I’m going to conduct a very dangerous experiment

[Cyrano]

I intend to choose a week in the near future during which I don’t read any liberal publications, visit any liberal web sites, and don’t watch Olbermann, Maddow, Jon Stewart, or any other sane human being.

Instead, I will do nothing but listen to Limbaugh and watch only Fox “news.”

I'm very nervous as to how this will turn out. Will I become a wing nut? Will I join the teabaggers? Will I admire Palin, Beck, Bachmann, Gingrich, et al? Will I come to believe that Bush and Cheney are great American statesmen? Will I want to see Ronald Reagan’s face added to Mt. Rushmore?

What if I see my brain seeping from my ears onto the floor? Will hatred of Muslims, Hispanics, and all “Others” take over my life? Will I be able to dial 911 before it’s too late?

I know I’m taking a huge risk here, but what the hell. Someone has to do it. After all, isn’t trying to see the other guy’s point of view a sensible, liberal thing to do?

It’s possible I’ll wimp out before starting this experiment. But if I go through with it and it turns out badly, look for my posts on Free Republic. And if this happens, perhaps someone will have the decency to get me to a vet and have me “put to sleep.”

[no_hypocrisy]

1. You'll never get back the time you're going to waste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBV0Qhal4bc

[Cyrano]

12. There were probably those who told that to

Einstein, Newton,Galileo and Jean Luc Picard. But what if there's the infintesimal possibilty of finding a cure for the countless assholes with whom we share this planet?

Okay, I'm not looking for the Nobel Prize but, risks aside, a trip into a parallel universe seems almost irresitible.

Then again, as I said in the OP, I might wimp out.

[no_hypocrisy]

13. I go with what Sam said: Rush says whatever he has to in order to keep his ratings.

The Rush-Wanna-Be's just copy him.

None of it is credible, even to them.

[Cyrano]

23. self deleted

[jwirr]

2. Dear, self-hate is not necessary. You do not deserve that kind of

punishment.

[damntexdem]

3. Glad to see you so committed -- and I'm sure that after the week in question, you will be ...

committed.

;-)

[FSogol]

4. End result: You'll triple your intake of PepcidAC and gain 30 pounds.

:shrug:

[rug]

5. By the end of the week you'll be putting stray cats into dumpsters.

[PBS Poll-435]

14. ,,,

:rofl:



Sad but true.



:toast:

[mrcheerful]

6. No but you will become a babbling basket case worried about other peoples sex life

and whining that yours is boring. Then you will find yourself locked in the basement of your moms wanking to pictures of Palin in a bikini and combat boots with rifle in hand and standing on a moose carcass, now do you really want to risk that?

[leveymg]

7. Stock up on prescription pain killers.

You're gonna need them. :evilgrin:

[AndyA]

8. LOL. You'll probably be angry most of the time, because you're going to know better.

You'll spot the half-truths and outright lies immediately. Rush's voice will be like fingers scratching a chalkboard. Those bleached blondes with the low cut dresses on Faux will act like they aren't just whores for the right wing, and are providing factual information.

For one week, you can do it and come out intact with your sanity, but you'll be very angry and the temptation to come to DU and post about the lies you've heard will be very strong.

Good luck to you in your brave endeavor.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. If they don't mind control you does that mean...

...you're super-duper-extra-uber smart and outwitted their nefarious schemes or are you just a normal person making his own choices like other normal people?

:shrug:

[Cyrano]

17. Actually, Nuclear Unicorn, it means nothing more than

that I'm a total moron, jumping off a cliff to test the laws of gravity.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

20. Ummm. What?

I'm told FOX is a mind control device and if only we could somehow overcome/get rid of it the unwashed, brainwashed masses would eagerly return to their better senses.

That is what we say every day in dozens of threads.

People run around in thread after thread here congratulating themselves about having screaming hissy fits in public places because FOX is on the TV and they just can't endure it because it infects the general public.

So if you watch FOX and it doesn't take over your mind then you will have jumped off the cliff and...what?

If you don't become like the great unwashed, brainwashed masses maybe FOX has no hypnotic power.

Or maybe you're just smarter than the brainwashed, unwashed masses. If that's the case we seem to be having a dickens of a time washing their brains to our purposes but even then getting rid of FOX will avail us nothing.

It seems to be a dilemma.

[Cyrano]

24. Ummm, Huh???

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. Please understand, I'm not trying to pick a fight

I just don't get what your "experiment" will prove except that maybe FOX News isn't the bogey man it is made out to be.

Either it lacks the mystical power ascribed to it or the masses are beyond redemption...or we're just looking for excuses as to why we aren't getting traction.

I hate to say it but I understand why we don't get traction. Here on DU we constantly harp about Obama being spineless and being part of the imperialist war machine. I did a poll a few weeks back asking if Obama's war policies were well-intentioned, naive, beyond his control or part and parcel of an imperialist agenda. Better than 60% said Obama was happily serving the Imperium.

WTF!

I'm a peace-activist progressive yet I'm told my president is a willing war-monger?

And I'm suppose to support him and his agenda in the election?

And this is DU saying this not Fox. Who needs to watch Fox to hear, "Gr-r-r-r, Obama SUCKS!" when we do it here day after day after day. Granted, Gibbs calling me crazy and doped-out doesn't help but you get the idea where I'm headed.

I can just imagine some undecided independent wandering in here and seeing this e-riot. I then see them wandering down to the DMV to stick an (R) behind their name.

[Tsiyu]

31. Huh?

So a Reichwing Corporation that spends billions telling only one side of the story (I weep for the days when the Fairness Doctrine was in force and people heard both sides - what an f'in concept, huh?) has absolutely no impact on people's choices?

But a relatively unknown - compared to FUx News - Dem website will influence people to register as R's?

You defend a rightwing network that continually and repeatedly calls for violence against liberals and that gives any nutcase from the Right a megaphone, no matter how irresponsible and violence-tinged and ignorant the message? They get a pass?

But DU is dangerous to the "cause" because some of us criticize Obama?

Okie Dokie. Glad that's working for you.....:crazy:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

34. I'm not defending Fox except to the point of cherishing the 1st Amendment

If Fox calls for violence I'd be happy to see the quotes as I don't watch Fox.

I can't say I'm jazzed up about the Fairness Doctrine because then Keith and Rachel would have to cut time for RWers to rebut. Where would be the fun in that.

And DU doesn't criticize Obama, 60-plus percent said he was part and parcel of the US imperialist system. That's not a criticism, that's an indictment.

I believe it is an absurd indictment because I seriously, seriously doubt Obama has an imperialist bone in his body and if he did the real imperialists would be giving him less flak and helping him succeed.

My point in this thread is I don't think Fox is the bogey man we make it out to be and the OP's experiment will show that. It has no secret mind control power to make average people into rabid RWers. The same way I turn the channel past Fox (FWIW even my very conservative husband won't watch Fox) makes some people turn the channel past MSNBC (sadly, hubby don't watch MSNBC either). It sounds incredible: people making choices, but people do it all on their own.

Fair taxes, healthcare, wage reform, public education, worker safety, food security, fair housing, civil rights equality for LGBT, reproductive freedom...all these are very reasonable and noble causes. Good and reasonable people accept these as their policy preferences.

But assuming that to be true let's face facts: we're losing the messaging war.

If the bulk of Americans reject what is good and reasonable it isn't because of some mythical network beaming mind control waves.

Either they are not good and reasonable people and the "cause" of reason and good has no soil in which to grow or we are failing to properly reach them.

I believe the people of America are--on balance--good and reasonable. Even when George the Younger was diddling while NOLA drowned the people of America acted independent of the government and came rushing to help their neighbors.

The American people are good people...and we're losing them.

[Tsiyu]

36. You're not that old, or you would recall how

the Fairness Doctrine worked.


I was a talk host when Clinton was elected. I didn't have to share my liberal time with anyone. The station itself had to air programs from both ends of the spectrum. Now, only hate is heard on AM radio, for the most part. Hate, hate and more hate and all of it against Obama. That is 99.9% of the talk radio out there without a Fairness Doctrine. On our PUBLICLY OWNED radio stations, to boot!


So you would rather have NO leftwing talk than a Fairness Doctrine giving both sides a voice? Wow. Freedom of speech in action...

As for calling Obama an imperialist, are you quoting some unscientific poll done here? Sorry, those statistics are not accurate by any stretch.

There is a trust that many of us developed for our media in the old days. We trusted them to give us the facts, not spin.

Many Americans still hold that trust, believing that if FUx says it, it must be true. Are they Naive? Sure. FUx is privately owned and because of that most of them don't know that the Supremes decided FUx could lie all they want AND that FUx could spend everything they have on Rightwing candidates. Our nations's highest court says that News corporations can lie with impunity AND influence elections. FUx isn't going to report THAT little tidbit, and most Americans don't know it. If you think they're spending millions and millions for nothing, I have an Ocean Front condo here in TN I'd like to sell you.

Obama is losing the messaging war all by himself. He had a mandate for change. He is squandering it.

I am fifty one and will probably never have insurance til medicare kicks in. Obama did NOTHING for me there. I haven't received any bailout, and many of Obama's appointees have insulted the hell out of me and those I love. That's the message I'm getting.

We need jobs that pay a living wage. We need corporate accountabity. We need an end to the War on (Some) Drugs. We need sanity and compassion in politics, not more corporate fellating.

It's a big mess, but Obama must show he cares about the common American. The Health Care mess and this Catfood Commission are not helping him. You need to preach to HIM, not to those of us who are not getting what we voted for.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

37. The only people who listen to AM radio actively turn on that radio.

The same as when you had your show. People listened (or didn't) because they wanted to.

Seriously, did you have a job because you were good at what you did or because some law got you your job?

How would having a Fairness Doctrine get people to listen to progressive talk radio? Would the people listening to Limbaugh just leave the station on as Bill Press comes on and suddenly go, "Golly!" or would they turn on what they like and turn off what they don't like?

I agree with the rest of you post about health care, decent wages etc. I also agree Obama has squandered his chances and his employees actively insult us knowing that we will still be there to vote for them because we have no other choice.

If we want to start changing minds we have to stop calling the people we're appealing to morons and we need to stop chasing phantoms that don't exist.

And yes, my poll is not scientific but it did reveal that 60% of the DUers responding had nothing but war crime indictments of the president they voted for. I think it's totally fair to ask how we can sway the undecided to support the very president we call a war criminal. It's a silly indictment leading to even sillier expectations.

[Cyrano]

40. Are you finished hijacking this thread?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

42. I was just curious about what hypothesis your experiment was supposed to test

sheesh!

[pipi_k]

10. I wouldn't worry too much...

I think in order for it all to stick, you would have to also subject yourself to physical punishment/torture/deprivation.



Unless you can waterboard yourself while telling yourself you have to believe all the shit "or else", you're probably safe...

[left is right]

11. As dangererous as this is, it's a noble experiment, one that may explain a lot about RW behavior

So I can only wish you luck and tell you that I will burn a candle for your safe return

[JustAnotherGen]

15. I tried this once

And my eyes and ears were bleeding after just two days of watching fox news. :-9

[gratuitous]

16. Alcohol; lots and lots of alcohol

Oh, and enlist a co-pilot. Good luck.

[hobbit709]

18. Sounds like a self-induced heart stress test.

your blood pressure will probably go up at least 30 points.

[rocktivity]

19. Do it, but keep a daily blog that we can access.

P.S. I had to explain to my three-year-old niece that my sister had taken her baby brother to the doctor and NOT the vet!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[pipi_k]

33. Good idea...I would be interested in how this is going n/t

[guardian]

21. There aren't enough narcotics

on the whole planet that could make that bearable! :-) Good luck. Be sure to report back your .... 'findings'.

[guardian]

22. Here's a visual of what's in store for you.

Self flagellation

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSoAxrnrKEDXt61OYOzKd4eU8C1LeBJnfKAcFsXv4u7i2T0QDo&t=1&usg=__cYpFlONM5FTSVOZg0pLiA5bkPsE=

[LatteLibertine]

25. Depends

I always say in order to be true to yourself you must know yourself first. That's an important qualifier. You won't be swayed or corrupted if that's the case. People that are self-aware and that have strong personal integrity are not easily duped or manipulated.

[Cyrano]

27. Hey, Depends, I'm gonna jump into hell without a safety net.

Self-awareness, personal integrity and being easily duped or manipulated aren't really part of the equation here. I'm not sure how much those attributes would help while spending 168 hours (time off for some sleep) with some of the most demented people in our society.

Remember the "Stockholm Syndrome?"

Then again, if I come out intact, I don't intend to join the Navy Seals. I'll probably need to spend a month or so in a bar.

[LatteLibertine]

29. Enjoy :)

I always say what matters more than the circumstances and events of our lives would be our response to them. We may agree to disagree. I don't feel exclusively consuming RW media would turn a self-aware liberal who has practiced personal integrity in their life into a GoP wingnut.

I'm not going ramble on beyond that.

[PufPuf23]

28. Only dial 9-11 if you want to start pre-emptive wars. nt

[KeepItReal]

30. If you want to relive what it felt like under Bush&Co. before DU was discovered...

Knock yourself out.

:evilgrin:

[AnArmyVeteran]

32. For God's sake man, DON'T do it!!! It will destroy you emotionally.

There aren't enough doctors to fix the emotional problems you will surely become victim to. Would you put your arm in a vat of acid or under a table saw? You will be doing the equivalent to your emotional well being. You will be transformed into a mutant like the people in the movie the 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'.

[OJones]

35. Godspeed! (n\t)

[Radical Activist]

38. famous last words

[JuniperLea]

39. Wear a helmut...

And a sweater.

God be with you...

[slackmaster]

41. Kudos to you for trying this. I hope you have the capacity to report your findings objectively.

Even if the null hypothesis (i.e. your attitudes will not be affected in any way) is supported by the results.

[Cal33]

43. You are an innovative, curious and courageous soul. I wouldn't

be able to stand listening to anyone of those you mentioned for more than 5 minutes!
All the best, and be sure to let us know the results of this intelligent but highly
dangerous experiment. :o) All the best.

[Cyrano]

46. Thanks, Cal33. In a way, I feel like

a character from "Jaws" about to go for a swim.

[TK421]

44. Just be careful....ever see the movie "Scanners"? yeah..it can happen to you, too

[awoke_in_2003]

45. I listen to hate radio...

on the way home from work every night. Good to know what those asshats are thinking. Believe me, you will be going "WTF?" a lot. Most of these idiots could be out debated by a 7 year old.