Hey all: Well, I feel kinda good today.. for the first time, I actually spoke up, and complained about something that was eating at me for quite some time... We usually go to this health club across the street during lunch (company pays our membership)... and I am quite into using thier treadmills, etc. Anyhow, this club always has a few TV stations tuned in for the people using the cardio machines... and CNN news is always one of them. For those of you to the south of us, CNN is Canada’s propaganda channel (similar to your Fox news..). Anyhow, after seeing all the war crap for about 1/2 hour, including bush's monkey face on there.. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I walked over to the counter, and told the owner that this war thing really bothers me a lot... and I don't support any side... seeing dead children in the streets is not what I'm coming to the gym for every day, and asked if they could put on something else. Turns out, they told their staff not to put the war channel on at that club anymore, as they received a customers complaint... Anyhow, I was very nice about it, and appreciate that they accommodated me, however, it made me think... what if everyone stood up, and asked for this propaganda to be turned off whenever they are some establishment (i.e. bars, restaurants... wherever they have public TV).... would this send any kind of message? or am I just doing some wishful thinking here. Would that help change anything, or spread any messages? peace everyone Soc
I'm glad someone actually listened to you, as this is a pretty rare occurence for me, but don't you happen to mean CBN instead of CNN? Just wondering.
I know what you mean though because in a lot of stores with T.V.'s they always put on a news channell like Fox news or like what you were saying CNN. Who wants to watch that bull all day when you don't have to.
I always do that. If I go into a place of business and druggie limpbaugh ,fux news,ect,is on ,I ask them to turn it off.If they won't,Im out of there with a smart-ass remark as to their intelligence.Fuck em'.I don't have to take that bullshit.Same with my republican friends.They know how I feel and they'll turn that crap off as soon as they see me coming.Nice goin'socratez.----------and by the way,here's a responce for you.My friend="global warming is bullshit!"Me="and if you're wrong"?My friend="I don't give a shit--I'll be gone anyway"said with a smirk.Needless to say,we don't talk politics.They are ir-redeemable.
So true, I always used to watch Fox news and it fucked me up good, it has all this right wing propoganda against gays on it all the time, with all the misinformation i got from them it was hard to come to terms with myself since i had this stereotypical view on gay people. I would have benefited alot if the news showed both sides of the story instead of just the negative views against the gay community.
In truth that is an inspirational post and infact you have given me an idea that I might try. In Brutain some pubs (bars) leave the television on - I may try that idea at the bars I visit in my local area - they may think I am mad but I dont think they will when I complain that I come here to get away from that propoganda I think that following your example and remaining calm and polite but firm, may just get the propoganda turned off. If only it could happen - well I am going to try it!
One one hand, I'm glad that they responded to your complaint and that your workout is more enjoyable. On the other hand, hiding "the dead children in the street" just helps hide the problem. Fighting propaganda by having people turn it off is close to censorship. False speach should be countered with the truth, not silence. Suggesting an alternate channel might be better than asking them to turn off CNN.
I'm not sure if that would do any good. Ignoring the war doesn't stop the war, however, if stopping the war is not your goal, then that point doesn't matter anyway. If you're just trying to tone down the war propaganda, I'd say complaining to the news networks and other media outlets would be a better choice. Afterall, they are the ones who are directly broadcasting that kind of content. News media are just like any other media, they are advertising and subcriber based, and as such require an audience in order to remain profitable. So my opinion is to tell the outlets what you want or don't want to see, and if you don't like what they are presenting turn off the TV or read a different newpaper. If enough people do that, the media would have to respond with more consumer friendly content. I don't think complaining to the owners of business establishments with public TVs is the right way to go, because just as some customers don't want to see the war, there are others who actually do want to see it. If you go after the public TVs, you run the risk of creating a "tyranny of the minority" senario, by one or two complaints knocking out a particular type of broadcast for everybody.
