Can we be responsible for silencing discussion? It's a real question because I have no idea. But I have taken to writing the letters to sponsors of shows like Bill O's and lately I've been thinking very hard about how I phrase those letters.
If we're successful and make advertisers wary of advertising with people like Bill, then we'll make them wary about advertising anywhere there's controversy. Who wants to deal with the letters of outraged bloggers? Trouble is, the last thing I want to do is stifle dissention. In fact I like free speech so much I'm thinking of creating a bumpersticker: "I Brake for Trolls."
I've assumed that the advertisers, the big ones anyway, don't give much of a hoot about our letters. I admit I was writing them to make myself feel better. . .
Then I read that letter someone posted from Home Depot saying "we avoid trouble" and I started to worry. If people veer away from Bill, will they jump off Olbermann's ship too? If the advertisers get so scared of grassroots/blogger anger, will the only thing left with a sponsor be Dora the Explorer? (Until the anti-immigration people get on her case--paraphrasing my neighbor's bumper sticker: "Welcome to America, now speak English, Dora")
So anyway, I try to word the letters to point out it isn't Bill's bullshit POV I object to. That's not why I'm driven to writing a letter. It's the fact that he doesn't allow dissenting voices. He cuts people off. He doesn't invite opposing viewpoints onto his show--or when he does, he turns off their mics. In other words, he does all the things I hope that anyone, right or LEFT won't do even when they're trying to expound their POV. He stifles, mocks and distorts opposition.
The newer versions of my letters aren't very different from the old ones, I suppose, but I do make it clear I'd hate to feel responsible for taking down controversial voices even when I don't agree with them.
Drat, my favorite poll choice didn't show up:
Never referencing BillO in any diary again, that means not even you, Hunter.