kimbell1
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 274
Loc: Route 666, Painville, Texas 6...
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Maybe its time for people in pain start writing companies that advertise on TV and radio stations that demonize pain patients or their ability to get treatments and state in letters to company presidents and chair-person that people in pain are going to start boycotting products made by these companies. It worked since the 1970's in the area of race issues and the tactic has been very sucessful.
We can take back the country if we really could get militant and agresssive. Think how many people are in legitmate chronic pain. Any grass roots organizers reading this? How about some effective suggestions.
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1178
Loc: Deep North (East)
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This is a worthy idea, but you are aiming at a pretty big target!
I don't mean to be negative, but wouldn't "TV and radio stations that demonize pain patients" include just about every single television network and it's local affiliates, most if not all of the independant local television stations, as well as just about every magazine and newspaper in the country, from the New York Times right on down to Jane Magazine?
Possibly there are "worst offenders" who could be singled out. But then which advertisers would you target with the boycott? Each of these media outlets has hundreds of advertisers.
I'm a firm believer in the value and potential power of socailly aware protests. The famous grape boycott of the 60's and early 70's led to important reforms in the treatment of migrant agricultural workers for instance, all because a fruit picker named Cesar Chaves convinced a bunch of housewives to stop buying grapes at the supermarket.
Unfortunately the media really does have pack mentality. They will tend to take the exact same line on many issues, only because it's easier and they just don't care enough to have original opinions. I think that's what's going on with the "demonization" of prescription medication bought online. The DEA says it's bad, and the voices saying that it's NOT bad are few and not easy to hear.
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kimbell1
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 274
Loc: Route 666, Painville, Texas 6...
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Some of the best activists from the 1960s and 1970s are still living. It would be great to get some input from them. I imagine a lot are now sufferring in chronic pain or knows someone who is.
And yes, it is a big target and probably won't happen since pain patients have a lot just living in their condition. But it would be so nice if we could be as big a lobbyist as the NRA.
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scrufffles
Journeyman
Reged: 03/13/04
Posts: 54
Loc: midwest
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It never hurts to try. It would be more of a bad thing for us to say that it's too hard or the TV guys are so big we never stand a chance. I know it may do good and it may not but I don't want to be one of the complacent public that's too busy, tired, etc. to bother trying. Those are the people that make the TV ads succeed. If no one protests then many people won't know to question these ads. If anyone knows what companies they are that promote anti'pain sufferer ads, please make a note here. I'd be glad to boycott them. I always try to be careful about what I buy and who from. It never hurts to try.
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redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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The problem is that most news and media outlets today are owned by the same three or so megacorporations. And what they don't want you to hear, won't make it through.
But, I do believe something might be said for advertising. For instance, if we were all to organize, contribute money (because being heard is always about who has money) and write and take out a few full-page ads in some large news papers, well then we might be able to grab us some attention.
These ads may be directed at the drug war, the victimization of pain patients, and the chronic undertreatment of pain patients. Consider it, it might be a good idea.
Can you imagine if a thousand of us managed to get an ad in the NY times, the LA Times, the San Diego Union Tribune, the Boston Herald, the Arizona Repubilc, etc (that's all I can think of off the top of my head - lol) on the same or consecutive days? We'd probably grab us some headlines, some attention. We could organize, appoint someone to talk to the media. We might get somewhere eventually.. Just fantasizing. But what if....?
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pms
Journeyman
Reged: 01/21/04
Posts: 55
Loc: michigan
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but what if....? Let's DO IT!
Edited by pms (04/27/04 08:03 PM)
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redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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Well....cool!!
If anyone else is interested, and hopefully many will be, I'm willing to do my share. I can start a web site (any ideas for a name?) and contribute some cash, for instance. I don't have the computer skills and we'd need more people who have organizational skills but I think we could be off to a good start!
For purposes of trust we'd definitely have to share the responsibilities so no one can just run off with the money that's meant for campaigning and ads.
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