Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and other trolls

[Tasaio]

Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Jerry Falwell...

These real-life trolls manage to get under my skin, no matter how outrageous their statements. As a Canadian, I get particularly riled up when I hear Ann Coulter suggest that the US invade Canada. Or Bill O'Reilly claim that "Canada is part of the war on Christmas".

Steve has taught me to have an open mind, but should I really seriously consider that Ann Coulter is right--maybe Canada should be invaded?

How do I deal with anger at these people, other than avoiding them altogether?

[Matthew Shea]

Just stop exposing yourself to them. I know that sounds a lot like avoidance, but, along the lines of some of the stuff Steve has said, you have to make a conscious decision about what to include in your life and what to reject. Personally, I've chosen to stay away from any extreme political messages, whether left or right, and filter out anything that doesn't make complete sense. That keeps me away from (pardon the term) jackasses like Coulter, Limbaugh, Al Franken, and the like.

Just tune it out and let go of the stress.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Tasaio

How do I deal with anger at these people, other than avoiding them altogether?

What's wrong with avoiding them altogether? It's not like these people come up to you to talk to you - you have to seek them out by tunning in to their radio station or the TV channel to watch them, or read their book/newspaper column.

I would get plenty mad we aren't invading Canada, but I don't tune to Canadian broadcast who talk about why they shouldn't be invaded. Thus I don't get the chance to get mad.

[mlc82]

I also say ignore them- ignoring politics and religion has been one of the most positive things I have ever done- both generally just piss me off.

[Dive Bomb]

Ignoring them is the best thing you can do. They recieve more power when you pay attention thier message and give them TV ratings or book sales. The more they are ignored, the less powerful their words become.

[The David]

As a very intuitive person, I've finally learned how important it is to sometimes just shut off from certain influences. Before, I would rationalize it. "Avoiding a problem isn't the same as dealing with it". Well, maybe if you're a logic person, but for the 'feelers' out there, just shut off. Simple as that.

[cdn2wheeler]

I'm almost convinced that the Coulters/Limbaughs/O'Reillys of the world are Democrat plants organized to make the "right" look as ridiculous as possible. I mean, who in their right mind would say that young single women shouldn't have the right to vote (Coulter), or that drug addicts deserve prison while being addicted themselves (Limbaugh) or make direct and indirect threats to a sitting US Senator (O'Reilly)? They're ludicrous.

It's a joke. Gotta be a joke.

[Tasaio]

Originally Posted by Matthew Shea

Just stop exposing yourself to them.

. . .

Just tune it out and let go of the stress.

Good advice...I'm not sure I'd count Al Franken amongst the trolls, though. As obnoxious as he and Michael Moore can be, I do think they're needed to balance out the overwhelming right wing.

Originally Posted by seeker5

I would get plenty mad we aren't invading Canada, but I don't tune to Canadian broadcast who talk about why they shouldn't be invaded. Thus I don't get the chance to get mad.

. . .

WHAT?

Please tell me you're joking.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Tasaio

Please tell me you're joking.

I was . Don't worry about getting invaded anyway at this point. We have a dozen countries on our list to invade before we get to Canada. Thus it should take us a good 20 years before it's your turn.

[openeyes]

You needn't even look at it as putting energy into avoiding the type of people mentioned, rather you simply stop giving them your energy. Instead of listening to Rush, you play something you enjoy, go read a book, or bask in silence for a while. Life is a garden and it's up to you to decide what you cultivate.

[Dan.Linehan]

The problem with ignoring politics is that people like Bush get elected, countries get invaded, and trillions of tax dollars get spent supporting violence.

How can you ignore politics when your tax dollars get spent on terrorism?

[Tasaio]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I was . Don't worry about getting invaded anyway at this point. We have a dozen countries on our list to invade before we get to Canada. Thus it should take us a good 20 years before it's your turn.

Oh, glad to hear. I was worried for a second there.

The problem with ignoring politics is that people like Bush get elected, countries get invaded, and trillions of tax dollars get spent supporting violence.

How can you ignore politics when your tax dollars get spent on terrorism?

I guess you just have to stop reading about the war.

Canada's role in Afganistan doesn't affect me, so I stopped reading news coverage.

The thing is, the news tries to downplay the bad news.
CBC = Conservative Broadcasting Corporatinon.

Meanwhile, trolls like O'Reilly (or the Canadian version, Don Cherry) intentionally make statements that become widely reported.

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

The problem with ignoring politics is that people like Bush get elected, countries get invaded, and trillions of tax dollars get spent supporting violence.

How can you ignore politics when your tax dollars get spent on terrorism?

Because none of us know what to do otherwise when you're stuck in a society that's happily taking it from behind by its "leaders" while too busy watching reality shows, shopping at the mall, or being told by their religious leaders that said political leaders are "doing the right thing" and etc.

I honestly don't know why I've ever bothered voting before, IMO George Carlin nailed it on the head both when likening voting to masturbation (with him considering masturbation to be more productive), and in saying that the politicians are simply put there to give us an illusion of choice while big businesses actually run things.

Outside of an all out armed rebellion, which I wouldn't support due to how nasty "civil wars" end up being on the civilian population of whereever they occur, I don't see how this is ever going be fixed- I think there are plenty of ways we could start, but with the current crop of (generally) criminals of both political parties in high positions in the government, combined with the big businesses/lobbyists they are in bed with, I don't see how anyone could change this by working through the system at all.

[ticktockclok]

Heh heh, Falwell. I remember reading somewhere after his death: "Famous ****er Falwell Finally ****s Off". Cracked me up.

[Jennihul]

Ignore, avoid.

My world lacks for nothing and I only read good news. They are like mental terrorists. They have no power if no one listens or pays attention or gives them the emotional response they crave.

Jennifer

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

They have no power if no one listens or pays attention or gives them the emotional response they crave.

Your tax dollars get spent either way.. regardless of your attention (or lack thereof.)

As George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Indifference is the essence of inhumanity.”

[balexmills]

I was addicted to listening to Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Fox News for a long time. I'd read columns and the websites of Malkin, Coulter and the like.

I did it just to enjoy becoming pissed off at the idiotic things that they'd say. I'd find myself taking the feelings into other areas of thought throughout the day, and it would just bum me out. But I would keep tuning in.

Somewhere along the way I just stopped tuning them in. I am much better off for it. You don't have to pay attention to these pundits to remain a politically informed person. I wouldn't say to ignore "bad" news or politics altogether, but I would recommend ignoring these talking head agitators and places like Fox News.

I read and listen to a variety of online and broadcast news sources like NPR, BBC, New York Times or Democracy Now and feel up to date without the hate.

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Your tax dollars get spent either way.. regardless of your attention (or lack thereof.)

As George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Indifference is the essence of inhumanity.”

The indifference I speak of is not ignoring the poor or needy. Despite their negative circumstances, they truly have the potential to be very positive if given a chance to rise out of life-threatening misery.

I'm talking about people that have every advantage and yet still choose to be trolls. Bashing, competing, whoring attention, taking advantage of people's fears, self-agrandizing, stirring the pot to the nth degree...

They do not have to be part of my experience and it takes nothing away from me.

I was referring to Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, et al, in my post. Maybe you misunderstood me.

Jennifer

[Padawan learner]

Its the act of intolerance to other ideas that is intolerant not the content of those ideas . So tired of the "intelligent elite" and their inability to see how closed minded and intolerant they are to anything other then left wing propaganda.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Padawan learner

Its the act of intolerance to other ideas that is intolerant not the content of those ideas . So tired of the "intelligent elite" and their inability to see how closed minded and intolerant they are to anything other then left wing propaganda.

The right wing isn't exactly known to be open minded either, especially those on TV and in a broadcast field.