meh, not in my experience. there are people who are not overly empathetic, but are emphatic that they aren't racist (colloquial definition) so they will engage with some gusto

If we want to talk anecdotally: I went to college/live in Idaho, I'm surrounded by these people. I take care of my 64 year old widowed mom who is a hardcore Trumpkin and watches FoxNews 24/7. I was raised conservative and was a part of a non-denominational church.

I have my finger on the pulse of the republican/white mindset more than anyone in this forum I assume.

And to clarify, this is referencing those who it's self-defeating with:

Who you're referring to are a lost cause.

i am talking anecdotally, idk how else to talk about it. don't mean to challenge your credentails here, but i have real experience with conservatives also, though i cannot say they are necessarily trump voters. i am from/grew up in north carolina and know plenty of people-- friends in the past, now acquaintances more than anything-- who fit the "not overly empathetic" mold. i can't say i interact with them regularly at this point, but i think i grasp the mindset based on past interactions


edit: why are those people a lost cause?

I was ignorant to you being from NC.

what did you think heals' username was a reference to?

i'm not sure the last time i mentioned it on here anywhere. at any rate, i tend to agree that (re)defining "racist" in that way prob won't aid in swaying people on the fence, but i also think that's kind of a separate discussion. kind of. but just as few people will willingly label themselves racist, they may not be so keen on the idea that their prejudices ultimately matter more/can do more harm than other people's. so we can call it racism vs prejudice, systemic racism vs racism, or something else but the idea is still divisive

edit: i'm actually a little spun around and not sure exactly what we're talking about at this point. the racism vs prejudice discussion is common, but i don't think it's all that useful. i could certainly be underrating the value of not turning people away though

Could've just been a fan when he reg'd. I word associate him with SF.

That is exactly the purpose. It's intentional.

I could not care less what she posts on her own time. The politics on espn is what bothers me. I used to turn on sportscenter to see highlights not to see a political discussion. Theres plenty of other outlets I can go if that's what I'm looking for.

What outlets do you go to? News outlets (tv/print/online) are typically tired and boring and predictable with their interpretation of political issues.

I actually find it more interesting to hear what some sports personalities have to say on political issues.

I personally got to a point where I will never be awed or impressed by another highlight ever again, so I cancelled my sports package along with ESPN/FS1/and CBS Sports.

That's what I was saying initially.

Just use a diff term or an adjective/qualifier. It's obv true, but one can't believe that, which obv goes along with the whole thought behind white privilege, and then be surprised when those privileged folks are turned of when they're called racists with no qualifier to differentiate them from the hardcore white supremacists and/or be told that they can never face discrimination/bias from anyone. ever. about anything.

Smart folks will understand, most people aren't that smart though. Otoh saying there can't be systematic racism against white people in America will generally be met with agreement, anyone else is a lost cause ftmp.

When I turn on a sports channel or go to a sports website, I actually find it more interesting to hear what some sports personalities have to say on sports issues. Doesn't seem like too much to ask or expect.

I've never turned on espn to find out the weather forecast. Why would I turn it on to get political opinions?

Politics and Sports intersect frequently.

Weather is boring (usually).

Colin I posted that because most certainly that's a super duper common attitude and many love to mask it with the whole "employers rights" take. Kaepernick and Hill being easy and clear examples. But there's basically no time that most white people want to talk about race unless it's basically someone dropping N-bombs on tape and even then it's "ok that's bad but that's not people I know so let's move along"

Pretty much this. I used to look forward to "Top 10" and "Sportscenter" in general. Used to watch it religiously.

Haven't watched SC in years, too many fluff segments and not enough highlights of actual sports. Eventually they started mixing politics on top, and that's when I couldn't be bothered anymore and stopped watching altogether. Too many online/radio/TV alternatives these days that actually solely cover sports. Many more options. Only show I watch on ESPN anymore is NFL PrimeTime.

I watch CNN, MSNBC, and FOX to try and get a well-rounded political view.

I watch GSN, HGTV, or Food Network with the girlfriend when it's a ho-hum weekday with nothing else going on.

But I don't watch ESPN anymore, and I'm guessing from their ratings dip that there are many others like me.

LOL ESPN is so, so bad.

They start with Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. Just as the main card starts, they switch it over to ESPN News so they can show Cubs vs Brewers. Midway through the co Main Event, they switch FNF to ESPN2 so they can show some CFL game.

Unbelievable.

EDIT: LOL They switched it to ESPN *AGAIN*

So:

ESPN -> ESPN News
ESPN News -> ESPN 2
ESPN 2 -> ESPN

Let's all be honest; we all stopped watching espn because the content became fluffy and much better analysis/highlights/stats/etc became easily available elsewhere.

No one in this thread (or anywhere) stopped watching because of politics (which are a miniscule amount of programing). Saying ratings are down because of politics or that you personally stopped watching because of politics is simply a lie. Everyone stopped watching because of the points above. Politics are completely a non-factor (and aren't actually present at espn like people try to claim they are).

well I'm not going to argue on why people have stopped watching ESPN, but for me personally its just not something I care to go out of my way to watch anymore because of a multitude of reasons. Yea there are other, better outlets now available but the political talk with that is really ****ing loud screaming at me through my TV, or so it appears, is not really appealing to me at this point in my life. I think its also partly because of the constant thumping I take about certain subjects. I can't avoid them anymore, and I turn on to check out the takes on last nights game and I get beat over the head again for 20 minutes about some political or racial issue that happened a week ago. I'm not downplaying those particular issues, but I'm a pretty passive dude in general and that **** gets old. I. Can. Only. Take. So. Much.

edit: the Kaepernick/kneeling for the anthem (I am just not very patriotic and have never really understood patriotism to care all that much.) was really overwhelming. I think that was just the straw that broke the camel's back. It went on, and on....

I stopped strictly because of politics, but not the Democrat vs Republican type. I always felt like ESPN had an agenda. The first time I felt this was when they cancelled that football show they had because the NFL told them to.

I started making a conscience effort not to watch ESPN as much when The Decision happened, and then 24 hours of Tebow, and then they replaced Tebow with just Lebron instead. I noticed they showed a ton more highlights of sports they had deals with instead of being a sports news organization they became just another cable network. This past season was the last straw with Kaepernick and Deflategate. Deflategate was the most boring subject of all time that dragged on for 2 years, and Kaepernick isn't the only player who takes a knee for the anthem. Marshawn Lynch does and I root the hell out of him on Sunday's. But ESPN turned Kaepernick into Despacito for me.

Yea, I haven't watched ESPN in years. Do they really give political hot takes? I thought it was just Twitter accounts like Curt Schilling.

Right on cue the POTUS goes HAM on NFL players.

Sorry Trump I come to politics for politics, not sports. Stick to politics...

He condemns athletes with an opinion much harsher than literal Nazis, that is why he is a white supremacist. Lol at anyone who has a problem with what Jemele said, you need to re-evaluate you priorities.