Begin forwarded message:
From: "DM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon Mar 17, 2003 11:19:29 AM US/Pacific
To: "Ian Andrew Bell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: FW: MORE DIXIE CHICKS
And a little more on the Dixie Babes…
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Subject:MORE DIXIE CHICKS
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Subject: THIS IS SCARY - The Dixie Chicks - Who Are The Fans? (A
Conspiracy!)
Simon Renshaw, the Chicks' manager, requests that this get forwarded to
you, since he doesn't have your direct E-mails.
Dear All,
The last couple of days have been very interesting, why does an artist exercising her rights of free speech create such a firestorm of media attention, and why are the "fans" responding the way they are? Sure, these are difficult times ? but the response from the fan's seems far too extreme
- that was until I received the following email from our contacts at Lipton, who had received it from a concerned citizen -? please read on:
Subject: Regarding Chicks - DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED
Hello
You should know that your company is being targetted by a radical right-wing online forum.? You are being "FReeped", which is the code word for an organized email/telephone effort attempting to solicit a desired response. Please go to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/864728/posts
and http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863398/posts
for evidence of this.
claims over 30,000 members.
The opinions on this forum are often racist, violent, and homophobic. I hope you will not feel pressured by them to change your policies. Keep in mind that they are very active and will give the appearance of a widespread reaction when in fact it's limited to their isolated group. These are not people you want to cater to, as you will see if you spend a little time observing them. And don't feel bad. Besides you, they are boycotting Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Belgium, and 3/4 of hollywood.
They are so petty that they research goods they believe are produced by these nations and list them for boycotting. The dumb thing is they get it wrong half the time.
I will be very dissappointed with Lipton if it tries to appease these radicals. I would continue to buy Lipton regardless though :)
When we went to the site it was clear what was going on, this organization had not targeted Lipton for their campaign, they had selected the Chicks for "FReeping."
As we reviewed the site we came across a whole area that was devoted to the Chicks, and more specifically the activities of the campaign against them, check it out:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/dixiechicks
As you move around this area and start to look at specific threads you will see that these people have actively manipulated radio polls, and how proud they are of their handiwork.
Here's some of their exchanges regarding their specific attempts to manipulate radio polls, notice the advice given on trying to ensure that their manipulations remain disguised:
To: webfooter
Cat Country in Harrisburg has a poll on whether they should stop playing the Chicks. They attribute the quote to Natalie.
Current vote is 5 for and 5 against.
I would recommend only locals vote, but you FReepers can do what you want.
Shalom.
To: webfooter; LindaSOG; Kathy in Alaska; radu; bentfeather; southerngrit;
Bethbg79; All
One of the country stations in my area is boycotting them: Here's the link! Please freepmail them thanks! I have done so already!!
WCMS
38 posted on 03/13/2003 1:52 PM PST by MoJo2001 (God Bless Our Troops and Allies!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]
To: All
LOL!! Um, email them! Don't freepmail them! My bad!
39 posted on 03/13/2003 1:52 PM PST by MoJo2001 (God Bless Our Troops and
Allies!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies ]
To: MoJo2001
FReep Natalie Maines' hometown country station! Natelie Maines' home radio station (KLLL.com) and email address of the DJ's. Just in case anybody wants to drop them a friendly email about boycotting the Chicks. As a bonus, pappa and the family live here too, so you are sure to get noticed.
And here are the emails:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jon Steele)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rick Gilbert)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Stacey James)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tony Alexander)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jay Richards)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Kelly Greene)
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Tommy Duncan)
The above is the tip of the iceberg,? you need to read it all, to believe it.
It is interesting that as I review the comments being made across bulletin boards hosted by ourselves, country radio stations, and by CMT, the similarity of the style of the invective ? vitriol cloaked in patriotism, very much what you will find on this site.
Let no one underestimate the power of this group, yesterday our web site was totally overrun and had to be closed down, our publicist's servers and telephone system failed under the weight of the calls. This is an extremely active and well organized group
As always the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" and these weasels know how to squeak.
Consider a radio station that receives 1,000 calls and emails from listeners demanding that they boycott the Chicks music, they ignore the fact that 17,500 fans have bought tickets to a show in a couple of months and seem to think that these 1,000 calls/emails are somehow reflective of their audiences' wishes. Yet, the box office at the local venue receives only 3 calls regarding the show and wanting to know if they can arrange to return the tickets! Now the authenticity of the 1,000 is in question!
I am shocked by what I see, I trust you will be too.
Best wishes,
Sr
Simon Renshaw
The Firm
9465 Wilshire Blvd
5th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Tel: 310-860-8205
Fax: 310-860-8128
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RadioPro (TM)
