What are you going to do to avoid political advertising?

[bicker]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...07/24/political_ad_junkies_this_falls_for_you

I hate political advertising. With a passion. I'd rather have a root canal than watch political ads. I'd rather watch Barney. I'd almost rather eat meat, than watch political ads. (Almost; not quite. )

Political ads from the party I agree with are worse than the other side's ads, because righteous indignation feels better than utter embarrassment at how one-sided the ads are.

I've already got some of the tools ready and primed. I only watch television via DVR, delayed, so that we can fast-forward through the political ads. I've gotten my fast-forwarding skills up to expert status. We generally watch news live, though, so I think we'll have to put in a Season Pass for the local news and the cable news, recording them every day at the same times (maybe 4am and 4pm), so that when we wake up, or sit down to dinner, we can watch the recording of the news from a couple of hours ago, instead of watching the news live, and thereby be subjected to political ads.

But that's just television. What do we do about radio, i.e., in the car? We have MP3 players, so music is no problem. Just plug in the MP3 player, filled with favorites, and ignore the radio dial. However, again, there's that news-factor. There's no way to record news for consumption on radio (as far as I know).

And then there's the phone calls and paper mail and email. Aiyaiyai!

I think for the telephone, we can turn off all the ringers, and change our answering machine message to tell people that we don't know that they called because we have our ringers off. Or better yet, I think this might be a good time to tell people to stop calling us. We have answering machines that play an outgoing message but don't take an incoming message. However, then we'd miss all the reverse-911 messages. I suppose just turning off the ringers would be enough; we'll probably still get some messages left, but hopefully it won't be that annoying, just deleting them as soon as we realize what they are.

Email is harder, because filtering by keyword ends up deleting messages from people I know who are writing perhaps just to complain about political ads!

And I don't know how to avoid the paper mail. Again, it is easy enough to throw the stuff out, but heck it would be better if even that wasn't necessary.

Of course, the other challenge is, once having eliminated all the biased political detritus, where to obtain objective insights. There is no incentive for any source, with the resources to obtain and present objective insights, to do so. In each case, there is always significant advantage to bias, it seems.

Sigh.

 

[jlmarr]

And then there's the phone calls and paper mail and email. Aiyaiyai!

DW and I have re-registered as independents and not included our phone number on the re-registration. We have caller ID. We have Netflix. We use the DVR a lot. Have created a special email rule for my relative who likes to share his political view point with the entire extended family. Getting ready...

 

[maps]

I was "undeclared" for the last 20 yrs which meant I got ads from EVERYBODY!

Finally, after the last presidential election I declared a party just so I could limit the number of calls I would get.

Remember, NH is a "primary" state so I was literally getting killed with ads.

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't mind the political ads. I can laugh at them or agree, depending on the content.

 

[ols386]

I do think the political ads are so much worse than they were years ago. I don't like it when they say things and try to make the other side sound so wrong. I wish they would just tell me about "them", not the person they are running against. Tell me what "they" are going to do for myself and others..

I guess I'll just get up and leave the room for a minute, or mute the tv, or maybe just turn it off, when these ads are on. Or if I'm in the mood for a laugh, I'll just watch and listen, and laugh at how ridiculous they sound sometimes.

 

[Micca]

Almost all of the tv I watch is via DVR, so that I ff through the commercials.
If I were to hear one on radio I'd punch-out.

 

[Sparx]

I honestly don't see that many television ads. I guess I'm not watching the channels people think voters watch.

I am completely over local election signs though. They are EVERYWHERE. Every single patch of grass that exists has at least two (disagreeing) election signs!

 

[cassiez76]

my hubby is a political freak. i could scream most days when he's watching all the political talk shows.

we get stuff in the mail constantly and i just pitch it all.

and if it's this bad at home...i'm killed at work with it. i work for a newspaper and that's all they like to focus on. not to mention i've already designed 2 ads for judges and it's only the start.

blah. i can't seem to escape it and i hate it.

 

[elgerber]

We went on a cruise right before the last presidential election. About 3 days into the cruise we discovered a very big benefit to being in the middle of the ocean. No political ads!!!

 

[bicker]

I was "undeclared" for the last 20 yrs which meant I got ads from EVERYBODY!

That's my understanding as well. In a state like MA, it seems to me that you're better off registering as a member of the dominant party, most years, since it seems you get the least amount of contact that way.

 

[bicker]

I do think the political ads are so much worse than they were years ago.

Everything is "so much worse than they were years ago" in this regard... specifically referring to how practically everything in society is viewed in a much more black-and-white manner - "you're either with us or against us". It seems to me that for many years things were improving, with society as a whole becoming progressively more and more considerate of the fact that reasonable people can disagree, and folks generally adopting more of a "live and let live" attitude. That seems to have stopped, and perhaps we're seeing a significant amount of back-slide back toward intolerance and hostile disregard for people that hold to values that aren't the same as one's own. I think the political ads are just a reflection of that penchant for intense polarization in our society.

I don't like it when they say things and try to make the other side sound so wrong. I wish they would just tell me about "them", not the person they are running against. Tell me what "they" are going to do for myself and others..

The politics of character assassination is alive and well, and ensuring that no reasonable person would consider serving the public anymore. The public has made it such that there is no rational basis on which to place one's self nor one's family in the public spotlight. Most people can do enough good from the private sector, such that the incremental amount of good they can do as a public leader is simply not worth the vicious hostility that will be directed their way, simply because of that penchant for intense polarization I mentioned earlier.

 

[Lanshark]

Here's my recipe:

1 DVR - Set to record wanted content and fast forward through everything
else. Works great for football games and Top Chef too.

1 Caller ID - If I don't recognize the number I don't answer. If one slips
through be prepared to hear a very polite "I'm not interested.
Take me off of your calling list. Bye. Click."

1 Turbo Shredder: I don't even have to open the envelope to shred that
smiling face promising to make my life better

1 big dog - This is my favorite. I have a large golden who acts like he is
going to kill anyone who comes to my door to sell something or
share their political viewpoint. In reality, he just wants to lick
them. When I open the door I hold Jake's collar and pretend that
I'm having a very hard time holding him back from killing the
unwanted person on my doorstep. The conversation is always
short.

1 Delete Key: Unless I know you you're gone .

2 Gym Memberships: Perfect time to go to use that gym membership to
get into shape because it's going to be a tough
political season and it will counter my stress related
munchie tendencies. There are 2 here because
I plan on dragging my DH along.

Of course, the other challenge is, once having eliminated all the biased political detritus, where to obtain objective insights. There is no incentive for any source, with the resources to obtain and present objective insights, to do so. In each case, there is always significant advantage to bias, it seems.

This is definitely a challenge. Most news is no longer news it's "entertainment" .
Basically, show me a nice chart of the candidates voting record, if already in office, published papers, or their stance on issues. I can make my own decisions.

 

[Regulus]

Television has declined faster in the last ten years than it has in all the previous years. One of the factors contributing to this is the increased amount of advertising during each program. In the 1960s you would see less than tem minutes of Commercials during each hour of programming, today it can be 20-28 minutes per hour! Needless to say during the Election Years, that number has increased as well. These kinds of ads seem to come on earlier and earlier as well. In 2004 a Political Group aired an Anti-Bush "Attack Ad" During the Super Bowl! I began questioning WHY was I PAYING a Cable Company so I could have the "Priviledge" of being able to watch all these ads. Two years later something happened that influenced my decision. I spotted an ad for an "Adult Product" during a Children's Show! I "Cut the Cord" and since then I have used the $65.00 that was formerly used to pay my Subscription to purchase Programming and Movies on Home Video. since then I have accumulated over 300 TV Series comprising over 20,000 Episodes, along with over 1,500 Movies. NOBODY (ESPECIALLY Politicians) Butts in to ruin my Evening's Entertainment. Best of all, after I finish watching a Show, I GET TO KEEP IT!

 

[bicker]

Television has declined faster in the last ten years than it has in all the previous years.

Well, with regard to political advertising, I agree, but actually the last ten years have been the very best ten years in the history of television with regard to the quality and quantity of drama on television.

One of the factors contributing to this is the increased amount of advertising during each program. In the 1960s you would see less than tem minutes of Commercials during each hour of programming, today it can be 20-28 minutes per hour!

You're numbers are a little off. There aren't any averages anywhere close to 28 minutes per hour. It ranges from 14 minutes per hour (very rare) to 24 minutes per hour (also very rare), with the vast majority closely-packed around 18-19 minutes per hour.

Needless to say during the Election Years, that number has increased as well.

That is not the case. Rather, political advertising simply displaces other advertising.

These kinds of ads seem to come on earlier and earlier as well.

This is true. I just heard my first on the radio this past week (which is what prompted this thread, actually).

I began questioning WHY was I PAYING a Cable Company so I could have the "Priviledge" of being able to watch all these ads.

Cable and satellite service providers deliver to you the services you've ordered. They're not responsible for the content of those services.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Television has declined faster in the last ten years than it has in all the previous years. One of the factors contributing to this is the increased amount of advertising during each program. In the 1960s you would see less than tem minutes of Commercials during each hour of programming, today it can be 20-28 minutes per hour! Needless to say during the Election Years, that number has increased as well. These kinds of ads seem to come on earlier and earlier as well. In 2004 a Political Group aired an Anti-Bush "Attack Ad" During the Super Bowl! I began questioning WHY was I PAYING a Cable Company so I could have the "Priviledge" of being able to watch all these ads. Two years later something happened that influenced my decision. I spotted an ad for an "Adult Product" during a Children's Show! I "Cut the Cord" and since then I have used the $65.00 that was formerly used to pay my Subscription to purchase Programming and Movies on Home Video. since then I have accumulated over 300 TV Series comprising over 20,000 Episodes, along with over 1,500 Movies. NOBODY (ESPECIALLY Politicians) Butts in to ruin my Evening's Entertainment. Best of all, after I finish watching a Show, I GET TO KEEP IT!

Which is why DH and I invest in the premium channels. No commercials. I don't know about DH, but I've been a commercial-free, network-free advocate since the late 80's.

As for the political junk, the only time I really see their ads are when I'm watching the local news. I agree with the poster who said the attack ads are really bad. That advertisement telling me what a heel the other guy is doesn't really inform me all that much about the candidate who the commercial is for. The only thing it tells me is that the candidate must not have all that much to offer me if the only face he presents to the public is one spewing hate about his opponent.

I mean, think about it: we wouldn't want to work with anyone like that in our daily lives, so why the heck would we want to hire someone like that to run our state?

Fortunately, I do my research on the internet before I vote. No commercials. Our primaries are this Tuesday. I have a list of the candidates and I'll be spending some time this weekend researching each one.

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't care about the short ads but I do not like when my congressman fills up the memory chip on my phone machine. Not gonna vote for him.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

ROFL at watching Barney....thank God my kids are older now! I don't miss those days for anything!

Our problem is that I vote for one party, while hubby votes the opposite. This past election, we have a McCain AND Obama lawn sign out!!! Neighbors must've thought we were nuts.

We have an unlisted phone, so at least we miss all those fun calls. We do get paper mail, though, from BOTH parties.

 

[Mimi1965]

Easy

Watch very little -like almost no_ regular TV(very fast with the mute button on all commercials)

No land line

Throw away all junk mail without opening

Political season doesnt bother me at all

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I am rarely exposed to political ads. I watch very little TV and always use a DVR. I get most of my news from the web and have ad blockers that do a good job of filtering out ads. In the car, I listen to commercial free radio or music/podcasts of my own choosing. The few magazines I read are too techy for political ads. Our only phones are cell phones, and they never get ad calls.

Virtually all of my important correspondence is through e-mail, so most of the mail just goes into the trash unopened. I never get political ads sent to me via e-mail and would send blistering responses to any candidate that spammed me like that.

None of this is to say that I'm politically disconnected. I regularly read the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fox News, and Real Clear Politics websites. I'm also an occasional lurker on sites like the Democratic Underground. I'm interested in public affairs, I just don't find the ads very enlightening. I don't feel that I work hard to avoid the ads, but my guess is that I have less than an hour of mental energy wasted on political ads in a typical election year.

 

[MIGrandma]

I am always so relieved when the elections, any elections (!) are over!!

I hate the ads on TV, moreso the ones where they sling mud at the other candidates.

I hate the junk mail they send.

I hate, hate, hate (with a passion!) the phone calls! We're on the Do Not Call list and it annoys me that politicians (and others!) don't have to abide by that.

I have not heard any political ads on the radio. I listen to 60's on Sirrius/XM most of the time and it's commercial free (like ALL of the stations USED to be).