Wow! I've ALREADY been boycotting all of this stuff, and I didn't even know it! I RULE!
Hell to the no!
Do you want to help end the Fox Saturday blackouts?
- Thread starter SmokyJoe
- Start date
Hell to the no!
The reason we have no traction with MLB is there is no way we can hurt their bottom line to effect change. Stop watching the Red Sox? No. They care about dollars more than they care about fans. But big national brands care deeply about their image and their bottom line. We can effect change by having a national campaign to boycott the products of advertisers who support the Saturday Fox blackouts. A poll or online petition might help, but what we really need is for "the message" to be broadcast far and wide using social media. I rarely use social media, so someone, who is up on the latest uses of social media to spread the word, needs to help get the word out.
What's "the message"? What are we writing. Maybe we should do a form letter? So we're consistent?
Any work on those companies mailing addresses? I don't have a US yellow pages.
Also someone with a colour printer needs to step up and print the letters for everyone so we don't look like we aren't serious.
Any work on those companies mailing addresses? I don't have a US yellow pages.
Also someone with a colour printer needs to step up and print the letters for everyone so we don't look like we aren't serious.
We don't want to use a form letter. We don't want it to look professional. That's not as effective as unique letters. Handwritten letters will get more attention. Just tell them, in your own words, how angry the Saturday blackouts have made you. And because their advertising is supporting the Fox Saturday blackouts, you are angry with them, too. It doesn't have to be long. Just a few sentences.
I don't have any stamps, as I do all my correspondence and bill paying electronically. Can you mail me some stamps?
I'm meeting up with abs to watch the Patriots day game on Monday with a bunch of sox fans, so we can share a stamp if you can get one to either of us quickly. We'll try to get others at the bar to write letters too, so then they'll get a bunch of letters.
Is there a new list of items to boycott we can print out for everyone?
Is there a new list of items to boycott we can print out for everyone?
Guys, please be careful! I sense that this thing is really taking off and I am worried that you may shut down the network. I am deep into this season of American Idol, and I need to know how it turns out! Could you please, please be very accurate with your movement so as not to disrupt other programming in the larger Fox portfolio?
{{{{{{{{your movement}}}}}}}}
Thanks in advance
Shep (Go Elise!
)
{{{{{{{{your movement}}}}}}}}
Thanks in advance
Shep (Go Elise!
)
Has this been started yet? We should start this this Saturday during the Sox game. I wish McCarver liked social media so he could see how big this is going to be.
I think we could use a volunteer to help draft some sample letters too.
SHEP's TIPS ON Boycott letter STYLE
Example: "Only a heartless sadist could continue to blackout games when any fool knows that I will make innocent people's lives be snuffed out in screaming agony for the satisfaction of personal justice."
Better: "You need to listen to us, that's all I am saying....for now. And the next communication will not be in words. But that next communication may have something to do with explosives, and body parts, and people you like or even you yourself."
Example: "I would love to have you to my home and berate you for your point of view"
Better: "We both know what an idiot your are, don't even bother coming to my home and staring at my teeenage daughter/son's twinkie freind"
Example: "Don't go to the game!"
Better: "Let's take our families to empty stadiums!"
Example: "I would like top steel-jaw trap your face, leg, or stomach."
Better: "Have you ever seen a little baby puppy with her face caught in a steel-jaw trap? I have, which is how I know exactly what I want to do to your faces, legs, and stomachs. That's what I am going get up on you like..."
Example: "There is no excuse for you and your stupid Reagan loving network to black out the dad gum game."
Better: "There is no excuse for the blacking out of the game that I really wanted to watch. I am sad. Help me!!! I'm not some hater like Mel Gibson!"
these are just some thought starters...hope they help!
- Increase your credibility by mentioning anything that makes you especially qualified to write on a topic.
- For instance, "As a member of SoSH, I know that a thing or two about sports, and that is why I have written this letter, stamped it and SWALK," or "as a blogger," or "as a cave dweller," or "as a plobby person," etc.
- Try to tell readers something they're not likely to know (such as how to hit a cutoff man from right field with runners on second and third, or the fat content of a bacon-wrapped pork sandwich) and suggest ways to take action (such as to threaten to possibly stop buying some tickets to certain games or not buying no more viagra anymore).
- Avoid self-righteous language and exaggeration. Readers may dismiss arguments if they feel preached to or if the author sounds hysterical.
Example: "Only a heartless sadist could continue to blackout games when any fool knows that I will make innocent people's lives be snuffed out in screaming agony for the satisfaction of personal justice."
Better: "You need to listen to us, that's all I am saying....for now. And the next communication will not be in words. But that next communication may have something to do with explosives, and body parts, and people you like or even you yourself."
- Don't assume your audience knows the issues.
- If you don't know the issue, use a lot of inflammatory language
- Inclusive language helps your audience identify with you.
Example: "I would love to have you to my home and berate you for your point of view"
Better: "We both know what an idiot your are, don't even bother coming to my home and staring at my teeenage daughter/son's twinkie freind"
- Use positive suggestions rather than negative commands.
Example: "Don't go to the game!"
Better: "Let's take our families to empty stadiums!"
- Personalize your writing with anecdotes and visual images.
Example: "I would like top steel-jaw trap your face, leg, or stomach."
Better: "Have you ever seen a little baby puppy with her face caught in a steel-jaw trap? I have, which is how I know exactly what I want to do to your faces, legs, and stomachs. That's what I am going get up on you like..."
- Avoid speciesist language. Instead of referring to an enemy with an inanimate pronoun ("it" or "which" "lotion and basket"), use "she" or "he" and "who."
- Avoid euphemisms ("do something harmful-like to your person" "reduce the amount of people who have your last name"); say what you really mean ("painful electric shocks," "slaughtering your family").
- Criticize the injustice of blackouts, not the idiotic and oppressive sports network.
Example: "There is no excuse for you and your stupid Reagan loving network to black out the dad gum game."
Better: "There is no excuse for the blacking out of the game that I really wanted to watch. I am sad. Help me!!! I'm not some hater like Mel Gibson!"
these are just some thought starters...hope they help!
WTF. I was told this was going to work, but I can't watch the Sox tonight. You people have failed me.
FAILED ME!!!!!!
FAILED ME!!!!!!
I, too, am disappointed by the results of this effort. I missed a walkoff HR due to SmokyJoe's lackluster effort. I demand a refund for the (almost) $3 I have spent in stamps for profanity-laced boycott letters.
(in the interest of full disclosure, I have not actually "sent" any letters, but I intend to, and I *did* buy the stamps)
(in the interest of full disclosure, I have not actually "sent" any letters, but I intend to, and I *did* buy the stamps)
The class clowns showed up in force and ruined this thread. Once the thread became sophomoric there was no point in trying to use the thread to promote the fight against the blackouts, as no one would take us seriously after reading these messages.
Hey- I might be one of the class clowns, but I'm in this. Where's the facebook page for End Fox Saturday Blackouts? Where's the twitter feed?
For fuck's sake. Entire governments have been thrown over, sort of, and we can't even make Fox aware that we exist?
Don't blame the clowns SmokyJoe--but if you do--check your shoes at the door.
For fuck's sake. Entire governments have been thrown over, sort of, and we can't even make Fox aware that we exist?
Don't blame the clowns SmokyJoe--but if you do--check your shoes at the door.
I had my whole day planned out, concluding with relaxing while watching the game tonight. Then I think, wait what if Fox is showing the Mets/Yanks game? So I check the guide and sure enough, I'm stuck with the subway series. I can't watch any of the other 7pm games. Fuck Fox and fuck MLB. I paid $180 for the EI package and I have to deal with this shit every single Sat.
Not directed at you, just reading through the thread. I should have quoted the opening post.
I'm not sure if you live in connecticut,but I was feeling the same way as you as the local fox station was showing mets/yankees but the red sox game is shown on wcct channel 11 or 1011 (hd) on comcast.
Already posted in the lawyer's thread. This is such an epic load of bullshit. I can't think of any other organization that completely and legally denies its product to its fans. There is no legitimate way for me to watch the Red Sox tonight.
Getting MLB or FOX to change is a good goal but seems tough to achieve. Why not focus our energies on the Sox?
They sell themselves as Red Sox Nation. When they play at home on Saturdays, it should never be in the 7 PM slot. Playing then risks the diaspora portion of the Nation being shut out. Walk the Nation walk, Red Sox. Shouldn't we tell them this?
They sell themselves as Red Sox Nation. When they play at home on Saturdays, it should never be in the 7 PM slot. Playing then risks the diaspora portion of the Nation being shut out. Walk the Nation walk, Red Sox. Shouldn't we tell them this?
Do they have a choice if FOX wants them? If the game isn't on FOX they don't play in the FOX time slot and it's on.
M
MentalDisabldLst
Guest
I'd like to commend everyone for their fine letter-writing. Especially the cursive script, I think that really made the difference.
