CNN v Fox News

Here's to tolerance....since when did personal politics become so nasty? I have friends and family at both ends of the spectrum....there are good caring people at both ends of the political spectrum...I've got more important things to worry about than what's on a business television.

Here's to tolerance....since when did personal politics become so nasty? I have friends and family at both ends of the spectrum....there are good caring people at both ends of the political spectrum...I've got more important things to worry about than what's on a business television.

That sums it up nicely ....

Well spoken,Mark.

The in-laws and I have found a fair middle ground when we share time watching the news...The BBC news.

I watch Benny Hill. It's nearly the same these days.

Gilligen's Island reruns when I can catch 'em!

Curious - Had a first time customer into the restaurant last night that started his visit by saying, " I am extremly offended that you have Fox News on your TV and I will probably never come back." So I have two questions;
Do customers really choose a restaurant based upon what channel is on the TV?
How do you respond to a guy like that?

In this age, Michael, I think people do tend to take note if political programming is being played in a public place. Because Fox is so polarizing, personally I'd be inclined not to play it in my restaurant, if I owned a restaurant. Even if I was a conservative, good business is about not irritating half of your clientele.

On the other hand, it seems to me that a reasonable patron, if he cared that much, might just ask if you'd mind changing the channel. The guy sounds like he was a little bit of a tool.

I think Robin's advice is pretty sound.
FWIW, I find Faux News annoying and have successfully avoided it for probably the last 2 years or so. Now Pat Robertson, I didn't know that tool was still on TV and if my MD showed it in the waiting room I'd change doctors or consider death a preferable option.

Thanks all for the feedback...some of the comments are pretty amazing. For the record, the sound is always turned off regardless of what channel is on and an eclectic music mix is always playing. The remote control is in the dinning room in plain sight and available to whoever is so inclined to change the channel. I would have gladly pointed this out to him had he not been so aggressive. His comment came after he had ordered and was on his way to his table where he sat with his back to the TV as he ate hie meal. I tried to engage him a little later in a positive manner but his stearness continued so I simply invited him back and told him to have a nice evening. He said, " I will only come back if you will never again have Fox news on." I am all about customer satisfaction and I normally go out of my way to insure a positive experience but this guy made it very difficult to adhere to that standard. It is rude to be intolerent and abrassive, period. To be set off becuase of a TV channel is also a little scary. To specifically address a particular comment in this discussion thread; I wanted a name for the restaurant that would take your mind to the Mediterranean region because most of our food offerings originate there and, I wanted to convey fire becasue we cook our kebabs over solid oak charcoal. I think the name accomplishes both. Thanks again all.

since when did personal politics become so nasty?

Fox News has been a leader in the movement--that's part of the problem.

Politics don't annoy people.

People annoy people.

since when did personal politics become so nasty?

Fox News has been a leader in the movement--that's part of the problem.

It takes two to create an argument.

since when did personal politics become so nasty?

Fox News has been a leader in the movement--that's part of the problem.

It takes two to create an argument.

Indeed it does. It does not, however, take two be to be a leader in making politics personally nasty.

Michael, I appreciate you wanting to evoke the roots/influence of your cuisine in the name of your restaurant, but people can't help but draw conclusions based on a more familiar archetype. It's like if you named your kids George and Martha—many people might think you're a big history buff and named them for the first president and his wife, but in fact you might have just named them after your wife's uncle George and your mother Martha. Similarly, broadcasting an outlet with such a loaded reputation for bias (in any direction) can lead people to assume that is your angle too. All depends on your audience; as I said, some people may see that as a selling point.

In full disclosure, I am a 'party of Lincoln' guy. A militant moderate, so to speak. Gay Wedding? I hope to catch the bouquet. Stem-cell research? Please, thank you and can I have seconds, so to speak. Global warming? News Flash: End of the 2nd Ice age. By the way- please keep your dirty paws off my pocketbook...

(now that I have adequately p!ssed everyone in the room off... trust me, you'd hate to be the Jehovah's witness that wakes me up on a Sunday morning [ruin my morning, I'll ruin your day, lmao!])

One of my little ninja tricks that owners rarely see the value of is to keep the TV on Food Network. No sports, politics or America-is-kinda-talented-we-all-watch-for-the-trainwreck. When I came up with this idea, like 8 years ago, we did a little experiment over a month. We found a 15% increase in sales average, with emphasis on apps and desserts. People look at the screen and it inspires them to take that extra course they wouldn't normally do. It was a wine bar, so I hesitate to attribute that increase to the tele.

Think about it. People come to see you not for political advice or portfolio strategies. You aren't a professional athelete or singer. They come to you for food. That's the mood they are in. Give them what they want. Give them the environment that floods thier mind with all things food and beverage. They walk away inspired by the experience and they will thank you with thier business.


PS. They keep thier TV on Food Network to this day...

Damn, Stephen, that's brilliant! Once again you rise beyond the standard set for our name .

I've been following this thread and my first reaction is to wonder why a restaurant needs to have televisions at all. I can understand in a pub or sports bar, but for me a restaurant meal is a little getaway from the problems of the day and to enjoy conversation with my dining partners.

But if you don't cater to sports fans and find the need to offer visual stimulation, I really like the Food Network (or heck, even Travel Channel) approach.