Thanks to Fox News, I had a great day today

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

The weather broke in Michigan today, low humidity, average temperature, just a beautiful day.

Smiling, I went off to work. Been a little bit since I made some money, today was a good day!

I have a carpet and upholstery biz, doing ok but have seen better days. Love and community get me through.
My "base" is 95% repeat and referral, today I'm going to an old customer, been fixing their problems for at least
10 years, do their kids carpets and many referrals.

As always "Bob", (not his real name, altho I always ask "Is Bob spelled with one o or two?" {Sorry any Bobs' out there} ) has Fox News on the TV.
Bob for some reason has always thought that I am a Republican, maybe cuz I own my own business in Oakland County, Michigan, a Repub
stronghold (?), don't know, really don't care.

I say, " Bob, I just can't watch Fox News anymore."
Bob queries, " Hey, how come? Thought you loved those guys."

"Well", I said, "They are owned by a foreigner, Rupert Murdoch and his second largest donor is Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal"
(Thank You for the cheat sheet I carry)

"C"mon, I mean thats just wrong, that we get our news from some foreigner and a Muslim terrorist" , I added, secretly smiling all the time.

Bob, "Really?" I say, "Just google it, find out all the stuff".

Bob enjoined, " They have some great ideas."

Said I, "Of course. But do you want those ideas to come from some foreigner and from Muslims?

Little background at this point.

Bob is a deacon at one of the largest Catholic parishes in our area, very well respected, very much loved.
His wife is the music director. Very smart, very well respected, very well connected, people. Got that? Well connected.

Ok, long story even longer, I get to work, cleaning the carpets.
Tv was shut off, not a sound of any crap, except that which was going up my hoses. Cleaning humor, sorry!

I have a truck-mounted machine, needs a little attention every once in a while, pressure checks flow checks, etc.
All this means is that i have to go outside the home every so often to check stuff.

Bob was sitting in the garage, on the cell, talking to his friends.

He told his buddy the stuff he found on Google about Fox News, the ownership, the contributors.

He said, "I'm never going to put that shit on my TV again" I was astounded, it went on.

Bob continued, " I'm telling everyone to turn off Fox News."

I felt great, turning the tables a little, getting the word out.

You know, you never know when the opportunity comes, it may be small, it may be unannounced,
JUST TAKE IT!

We will win, it takes you, don't give up. Talk, Encounter, Educate. Thats my TEE party.

[rox63]

1. Good job! K&R!

:applause:

[JuniperLea]

2. What a beautiful day!

DUers have made my day TWICE today!

This is a beautiful thing! It truly is!

I think I'll create a little email with links and such to send to my RW TeaBaggy Fundamentalist Christian cousins!

:applause:

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

35. Come on JL spread the word.....

what was the first? Thanks, this made my day.
everything just fell in place, sometime days and life
are just beautiful.

[JuniperLea]

36. My worlds have been colliding all day...

Here's the other "made my day" DU moment...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=257866&mesg_id=257896

I'm still coming to terms with my Fundy upbringing, and the hypocrisy that threatens to take over religion... so when I see true human kindness, I get real happy:)

[aggiesal]

110. Try this as a bumpersticker!

[librechik]

3. good on you, mate--that took guts

I like guts

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

24. I Love Offal.

I cook, offal, guts. organs etc. Good stuff!

Thanks Love ya

[stlsaxman]

77. is that like Gwen Offal, moderator of "Washington Whores On Parade" on PBS?

:shrug: ;)

[Political_Junkie]

4. Yeah!

:yourock:

[LiberalAndProud]

5. Masterful use of Murdoch's petard.

hoist away

[drmeow]

6. AWESOME!!!!!

Hoist on their own petard!:woohoo:

[mimitabby]

7. wow! K & R

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. That is completely f'ing awesome. n/t

:rofl:

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

9. Petard, I love the word

I was EOD, Explosive Ordinance Demolition, when I was Army.

[steve2470]

10. way to go !!!!!! k and r nt

[demwing]

11. The ends justifying the means?

Do we win or lose by helping spread Islamophobia?

If a primary partner in Fox News was a homosexual, would you have followed the same course of action?

I fully support the demise of Fox News, but not at any cost.

Not at any cost.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

19. I fully support..

any action that supports the truth. I only wish our current admin. would have the same balls.

At any cost? At any cost? Really? That's how the Repub's win each and every time.

Bed yourself tonight with the thought of conciliation, sweet dreams.

I fought for this Country "At Any Cost". The cost was my life, my friends life, some lost, some won.

A Gay, to answer your question, Yes! We are all equal and accountable! Guess Who?

[demwing]

23. Does you military experience make your opinion more correct?

Nope.

And how I became - in your mind - a fan of conciliation is a mystery.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

25. Demwing.

There is no such thing as more correct and I am not!

I may have went too far with the
"conciliation" remark, Sorry, truly! A" Fan" I think you went too far.

Military experience? Of course not, that was only an expression of "petard".
A great and beautiful word.

BUT!!!

When you start to add in things that I did not even state, ok I'll get pissed.
The primary partner of Fox's sexual choice is not even in the debate.
Don't care, wrong is wrong.

[csziggy]

30. With the threads that have been posted about how sanity is recovered

When people STOP watching Faux Noise, it probably is worth it. Using their own crap against them could assist a large percentage of the American population realize that Muslims in general are not our enemies.

[phasma ex machina]

52. +1 "Faux Noise" Except it's genuine noise. Authentic as a Murdoch cluster faux. nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

37. I'm all for manipulating idiots to my benefit

They're going to be idiots no matter what you do. Might as well make use of them.

[demwing]

38. Tell Me DUers - Am I the Only One That Thinks This Is WRONG?

Would it be OK if it were regarding Gays, not Muslims?

What about Blacks?

What about Jews?

What about Women?

What about Liberals?

What if the Boogey Man in this scenario were your family?

Your Kids?

Are we so desparate to win that we are willing to risk our core values? Maybe I'm wrong, but I hope not - and not for my sake, but for the sake of the values we supposedly hold in esteem.


Tell me - I'm listening with open ears and an open mind.

[demwing]

41. Number 1 - It doesn't say ANYTHING about the validity of Fox News

#2 - It feeds the same HATE that Fox News encourages

#3 - If Fox severs ties with Alwaleed bin Talal, will that make it all go away?

[AuntPatsy]

53. I disagree strongly, after years of fighting with husband a once avid

faux viewer, he began watching the texas news channel for real news...I did not mention his change of heart on that thinking he would go back..he has not, things have honestly gotten better...faux is bad news period and it can change lives for the better once you turn it off and that is pure fact no hint of fiction in this account of a an ex faux addict...he no longer acts like that glebeck fellow..I swear that channel must have some kind of mind control thing going...and once you break contact, sanity returns..not fully but such things take time..

[bjb]

112. I so agree

with you Aunt Patsy. My own Mother who was a staunch Democrat for eight years started watching Fox two years ago. We can't even discuss politics because she is such a rabid fox viewer. Sad

[garthranzz]

55. #1 - Check the Daily Show

The argument is Jon Stewart's. He used it facetiously. Semi. Sarcastically. Semi.

The OP told the truth. Fox is owned by a foreigner and a Muslim that Fox itself claims is a terrorist.

IF we assume that the customer will watch some news some place, one of two things will happen:

He will be exposed to other perspectives and other analyses.

Or
He will go to a website or other media equivalent to Fox. (Is there anything like it on TV?)

If he goes to a different site and is exposed to other perspectives, then
if he's at all open-minded, he will begin to rethink his positions.
If he's close-minded, he was not then (at the time of the original conversation) and is not now amenable to persuasion, reason, etc. BUT, there is one less Fox viewer.

If the customer does not get his news elsewhere, and keeps his prejudices, see above.

In other words, this was probably the only way to give the man a chance to think clearly. At worst, there's one less person listening to Fox's lies. At best, someone who had been close-minded realizes that his ideas about Muslims are distorted and overly simplistic.

I'd say that's a win-win. (Sometimes indiscretion is the better part of valor.)

[demwing]

57. The Daily Show is pointing out Fox's Hypocrisy

in driving the same issue that it has created. It is not feeding anti-Muslim xenophobia.

[garthranzz]

100. But the OP is doing the same thing

the Daily Show is doing!

Straight, no satire - but the same thing.

A bigot says he will not watch anything owned by a foreigner or a Muslim.
Fox is owned by a foreigner and a Muslim.
Therefore a bigot says he will not watch Fox.

The issue is not changing the man's bigotry - that can't be done in the context given - but negating the lies of Fox.

To change the man's bigotry, ironically, he must first stop watching Fox, then he will be able to admit that he is, or has been, a bigot. Only then can he change.

And the OP is not "feeding" anti-Muslim xenophobia, since it is there, it is virulent and there's nothing in the context given the OP can do to change it. That change has to come from within. The person has to acknowledge the "disease," which he has not done and will not do so long as he watches Fox.

Think of it in medical terms, and it works better.

[demwing]

121. No, the OP is doing something different

He is not merely pointing out that Fox has the same ties that they condemn in others, he is specifically encouring intolerance against foreigners as a means to acheive an otherwise fine and noteworthy goal.

You don't have to destroy the fucking villiage in order to save, damn it!

[LiberalAndProud]

43. Honest response.

I had a twinge of guilt, but it lasted about 1.2 seconds. Truly this is Murdoch's petard. He has filled it with his own gunpowder.

Two phrases then ran through my mind,

He who lives by the sword will die by the sword, and
Hoisted on his own petard.

So no, my conscience is not troubled.

[demwing]

58. thanks for the honesty

I respectfully disagree

[Axle_techie]

45. +1

[ThomasQED]

47. You're not alone.

I would not want to feed the xenophobia either, though I think the poster who mentioned people getting their "sanity" back when they turn that stuff off is an interesting point. There's only anecdotal evidence for that as far as I know.

I'm also surprised at the reaction on here, especially in light of the recent Laura Schlessinger stuff and the thread about the nursing assistant who left the patient on the floor... zero tolerance for bigotry except when it serves our purposes?

[quakerboy]

93. There is nonanecdotal evidence

that watching Fox results in being uninformed and believing things that are not true.

[ThomasQED]

113. That's true

But I don't know if people "get their sanity back" when they quit, or if they just switch to other hatemongers.

[quakerboy]

133. Are the more likely to

"get their sanity back" if they are watching Fox, or if they are not?

I can tell you with certainty in my heart that the political mood, the anger level of our nation would drastically change in less than a month if somehow Fox were to drop off the air. There are some who are so mired in hate that comes within, and nothing much will change those people other than true internal catastrophic change of heart. But I do not believe that that is a majority even within Fox's viewership. I strongly believe that many are scared, unsure, and do not know any better than to take on the hate that is repeated to them day in day out by every commenter and guest on that propaganda outlet. Many probably do not even realize what it does to them. Thats why we hear so much outrage from the tea party at being called racist. They know they are not racist. But the program they have been fed is, and has made them act in racist ways. They were dropped into cold water, then the heat was turned up, but they cannot see that they are boiling yet.

[corkhead]

51. It's just some psyops; lighten up. It isn't creating any bigotry that isn't already there.

[demwing]

56. You could say the same thing about Fox /nt

[M_A]

88. the difference

is that the OP shared the truth, fox spreads the lies.

It is not his responsibility if those he shares the truth with act on it out of bigotry. If I ran into one of those guys in white sheets pushing the RNC I would have no qualms sharing the truth with him about the leaders race. It's about reality. On that note, I've been told by a wing nut not to watch Rachel Maddow because "psst, she's gay" (actually he said "lesbo". I happily replied that was true and one of many reasons I support her. So what? Truth can hurt or not. In this case, the truth might get some people off the fox addiction, that is great!

[demwing]

91. You think the following is "spreading the truth"?

I quote the OP:

"C"mon, I mean thats just wrong, that we get our news from some foreigner and a Muslim terrorist" , I added, secretly smiling all the time"

You're really OK with that?

[LiberalAndProud]

108. Actually, I do have a problem with foreign ownership of our media outlets.

Call me xenophobic, but it just doesn't settle well with me.

[Axle_techie]

64. Hmmm, so supporting existing bigotry is perfectly fine when it suits the needs of the party

[M_A]

90. hmmm I didn't see support of bigotry

in telling someone something that is true. It isn't about party, it's about truth, and fox viewers may not be able to handle the truth, too bad for them. They won't vote "D" either, ever. This is NOT a partisan issue in my mind whatsoever, it's about exposing the truth....so says this left Indy.

[demwing]

120. The OP didn't just say "the truth"

He also said: "C'mon, I mean thats just wrong, that we get our news from some foreigner and a Muslim terrorist" , I added, secretly smiling all the time."

If you can't tell that it's wrong, exchange the words "foreigner and a Muslim terrorist" for "homosexual and Gay Activist" -

"C'mon, I mean thats just wrong, that we get our news from some homosexual and Gay Activist" , I added, secretly smiling all the time."

And I can make that analogy not because I believe "homosexual and Gay Activist" is directly comparable to "foreigner and a Muslim terrorist", but because of the context in which the words were-or could be-used as pejoratives.

Would anyone at DU stand for that, even if it were true?

[haele]

122. Unfortunatly, I don't think the OP would have gotten"BoB" to think unless he stooped to that level

The levels of communication have to be close for the reciever to be able to handle the transmitter; otherwise "Bob" would have just chalked the OP up as being one of those brain-twisted Liberals if he had been approached "more honestly" by the OP.
Bob's recieve apature is very narrow. Before you can adjust his thinking, you have to make sure your adjustment tool can fit in that apature...
It's a common teaching method. Reach down to the student's level, and bring him up. I would have done somewhat the same thing. Perhaps in just a little more subtle way.

Haele

[Duppers]

70. I saw your point immediately too.

It's not right, but such bigots aren't going to change their bias without changing the station first. They have to be spoon-fed sanity, just as their bigoted opinions were served to them years ago. Big helping of reason usually won't work, SADLY.

[verdalaven]

73. It makes me uncomfortable, but -

I also live in Michigan, in a RED area. The last time I tried talking to a right winger about the so called "Ground Zero Mosque," he just regurgitated Glenn Beckisms back at me(most of them didn't make sense or didn't have a thing to do with our discussion), and when it became clear to him that I would not budge from my point of view, he started listing off the ten commandments, like that would win the debate on his side by default. It was like talking to a robot, or a brainwashed individual.

Pull the plug on their main source of information, maybe they (even the hard core teabagger types) might regain some critical thinking skills. If the only language some of them understand right now is hate and fear of the Other, how else will we reach them? By using reason? Not likely.

[azureblue]

123. When they do that Bible thing

you quote Jesus back at them (try Matthew 7:1-5 as a start), and tell them that if they refuse to do what Jesus told them to do, they also refuse Jesus. Ask them if they deny Jesus. Shuts them up every time..

[Enthusiast]

74. It is wrong in the context

of the hypocrisy that IS Fox News. That is all you need to know.

[JustinL]

75. no, I also think it's wrong

It's like discouraging people from donating money to the RNC on the grounds that it's run by a black man.

[demwing]

85. Wow, great example /nt

[Exultant Democracy]

107. I think this is one of those gray areas. Using the hate that they ginned up against them

might be the simplest cure to our current madness. I really think getting people to turn of Faux is going to be an important first step because its driving them crazier.

[dalaigh lllama]

42. I doubt there is any way one could lead someone from Fox using logic

and I would suspect that those who watch Fox daily are already Islamophobic, so I don't see any danger of spreading Islamophobia. As I've read elsewhere, get folks away from the daily brainwashing barrage and glimmers of reason start to return. Sometimes you gotta fight fear with fear. :shrug:

[Axle_techie]

66. maintaining a phobia is just as good as spreading it

and the good ends do not justify a bad means

[Tarc]

84. I agree, though I wish I didn't have to

I'd love to grind Fox News into dust and irrelevance, but I can't sell out a billion+ people to do it.

[AllyCat]

97. Because if they stop listening to this nonsense, maybe the TRUTH will seep in

and they'll stop being quite so ethnocentric, islamophobic, and homophobic. A long shot, but that WOULD be worth it.

[louis-t]

103. You make a good point, but the first thing

is to get them to turn off the noise. Once that is done, the rest is easier. Especially if he is a Catholic deacon.

[Demoiselle]

104. I cannot agree with you, demwing...

The Saudi Fox partner in question is a member of the Saudi ruling family, the family that generously funds the spread of Wahabi teachings, a very strict fundamentalist form of Islam, all over the world.
It is the height of irony that so many of our oil business people are such good buddies with the Saudi rulers, who, I am led to believe, exploit fundamental Islam to hold on to power. Of course, we are beholden to them for their oil, so they already have enormous economic clout in this country (see Bush kissie-face and handholding pics.) Considering his Saudi money/oil connections I see nothing wrong with specifically identifying THIS particular Muslim.

I wonder, too, if we would be guilty of homophobia if we identified Republican operatives as gay who exploited homophobia in political campaigns?

[kenfrequed]

106. Uhm...

One of the owners of Faux news, a Saudi, has been using Islamophobia for years to misdirect 9-11 rage at those countries (Iran and Iraq) that had absolutely nothing to do with it, while Saudi Arabia, a country that produced quite a few of the 9-11 terrorists has been considered blameless.

Interestingly enough the Saudi royal family has for years scapegoated America and Israel (as well as their neighboring Islamic nations) for everything they could while they screwed their own people economically and brutalized them while financing Madrassas abroad. Simply put, my sympathy has limits.

Also, do you think that Islamophobia will be better served by avoiding this truth and allowing these people to continue to go to the poisoned trough of Faux news for their information/

Finally, shouldn't we point out hypocrisy and lies as aggressively as possible? I know being pusillanimous, mealy mouthed, and milquetoast have been really effective tactics, but should we really employ them at all times?

[demwing]

119. We should point out hypocrisy!

And say "Don't watch Fox News - they are hypocritical because they condemn the so called "Ground Zero Mosque" for having ties to Alwaleed bin Talal, while they themselves have strong ties to the same Alwaleed bin Talal."

Which is ENTIRELY different from saying:

"Don't watch Fox News - they have ties to some foreigner."

[LiberalAndProud]

128. If we're trying to communicate, shouldn't we speak their language?

Sales prospects - do you speak their language?

It’s my view that if you want someone to understand you then it is your responsibility to communicate in a way that they understand rather than expect them to make the effort to understand you.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/marketing/articles/sales-prospects-language.shtml

[demwing]

129. You should also be careful what it is you try to sell

someone may just buy it

[npk]

125. Yes good point

It's the most mind numbing thing about the wars in Iraq and Iran.

[Quantess]

117. How does it help spread islamophobia?

All he did was state a fact. Well, okay, he added his own commentary, but still. He was just sharing information.

[demwing]

118. The following is NOT fact:

""C"mon, I mean thats just wrong, that we get our news from some foreigner and a Muslim terrorist"

That's what the OP said. He didn't believe getting our news from some foreigner and a Muslim terrorist was wrong, he just said it because he wanted to use xenophobia to acheive his goal.

That IS wrong.

[JerseygirlCT]

131. I have to agree

that bit about "and a Muslim" made me very uncomfortable, no matter how effective it was.

[walldude]

12. K&R use their own patriotism to help them see the truth... very clever indeed.

[fl_dem]

18. I'm trying to do this to my conservative boyfriend

he is against everything foreign. Every chance I get I remind him that by viewing fox he is supporting and making rich a fake America and a Saudi Prince. His conservativeness is not a deal breaker....yet, but it has come close a few times...:shrug:

[Enthusiast]

76. You have my sympathy. nt

[mwb970]

82. I assume he is the only available man in town.

Why else would you actually date a hateful right-wing xenophobe? What kind of relationship can you expect to have with such a person? You deserve better.

[fl_dem]

13. You did have a great day!!!

Good for you!! :fistbump:
That just goes to show you that not every fox viewer is a complete moran... they just don't know what fox don't tell em!

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. That is how it is done!

I may not like the prejudices, but if that is what it takes!!!!

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

20. Thx NB

Follow you, love your posts

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Well done

and you did very good today.

[cleanhippie]

15. Very, very nice! Way to use their own tactics!

[sakabatou]

16. Huzuh

[grantcart]

17. excellent strategy

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

22. Namaste nt

[elleng]

26. Great news, Tennis! Nothing like 'conversation,' eh?

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

34. Thanks .......

I love to converse. it just leads to interesting things, just keep talking.

[SpiralHawk]

27. People waking up to Saudi ownership of Fox

'bout time...

Fox is not what it appears to be.

War is Peace.
Love is Hate.
Ignorance is Strength.

Fox mindf*ck propaganda.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

28. Well played. Truth always changes things.

Bravo. :applause: :yourock:

[Canuckistanian]

29. "Talk, Encounter, Educate"

That's the best kind of TEE party EVER.

You should start a movement

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

32. Think I just did ...

spread the word.

[surrealAmerican]

31. You're some actor.

You ought to be on Broadway, not cleaning carpets.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

33. Thanks .......

But I'm very happy in my present position.

Love Ya!

Detroit is an up and coming place for film and TV
"Hung" is filmed right across from one of my friends property.
Opening scene is their property.

Watch on HBO if ya can, Not in my budget, but catch online for free.

[geckosfeet]

39. Can't believe they watch and base life philoshpy around it and don't

even realize who owns it and who they are in bed with.

[rucky]

40. Would you travel to Ohio for a job?

I have some neighbors in desperate need of a carpet cleaning, ifyouknowwhatimean.

[Lucky Luciano]

44. That is so damn funny.

I have fantasized about similar things. Like being some out of towner stopping over in some small middle America republican town. Go to a bar...yuk it up with the locals..be dressed very sharply...let it slowly come out that I work for and made a fortune with Halliburton thanks to George Bush's phony wars and how much I appreciate all the help I got from the military for my bank account...Once they start getting mad...I leave.

[bloomington-lib]

46. Im still somewhat surprised that the Saudi prince would

want to invest in FN.

Anyway, maybe that's how it should be done. Pretend to be them and show them their hypocrisy (reality). Seems easy enough to do. There's tons of material.

[proud patriot]

48. I am sooooo using that

:-)

[Historic NY]

49. Well done on Tennis one....well done.

[proteus_lives]

50. These stories always smell fishy to me.

[knitter4democracy]

54. I wish you were closer.

I need someone I can trust to clean my carpets this fall. The kids and I have asthma, so it can't be with strong chemicals. You probably wouldn't want to pay the gas to come to Battle Creek, though. :(

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

89. Sorry I can't visit you... But

I did a quick search for Operators of the same kinda cleaning that I do in your area.
Please believe me I cannot vouch for them, I really don't know them at all.
But it is a great place to start. Just tell them all the problems you have and ask loads of
questions. Cleaners love to tell you all about themselves and their equipment, techniques.

I use the Bane-Clene system, with a few modifications. This company uses the same.
I feel it is the best.

I cut and pasted his info below. If you have any questions, please PM me.

"Huffman's Carpet Cleaning uses the Bane Clene System to professionally clean your carpets.
We can clean everythng from Commercial, Residential, Automotive, & Recreational Vehicle carpets.
Give Chris a call at: 785-282-6439 to set up an appointment."

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

92. OMG Too late!!

I hit the post button and saw the area code. Sorry. will get more info and send it.

Forgive me.

[knitter4democracy]

124. Is the Bane-Clene system good for sensitivities?

I'll start calling around. I need it done this fall--my main floor's carpets are woefully stained and nasty. :(

[iamthebandfanman]

59. the great part is, you didnt even hafta lie

and they always do to persuade people.

[bertman]

60. Brilliant. My wording will be a bit different, but the idea is Excellent. Rec.

[Mira]

61. Magnificent! Good work in the community. K&R

[Matariki]

62. Hmm. It's really sad to me that you had to appeal to his xenophobia

and religious intolerance. I'm not sure much was gained at all.

On the otherside, if Fox loses most of their viewers because of the very hate they've fostered, then well, I guess it was a good day. It would be awesome if your small act today rippled out to all of Dumbfuckistan.

[Timbuk3]

63. I can't stop smiling

I also can't wait to speak to my friends who are isolated in red states.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[ocd liberal]

65. Nice!

[Turborama]

67. K&R! SWEET!

I hope this inspirational tale means we can hear a lot more stories like that on DU.

Thanks a lot for doing what you do and sharing the story! :fistbump:

:applause: :yourock: :applause:

[bobburgster]

68. Great results! n/t

[Sherman A1]

69. Superb!

Well Done!

[Duppers]

71. Bravo....But just one tiny thing

You said that "Bob" and his wife were "Very smart;" I disagree. Very smart people would never watch Fox to being with.

I applaud your sneaky conversion, despite the fact it catered to their prevailing bigotry. As I posted above, such bigots have to be spoon-fed sanity and getting them to turn the channel is a BIG step. Offending them wouldn't have worked. My hat's off to you.


(I couldn't have pulled it off so aptly and with calling them some expletives. Obviously, I couldn't stay in a business catering to such folks either.)

[Enthusiast]

72. Well done!

Continue with your good work and welcome to DU!

[old mark]

78. Rec - beat them with their own club!

Or whatever...


mark

[malaise]

79. Super post

Rec

[Vinca]

80. Wish I could rec. this post 1,000 times!

[mwb970]

81. I would love to see a major, effective "Turn off Fox News" campaign take hold.

I think that, unlike things like the huge Iraq War protests, the media would actually cover it! (Except Fox, of course.)

[Raoul]

83. thanks..

for sharing this. And you're right - it takes time to really work on them. Dunno if they all would come around but some of them do.
Lastly - you're a prolific writer - your essay was a very good,concise read.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

87. Thx Raoul ...

I love your videos. Have your blog site bookmarked. Keep up the great work.

[DFW]

86. TEE Party! I love it.

I'm forwarding that one to some people that might run with it, if you don't mind.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

94. Don't mind at all

Hope the run turns into a marathon.

[DFW]

127. Thanks, it's done

Beats the so-called Tea Party's true acronymn:
Shout
Hide
Ignore
Terrorize

[barbtries]

95. way to go

it's good to know that all of the ignorance out there isn't willful.

[AllyCat]

96. Turn their own fears on them. Nice work!

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

98. An Addendum to my post

To answer the critics, "Does the ends justify the means?"

Sorry, but I feel - Yes they do.

Dems are an odd lot. We are representative of everyone. Ideas flow from us as the water over
Niagara Falls, varied, different, each only wanting to better the whole.
I feel that's why we have the type of discussions we do here lately.

It seems in the past and even today we just don't like to engage as the Repubs engage.

A little white lie, building on what someone already mistakenly believes about me, to
change things? Oh yeah, sign me up!

The time to nudge comes only once in a while, rarely. We have to take advantage of those times.
We are fighting for our Country. Fighting lies and ignorance will take all the weapons we have.
Some weapons we are only now learning how to use. The use of those weapons may come with some misfires,
I for one am willing to take the chance.

"Does the ends justify the means?" Listen to Rush and the rest of the crowd.

Fire with fire.

[nashville_brook]

99. powerful stuff, that truth is.

good job!

[Chipper Chat]

101. FOX

Frauds
Obfuscators
Xenomania
:rofl:

[Lucian]

102. Stories like this seem so unbelievable.

I mean, who talks to people like that about politics? I see stories like this all the time on DU, and they seem just too far-fetched.

I apologize if this actually happened, but to me, it just doesn't seem like it did. And if it did happen, you could've said other things about Fox News instead of calling the guy a "Muslim terrorist." Islamophobia doesn't seem like the route I would go on in telling people how shitty Fox News is while there is so much other things to bash about Fox. :shrug:

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

115. It happened and ....

I talk to people about politics all the time.

I have to choose who to talk to, but those customers of mine that I know for many years,
of course I do. We also catch up on the kids, life, religion and more.

I miss the times before Bush 2. I have some customers that are Republican thru and thru.

We had great talks, maybe agreed to disagree, but always left with a hug.

Discourse now a days takes a different tone. Kinda like some days here.

Yes, I agree about appealing to phobias. My sis-in-law is muslim, she would have
probably given me a little tap upside my head. But she knows my intentions, and
feels Fox is evil and is spreading Islamophobia to a greater degree than I ever could.

[JHB]

105. Please share future developments, if you find out...

While the better part of me cringes at the 'foreigner and muslim terrorist' bit, I understand getting the foot in the door. Even more importantly, getting him off his daily "hit" of FOX.

In many ways FOX and other wingnut media (Limbaugh and the rest of the radio ranters, etc.) are like an addiction or cult. There's a daily "hit" of righteous outrage, and a constant reinforcement of a particular worldview (and active disparagement and suppression of outside perspectives).

Get them away from that feedback system, out of the group-think and the constant blinding anger, and they can be reasoned with and reached. Until they're out of that swamp anything you say will get lost.

Who knows? Maybe in a few weeks or months he'll be chiding you on that 'muslim terrorist' bit. (let's hope.)

[peacetalksforall]

109. I can't stop laughing. The idea that a foreigner and a Muslim could break their faith in FOX and

the fact that they guy didn't know about their owner and investor is delighting me.

This may even cause them to dig deeper - it may cause their ears to perk up.

What the heck - this might even get them to start spelling their hate words correctly on their signs. (That was mean, but I won't erase it.)

[w4rma]

111. And their favorite newspaper is owned by a foreign cult leader who believes he is Jesus Christ.

Conservative = easily conned.

I also think that conservatives don't really like, trust or want to do business with Americans much.

[tsuki]

114. Actually he thinks that Jesus Christ is a failed Messiah, and he's the

real deal.

[HipChick]

116. Love it!

[calimary]

126. I always - always - ALWAYS complain when I go into some establishment where Pox Noise is on.

GREAT job!!! Bravo, N_E_1 for Tennis! Keep up the FANTASTIC work!!!! That's something we should ALL be doing, as often as possible, at EVERY opportunity!

I ask them to change the channel. Up til recently I've explained my request (when asked) by saying I'm a retired journalist and their perversion of journalism offends every fiber of my being. But this is a whole lot better!

I think we ought to work their "I-hate-Muslims" meme to smithereens and turn it back against them! Work in ALL their buzz phrases and hate slogans! Turn everything they believe in on its ass - and them on theirs. Oh you hate Muslims? Did you know that one of rupert murdoch's biggest business partners - invested ONE BILLION dollars in Pox Noise - is a Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal? He's a MUSLIM!!!!! He owns ONE BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF Pox Noise!!!! THAT MUSLIM is paying to put that stuff on YOUR airwaves, and I can't believe you're gobbling it up! You're watching Muslim Saudi-terrorist propaganda, and supporting it, every time you watch Pox Noise! He's a MUSLIM - like Osama bin Laden! And HE'S deciding what you watch, and what you're told if you watch Pox Noise. Oh yeah, and yes, he IS a Saudi - like 15 of bin Laden's 19 9/11 terrorists were.

John Stewart did quite a routine on that the other night, connecting the dots on murdoch, bin Talal, Pox Noise, Islam, and terrorism. I was so delighted that such a message was out there, presented to all the teens, 20-somethings, and 30-somethings who love "The Daily Show," and will be around a lot longer than the aging, dying, slowly dwindling constituencies of Pox Noise and the teabaggers.

WHATEVER WORKS. This is WAR, after all. We have to fight them with EVERYTHING we've got.

[demwing]

130. This Is Wrong

Why is Fox News the enemy? Because they spread hate, that's why. No other reason. I don't give a damn who owns what, because ultimately, we all have to live on the same planet. We are all one people. our goal should not be the elimination of Fox News, but the propagation of peace, tolerance, and love.

Spreading another flavor of hate under the guise of getting people to stop watching Fox News is no advancement at all. Rest assured I've heard you all - I hear you saying: "But all that was done was to speak the truth"

Go ahead and tell yourself that. Believe it, if you like. But it isn't true. The OP used hate as a tool, just like our "enemies" at Fox News. The OP didn't say we should stop watching Fox because of their lies and hypocrisy, no...he told "Bob" we shouldn't watch Fox because it was foreign owned. Is that a problem? Some say yes.

But answer this - would "Bob" have cared to know that Rupert Murdoch is a foreigner from Australia? Would that have mattered? I think not. It doesn't play to "Bob's" racism. Australians aren't dark skinned. They are not Islamic (though I am sure there are many Muslims living in that great country). They are not scary Bogey Men.

If we act like the enemy, what distinguishes us from them? If we make small excuses to use hate and fear to drive our "ethical" agenda, then our agenda becomes less ethical, the excuses become more frequent, the transgressions become more flagrant, and the principles we once fought for become less important than the concept of winning.

Are we good people because we vote for the Democratic Party? No - that's just base partisan rhetoric. I believe - and I hope that I'm right - that when it is appropriate, we vote for the Democratic Party because we are good people. But, if in the pursuit of the goals of that same party we cease to act good, if we promote hate, not tolerance, if we let being victorious becomes more important than being right, then whatever "victory" we gain will be empty, lifeless, and superficial. In fact, it will be so much worse, it will be vain, inglorious, and corrupt.

I will not fight for such a goal.

[Axle_techie]

132. [phone]