Since this Xmas fuss is just a deliberate ruse by *Co to pump up the hate

[Robbien]

of his right-wing bots against those dreaded liberals, what should the appropriate counteraction be?

Arguing with the bots increases their anger
Defending position against the bots increases their anger
Dismissing or ignoring the fuss increases their anger
Using humor about the situation also increases their anger

Since anger is BushCo's goal to keep the bots "with him", all these actions are counter-productive.

So what would be the appropriate counteraction?

[Bouncy Ball]

1. I'll tell you

and I've been saying it for quite some time:

IGNORE THEM.

That's right, as hard as it can be, ignore the crap out of them. I am talking about in your actual life, on the internet, and mass media.

1. In your own life, if you can't avoid any bushbots, when they bring up shit like this, totally change the subject or otherwise do NOT RESPOND.

2. Internet? Ignore ignore ignore. Refuse to be drawn into it. Arguing with an idiot means they bring you down to their level and beat you with their experience (at being an idiot).

3. Mass media--turn it the hell off. Cut off your satellite or cable. If even half of all Kerry voters turned off their satellite or cable service, that would send a BIG MESSAGE and believe me, the mainstream media would NOTICE. They are made up mainly of bushbots.

They HATE to be ignored and when you ignore their little hate-making issues, they have to come up with another one. Pretty soon everyone can see what their deal is---just to stir up hate.

[Robbien]

2. Ignoring them does not defuse the anger, it increases it

BushCo has used these anger causing tactics now for four years. Many people have ignored the bots over that time. When BushCo sees one issue being ignored, they go on to the next and so on and so on.

You also say everyone will see what their deal is.
But they haven't. For four years now, they haven't.

Is that the key? Is that what we should be doing, try to make it wider known what tactics are being used here?

[Bouncy Ball]

4. Well then obviously

if ignoring them makes them angry, if responding makes them angry, then EVERYTHING makes them angry.

I still advocate completely ignoring them because it takes two to play a game and if you are really ignoring them, they have no one to play the game with.

Plus it saves your sanity and you don't get all wrapped up in their agenda and their debate.

[Anakin Skywalker]

5. Fuel for Rethugs.

"...if ignoring them makes them angry, if responding makes them angry, then EVERYTHING makes them angry."

Right. I think the Rethugs need anger and hate like fuel. They need them for their "crusades". They are insistent on being angry whether or not valid causes exist. It is just a no-win situation with them.

[Robbien]

10. Doing that will save me and you aggravation from this co-ordinated program

But this co-ordinated attack program will not stop. Continuing it is a necessary tool of the right-wing organization. They have been planning and preparing for it for the last couple of decades. It will continue all throughout Bush's term and on indefinitely through the future.

That is why I asked if there was a counter-action to make this tactic not just work on you and me, but make it possible not to work on anyone.

[LSparkle]

3. Great suggestions

And, yes, it is a ruse. Read Thom Hartmann's article on CommonDreams.org -- Roveco is doing the same thing Hitler did to consolidate power and turn people against "them."

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I used to tell that to my son when he was a kid..Sometimes the only

way to win a game is not to play...

[Robbien]

9. That does no good if a person doesn't even know he is

in the middle of a game and is just reacting to what he thinks are natural occurring events.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. It's logically impossible for ALL alternatives to be THE worst.

Me, I'd chose humor.

[geniph]

8. Boycott the whole consumer madness

(most of us can't afford it anymore anyway). Believe me, if enough of us who were irritated by the fundies trying to claim they're oppressed and victimized because they can't plaster Merry Christmas on every piece of publicly-owned property in the world eschewed the whole Xmas shopping ritual, their corporate masters would bring them to heel tout-suite. The last thing they can afford is a consumer boycott.

The fundies have no one but themselves to blame if people have forgotten the "meaning" of their religious holiday. It wasn't people of other faiths or nonbelievers that turned the day commemorating the birth of their Christ into an orgiastic consumer frenzy. That was self-proclaimed "Christians" that did that.

[oldcoot]

11. Make them look foolish to others

This current hysteria over Christmas amazes me because I have known Christians who have refused to own a Christmas tree because they believe that it is a pagan symbol or to have Santa Claus visit their kids because Santa Claus has nothing to do with Christ. I wonder how these Christians feel about the mayor whining about using the term "community tree."

The real danger is not that the "bots" are angry but that they might influence others. Rational Christians and others can point out the flaws of their reasoning (perhaps they are basing this alleged attack on Christianity on an urban legend) to limit the potential harmful influence of the "bots." We can talk about how sad it is that a few people are focusing on trivial issues such as a dead tree instead of thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. It is appropriate to ask these people if Jesus, the man who died a very painful death for their sins, would really care about a Christmas tree or would he be more concerned about the poor. If any of these dimwits really knew anything about Jesus or believed in the so-called spirit of Christmas, they would be doing something more productive with their time than whining about such trivial things.

[Robbien]

12. They are influencing others, the mainstream media is promoting

the issue along with the usual culprits of talk radio, Fox news and organizations such as Focus on Family.

Yes it is silly, but so was Freedom Fries and you see how effectively that has sunk into the American psyche.