Why Boycott?

When did boycotting become a popular hobby? We learned about boycotts that took place in history to protest the maltreatment of workers in a company. But boycotting has come a long way in the past couple of decades.
It seems to me that every time I turn around I hear about people (usually people who profess to be Christians) boycotting something because of their support of a "taboo" cause. I'm sick and tired of it. Why is it necessary to boycott a company for their support of something they believe in? Do you honestly feel that threatened? Doesn't "perfect love cast out all fear?" If you don't like what they stand for, just choose not to purchase their product. Did you know you had that option? Honestly, in my own opinion, it is a waste of time and money to boycott companies who are, like everyone else, just trying to make a living and supporting the causes they believe in. When we boycott those companies, we are making it hard for the “little people.” You know who they are. They live right next to you or just down the street from you. When you boycott a company, you are really saying, “Everyone should believe the same way I do.” Since we live in a country that allows us the freedom of religion, religious beliefs should not be a basis for boycotting a company. That doesn't make any sense! Let's look at that again. We are thankful for the freedom of religion but we want to force everyone to believe the same way we do. Yep. It still doesn't make any sense. You aren't hurting the person who owns the company. They have enough money and experience to start again. You are hurting the average, everyday Joe who is probably just barely making ends meet. Is that really the way a Christian is to behave? I thought we were to be examples to others, not dictators lording it over others. I thought the fruit of the spirit consisted of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I think if we remembered this and truly understood what it meant, we would be very hesitant to boycott anything on the basis of belief. And just to let you know, I am a believer in Jehovah God. I will take every opportunity that I can get to go to Disney World. I will buy any car I can afford from any place that will accept my money. I will choose to buy a product that works the way it is supposed to over a product that doesn't. Why should I spend more money on a product I can ill afford just because they practice the same religious beliefs? If purchasing “holy” products from “holy” companies continues to put me deeper in debt, I'm sinning! Hello! Yep, that's right. I did say that. If I can't afford the food I need to feed my family b/c I refuse to purchase from a certain company, I'm sinning. We are called to be good stewards of what we are given. We cannot behave this way and be good stewards. I am fully convinced of that. Boycotting is a waste of time and though it may get a company's attention, it really doesn't change anything about the way the company feels in general. Wasting our time on things like this is so stupid. We could better spend our time in prayer for those in charge of the companies. I think God can accomplish more on His own. I'm tired of getting in His way. And I'm tired of seeing people stomp all over their own beliefs! Get real! Open your eyes. Don't be so afraid. Don't let fear ruin your witness or your life. Yes, we should laud the companies that stand for the things we believe in. But we should not ever stomp on someone else's beliefs! Ever! I will take a risk here and say that if we participate in these boycotts that hurt people just because they follow a different belief system, we are just as guilty as they are and we should be ashamed to call ourselves Christians after the Holy Son of God. I could say more but I'll stop for now.