If there is one thing I hate...

[seeviewonder]

it's going to the doctor or bank in my city. I am constantly reminded that Faux News takes center stage as the "Fair & Balanced" news source for the majority of Americans. They get the higher ratings in part because this channel happens to be on in public places all over the U.S.

I was at the doctor this morning and noticed that they have put a new TV in since the last time I went for a visit. Guess what channel was on...and of course, there was a piece of paper laminated and taped to the set which said something about not changing the channel. And when I go to the bank tomorrow I will have to bear the pain of Faux News while I stand in line before making a deposit. I think it's about time I find a new doctor and bank...I'm just venting a little here.

[jotsy]

1. Wonder how that factors into the ratings they're alway boasting about.

Or maybe I just can't cope with the notion that actual people really want the rancid regurgitation they are renowned for.

[seeviewonder]

11. I think the public viewing factor matters in ratings

but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe someone else on DU knows? It would really make me sick if that many people actually listened to/watched Fixed News privately if that is in fact the case. It's kinda ridiculous. I posted on here a month or so ago about buying satellite service for my new townhouse a while back. I have to pay extra to get MSNBC while Faux, CNN, CNBC, et al are all standard channels without paying any premium. I wonder why this is...?

[jotsy]

19. I love my progressive crew but...

I'm not sure the environment that gives them voice is going to be able to quench its thirst for the corporate kool-aid style of censorship of the faces and minds we've come to watch and trust. On the whole, mainstream media is agenda driven and subsequently a lesser tool for a public to inform itself with. I'm a 20th century nomad, still learning a new world's tools, but there's lots of info to be had from more reliable sources on more relevant matters through alternate means.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. I thought it was going to be "Illinois Nazis."

[Enthusiast]

21. One is as bad as the other. nt

[seeviewonder]

27. We like to call it "Corn Hell"

here in Illinois...that's exactly what it is, too.

[Mira]

3. Here is what I do, and I mean that sincerely.

If I sit in a waiting room with a TV and Fox is on, I ask the other people in the room, very very politely, if they are listening.
If the answer uniformly is no I go to the receptionist and ask to have the TV turned off. I tell them I asked, and nobody is watching, and I am offended by propaganda non factual television news I don't want to hear.

If that does not work I ask to be put into a room away from the waiting room, any quiet room will do. I always have my own reading materials anyway. As I am taken there, I tell the people in the waiting room that I don't want to listen to Television that is biased and feeds us with lies, and that I asked to be taken away from it.

Since I am clear on what I want and why, and do my homework in polling the others, I succeed in getting away from the TV.

I don't necessarily succeed in people not thinking me a kook or idiot.

But one thing is certain: I throw seeds under the snow. And sometimes they sprout.
And that is all that matters to me.

[seeviewonder]

15. There will always be someone to think another

person is an idiot/kook so it doesn't really matter what they think. I get enough shit from some of family for just being liberal (and apparently hating America) so I'm kinda used to the criticism. Kudos to you, though, for making a stand.

[Mojorabbit]

4. The last time I went for an MRI

The waiting room had four or five tvs all on fox. Both I and another family there complained but the staff said they were not allowed to change the channel. I wonder if they buy the tv's for some of these places.

[seeviewonder]

8. It really does make you wonder.

I could see some of these healthcare companies buying televisions and the cable/satellite to go with it. Maybe I'm just paranoid about that, but it seems reasonable that they would do something like that.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. That sounds like something out of Max Headroom

TVs everywhere, and all on the same stupid channel

[Enthusiast]

30. One of these days there

will be only approved channels. You will be required to watch and repeat the talking points on command. Same with the internet. !984 here we come.

[mrcheerful]

5. I got lucky as the bank I go to has no TV sets and the doctor I go to

tends to pander the soap crowd or kids programing depending on the hour my appointment is. Sure is lovely not being trapped in an office with Fixed and friends blaring.

[seeviewonder]

7. You certainly are lucky in that regard.

The really shitty thing is that I live in Illinois (most often recognized as a solid blue state) but I happen to live in an area of the state where Repubs rule the roost so to speak. I wish our area would follow suit with the rest of the northern part of the state but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

[Oldtimeralso]

6. My Answer to that Problem

Google secret remote, mine works fine!

[seeviewonder]

9. I've never heard about anything like that.

I guess it was only a matter of time before someone came up with it. lol

[leftstreet]

10. LOL

I just googled it. Didn't know they even made such a thing



:rofl:

[seeviewonder]

12. I think I might invest in the "Covert Clicker".

It's funny and I think I could have some fun with it the next time I go to the doctor/bank.

[Bryn]

13. It would be great if we could insert "V" in it for him to come on

Did you see movie "V for Vendetta"? He managed to take over that TV channel people were forced to watch by fascist government to speak to people. It would be funny to do same with "Covert Clicker".

[B Calm]

22. At amazon for only $2.95

Covert Clicker- Mini Universal TV Remote
Buy new: $2.95
6 Used & new from $2.90

4.2 out of 5 stars (6)

[seeviewonder]

14. Of course, someone unrecced this post.

I think I smell a troll...

[WorseBeforeBetter]

16. You'll be unrecced for pointing out unreccs.

But you probably knew that.

[seeviewonder]

17. You'd think I would have learned by now...lol

[Hardrada]

18. I've been battling Fox for two years now at our Y. I show up

in the evening and they just hand me the remote as I walk by the front desk. The TV on the right is usually always on Fox. I change it to MSNBC or TCM. Once in awhile people complain that they want to watch Fox so I give them a short lecture on what a news channel is supposed to be and then let them watch Fox but I turn the TV next to Fox which which is usually on ESPN to MSNBC and so there are two opposing universes playing out next to each other. Most Y people exercising could care less what is on but I am strong-minded about not watching propaganda.

[seeviewonder]

20. I'm glad you make it so the two are side by side.

Maybe someday the Fox people at your Y will realize they are being spoonfed lies from the conservatives by watching that channel. I doubt it, but it could happen sometime. It's funny that they hand you the remote when you walk in...lol

[seabeyond]

24. i went to a heart doctor couple years ago. i always have really low blood pressure

he took my pressure and was normal. i told him, never that high, always much lower. but i was sittin in the waiting room and forced to watch fox. that got my pressure up.

we drove to calif from texas. closer we got to calif, less fox i saw. by calif, no fox. it was nice

almost always i turn channel, or turn tv off. if people are watching i tell the employee, will wait outside and read. dont want to hear their lying garbage. come and get me.

[seeviewonder]

25. I think it says something about California

when you have such a small amount of Fox compared to other networks. Texas and the other deserts out there need to get out of their little red state microcosm and join the rest of the normal states...just a thought.

[seabeyond]

26. would be nice, but i gave up forever ago.

instead, i tended to isolation

geeez it was so nice getting back to the feel of calif. truly a different energy. hard being a calif living in texas

[seeviewonder]

29. I've never been to either state

but I think I've heard enough about Texas to make me never want to go there. My wife has an aunt that lives in Alameda, CA and we hope to go there on vacation sometime in the near future.

[Blue-Jay]

28. My doc has a TV in the waiting room but it's almost always off.

The few times I've seen it on it was tuned to either Cartoon Network or Discovery. People spend more time in his waiting room looking at his kickass 100 gallon salt water aquarium.

I've never seen a TV at my bank. Only CC camera monitors.