Talk:DuPont (1802–2017)

".. the DuPonts played hardball with publisher Prentice-Hall .. " What does "playing hardball" mean ? Is it a phrase ? Why did they have to do anything with P-H ? Was the book against the DuPonts ? Jay 08:20, 26 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Playing hardball with is a colloquial figurative phrase meaning getting tough with.
H Padleckas 11:22, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Didn't they have also some involvement in the (re?)criminalization of marijuana in the United States? I could be mistaken... Jeff 8:80, May12 2005

The two paragraphs toward the bottom about CFCs and the Tennant family could use some rewriting. Parag, 10:30, 6 August 2005

Removed huge section

I commented out a large section towards the end for just sounding biased and not being sourced. If someone can rewrite the tone or find sources I missed it's still there for re-addition.

Thanx 68.39.174.91 06:58, 13 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The claim that they invented CFCs is supported by thier own website [1]. The same site supports the claim that the move away from CFCs is only happening in developed countries:

"In 1991, DuPont commercialized its first family of CFC alternative refrigerants under the Suva® brand in response to the changing needs and priorities of societies around the world. These low- or nonozone-depleting products, HCFCs and HFCs, have enabled an economical, nondisruptive global transition away from CFCs -- a transition still underway in some developing economies."

Note the cute in response to the changing needs and priorities of societies around the world, kinda like, having an ozone layer is a lifestyle choice.

See also [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Content of article

It concerns me that the largest single part of this article, comprising maybe half the article, is criticism of the company in question. It seems that some people have an anti-corporation axe to grind??? I'm new to Wikipedia so I'm not going to edit it immediatly, but I intend to do a bit of research and balance the article a bit.

Of all the corporations in the world I feel that DuPont are far from the worst, with the reputation they have for being one of the safest companies around and for their focus on safety and the environment. Sure there are accidents, leaks and seepages but I think if you take the time to do your research you'll find that the frequency of such occurances is far below the frequency in almost any other comparable company.

NPOV in this article

I took out a paragraph describing DuPont's connections with Nazi Germany because the first sentence really betrayed the point of putting it in this article and made me doubt that its inclusion upheld NPOV...

"Charles Higham's book on the subject of DuPont connections to Nazi Germany, "Trading with the Enemy: An Expose of the Nazi-American Money Plot 1933-1949," is highly recommended."

Wikipedia is not a book club. Books are to be used as sources for information. At least that is my understanding. If whoever it is would like to rewrite this section, making it more relevant to a critcism of DuPont specifically (Higham's book, as far as I know, was not JUST about the subject of DuPont's connections to Nazi Germany), I would have no problem with it. Just remember not to quote from the book but rather to give a general idea of the point and then source it properly (and of course list the book itself in the sources section).

"Du Pont's anti-Semitism "matched that of Hitler" and, in 1933, the Du Ponts "began financing native fascist groups in America . . ." one of which Higham identifies as the American Liberty League: "a Nazi organization whipping up hatred of blacks and Jews," and the "love of Hitler". "Financed . . . to the tune of $500,000 the first year, the Liberty League had a lavish thirty-one-room office in New York, branches in twenty-six colleges, and fifteen subsidiary organizations nationwide that distributed fifty million copies of its Nazi pamphlets." "Between 1932 and 1939, bosses of General Motors [DuPont was a major shareholder] poured $30 million into I.G. Farben plants . . ." Further, Higham informs us that by "the mid-1930s, General Motors was committed to full-scale production of trucks, armored cars, and tanks in Nazi Germany." It is worth noting, however, that this was accomplished through its German carmaking subsidiary, Adam Opel AG which, along with most other manufacturing companies, was conscripted into building up the Wehrmacht for the Nazis."

As it stands this section clearly has a POV and also includes information about things that have no relevance to DuPont.

--IRelayer 23:20, 3 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Stock Ticker

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but in the category description box, there is a link to Dow's stock instead of DuPont's. I don't have the spare moment to edit it right now, but hopefully someone else can fix this.

--Dpraedan 00:33, 14 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

DD is the correct symbol. You have to click on the link arrow at the end to get the quote-- if you click on DD, you get a blank NYSE page. -- Mwanner | Talk 00:39, 14 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I probably should have specified, but I meant at the bottom of the page. There it has the link to DOW.

--Dpraedan 03:36, 15 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

More on NPOV

This article is yet another example of the "negative" writings that dominates many Wikipedia articles. The "criticism" is longer than all other parts of the aricle when in fact, the conduct of the DuPont company, its employees, and family members epitomizes a history of integrity that is filled with earned respect. This is in FACT a company with an outstanding reputation spanning more than two hundred years. To point out a few minor and allegedly negative incidents, or portray what happened years ago in the context of today's knowledge, is nothing less than a disservice to Wikipedia. If Wikipedia is ever going to have credibilty, this type of unbalanced writing has to end. - Ted Wilkes 17:12, 20 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

From User talk:Mwanner:

This article is certainly not balanced as you claim it should be, not even remotely close to that. If you (or others) have serious intent to create credible articles, then do as you state and ensure "balance." It is not "contributing" by inserting only real or alleged "criticsm". There are, many, mamy, many, such crap articles at Wikipedia. You may have lived in Wilmington, but it means little and Wikipedia:No original research means "No personal opinions" as were there. Some insertion about about North carolina "leeks" is pure crap until it is placed in precise context with Wikipedia:Cite your sources and Wikipedia:Reliable sources. And please don't tell me what edits you will "let stand". I spelled out the reasons for my deletions fully in accordance with Wikipedia:Policy. You, or anyone else are free to add, reinsert etc. them in the same Policy manner - and when you do, you have an obligation to provide balance. This article as it stood (still) is a disgrace. Thank you. - Ted Wilkes 18:53, 20 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Your references are non-scientific. They are all either personal websites Wikipedia:No original research) and activist groups which don't provide scientific facts. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and sources must be unimpeachable -- lobby or special interest groups are not acceptable as a Wikipedia:Reliable sources. Wikipedia policy requires: "Cite peer-reviewed scientific journals." And in Court cases, you need to provide a Court and court case number for referencing and the judgment details - Wikipedia (or any encyclopedia) does not quote allegations in frivolous cases. Also, one case you refer to was thrown out of court as being without foundation but the link to the article doesn't work on the Activist Group page you linked to. As to CFC's, what is the purpose of quoting this? Did DuPont deliberately create a product to harm the environment? Did they conspire to hide facts so they could sell them? They did not - ever. DuPont was one company of many around the world who made a product that later turned out "might" be harmful to the ozone layer. So what? Scientists haven't even agreed on that, or the effects, unlike say Thalidomide, which was withdrawn from sale after it was discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis. There are millions of products that we later learned caused harm (or might have) but an encyclopedia doesn't devote its content to these unless the company knowingly created a harmful product and hid the facts - a criminal act. DuPont is in fact one of the best corporate citizens in American history with family members and corporate personnel demonstrating a history of the highest integrity. Thank you. - Ted Wilkes 12:10, 22 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

As well, comments taken out of context and without citing the verifiable source are not acceptable.

"On April 27, 1992 DuPont announced that "we will stop selling CFC's as soon as possible," but only in the "US and other developed countries."

- Ted Wilkes 12:22, 22 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Ted, there is currently a worldwide agreement in effect (first coming into force in 1989) known as the Montreal Protocol to phase out CFC production completely by the year 2006. 189 countries are party to the agreement, including the United States (No major country is not a signatory except for Iraq), and it is being administered by international institutions such as the World Bank. I don't think this would happen if there was any credible doubt about the harmful effects of CFCs on the ozone layer. What are your authoritative references for your statement that there is no scientific consensus about this matter (Rush Limbaugh and shills for the refrigerator industry don't count) Bwithh 14:46, 22 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]