally true, sometimes it is about the principle of it, and the only way it makes sense to address it is through class action.
If I join in on a class action suit, it's more about making the company pay (and hopefully changing their, and others', policy to avoid future lawsuits), than getting a check for $8.25 in the mail 3 years down the line.
ok but you recognize they wont change their policy right? they will profit more from their shitty anticonsumer policies than they'll ever pay through class actions, may as well go full luigi if it's about making executives pay consequences for their actions
the only way forward is organizing, nothing else will be effective
Except that, historically, there are countless examples of class action suit resulting in large and impactful changes to entire industries.
These sites lists a few, but you can search yourself:
https://www.iveyengineering.com/class-action-lawsuits-2/
https://zlk.com/learn/notable-class-action-lawsuit-examples#largest-and-most-notable-class-action-lawsuits-4
https://classactionbuddy.com/blog/famous-class-action-lawsuits-that-changed-history/
(The URL for this one does suggest that there might be some bias, however I'm pretty sure the cases listed are all real)
It's not perfect, and probably not even close to the best way to do this kind of thing... But it can work
god these are some depressing links, first one includes roe v. wade, third one is a list of corporations doing terrible shit and those corporations are pretty much all doing the exact same shit.
this is all pure cope mate
Why do you think Roe v Wade is a bad example? It made abortion legal for like 50 years.
Sure bud, just ignore:
Brown v. The Board of Education that resulted in the desegregation of all public schools in the US.
The "Scopes Monkey Trial" is why US public schools are even allowed to teach evolution.
Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement which resulted in outlawing advertising tobacco products on billboards and during sporting events, and brought in over $200 billion to states for medical expenses related to smoking.
Both the Enron and WorldCom suits led directly to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The Agent Orange suit by Vietnam vets that led directly to the Agent Orange Act of 1991.
Etc.
It seems like you think I believe that this is the best and only way for things to change, which is literally the exact opposite of what I said.
because it was rolled back? so it's obviously not an effective form of long term change?
i'm over this argument, believe whatever you want, i dont care
I think you're actually confused about what it is I believe.
What I initially said was that, if I join a class action suit, it's not because I'm looking for a payout, but rather that I want to punish the corporation, and possibly push them (and the government) to enact real, lasting change.
I also said that it's not even a good way to change things, let alone the best.
i get that but it won't accomplish change, if we want change we need to organize, everything else is a distraction
It literally has accomplished change though. Numerous times.
you keep telling yourself that, i'm sure microsoft having to pay the equivelent of some change from the back of their sofa will really stop them from doing whatever the fuck they want
Wait, you're telling me that's an option that people could choose?
I wonder what the world would be like if a whole bunch of people started doing that. Could you imagine?
adventurism is not an effective method for long term change, we need to organize and work together, doing random acts of violence doesn't really move the needle