silly women, rights are for men! (and fetuses)

[chocolate_chip]

As you may or may not have heard, Focus on sucking Republican cock the Family is going to air an anti-choice ad during the Superbowl. If you think this is a load of bullshit, fill out a complaint form here, and let CBS know that you won't be watching any part of the Superbowl if this ad airs. (Even if you weren't planning on watching it in the first place.)

Comments

[kracken.livejournal.com]

Free speech means even speech that you don't agree with. If you ban their ad why shouldn't they then ban yours, if they don't like your message?

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

First of all, the precedent is that no ads of a political nature are shown during the Superbowl. This flies in the face of that.

Second, this is hardly an issue of free speech or banning. CBS has the right to decline to show the ad if they wish, and I most definitely have the right to tell CBS that I disapprove of them airing the ad. No one is stopping FotF from airing the ad on their own website, or from publishing their little newsletters. Just because they have something to say doesn't mean the rest of us are forced to listen.

[kracken.livejournal.com]

'Just because they have something to say doesn't mean the rest of us are forced to listen.'

You aren't. That's what the mute button is for. Whether you like it or not, there are people who want to hear that message. They have every right to hear it while we have every right not to listen. free speech goes both ways. When you begin picking and choosing, limiting someone's access, you endanger your own message. Setting precedent can be a two edged sword.

[yhibiki.livejournal.com]

Realize it's not my journal, but...

CBS deciding not to air a commercial does not infringe on anybody's free speech. CBS is not a public forum. They are a company looking to turn a profit, and it is their decision how they will do that. While they certainly have the right to air the commercial if they want to -- we, as the consumers, also have a right to tell them how much we dislike it. CBS needs to consider the image they are projecting to their consumers.

CBS also has the right to refuse to air commercials, since they are the ones taking in the money. I'm sure that if the KKK or Neo-Nazis* made a bit for a Superbowl commercial slot, CBS would have turned them down immediately. So no, "free speech" is not "protected" where business dealings are concerned.

*(I am not saying that FoF is equivalent to any of those organizations. I was just using them as an extreme example.)

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

Thank you for saying exactly what I was trying to put into words. ^^

[yhibiki.livejournal.com]

graar and now I noticed a typo in my carefully composed reply. :(

"bid for a Superbowl commercial slot," obviously, not "bit" >_>

[kracken.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to remind you of that stance if the campaign to air it wins. And when they campaign against your commercial and win, of course. It goes both ways, after all.

[yhibiki.livejournal.com]

Yes! I will let you know when my superbowl commercial gets turned down. Boy, my head will be hung in shame then.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

So for those of us who don't even watch TV let alone know when the Superbowl is even happening, what category exactly should this complaint be listed under as I didn't see a "SuperBowl" category.

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

I selected "other" from the prime-time category.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Oh, OK that works. :)

And forwarded you the email from K-books and responded.