Society will never progress while Fox News is allowed to remain on the air. Fox News creates digital walls to segregate the audience from reality.
I remember a time when news for most people came from the local paper and/or a 30 minute network evening TV show. Both were written by real journalists who attempted to be unbiased.
Read up on roger Ailes and Reagan destroying ‘The Fairness Doctrine.’
Back in the day, you could only own two radio stations in one town [AM and FM] and any editorial had to provide time for rebuttal.
Yup. You can take nearly a modern “bad thing” and trace it back to Reagan policy.
I think even that stuff could be said to be results of stuff like Aisles working with Nixon, and Justice Lewis Powell’s memoranda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_F._Powell_Jr.?wprov=sfla1
That is, until Sinclair and Clear Channel started gobbling up local affiliates to push their own narratives.
Fox News tapped an audience which was already open to such bullshittery. Removing Fox News does not remove that audience. We need to better understand why a significant proportion of the population (not just of the US, but of the world) embraces fascism and the structures that drive towards it. Then, to identify how to convince fascists to abandon fascism.
Agree with the point that Fox News tapped that audience, disagree that removing them wouldn’t help.
Media literacy must be included as part of primary education. How do we know things? How do we find out things? What does it mean to “create a podcast”? etc.
They (GOP) created the audience over decades by gutting education, social support programs and encouraging racism.
By the time fox came around people were ripe to be abused.
Mostly agree, but I think that’s just one step removed. It’s not like the GOP (more correctly, conservatism) erected everything out of whole cloth, against a social democrat utopia that already existed. There has always been a very overlapping and sizeable Euler diagram of populism, conservatism, nationalism, and fascism, extending back into the tribal fog of prehistory.
It’s easy to point the finger at the primary bogeymen of today, and that over simplification is a major way that these horrible political and social views propagate. Their messaging is wrong, but it’s easy, and generally speaking, people prefer easy to complicated, with disregard to what’s more accurate.
The technology that allows powerful people to make war with each other and oppress the weak has vastly outpaced the advancement of more inclusive social and political philosophies. We’re going to need to come to a better understanding that we humans are all together one tribe. We need to be dedicated to the common good, not only of people like us, but of people unlike us, too, on the basis that we are all people.
Maindrivers of fascism are the insane people fearmongering and stoking nationalism in a bid for more power and money. It’s corruption and nonsense all the way down only made possible by poor education and voter participation. FPTP and lax campaign laws make it easy for the super wealthy to influence elections behind the scenes too. A lot of democracies are still run with systems designed by ancient wealthy romans for the benefit of ancient wealthy romans and are left unchanged. It’s to the surprise of noone when billionaires act like emperors in modern times with inequality on the rise everywhere and with news indistinguishable from entertainment given how the fairness doctrine has been long abolished even if that was precisely why it existed in the first place.
Do we? Hasn’t there been lots of books written by Europeans who lived thru the 1930s documented step by step how their nation fell.
Books that the majority of Americans are too apathetic, ideologically poisoned or just busy to read, much less take concrete actions as a result.
I wish it wasn’t so, but that’s the current reality. Telling your average Faux News viewer to read and honestly reflect on objective history books is a fool’s errand.
We have to fight intolerance not with the information of the tolerant, but with vilification, exclusion and other severe consequences for their misanthropic words and actions.
I’m sure there are. I couldn’t name a single one, and I am quite certain that there are zero US secondary schools that teach any of them. When I was in high school, we didn’t even get into WW1 in history class, and there’s been 35 years more history since then. We didn’t even get to the rise of fascism in the 20th century; no wonder it’s on the rise again.
If people weren’t as stupid, they’d already be ignoring fox news.
The solution to misinformation isn’t censorship, it’s for people to be better educated. Are we supposed to ban every conspiracy theory website? If so, who gets to decide what is the truth and what is “misinformation”? The same type of government organization that is now banning books in florida? No thanks.
Educated fascists abound.
Not that anyone should take you seriously, with that inane conclusion. ‘Oh, arresting kidnappers? Like the kidnappers did? No thanks.’
“91% of Fox viewers conditioned to never say anything bad about someone with a R next to their name, regardless of what they actually believe”
FTFY
Ronald Reagan famously said that the “eleventh commandment” was: “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”
The phrase was coined in the 1960s by Gaylord Parkinson, who was the state chairman of California Republicans at the time: “Henceforth, if any Republican has a grievance against another, that grievance is not to be bared publicly.”
Semi spoiler but haven’t watched Meet the Parents? That’s actually the first time I found out it was an actual name but it’s older now I know. Sorry if that spoiled it for anyone but it’s literally the last joke of the movie. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it, not outstanding but solid comedy, plus has the best nipple joke.
While some people may be quick to throw the word “conservative” around, it is important to remember that there is a distinction between someone being self-centered and unsympathetic, and someone who has Conservative Personality Disorder. Many people may have what doctors call conservative characteristics, such as feeling entitled or having a strong sense of self-importance. People who have conservative personality disorder may be challenging to deal with.
The first step to determine your dynamic with someone who you think is a conservative is to know the difference between someone with conservative tendencies and someone with Conservative Personality Disorder.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE CONSERVATIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER, BUT HAVE CONSERVATIVE CHARACTERISTICS MIGHT:
Need continual approval and/or admiration
Take advantage of other people
Fail to acknowledge or be concerned about the needs of others
Have an escalated sense of self
Generally, conservatives can be pretentious. In other words, they think that they are better than others, and continuously seek out praise.
Having a conservative in your life may be maddening and emotionally challenging. You may feel like your whole relationship with this person revolves around them, leaving no room for yourself and your emotions. It can be easy to feel judged by this person. You may even feel exhausted by this individual’s demands.
Conservative Personality Disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Despite the inflated confidence that conservatives portray, they often have extremely fragile self-esteem. Even the slightest criticism can harm their self-esteem.
People who suffer from Conservative Personality Disorder may be overall unhappy and dispirited when they are not given special treatment or treated the way that they expect. Many relationships may feel unfulfilling to them, and others may not enjoy their company.
THE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SEVERITY OF CONSERVATIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER CAN ALTER PERSON-TO-PERSON. SOME SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:
Having an inflated sense of self-importance
Demand having the best of everything (e.g., best house, best car, best clothes)
Holding a sense of entitlement
Mandating continual, immoderate appreciation
Behaving in an arrogant manner that comes across as conceited and/or pretentious
Always expecting to be acknowledged as superior
Being jealous of others
Believing that others are jealous of them
Overvalue their achievements and skills
Having the inability to acknowledge other’s needs and emotions
Being distracted by dreams of authority, triumph, perfection, the perfect partner, or excellence
Taking advantage of others to benefit them
Expecting special favors to align with their expectations
Believing that they are superior
Only speaking to people who they believe are on their level
Dominating conversations
Looking down on people they view as inferior
IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP, THE CONSERVATIVE MAY:
Try to isolate you from your friends and family
Instruct you on how to act and feel
Question your reality or try to gaslight you
Blame you for things outside of your control
Supervise your whereabouts
Project their flaws onto you
Fail to take your opinions and needs into account
IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH A CONSERVATIVE, TRY THE FOLLOWING TIPS:
- DO NOT REACT
Conservatives depend on your emotional reactions. It can be easy to react in a way that showcases your shock, anger, or hurt, but this will only energize the conservative. Instead, try to focus on the situation at hand, and try not to leave space for projection. By continuously steering the conversation back to the issue at hand, you take away the opportunity from the conservative to dominate the conversation.
- TRY TO AVOID DIRECT CONFRONTATION
As stated previously, conservatives are sensitive to any kind of criticism. Calling out the conservative is hardly ever helpful. This can even be a trigger for their anger. In the case that you do need to give negative feedback, try to frame it, in the same way, you would a compliment.
- REITERATE YOUR NEED FOR ACTION OVER PROMISES
Conservatives can be great at making fictional plans for the future, and never following through on their promises. If you want to hold a conservative accountable, you need to challenge the deception. It is important to not fulfill any of their requests unless they reciprocate the energy.
- MAINTAIN BOUNDARIES
Conservatives may easily cross boundaries. While they can break others’ boundaries, they prioritize their own. It is important to set and strongly maintain your boundary with this individual. You may want to easily outline what you will and will not accept in your relationship with this individual. While it may be difficult at times, you should always stand up for yourself.
- REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME
If anything does not go their way, a conservative may point the finger at you. In addition to your boundaries, you may want to limit the responsibility that you hold in their life. When the blame is put on you, do not accept it.
- DON’T ACCEPT THEIR BEHAVIOR
Conservatives are typically aware when they hurt others’ feelings. Their behavior is normal to them, but that is not the same case for other people. You may feel the need to gently point out their undesired behaviors. Conservatives do not like to be viewed in a negative light, so this allows them to adjust their behavior.
- ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP
Conservative abuse may not be overt, therefore it can be difficult to know whether or not you are a victim. You may easily fall into a cycle of conservative abuse. This can lead to feeling trapped. Symptoms of conservative abuse vary; however, if you are questioning your self-worth, it may be helpful to seek counseling from a licensed professional who specializes in identifying and assisting people who endure conservative abuse.
- KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO LEAVE A RELATIONSHIP
Conservatives know how to manipulate situations and deceive people. They may use methods like gaslighting and projection to try to alter your reality and gain control. If you are beginning to feel confused or lost, it may be time to exit the relationship. It is important to never lose sight of yourself. Conservative Abuse Syndrome is real. If you think that you are experiencing it, you may benefit from talking to a licensed mental health professional. If you are unsure if your relationship is unhealthy, you will benefit from reading our blog “How To Tell If You’re In A Toxic Relationship.”
Dealing with a conservative can be overwhelming, but you are not alone in your struggles. There are many survivors of narcissistic abuse, and speaking to a licensed mental health counselor is helpful if you are unable to recover on your own.
They’re torn. The intelligent pragmatists don’t want a repeat of the 2020 election. The emotional loyalists are doing that thing where you consider loyalty to be a pretty high virtue all on its own, and thus don’t abandon your boy when he runs into trouble, regardless of how much it may or may not be deserved.
You could consider, if he was a family member, or if you were all members of the same mafia, would you turn on him or stick around and watch his back when he starts getting into trouble?
That poll probably fucked with. That our Fox viewers and fucking morons. Most likely Fox has all it’s viewers blind to the crimes that he has committed and they watch nothing else.
From the Fox (and Newsmax) news I’m exposed to, there were zero mentions of Trump indictments that weren’t tinged with “corrupt FBI” sentiment over the last 2 weeks.
It’s been wall to wall Hunter tax evasion bullshit.
I am not the biggest Biden supporter but that Hunter stuff has made me support him more. If this is all they got on a man who has been in office longer than I have been alive that is pretty freaken impressive. Positive if I held high office for a fraction of that time I would have made way more mistakes.
Oh wow his son is a screw up. Big wow. I didn’t vote for his son.
Your point is taken. There was a local leader in my area that was R but soft-R and again local leader. When Trump won the primary he sent out an email to me and I guess everyone else on his list basically saying that it was our duty to support him.
I told him that it was his duty not mine and I vote how I choose. Wish I had said something more witty.
Intelligent pragmatists aren’t too well represented in the Fox News demographic
You’d be surprised how few of them actually are brainwashed enough not to realize the flow they’re going with is pretty dark. They just tend to think the world itself is dark, and is supposed to be dark. So things like cheating and corruption are signs of health, not bad things.
They’re very backwards in some ways. Good is bad, bad is good.
Does anyone remember this?
STUDY: Watching Only Fox News Makes You Less Informed Than Watching No News At All
Conservatives lie to pollsters
There’s probably more truth in this than everyone in this discussion would want to admit.
They secretly want Trump, but they’re embarrassed in public to say that.
I’ve never been contacted for a poll. I didn’t even consider this. Lying to a poll jfc. Imagine being ashamed of what you believe.
