Screw chain outlets forcing Fox down customers.

[lambchopp59]

I've been letting Loves Truck Stops know how they are offending many customers on their website:
"Many of my family are avoiding Loves truck stops because of Fox News being forced onto patrons at many locations. Forcing political propaganda onto a customer base is not a good business practice, and only becoming more offensive since the haphazard lethal falsehoods about the pandemic."
I encourage others to do so too. It's long past time we let these people know how they are offending Americans.
https://www.loves.com/en/about-us/common-contact-us

[Kaleva]

1. How is one forced to watch Fox?

The people who want to watch it will watch it. Those who don't won't.

[milestogo]

2. If you go into a business and they are broadcasting it

you are being 'forced' to watch Fox.

I was at a dentist once where there was Fox News on the TV in the treatment room. I asked them to turn it off.

[Kaleva]

4. If I'm in a place of business, why would I watch TV unless I chose to do so?

[milestogo]

5. If there is a mounted TV and it is broadcasting FOX you are being exposed to it.

[Kaleva]

8. Only if you choose to be exposed

You can choose to ignore it.

When the little grandkids are over and they want to watch Blippi, I'm aware it's on TV but I can easily tune it out unless I choose to sit, watch and learn about colors and counting to 10.

[USALiberal]

19. Lol, ok! Nt

[unweird]

27. What?

The only choice to exposure is to be exposed or not be exposed. Ignoring the fact that you are being exposed is still being exposed.

[stopdiggin]

34. are you really going to pursue this line of reasoning?

So it's OK for the doctor's office to be blaring away propaganda and misinformation? But we can all just stick our fingers in our ears - and do the, "la, la, la, - can't hear you" thing. If we're offended of course. Jeez, buddy! A clue please!

[Tommymac]

74. +1

[CrackityJones75]

38. right. marketing and propaganda are not things.

what a stupid line of thinking.

[Shellback Squid]

41. omg, don't you ever leave the house? the poster has a very valid point, why argue

omfg

[doc03]

3. I have.been in many hotels, restaurants and other

places that have their TV tuned to Fox. The gym I used to go to had every TV tuned to Fox when they opened every morning. You had to get an employee to change to another channel.

[Kaleva]

6. Did you watch it?

[doc03]

10. In many cases you have no choice. The watching

you can control you can't stop hearing. If there are 6 people in a waiting room and most likely all are MAGAts
what do you do?

[Kaleva]

12. Most everyone has smart phones nowadays

The last time I was at the car dealership to have my car worked on, everyone, but one, in the waiting area was looking at their phones, including me. Fox was on TV but only one person was watching it.

[Irish_Dem]

14. It is like a big brother screen. Broadcast in many public places.

Seeps into our psyches whether we like it or not.

[Kaleva]

16. How has it affected you?

And doesn't the exposure have to be nonstop in order to have any effect?

[Irish_Dem]

18. It doesn't have to be constant. Propaganda is a very effective tool

to manipulate the masses. Look at Hitler's propaganda machine. This propoganda led to the death of 80 million people world wide.

Look at how successful PutinGOP propaganda has been. It has convinced a big chunk of the US population to reject democracy and hate POC and Dems.

[Kaleva]

49. Do has it affected you,?

If it hasn't, why hasn't it?

[D_Master81]

7. In this area it's unavoidable

Nearly every restaurant, bar, food court, doctors office, mechanic, place of public gathering has a TV on somewhere with Fox News on it. I’ve been paying attention over the years and most places if they have multiple tvs, 1 will have Fox News on. Some if that’s all they have. If you ask to change it you usually will get the “I don’t know where the remote is”. Which may honestly be true, the owner set it and doesn’t want it to be changed.

[Kaleva]

11. Had that exposure influenced your thinking in anyway?

[doc03]

17. You seem awfully defensive over Fox News. What

you say is the same reaction I get if I say something about Fox to a MAGA.

[Kaleva]

28. People can choose to watch what they want to watch

You want to censor what people watch.

Despite it not affecting you in anyway, you think it could influence others just by being on

[allnews]

69. Yes it does influence people.

It presents itself as a news show and it’s not. Lies are lies. They are responsible for how many believing propaganda. I have walked out of many places of business because that’s what was on television. I know better but it appears that at least 30% of population doesn’t.

[Kaleva]

30. So, has the exposure to Fox influenced you in any way?

[doc03]

53. Yes Fox News played a big part in the attempted coup

on January 6th. They are helping Republicans take away
voting rights and steal the 2022 election. The end of conversation.

[USALiberal]

21. I'm starting to wonder if you just like Fox News! Nt

[Kaleva]

29. I don't watch it or pay attention to it

Because I choose not to

[Swede]

32. You realise that rightwing media is insidious.

It turned my brother from a decent human being into to a rightwing nut. It started with rightwing radio whispering in his ear, which moved him Fox. So, no it is not harmless.

[Kaleva]

35. But he chose to listen to RW radio

And then watch Fox.

And no where have I said it's not harmless.

[CrackityJones75]

39. We should totally let tobacco companies market to children.

We can just tell kids to ignore it.

Likewise we can just tell our kids to ignore the anti-democratic messages that are being broadcast to them while they wait with us. I mean they got cell phones right?


If people want to let businesses know they don’t like having fox news shown to them while patronizing their business what is the harm to you? You could just ignore it. Right?

[Swede]

48. Kaleva is not getting it.

It's Fox news is advertising, literally. They want you to buy the rightwing ideals, and it works.

[Swede]

44. No he didn't. It was background in his shop.

I'd pop in and he'd be working and you could here the radio, but it wasn't blaring. It just seeped into his subconcious. You ever go on reddit, there is a whole subreddit on this. How it hooked relatives and friends, parents etc.

[Kaleva]

52. Would the same happen to you?

If RW radio was playing in the background, would that turn you into a trump voter,?

[Gore1FL]

60. I doubt it would me as I make an effort to stay informed

People who don't, might more easily absorb anti-american propaganda as truth and believe it. This isn't a new area of study. We know the effects.

Why are you defending the broadcast of disinformation?

[Kaleva]

67. Why are you against the 1st Amendment ?

[Gore1FL]

68. The 1st Amendment doesn't apply to what TV channels gas stations play.

If you are done with the squirrels, perhaps you can now answer the question I asked of you, "Why are you defending the broadcast of disinformation?"

[Kaleva]

77. No but you want to restrict what can be played

If you don't like it, don't go there

[Gore1FL]

80. I probably won't. I don't even know where it is.

I am not sure why you feel the need to pursue a multi-day defense of right-wing disinformation. I'll certainly restrict my participation in that efforts with a hide if it persists. Thanks.

[Kaleva]

81. I have said several times that people can and should ignore it

And I've agreed with those who said they don't go to establishments that have Fox on tv. That is a reasonable course of action.

Ignoring what's on tv or not going to a place that has Fox playing are actions most everyone here is capable of doing I would think.

I've been exposed to Fox from time time and yet I have no intention of supporting Trump and will never become a MAGAhat. Maybe you feel different about yourself? That sitting in. a waiting room with Fox playing in the background may be too much for you? I don't think that's the case but then I don't know you.

[Gore1FL]

83. Telling them to change the channel is an option too as the OP said.

Why does this need to span multiple days and why does it have to be this perpetual mindless repeated argument that has already been addressed many times?

Please note, that question was rhetorical. I do not expect or wish an answer. This whole topic should be long dead now given the number of reasonable responses you have been given to the same objection.

[Tommymac]

76. Why are you spamming with the same stuff post after post after post?

Have a nice ignore.

[Kaleva]

78. Some people can't understand a rather simple principle

If one doesn't like what's on tv, don't watch it.

[doc03]

13. That's the way it is here you can't help to be

exposed to it. Most around here watch it at home. What do you do make an ass out of yourself like the people we call Karen.

[ificandream]

9. My gym uses Fox in rotation.

You have a choice of channels, but Fox is usually one of them. At one time, they had Newsmax and Fox, and I complained about that. They stopped that.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Fox News is a Russian news outlet. It needs to go out of business.

[Emile]

20. You need this

https://www.amazon.com/TV-B-Gone-Universal-TV-Control-Keychain/dp/B0006GD9CE?th=1

[albacore]

75. Best $20 I ever spent...

[maxsolomon]

86. Kaleva, you better weigh in on TV B Gone

Is this OK?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. I'm a long haul truck driver

and I rarely sit inside a Love's Truck Stop and watch TV, or any truck stop for that matter, and even if I eat inside, I still don't watch TV, I eat my meal and then I head out to my truck, climb into my sleeper and watch TV or get on my computer, which I'm doing right now.

Nobody is forced to watch Faux on TV at any truck stop, one chooses to, just ignore it, like most do.

[Brainstormy]

23. apparently you've never had an oil or tire change

in a Fox-running 12 x 14 waiting room. Of course you don't have to watch it. You can plug your ears and put on a blindfold.
I find your position very naive.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

25. I don't give a crap what you find my position as,

every truck driver I know has a smart phone, laptop, etc, if I have to have repairs done and I wait inside while it's being done, I'll either be on my phone or my laptop, and that's the way it is with the vast majority of us.

Apparently you don't know what you're talking about.

[Brainstormy]

73. obviously you don't give a crap about

civil discourse or opposing viewpoints either.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

79. Like i care what you think. nt

[Chainfire]

26. Ok, so if they were playing hard-core porn, would you take your children or grandchildren there?

I think that the OP has a valid complaint. Business that display their right wing politics on their sleeves are making a point. I make it a point to avoid them. Why would I want them to profit from me?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

31. Hey, do what you want to do,

I choose to park at Love's now and again, especially if it's to only truck stop around at the end of a day of driving.

[Chainfire]

33. That is your choice. Some of us make our choices based upon our principals, not convenience.

I know nothing about driving commercial trucks, but I believe that, of all of the rest areas and truck stops across America, that I could find a place to stop that did not offend my sensibilities. I do not intentionally support openly right-wing businesses. It is one small thing that I can do.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

37. I have no problem with that, it's called freedom of choice,

Last edited Wed Mar 2, 2022, 10:23 AM - Edit history (1)

which is a good thing.

Most truck drivers don't sit inside a truck stop and watch TV, especially in todays world where smart phones and laptops are so prevalent, the majority of us will eat and go back to our sleepers and watch our TV's or get on our laptops until it's time to hit the hay.

Most of the time, I don't even eat in a restaurant, I have a small hot plate, a microwave oven and refridg. in my truck and I just fix something there, but if I want a full meal, then I'll eat inside, finish my meal and head out to my truck for the night.

[Kaleva]

36. Last time I was in a waiting room, people were on their smart phones

One was watching Fox on tv

[imanamerican63]

46. I agree! I ignore what they have on unless it is the weather channel.

I don’t even go into the driver’s tv room to watch movies or a sporting event, because there are one or more loud mouths who have to comment on every detail, or start complaining about their jobs. Like you, I just go back out my truck and look at my computer.👍 To boycott Loves or any other truck stop means a bit petty to me, but it’s that person’s choice.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

51. Thank you fellow road warrior.

Keep the rubber on the ground and keep on truckin'.

[Chainfire]

24. It bothers me too

I just don't shop with businesses that play rightwingnut propaganda. As far as that goes, I quit eating at Wendy's because I couldn't tolerate the endless loop of Christian music. As much as I like their products, I wouldn't set foot in a Hobby Lobby or Chick-Fil-A. I protest with my pocketbook. I like Love's because of their clean restrooms, but I won't go there.

[Ritabert]

40. We walked out of a Denny's at a Pilot truck stop one time

....who needs to listen to that crap while eating.

[Mossfern]

42. They have Fox "news" on the TVs

in the gym I belong to. When you're on the treadmill, there's practically no way to avoid it. I do play my music on my headphones, but there's closed caption on the televisions. Thank goodness the weather's getting warmer and I can walk outside. I do plan to cancel my membership and tell my trainer that I an cancelling my sessions with him too - not that it's his fault, but he's not a policy maker there.

[Sympthsical]

43. I sort of always enjoy the "TV in the waiting room" complaints

There are TVs in many places, and I'm trying to imagine this Clockwork Orange scenario everyone except me seems to be experiencing. Are people being possessed by a Poltergeist? Run into the light, Carol Anne!

I just read my phone when there's a TV around. In addition to Fox, I don't want to watch CNN or MSNBC either, so I don't when they're around (hello, airports!). At the gym, earbuds and either remixes with good beats for cardio or podcasts while lifting.

Learning to just ignore things is a lost art in our society. We've become a complaint culture, where anything out of sync with personal preference ends up being pointlessly crusaded against.

I mean, it's fine. But so much energy that isn't really, "doing something." Useful vs useless vigor.

And then to signal about it. "I complained about something today!"

[Kaleva]

59. Some here are terrified of being turned into MAGAhats

Because some TV's in some waiting or dining areas are playing Fox News

[11 Bravo]

70. Interesting hill to die on, bro.

It's almost as if there was some other unspoken agenda at play here.

[Kaleva]

72. Not dieing on any hill

If people don't like Fox News, then don't watch it.

Some people here don't do business with establishments that have Fox News on . That's another option too.

It's pretty simple.

[global1]

45. Just Wondering If One Had A Universal Remote - Could....

one walk in and point it at the TV to change the channel and perhaps set the 'parental control' to prevent returning to the objectionable channel?

That would be cool if one could do that!!!

[Emile]

47. You can!

https://www.amazon.com/TV-B-Gone-Universal-TV-Control-Keychain/dp/B0006GD9CE?th=1

[global1]

50. If A Kid Could Track Oligarchs Planes....

one would think it would be easier to figure out how to use a universal remote to change a channel on a TV.

[Dial H For Hero]

54. Interfering with someone else's private property. How "cool".

Reminds me of the threads where someone brags about going to a bookstore and flipping around all the books whose politics they don’t like.

[Wednesdays]

61. What's a "screw chain outlet?"

[Xavier Breath]

62. A clear sign I need to get out of the house more.

[Sympthsical]

63. A very risky google search n/t

[redstatebluegirl]

64. Loves is an Oklahoma based company.

Their owners are very right wing conservatives. I refuse to give them my money. I have other options for gas and snacks when we travel or even here in town. I don't give them a thin dime, never have never will.

[lambchopp59]

84. That's enlightening...

Many other chain truckstops, even if Fox is on somewhere, it's not overwhelming. Love's, I noticed has big screens all over the place, in the associated restaurants, anywhere throughout the damn places it's ever present beckoning to CONFORM TO OUR VIEWS nauseates.
Here's the funny part now: some of the Love's happen to have a dog park, the only ones I can conveniently let my fur monster off leash for a romp.
Last trip I got astounded, only ducking inside out of curiosity, sure as the sign says "Love's" the interior screams "hate!!!"
Dog romps. But I don't spend a dime there.

[redstatebluegirl]

88. Yep! It is a right wing noghtmare.

[lagomorph777]

65. A business that does that is advertising that they cannot be trusted.

No honest person can tolerate that bullshit.

I will not patronize any business that plays Fux in public spaces.

I briefly did use a Fux-showing tire-change joint, many years ago. They did turn out to be dangerously dishonest and incompetent.

[D_Master81]

66. What some here don't get

I’m reading through the responses here and what some of you don’t get is it’s not just about us. You, me, we can ignore it. Heck I can watch Fox through clenched teeth for awhile. My problem with it being on everywhere is that in public there’s no competing narrative so if someone is not a progressive is fed that narrative and it’s turning middle of the road people into hard right voters. Now is it happening because Fox is on in public? Maybe not but this area used to have dems in local government, now there’s rarely 1 on the ballot. Indiana hasn’t had a Dem in statewide office since Evan Bayh in 2016.

[XanaDUer2]

71. I loathe being stuck in a small

Waiting room with a huge TV blaring Fox. Any smart business would just have the Food Channel or something neutral on.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

82. I won't do business with any establishment where fascist propaganda is spewing

from their idiot boxes.

Fox News has destroyed innocent minds and lives for way too long. It is like a a deadly virus that incrementally destroys the consciousness of those who are not immune to it.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

85. I have earbuds

And if I have a decently roomy bag, I carry noise-cancelling headphones with me. I find establishments that play any almost any kind of music to be aggravating and unbearable.

So I’ll slip my earbuds or headphones on and blast white noise or my own music to drown that garbage out. It’s not that much of an investment to get earbuds or headphones.

[gulliver]

87. You also have to watch others watching it.

That's just as bad. Even if you don't watch Fox "News," you're forced to watch others who do if there's a set on in an open space. It's sort of like watching people eat bugs.