I did it this week at the mechanic while they were putting on new brake pads & calipers.
They had Newsmax on. I told them to change it to The Weather Channel or The Food Network or I'd take my business elsewhere.
The channel was changed practically before the word "elsewhere" faded away.
They're stupid to have a political network on at a small business. I have no problem reminding them that not everyone approves.

I wanted to make them change the channel.
They needed to know I thought having that on was a bad idea.

The one that is walking distance from my home usually has soccer or some other sport on their tv.

...it would just keep on and on...by filing a protest you let them know that it's bad for business to keep that crap on in their establishment...the rare few will opt to continue but usually smart business owners realize that keeping their zone of operation free of divisive content is a better strategy...everyone likes old nature channel or travel stuff...
EDIT: meant this as a reply to the poster who would have just walked out

On your way out, it might be good to tell the store manager or whoever’s working as cashier WHY you just can’t keep supporting this business. Be courteous, polite, and as pleasant and non-confrontational as possible. Don’t make them feel defensive or like you’re spoiling for a fight.

Think of it this way: it may not ever have been on their radar screen or something they were aware of til you spoke up. You’re supplying useful information that might open their eyes and motivate them to make some changes accordingly.

that's the way to do it.

Just my luck, I guess

Last edited Wed Mar 19, 2025, 10:28 PM - Edit history (1)

the remote is in the waiting area.
Another customer may have done it.

They had Pox Nooze on. I politely asked a busy cashier if the channel could be changed; she handed me the remote. I changed channel to MSNBC, then locked Pox Nooze out, and set parental controls to ON with my key. They then couldn't get Pox back on unless they can figure out my code for the parental controls. Made my day!

One time I went in there and they had Fox News on. I asked them, "Fox? Really?", and the man behind the counter got belligerent, asked me if I had a problem. I said, no problem, put down the bottle of wine that was in my hand and walked out. Haven't been back since, and this was years ago.

No, that's not the start of a joke...

One of them found the remote to the lobby TV to change from the weather channel to Fox so he could watch "The Five."

This was during Drumpf's first reign. Something apparently happened while the priests were driving from MN to IA and one of them couldn't wait until he got checked into his hotel room to hear what the geniuses on The Five had to say about it. It was kind of pathetic.

After they left, I changed it back to the weather.

We were both raised Catholic. My buddy was sated from heavily absorbing Catholic doctrine. He had the parish secretary schedule a meeting between the priest and us just for the sake of chatting. The priest was older. He seemed okay. About a year later, I called him for a recommendation on behalf of a client who was in need of a Ketchum-area practitioner in a certain professional field.

Over the years, I have lessened my contact with priests to zero, simply because I no longer have any interest in following the Catholic Church, which I formally left over ten years ago. I do not have interactions with any other denominations either.

The hotel was actually a client at the time so I was trying to be polite.

.

While this is true I don't think that you will be able to convince upper class White people in blue areas of this, no matter how hard you try.

I grew up in Amarillo Texas a half century ago. I heard people talking about going to lynchings when they were younger. I heard them talk about the war in Viet Nam. I saw the miles long funeral cortège for Chris Kyle after his funeral in the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.

I hope that people will soon take off their rose-colored glasses and stare into the abyss. The first step to curing cancer is to admit that you have it.

even be a television on in a waiting area?? People can talk, read a book or magazine, stare at the walls. I don't want a TV on, even on the food channel, because the chatter of the TV is incredibly annoying and distracting.

Perhaps the fact that I have not owned a regular TV for at least 25 years is a factor. But I have NEVER understood the need to be entertained. Entertain yourself, and no, don't go there.

I always have a book with me. I don't happen to read on my cell phone, but most people do. So load a book or two on the phone. And read.

People need to read more books.

they have their phones. i see people staring at them, scrolling on them all the time -- even when crossing the damn street

people spend 90% of their waking time on their phones.

But that's all the more reason NOT to have TVs in waiting areas. I have a physical book. You have a phone. We could chat. Years ago we would have.

… I sat in a waiting room while getting new tires mounted. I had to listen to 3 other customers giggle and swoon over Тяцмp for 30 minutes. They called Biden “Brandon”, talked about what a great business man the orange shit stain was, and fumed over how Democrats had weaponized Justice.

Fun time!

If not, I'm sure there soon will be. And, if no one spoke up or pushed back in any way, they'll assume all agree with them.

… smiled and walked out. They were too stupid to argue with. I’m in a deeply red area, and I see it a lot. But it was kind of entertaining. Like a free circus act.

to read if I have to wait anywhere for anything.

I am actually rather OCD about having something to read with me. Two different times in my life I was stuck for several hours with no one to talk to and nothing to read. Sheer hell. Never again.

i've never had anyone tell me no

I bet they sit at home and jerk off just like they do watching wrestling and UFC shows.

and gone to a different one that didn't have TV on at dinner.

And blatant and out in the open, yet so few see it for what it is, and even more just happily eat it up. Americans are being programmed, and have been for generations.