This is funny

**Oblong** · 09-29-2003, 11:00 PM

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/art...kfires-ON.html

CNN commentator's joke on Fox News backfires
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Associated Press
Sept. 29, 2003 08:55 AM

WASHINGTON - Conservative CNN commentator Tucker Carlson's snide humor backfired on him - and his wife.

While defending telemarketers during a segment on "Crossfire" last week, the bow-tied co-host was asked for his home phone number. Carlson gave out a number, but it was for the Washington bureau of Fox News, CNN's bitter rival.

The bureau was deluged with calls. To get back at him, Fox posted Carlson's unlisted home number on its Web site. After his wife was inundated with obscene calls, Carlson went to the Fox News bureau to complain. He was told the number would be taken off the Web site if he apologized on the air. He did, but that didn't end the anger.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Carlson called Fox News "a mean, sick group of people."

Fox spokeswoman Irena Briganti said Carlson got what he deserved. "CNN threw the first punch here. Correcting this mistake was good journalism."
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What exactly is his beef? Stupid bow tie guy.

**eastside billee** · 09-29-2003, 11:14 PM

I just can't believe that THEY can't see why WE the people want the right to STOP telemarketers from calling us on OUR time on OUR phone that WE pay for. Why cant we have the right stop the nuisance calls. We've put up with it for decades now - it's time for it to stop. Those calls are SO STUPID!

I can honestly say I've never ever bought anything from a telemarketer and never would!

**zachcadillac** · 09-30-2003, 01:21 AM

Giving out someone's home number is much worse than providing the readily available business number of a huge media corporation.

As for the Do Not Call thing, it would nice to quit getting sales calls, but considering how many people such a move would add to the unemployment line, I'm willing to politely decline some credit card offers.

**Biff Mayhem** · 09-30-2003, 06:04 AM

That is funny.

I hate bow ties. I can't trust anyone who wears one.

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 07:03 AM

I actually like Tucker Carlson. That said, he shouldn't have given fox's number...but it is pretty funny.

For Fox to retaliate the way it did, though...is worse.

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by zachcadillac
Giving out someone's home number is much worse than providing the readily available business number of a huge media corporation.

As for the Do Not Call thing, it would nice to quit getting sales calls, but considering how many people such a move would add to the unemployment line, I'm willing to politely decline some credit card offers.

Carlson, a journalist on a news program, gave out a number that he said was his home number on a news program. Another news outlet caught and corrected his fact error. Carlson himself made his phone number salient to the discussion. In other words, if he had given out the number he did, but hadn't represented that it was his own, then Fox News would have been merely retalitory. However, Carlson lied and said the number was his. Fox News was willing to extend the professional courtesy, that it wasn't an outright lie but a factual error and presented the correction.

As for the Do Not Call thing....I worked in Telemarketing for 10 years, and this is going to devastate many honest but irritating employers, and will be a detriment to the economy. If it is a $100 Billion industry, somebody is buying something.

Peace,

Shabba

**Amish Love Machine** · 09-30-2003, 07:16 AM

Sure, what Fox might have been "wrong" but I bet the CNN guy won't be doing it again. He should've expected something to happen to him if he's going to pull a stunt like that.

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 07:22 AM

Fox was out of line. They should have told Carlson that unless he gave an official apology, they would post his number, not Post his number and THEN ask for the apology.

To call what Carlson did a "fact error" is not exactly correct. He's not going to give out his home number on television, not if he's sane, anyway.

Frankly, if I were Fox, I'd be pretty happy that he is steering his viewers to Fox News.

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 07:23 AM

Hey Shabba...

yes, its a big industry. But doesn't it seem that that money would likely be spent on crap sold from some other outlet?

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by DetroitFolly
Fox was out of line. They should have told Carlson that unless he gave an official apology, they would post his number, not Post his number and THEN ask for the apology.

To call what Carlson did a "fact error" is not exactly correct. He's not going to give out his home number on television, not if he's sane, anyway.

Frankly, if I were Fox, I'd be pretty happy that he is steering his viewers to Fox News.

Calling it a fact error is the polite way to avoid calling him a baldfaced liar. He said he was giving out his home number and he gave a number. It was the wrong number. By strange coincidence, Fox News becomes aware of the fact error/lie that Carlson made, and in the interest of journalism, corrects that error on their website. Demanding an apology prior to posting the number would mean that Fox News had to believe that Carlson's intentions were the worst. How is that fair and balanced?

Peace,

Shabba

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by DetroitFolly
Hey Shabba...

yes, its a big industry. But doesn't it seem that that money would likely be spent on crap sold from some other outlet?

It's a labor intensive method of bringing the seller to the buyer... I'm as concerned about the job loss as well as the $50 Billion hit to the GNP, especially considering the employability of telemarketers. Generally, they are students, the elderly, single mothers, the handicapped, the undereducated, or otherwised ill-equipped for other employment. I managed a telemarketing room for 5 years and when we needed employees, my criteria for getting them in the door were that they could read, had a heartbeat and didn't smell bad. (What was sad is the amount of people I had to turn away.) These are not people who will easily assimilate into the job market.

Peace,

Shabba

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 07:38 AM

what I'm suggesting is this could have been handled behind closed doors.

There was no "journalistic" questions here. Carlson effed up, no question. Fox's response was particularly petty, but apparently not unusual for them. They hit back, and hard.

**smr-nj** · 09-30-2003, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by shabba4detroit
Calling it a fact error is the polite way to avoid calling him a baldfaced liar. He said he was giving out his home number and he gave a number. It was the wrong number. By strange coincidence, Fox News becomes aware of the fact error/lie that Carlson made, and in the interest of journalism, corrects that error on their website. Demanding an apology prior to posting the number would mean that Fox News had to believe that Carlson's intentions were the worst. How is that fair and balanced?

Peace,

Shabba

Perhaps you'd care to step out of your Lawyer-boy persona, and look at this like a human being, Perry Mason.

Carlson probably thought he was being clever, giving out the Fox number in response to a question during a debate/discussion..... but as someone had said, The Fox telephone number is a public number.
Stupid,childish move? You bet.

For someone at Fox to publish Carlson's UNLISTED home residence number on a website as retribution is more than a bit over the line, and just really, really mean and vindictive.

I'm no fan of Carlson, and think what he did was childish, but was obviously done in a moment of bad judgement.
What Fox did was calculated and pretty scummy.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 08:27 AM

what I'm suggesting is this could have been handled behind closed doors.

Why is Fox obligated to handle things behind closed doors but not Carlson? He threw the first punch, as Fox said. He said getting phone calls at home from strangers was no big deal. Apparantly, it is.

He started it. He was being petty just as Fox was. In cases like this, both sides did something petty so I say the guiltiest party is the one who struck first.

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 08:29 AM

true, but posting his HOME Number was not cool.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 08:33 AM

no but then again, he shouldn't have raised the issue. If he didn't say he was going to post his home number, then I'd say it was a low blow, but to say he was going to give out his home number, then he opened the door.

He screwed up. He wanted to dance.

**smr-nj** · 09-30-2003, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by Oblong
Why is Fox obligated to handle things behind closed doors but not Carlson? He threw the first punch, as Fox said. He said getting phone calls at home from strangers was no big deal. Apparantly, it is.

He started it. He was being petty just as Fox was. In cases like this, both sides did something petty so I say the guiltiest party is the one who struck first.

He started it.
Yes, he did, and he should be obligated to make a public apology.....
But in the scope of things, I think Fox chose a really stupid way to retaliate, don't you?

Guiltiest party?
Who gives a rats's *** - they both acted like third graders.

**djhutch** · 09-30-2003, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by DetroitFolly
Fox was out of line. They should have told Carlson that unless he gave an official apology, they would post his number, not Post his number and THEN ask for the apology.

It is 8:40 am on Tuesday morning, September 30th. Make a note of it. DF & djhutch agree on something. This may never happen again.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 08:53 AM

I don't think Fox chose a stupid way since the whole point revolved around getting phone calls at home and Tucker didn't think it was a big deal. He then tries to be a smart *** about it by giving out someone else's phone number.

If they were talking about something unrelated to phone calls at home, I'd agree. BUt that was the whole issue. So not only did Tucker lie about his phone number, he lied about how getting calls at home was not that big of a deal. Throws his credibility on future issues out the window.

I saw that story when it first hit and I tried to call the number but it said "All circuits are busy now".

**Billy Ringo** · 09-30-2003, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by Biff Mayhem
That is funny.

I hate bow ties. I can't trust anyone who wears one.

You are right in not trusting anyone who wears a bow tie. The same goes for people who wear a four-in-hand, an ascot or a foulard. Can't trust 'em. Also be very cautious around people whe wear a pince nez, spats or a cummerbund.

If these TV personalities did not want the publicity of having their unlisted phone numbers made public, they would be careful not to create a situation in which that might happen.

Answer telemarketing calls with a good insult. Try to make the caller so angry he will want to come to your home to physically attack you. (of course, he will never show up) I always wanted that to happen so I could take my cane to the callers nose.
If it is a female voice, ask her what she is wearing, or how much she charges for a bj.

**NotoriousCPC** · 09-30-2003, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by Oblong
I don't think Fox chose a stupid way since the whole point revolved around getting phone calls at home and Tucker didn't think it was a big deal. He then tries to be a smart *** about it by giving out someone else's phone number.

If they were talking about something unrelated to phone calls at home, I'd agree. BUt that was the whole issue. So not only did Tucker lie about his phone number, he lied about how getting calls at home was not that big of a deal. Throws his credibility on future issues out the window.

I saw that story when it first hit and I tried to call the number but it said "All circuits are busy now".

I think what Fox news had a right to do was post the CNN office number and either label it as such and tell the people to share the love or lie themselves and list it as Tucker's home phone. I think you're overstating things by saying his credibility is thrown out the window. What he said was he didn't mind getting telemarketing calls. This is much different than your wife receiving death threats. It was only after he was prodded on the issue he decided to turn the thing into a joke and said "anyone could call" and gave out the phone number.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 12:18 PM

and he just happened to have the number handy there while taping??? His act was planned as well.

I saw the story on Fox. The headline said something to the effect of "Tucker Carlson apparantly gave out the wrong information when he tried to tell viewers his home phone number. He gave the wrong number. Here's his correct number. We are happy to assist."

**DetroitFolly** · 09-30-2003, 12:19 PM

I still say its petty, and potentially dangerous.

**NotoriousCPC** · 09-30-2003, 12:21 PM

Funny, but not equal retaliation. That is like if I hit you with a snow ball and you run my over in an SUV.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 12:31 PM

not really. That would involve destruction of property and potential injury.

What's dangerous about a phone call?

**NotoriousCPC** · 09-30-2003, 12:33 PM

It would also involve a snowball and an SUV.

I was using the analogy to express how I feel that Fox's retaliation was too severe when considering what Tucker did.

**Oblong** · 09-30-2003, 12:52 PM

yeah but that's not a good analogy because the items are not comparable in scope.

So Tucker has to get a new phone number.... what's the big deal? So his wife got some funny phone calls. Stop answering the phone.

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 01:36 PM

If Carlson, for whatever reason, gave the number for Fox News and told people to call Fox News to tell them they suck, and Fox News responded as they did in the above situation, it would have been wholly inappropriate and probably actionable.

However in the instant case, Carlson said people can call anytime, here's my number, and provided the wrong number; and the person who actually had the wrong number provided the correct one. It was a stupid thing for him to do and it backfired and he got what he deserved; hell, he got what he asked for -- "call me anytime."

Peace,

Shabba

**smr-nj** · 09-30-2003, 01:39 PM

I'm going to change my mind.
Carlson got what he deserved.

so there.

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by smr-nj
Perhaps you'd care to step out of your Lawyer-boy persona, and look at this like a human being, Perry Mason.

Carlson probably thought he was being clever, giving out the Fox number in response to a question during a debate/discussion..... but as someone had said, The Fox telephone number is a public number.
Stupid,childish move? You bet.

For someone at Fox to publish Carlson's UNLISTED home residence number on a website as retribution is more than a bit over the line, and just really, really mean and vindictive.

I'm no fan of Carlson, and think what he did was childish, but was obviously done in a moment of bad judgement.
What Fox did was calculated and pretty scummy.

He had the FOX News number at the ready? I think he knew what he was going to do.

Again, Carlson said people could call him anytime.

If the circumstances were different, I could agree with you. But it's Carlson's own behaviors under these particular circumstances that make me think otherwise. He brought it on himself, and he got what he asked for.

Peace,

Shabba

**smr-nj** · 09-30-2003, 02:07 PM

jeez.
How many times do I have to say I changed my mind, lawyer-boy?

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 02:11 PM

Two should be sufficient, Jersey Girl.

**Billy Ringo** · 09-30-2003, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by NotoriousCPC
It would also involve a snowball and an SUV.

I was using the analogy to express how I feel that Fox's retaliation was too severe when considering what Tucker did.

Retaliation too severe? I don't think so. If a mouse gets into your cheese, you might set a trap and kill the mouse. That's not considered severe, even though you've taken a life to pay for a very small stomach full of cheese.

**Biff Mayhem** · 09-30-2003, 05:53 PM

I had a thought about the no call list. People claim that it will siphon money away from a lucrative business practice. I think it will cause them to be more profitable. Think about it.....they know which numbers to avoid thusly saving by not calling those numbers. It will help morale because it automatically cuts down on insulted employees. Anyone who is interested in buying something from a telemarketer will not be on that list thus making their success ratio that much better.

**shabba4detroit** · 09-30-2003, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by Biff Mayhem
I had a thought about the no call list. People claim that it will siphon money away from a lucrative business practice. I think it will cause them to be more profitable. Think about it.....they know which numbers to avoid thusly saving by not calling those numbers. It will help morale because it automatically cuts down on insulted employees. Anyone who is interested in buying something from a telemarketer will not be on that list thus making their success ratio that much better.

You would think. But no. Nobody wants to be called, until you are calling with something they may want. That's why its a numbers game. The guy who is not interested in a new roof today may be interested in 6 months or a year. The guy not interested in a credit card today may want one later. Take it from someone with experience in the arena. It will kill the small businesses that telemarket, and the large companies will find loopholes to get around the law. There's too much money involved for this to go away without a fight.

Peace,

Shabba

**Biff Mayhem** · 09-30-2003, 07:36 PM

What percentage of the country is on the list? It isn't everyone so you can't say "no one wants to be called". Someone who wants a roof knows how to use the Yellow Pages.....someone who wants a credit card probably has a bank account or receives a lot of offers in the mail etc.

**Billy Ringo** · 09-30-2003, 07:39 PM

Here's what bugs the crap outta me about these people. They lie, lie, lie. They tell me that my neighbors or "home owners in your immediate area" are reporting water in their basements, and have called them, the telemarketers, for help. They then prospose to "inspect" my basement and help for my water seepage problem. - Well, folks, I live on a sand hill. There is no water in anybody's basement within five or maybe ten miles of here. You cannot drill a well here unless you are willing to spend the money to drill 280 feet down, and then it is hit or miss. - Yet, I get this same call and pitch about twice a week from two souces.

I simply tell them they are %*&&#% liars.

**DetroitFolly** · 10-01-2003, 05:28 AM

I will never buy anything from a telemarketer. I only buy things on my terms. I do the research, I make the purchase when, and where I want.

Don't freakin' call me!

**TigerCap** · 10-01-2003, 05:33 AM

Originally posted by DetroitFolly
I will never buy anything from a telemarketer. I only buy things on my terms. I do the research, I make the purchase when, and where I want.

Don't freakin' call me!

I agree. My standard answer is: "I don't do any business over the phone". I wish everyone would refuse telemarketing; then it would go away.