Fwd: Fox & the holidays

I got this and thought it was interesting and helpful.  Have a look.
--Kim

The holidays present an important opportunity to talk with those you're close to about Fox.

 

Here are a few tips for having a successful conversation.

And if you have any good conversations, let us know:

 

Dear Kim,

In the coming days, many of us will be spending time with family and close friends. You might find yourself in a house with Fox News on the TV, or you might find yourself in the company of a family member who likes to talk about the "truth" coming from Fox. You could also be with folks who understand the damage Fox does, but haven’t heard about this campaign. Any of these could be a great opportunity to talk about why you don’t watch Fox and why you’re part of the movement to get it turned off in public places. And if you have any good conversations, let us know.

There's no need to be confrontational.  The person you’re talking with may not be receptive to what you have to say — and thatâ’s ok. But you might be surprised. This is about sharing your concerns and beliefs, and hearing the thoughts of someone you love.  When people are approached respectfully by someone they like and trust, it creates space for them to think and change.

Here are some pointers:

1. Remain calm. The point here isn't to start an argument —" it's to share information. Even though some people may be hostile to what you have to say, keeping your cool can help defuse tense situations and make even skeptics receptive to what you have to say.
   
   
2. Just the facts. We’re often tempted to use inflammatory language when describing Fox News and their tactics — "evil" or "raacist," for example. But think of the impact that this language might have on someone you’re trying to win over to your point of view. Does the fact that they watch Fox News make them "evil" or "racist"? Better to stick to the facts by describing what Fox News Channel does — stoking rracial fear, helping to spread dangerous conspiracy theories, and distorting the truth. You can refer to our flyer "The Case Against Fox" for a few examples of what Fox News does, and the impact of their actions.
   
   
3. Listen to what others have to say. If you want to be listened to, then you should also be willing to listen to others' perspectives. If they state something untrue, you can and should offer facts to correct the record when you can — but not until after they've finished their thougght. And remember, the point isn’t to get into an argument or even prove that you're correct. It's to share your point of view.
   
   
4. Offer more information. If the folks you talk to are interested in learning more about our campaign, just have them check out TurnOffFox.org. They can sign up for the campaign at that website.

The holiday season provides a unique opportunity to help more people understand what Fox is, how it poisons national discourse, and what role everyday people can play in stopping the damage.

After you have these conversations (even with those who already understand the issue), we would love to hear how they went. Tell us about it by clicking the link below:

http://www.turnofffox.org/holiday/?id=2820-1281598

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha, and the rest of the TurnOffFox.org team
   December 22nd, 2010

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