# Ignorance, War, Lies, and Fox News **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 6, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959 "2003-10-06T23:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/101 "2003-10-08T18:50:34Z")
While confessing they even fuel another misconception… that if your not a Bush foot soldier you are for Al Qaeda… ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/102 "2003-10-08T22:39:14Z")
Do stupid people tend to watch Fox News, or does watching Fox news make people stupid? Kind of a chicken and the egg conundrum, isn’t it?😉 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/103 "2003-10-09T00:59:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Frostillicus \* > \*\*Kind of a chicken and the egg conundrum, isn’t it?😉 \*\* A guy told me once he knew the answer to this question because you, quite obviously, need a chicken to lay the egg…probably of the Fox News ilk. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_With\_Words](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weird_with_words/32/385_2.png) [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/104 "2003-10-09T02:01:38Z")
The dinosaur egg came long before the chicken. I’ll even put down five dollars on that. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/105 "2003-10-09T03:43:22Z")
Does every chicken come from an egg ? Yes. Does every egg come from a chicken ? No. So the egg came first. I would go for the stupid people tend to watch Fox News thou… thou watching Fox might make you stupid as well. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/106 "2003-10-09T11:29:38Z")
**…stupid people tend to watch Fox News, or does watching Fox news make people stupid? Kind of a chicken and the egg conundrum, isn’t it?** Well maybeso,\*\* Frostillcus\*\*, but I have a method. I read the posts by pinkos who post on the Straight Dope Forum until they become childish and absurd; and then I turn and watch reality on FOX TV.\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/107 "2003-10-09T12:54:17Z")
And there you have it from the horses, er, mouth. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/108 "2003-10-09T13:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Frostillicus \* > Do stupid people tend to watch Fox News, or does watching Fox news make people stupid? Kind of a chicken and the egg conundrum, isn’t it?😉 Since Fox News can’t physically grab viewers at home and force them to watch, I’ll wager that it retains its audience because it appeals to them. That is, stupid people tend to watch Fox News, because it tells them the simplistic jingoism they like to hear. Whether or not it’s accurate is irrelevant to them; they just want their preconceived notions reinforced. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/109 "2003-10-09T15:36:24Z")
\*\*Since Fox News can’t physically grab viewers at home and force them to watch, I’ll wager that it retains its audience because it appeals to them. \*\* … (?) … …Oh yeaah…now I get it! People watch FOX TV because it appeals to them. Yeah. And people don’t listen to the left-necked call-in radio shows because it doesn’t appeal to them. Damn the people! Why don’t they just listen to their better thinking elite and just shut up!\_\_\_\_\_\_ :mad: ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/110 "2003-10-09T16:34:33Z")
Okay, **Milum,** this time I’ll use small words, so you can follow: 1. People who watch Fox News know less than other people. 2. People watch Fox News by choice because they like it. Therefore, 1. People who like Fox News like being lied to. 2. People who like Fox News are idiots. QED. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/111 "2003-10-09T16:56:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*And there you have it from the horses, er, mouth. \*\* Best… ass reference… **ever!** ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/112 "2003-10-09T17:27:29Z")
**Oh shoot. Another one of those tricky word puzzles…Ok** rjung\*\*, give me one more chance and I’ll get it, let’s see…\*\* \*\*People who like FOX NEWS like to be lied to. Milum likes FOX NEWS. Rjung tells Milum he is stupid. Milum likes rjung. Mmmm? I still don’t get it. Is Milum dumb?\*\*\_\_\_\_\_\_ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/113 "2003-10-09T21:40:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Milum \* > **Mmmm? I still don’t get it. Is Milum dumb?** \_\_\_\_\_\_ :smack: \*\* **Milum** reports, you decide. I’ve decided already but I don’t watch Fox News. Would you knock it off with the colors, already! ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/114 "2003-10-10T01:38:45Z")
I have alluded before to my wealthy, super-republican sister and her wealthy, super-republican friends. This very day, she sent me an email, which I cut and paste for your edification: > [@](#): > > Neal Boortz’s Web Site… > October 7, 2003 > > ELECTRICITY IN IRAQ > Betcha you didn’t know this. American and allied forces in Iraq have managed to repair the electric distribution grid in Iraq to the extent that Iraqi citizens now have more available electricity than they did before the war began. Now if this comes as a bit of a surprise to you, perhaps you should ask why. Why haven’t you read this in your local paper? Why haven’t you seen Peter Jennings, or Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw report this? Why, in fact, did you have to be watching Brit Hume on the Fox News Channel last night to learn this interesting bit of positive information. Simple answer. You haven’t seen this reported elsewhere because this information doesn’t serve the media mandate … get George Bush out of the White House in 2004. Comments are solicited. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/115 "2003-10-10T03:25:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Why, in fact, did you have to be watching Brit Hume on the Fox News Channel last night to learn this interesting bit of positive information. Facts have been destroyed. The story was on ABC news this evening. I guess the “media mandate” changed overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/116 "2003-10-10T03:35:26Z")
\*Whatsamatta U \*, **LouisB**? Don’t cha like your sister? Run with the super-wealthy, super-republican crowd. Listen to Brit Hume on **\>\>\> FOX TV \<\<\<** , and come alive, run with the likes of the wealthy, the republicans, the well-informed crowd. 🙂 Or be a loser, and listen to the → **tripe\<-- on NPR**. \_\_\_ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/117 "2003-10-10T04:29:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*Facts have been destroyed. > The story was on ABC news this evening. > I guess the “media mandate” changed overnight. \*\* [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-10-08-iraq-power-usat_x.htm) [Associated Press](http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-accomplishments,0,6847266.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines) [Washington Times](http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031008-114611-4323r.htm) [Reuters](http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3566912) [Telegraph (UK)](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/08/wiraq08.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/10/08/ixportal.html) Yup, it’s all a big cover-up! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/118 "2003-10-10T05:29:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > Facts have been destroyed. > The story was on ABC news this evening. > I guess the “media mandate” changed overnight. And what does this prove? That Boortz is an idiot. But we all knew that. FOX may or may not be biased, but this says nothing either way about that. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/119 "2003-10-10T05:34:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spavined Gelding \* > \*\* > Would you knock it off with the colors, already! \*\* Colors are crucial in the cartooniverse. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959/120 "2003-10-10T10:52:04Z")
**Milum** my sister can be a royal pain when it comes to following the republican party line. She is a smart woman, in many ways; smart enough to become wealthy, anyway. I can’t stand her politics, though, and if she weren’t my sister, we probably wouldn’t even speak to each other—hell, if she wasn’t my sister, I wouldn’t even know her, since I don’t run with her crowd and wouldn’t if I could. I doubt she knows NPR exists and wouldn’t be able to find it on her radio dial without specific instructions. If she ever did listen to NPR, she would probably consider it to be a communist plot. Oh, well, so it goes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-war-lies-and-fox-news/205959.md?page=7)