# Is Fox News really all that bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625 "2012-10-03T21:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 91
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1801 "2018-03-31T20:56:57Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Boycotts are a form of political activism that has existed ever since there was politics, the name itself going back to Captain Charles Boycott in the 19th century. It’s a form of activism intended to influence or change behaviors, no more and no less, and has been used by all sides of the political spectrum, and has been [especially beloved by conservatives in the alt-right Trump era](http://www.businessinsider.com/conservatives-boycott-brands-keurig-nfl-starbucks-2017-11). I had almost forgotten about those boycotts. They were pretty forgettable. It’s almost like conservatives have no power as consumers with liberals having a monopoly on affluence and productivity. Those boycotts were worth less than a degree from Trump University. Well, they can boycott everyone and everything including David Hogg’s dad and spend all of whatever little disposable income that they have at Chik-Fil-A, Joanne’s Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and GoldLine, for all I care. No one would notice. Maybe they should stop whining and crying and fondling their guns and grow up and get better jobs or something so they have some economic power of their own to throw around. And, as an aside, whenever I see conservatives skulking around at some protest, I always try to support unity by letting them know that I’m a big 2nd Amendment supporter myself. They never seem reassured, though. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1802 "2018-03-31T21:21:17Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > … liberals who are bitter at the success of Fox … You can’t be serious. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1803 "2018-03-31T21:31:35Z")
Still waiting for a response from Zombie. How did David Hogg insult you? What great sin did he commit against you? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1804 "2018-03-31T22:45:54Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > I return to my restaurant example. Let’s say the owner of the restaurant decides to run for mayor and campaigns on limiting the height of hedges to five feet. Supporters of his opponent decide to organize a boycott of the restaurant as a way of forcing him out of the race. Do you think that is fair? I think it is fair to say that if the opposition is large enough to organize an economically meaningful boycott, then hedge guy was not going to win the election anyway. For every person who meaningfully boycotts (i.e. would have eaten at the restaurant, but now won’t), there are likely a dozen who would just vote for the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1805 "2018-03-31T23:02:44Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > I think boycotts are a form of intimidation. There should some sort of protections against abuses of it. I haven’t really thought it out, but there is something wrong with trying to take away the means of someone providing for their family when you disagree with them. > > I wonder how a boycott of a business owned by David Hogg’s parents would be received? Would that be fair? He’s insulted me and millions of other people who believe in 2nd Amendment rights. You can feel free to call for a boycott of Hogg’s parents (he hasn’t insulted you or anyone else, but whatever), and anyone who agrees with you can join you! It won’t be very many people, I reckon, but you can try, and the most I’ll do is say, “Wow, what a pointless, stupid thing to do, you’re probably not invited to any party I’m hosting any time soon.” Laura Ingraham makes several times what my boss makes per year _every single month_ providing what I can only call propaganda for a news network that makes our country a worse place day by day. She’s not going to starve in the street if it turns out that _bullying a teenager_ in a petty, mean-spirited way is a step too far for advertisers. > [@LAZombie](#): > > It would be a civil matter something along the lines of tortious interference or a tort of negligent interference. One party could sue another party if they could prove the defendant organized a malicious call to action to inflict financial harm on another. Okay. Now define “malicious”. No, really, what does this even _mean_? Malicious has a clear legal definition - “An act done maliciously is one that is wrongful and performed willfully or intentionally, and without legal justification.” Well, there’s nothing _wrongful_ about what Hogg is doing - he’s entirely justified in saying, “Wow, Laura Ingraham is a terrible person, we should demand she stop getting a huge national platform to spout her awful bullshit.” That’s his opinion, and one I personally share. And the legal justification is the first amendment. So what do you mean by “malicious”? Is it just not okay to call for a boycott if the person in question hasn’t done something illegal? What if it’s something grossly immoral but not illegal? ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1806 "2018-04-01T00:06:52Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > She’s not going to starve in the street if it turns out that _bullying a teenager_ in a petty, mean-spirited way is a step too far for advertisers. Cite? Please quote the tweets that were petty and mean spirited by Ingraham toward Hogg. I can’t find any that fit that description. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1807 "2018-04-01T00:19:11Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Cite? Please quote the tweets that were petty and mean spirited by Ingraham toward Hogg. I can’t find any that fit that description. Mocking him for not getting into the schools he applied to? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1808 "2018-04-01T01:37:46Z")
Liberty Mutual Insurance and Office Depot are the latest advertisers to flee Ingraham’s show. > **[More advertisers drop Laura Ingraham’s program](https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/More-advertisers-drop-Laura-Ingraham-s-program-12796551.php)** > > Advertisers are continuing to abandon Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s program over her... ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1809 "2018-04-01T03:40:17Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Cite? Please quote the tweets that were petty and mean spirited by Ingraham toward Hogg. I can’t find any that fit that description. If you don’t think what she said to him was petty and mean, nothing I can say will convince you…and if you don’t know what she said by now what the hell are you basing any of your opinions on?? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1810 "2018-04-01T05:34:34Z")
[Here’s the Tweet](https://twitter.com/IngrahamAngle/status/979021639458459648) for what it’s worth… > [@](#): > > David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1811 "2018-04-01T05:52:55Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Cite? Please quote the tweets that were petty and mean spirited by Ingraham toward Hogg. I can’t find any that fit that description. “David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA…totally predictable given acceptance rates.)” Notice how she takes a personal issue in the life of a _teenager_ (which, understandably, he was upset about), calls him out as whining about it, and elevates that personal issue to the level of “national news”? Petty and mean-spirited. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1812 "2018-04-01T08:21:40Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Cite? Please quote the tweets that were petty and mean spirited by Ingraham toward Hogg. I can’t find any that fit that description. You’re calling for Constitution-busting legislation in response to an issue on which you have not done even minimal research? Sure, why not? ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1813 "2018-04-01T15:06:29Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > “David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA…totally predictable given acceptance rates.)” > > Notice how she takes a personal issue in the life of a _teenager_ (which, understandably, he was upset about), calls him out as whining about it, and elevates that personal issue to the level of “national news”? Petty and mean-spirited. That’s it? Hogg was so offended by that tweet that he called for a boycott? It’s a statement of fact. Hogg is a slightly above average student and thinks he can get into an elite university? I call white privilege on this one. In fact, I think the subtext of his anger is “why don’t you reject one of those 5.0 GPA 1600 SAT Asians and let me in instead.” Hogg simply isn’t qualified for admission into an elite university. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1814 "2018-04-01T15:08:27Z")
**LAZombie** , I’ve noticed that you’ve utterly ignored all the obvious criticisms of your plan that it violates the 1st Amendment. Care to address those? To sum up: > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It doesn’t matter if it’s fair. It’s legal. The first amendment means that anyone can criticize a business, including recommending to others that they not shop there. If you want to advocate for jailing or fining people for criticizing a business, go right ahead, but I think you’ll run into a significant barrier in that it’s very obviously not constitutional. > > Same goes for Trump. I think his attacks on the media are mostly bullshit, but he has the right to do so. And I have the right to call him shitty for doing so. That’s free speech. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1815 "2018-04-01T15:21:27Z")
I’ve never thought of UCLA (state university) as being ‘elite’. I’ve thought that ‘elite’ described the private University of Spoiled Children (USC). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1816 "2018-04-01T15:39:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve never thought of UCLA (state university) as being ‘elite’. I’ve thought that ‘elite’ described the private University of Spoiled Children (USC). It’s true. On the basis of faculty accomplishments or difficulty in admittance, UCLA is one of the best in the country. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1817 "2018-04-01T16:08:05Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > That’s it? Hogg was so offended by that tweet that he called for a boycott? It’s a statement of fact. Hogg is a slightly above average student and thinks he can get into an elite university? I call white privilege on this one. In fact, I think the subtext of his anger is “why don’t you reject one of those 5.0 GPA 1600 SAT Asians and let me in instead.” Hogg simply isn’t qualified for admission into an elite university. The offending part is a national “news” personality focusing on a perfectly reasonable reaction from a teenager and calling it “whining”, solely motivated by her tribe’s disagreements with said teenager’s opinions. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1818 "2018-04-01T16:08:41Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > That’s it? No, that is not it. Ingraham has been dickish for years. Decades, even. The shit stacks up. This might seem trivial, but a small thing can be all it takes to topple a towering stack. She was ripe for the calling-out. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1819 "2018-04-01T16:22:04Z")
Funniest [tweet](https://mobile.twitter.com/ememess/status/979521085849956352) I have seen on this issue > [@](#): > > Wait: am I to understand that Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter and Kellyanne Conway are technically not the same person? Then why are there so many of them? Do we actually need this many? And is Tomi Lahren a newly-hatched one of these things, or what is she? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1820 "2018-04-01T16:34:31Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > In fact, I think the subtext of his anger is “why don’t you reject one of those 5.0 GPA 1600 SAT Asians and let me in instead.” Hogg simply isn’t qualified for admission into an elite university. Where the hell does this come from? Projection much? David Hogg hasn’t been complaining he wasn’t accepted into elite universities. He applied to multiple schools, some accepted him some didn’t. It’s Laura Inagraham who decided to make what is the normal experience of highschoolers applying to colleges national issue national ridicule. Laura Inagraham has been an awful person for decades. It’s about time someone responded to her bullying. Now all the right wing snow flakes are upset one of her victims fought back and has the sufficient support to hit her where it hurts. Advertisers don’t want to be affiliated with awful people. Maybe she should have considered her victim more carefully, it’s kinda embarrassing to be shown up by someone a fraction of her age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=90) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=92)