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posted by Fnord666 on Friday September 29 2017, @03:03PM   Printer-friendly
from the have-a-seat dept.

DirecTV is allowing at least some customers to cancel subscriptions to its Sunday Ticket package of NFL games and obtain refunds, if they cite players' national anthem protests as the reason for discontinuing service, customer service representatives said Tuesday.

Under Sunday Ticket's regular policy, refunds are not to be given once the season is underway. But the representatives said they are making exceptions this season -- which began in September -- because of the controversy over the protests, in which players kneel or link arms during the national anthem.

Spokesmen for DirecTV-parent AT&T Inc. (T) and the National Football League declined to comment.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/09/26/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy.html


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  • (Score: 5, Informative) by ledow on Friday September 29 2017, @03:57PM (7 children)

    by ledow (5567) on Friday September 29 2017, @03:57PM (#574869) Homepage

    It requires your co-operation to be offended.

    If you think that seeing someone not stand during the national anthem being played is offensive, then don't watch that bit. Turn away, face the White House, or the flag on the wall of your house, while you're also standing.

    The message is generating media attention, precisely because the audience ARE listening and the method IS effective.

    But how many of that audience do you think know, or have commented on, or care about the (very serious) issue that's being highlighted in a respectful way? Because there is NO FOCUS on that in all the coverage that I see. It's just outrage that someone knelt because they believe in something.

    Literally it's people protesting about having something brought to their attention, in a delicate, respectful manner, with ABSOLUTELY NO REFERENCE to why when it's actually happening. And then treating the issue with complete disregard for whether that thing is actually worthwhile or not by focusing on the fact that someone knelt.

    If someone hadn't told you why they were kneeling, would you know? Or care?

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  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday September 29 2017, @04:19PM (5 children)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday September 29 2017, @04:19PM (#574895) Homepage Journal

    You're not getting it. It does not matter. If you failed to effectively communicate your message, the problem is entirely your own. You desired something, attempted to achieve it, and failed. The answer is not to piss and moan about why you failed but to try another way.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 5, Interesting) by ledow on Friday September 29 2017, @06:04PM (3 children)

      by ledow (5567) on Friday September 29 2017, @06:04PM (#574962) Homepage

      I think it's you that doesn't get it.

      He DID CHANGE HIS message.

      Do you have Facebook or Twitter? Try these which describe EXACTLY WHAT HE TRIED TO DO BEFORE KNEELING:

      https://www.facebook.com/colinmochrie/posts/10155884564895739 [facebook.com]

      The text:

      OK people it’s time to put the whole, “kneeling during the national anthem,” controversy to rest. please read the following.
      YES, I "snoped" this to see if it's true. I'm not sharing it because think kneeling is ok. Just putting this out there for maybe an adult conversation to happen. No name calling or cruel bantering which has been happening all over Facebook recently. Just a different perspective for conversation...
      Little unknown facts why Colin went from sitting to kneeling , know the facts before you judge . . .
      Did you know this?
      Aug 14, 2016- Colin Kaepernick sits for the national anthem.....and no one noticed.
      Aug 20th, 2016- Colin again sits, and again, no one noticed.
      Aug 26th, 2016- Colin sits and this time he is met with a level of vitriol unseen against an athlete. Even the future President of the United States took shots at him while on the campaign trail. Colin went on to explain his protest had NOTHING to with the military, but he felt it hard to stand for a flag that didn't treat people of color fairly.
      Then on on Aug 30th, 2016 Nate Boyer, a former Army Green Beret turned NFL long snapper, penned an open letter to Colin in the Army Times. In it he expressed how Colin's sitting affected him.
      Then a strange thing happened. Colin was able to do what most Americans to date have not...
      He listened.
      In his letter Mr. Boyer writes:
      "I’m not judging you for standing up for what you believe in. It’s your inalienable right. What you are doing takes a lot of courage, and I’d be lying if I said I knew what it was like to walk around in your shoes. I’ve never had to deal with prejudice because of the color of my skin, and for me to say I can relate to what you’ve gone through is as ignorant as someone who’s never been in a combat zone telling me they understand what it’s like to go to war.
      Even though my initial reaction to your protest was one of anger, I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying and why you’re doing it."
      Mr. Boyer goes on to write "There are already plenty people fighting fire with fire, and it’s just not helping anyone or anything. So I’m just going to keep listening, with an open mind.
      I look forward to the day you're inspired to once again stand during our national anthem. I'll be standing right there next to you."
      Empathy and understanding was shown by Mr. Boyer.........and Mr. Kaepernick reciprocated.
      Colin invited Nate to San Diego where the two had a 90 minute discussion and Nate proposed Colin kneel instead of sit.
      But why kneel? In a military funeral, after the flag is taken off the casket of the fallen military member, it is smartly folded 13 times and then presented to the parents, spouse or child of the fallen member by a fellow service member while KNEELING.
      The two decided that kneeling for the flag would symbolize his reverence for those that paid the ultimate sacrifice while still allowing Colin to peacefully protest the injustices he saw.
      Empathy, not zealotry under the guise of patriotism, is the only way meaningful discussion can be had. Mr. Kaepernick listened to all of you that say he disrespects the military and extended an olive branch to find peace.

      • (Score: 2) by arulatas on Friday September 29 2017, @06:53PM

        by arulatas (3600) on Friday September 29 2017, @06:53PM (#574987)

        Sad thing is that certain people set in their mind what they think and will not allow their "opinions" to be swayed.

        The fact that he changed the method of protest to show reverence of the flag and the sacrifices of the members of our armed services shows that he was thinking and listening to a better way to protest.

        --
        ----- 10 turns around
      • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Friday September 29 2017, @07:12PM

        by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Friday September 29 2017, @07:12PM (#574999) Homepage Journal

        It has everything to do with the military. Many people have died, in Afghanistan, in Iraq (obviously a big, fat mistake), in Syria, in Yemen. In many places. We've got lots of wars. And a lot, a lot on the way. My generals and military experts say we need to recruit. Either we recruit or we draft, right? And you don't want us to draft, believe me. You don't want that. Am I right? Am I right? I'm right. So we're recruiting, trying to recruit. The flag, the anthem are great ways to do that. When the fans see players standing for the anthem, they want to die for their country. Terrific! So the military pays for that, for the patriotism. Pays to have the anthem played. Pays to have the players stand. STAND, NOT KNEEL. The UNGRATEFUL players that kneel are not doing their jobs. It's very, very, very disrespectful. And the owners are letting them get away with it. Paying players millions of dollars, not making them do their jobs. Disgraceful! The NFL made a deal. They're violating it. The NFL needs to keep its promises. Or give a refund to my Department of Defense. #BoycottNFL #BoycottTheNFL 🇺🇸

      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday September 30 2017, @04:13AM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Saturday September 30 2017, @04:13AM (#575193) Homepage Journal

        Oh, you want everyone to give a fuck after they've been insulted? You're really not thinking this through, are you? Call someone's mom a cunt and they're not interested in the nuanced position behind why you think this; they're just inclined to push your teeth down your throat.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 29 2017, @06:07PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 29 2017, @06:07PM (#574965)

      Excellent logic! An intellect if the highest order!

      Woops, wrong thread...

  • (Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Friday September 29 2017, @06:34PM

    by Grishnakh (2831) on Friday September 29 2017, @06:34PM (#574979)

    The message is generating media attention, precisely because the audience ARE listening and the method IS effective.

    Wrong.

    The audience IS listening, not "are". Notice that "audience" is a singular noun, not plural (as in "audiences"). Singular nouns use the singular forms of verbs. Is this concept really that hard for you Brits? When did you guys forget how to correctly apply singular vs. plural verb forms anyway? I'm pretty sure Shakespeare didn't write that way, nor any other British writing I've read up until the last decade or two.