A few years back while working as a reporter in Utah, I developed a "friendship" with Sean Hannity. Like, we chatted on the phone and exchanged emails for several weeks before meeting - for professional reasons, of course. He was a nice guy. He was reasonable. He was even moderate in his views and ideas. On the radio, however, he's a different story.
Talk radio. I love to hate it. And thankfully there are idiots out there like Michael Savage who say inane comments about autism just to get a rise out the public. (See above, and then take a bath to wash his filth off you.)
To me, there is no difference between Marilyn Manson and talk radio hosts. They all know it's an act but are happy to play up their extremism to attract an audience. They enjoy the attention, and they enjoy a following. They're exaggerating their viewpoints, yet people believe it's who they really are - and they become faithful followers.
Even worse than listening to a talk radio host is to listen to a caller. "Oh, Dr. Laura, I've been listening to you for years, and I have modge-podged your face on all my Precious Moments figurines." The effusive gushing and blind agreement drives me mad! I understand sharing political or moral viewpoints with a particular host, but to agree with everything they say because you "know" them is crazy, in my opinion. And to make them your authority figure is just foolish.
At least Jon Stewart is funny, but even he has gotten too critical for my tastes. Because I want my entertainment to be enjoyable, and my political information to be polite - and preferably in print.
Yet, lots of people I know and love are huge talk radio fans. (Sports talk radio is not included in this attack, I should note, before my dad pens a diatribe.) But when I listen, I just find myself filled with rage at the blatant ignorance, bigotry and general hate that is spewed by most hosts. They aren't looking to make the world a better place; they are looking for ratings.
Of course, I still listen, even if it's just to make my drive go faster as my temper rises.
Do you listen to talk radio?
If so, who do you like?
And do you think talk radio is a good thing or just bad news?
7.29.2008
HTT - Talk Radio Edition
Posted by Mrs. Dub at 7:15 AM
26 comments Leave a witty comment hereLabels: autism, Hot Topic Tuesday, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, talk radio
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26 comments:
Here, here! I love to hate talk radio.
A while ago back in college I sadly realized that even my beloved NPR has spin to it. Everything is a spin of the truth unless you personally witness it, and even then it is only a view from your perspective.
I had to learn to critically analyze what the media (any media) is giving me. I am in a highly conservative state and hold not-so-conservative views about many things. It is good for me to hear the "other side" and have to defend my views even though I think we are not so different many times. I am glad that I have learned to not just accept and regurgitate what I am given/force fed.
My feeling on talk radio is this: They used up all the worthwhile topics yeeeeaaaaaarrrrrss ago. Now they pick anything that would be worth discussing (or just laughing away) for a minute and a half and stretch it into FOREVER. To me it always sounds desperate. Like they are desperate to make this very big deal out of what was never a big deal, but they make it a big deal by giving too much creedance to it.
Wow ... I took a really long time to say that.
I don't ever listen to talk radio, but my husband does. It's his major news source and I have to laugh whenever he gets on me for listening to the "biased" news reporting of Good Morning America.
Well, I have to say that although I'm sure NPR has it's own biases and spins, I would never put it in the same realm as other talk shows such as mentioned here. I agree with the first comment that we need to critically analyze anything we see or hear in the media. But I tried to explain what's on NPR once to someone who had never listened to it and she kept referring to Sean Hannity and I kept thinking, "No, I don't think that's the same idea at all." I never feel like they are just trying to get a reaction or are feeding off of people's irrational extremist views. The hosts are usually respectful and at least try to offer different viewpoints and I appreciate that. From the little I've heard of other talk radio, they even use a calmer and more normal tone of voice, rather than yelling at the listening audience and riling them up. I'm not an avid fan of NPR - but I do listen whenever I'm in the car. And speaking of the car, does NPR's "car talk" qualify as talk radio? - because if so, I looove it!
And so there you have my defense of NPR. :)
I don't listen to talk radio, so I don't really have an opinion one way or another. I'm sure everyone has their biases.
Most political talk radio (sean, o'riely, savage, rush-gag) makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork. But, I still listen.
I love NPR! I would marry NPR, if it weren't for all the silly callers that come along as extra baggage. The callers make me groan and want to bang my head against the steering wheel. Sometimes I yell at them... then realize I have just scared my children. So we have to turn on some Hannah Montana to wash our ears out.
Which is equally painful I might add.
ps. Is it just me, or does Diane Rehms voice scare anyone else?
Love NPR , Love Adam Carolla - is that talk radio?
Many talk radio hosts are too arrogant-sounding (Rush). For political banter I like Hugh Hewitt. To me he doesn't come off as full-of-himself and his arguments are intelligent. Also Dennis Prager; he doesn't talk as much about politics and he has great "theme" shows that talk about how to be happy in life, in marriage, etc. Very practical information with a good dose of morality.
Given that most talk-radio is right-leaning, yes I think it is good to have given that most television news is left-leaning.
Interesting topic, although I think that many are grossly generalizing talk radio. Each host is different, and each host has a different personality and ways to approach topics--just like each BLOGGER is different and has different views--so, listen to what you want to, and don't listen to those you don't want to. That is the beauty of free enterprise! I happen to like Rush Limbaugh's show because he makes sense (a lot of the time) and he treats his callers with a great deal of respect--he listens to them and responds intelligently. Sean, on the other hand, is not a favortie of mine because he is rather rude at times. I basically listen to those whose views I ALREADY SHARE, and, of course, there has to be some entertainment in there--I think Mike Savage is CRAZY, so I don't listen to him. But, I think you have to look at each show differently, and not lump them all together. One more thing I like about talk radio--they ADMIT that they are giving their own opinions, while most of the media try to act like they are not, when it always has an obvious spin.
Every once in awhile I'll listen to it, but I am not a fan of talk radio...it just get old real fast.
I occasionally listen when I'm driving by myself and have no one to talk to, then I feel like I am kind of in a conversation. But for the most part I will choose to listen to Dave Ramsey (a financial counselor) because even though I haven't embraced all of his beliefs I agree with most of what he says. But usually I just listen to music!
i got into sean hannity the summer i moved to az because gracie was taking 2-3 naps a day, it was a millilon degrees outside, and i didn't have friends yet. i listened for about a week until the constant negativity just drained the life right out of me. but at least i was caught up on events.
now, i count on robby to listen as he seems to enjoy it and listens to Rush (who i prefer exponentially over any other talk show host) and then he can give me the info i need.
and also, michael savage makes me want to self-inflict a concussion in hopes he and everything he's ever said might be the only thing i would never remember. yuck.
Yes I listen to talk radio. mostly to get both sides of a story. Just like I check three news websites to see if I can gain my own opinion on things rather than just taking someones word for it.
I do REALLY like the Dave Ramsey show... he talks sense as far as money and doesn't make people who have done not to smart things feel stupid. I hate the Michael Savage show.. he is all sorts of obnoxious and has no limits. Never listened to Rush, though I do like O'Rielly (gasp) ...
I agree with an earlier commenter. At least they acknowledge it's opinion, where most media does not. Newspapers are the worst in my view. Even if they say something wrong and are forced to correct, it's NEVER corrected as visibly as the initial report.
i never listen to talk radio, it makes me too angry. the extremists (on both sides) that call in and spew nonsense and opinions like they are cold hard facts make me crazy.
but i guess i have to say i like(d) the Charles Goyette show in PHX, him being my pops-in-law and all. that is really the only time i ever listen.
i do have to say that i think Rush is one of the worst people in America.
I HATE talk radio. I don't listen to anyone because I hate them all. I hate the ego, I hate the generalized statements and I hate that these people are representing the conservative party and are completely ridiculous.
ugh.
Bad news. I used to listen to it when I worked. Def. too extreme.
P.S. Is it wrong that I have Dr. Laura mod-podged on all my Precious Moments figurines?
That guy is an idiot!!!!!!!!! Who gave him public air time!?!?!? Oh man, Mrs. Dub, I don't think a bath is gonna get the filth off. I'm so angry at his stupid words that I can't even remember what the htt was! What a MORON!!!!
Deep breath.
Talk radio. That guy just sealed the deal for me. Hate it.
What makes me sad are the people who listen to talk radio but don't realize it's an act and so they buy into all the crazy, one-sided ideas. So many of the facts and statistics on talk radio are made up on the fly, and justified by prefacing it with "i heard once..."
Listen to talk radio, fine. But balance yourself out by reading a real newspaper (New York Times maybe?) to get more facts and not just opinuendo!
But I love Jon Stewart and Colbert. As long as you can recognize it for what it's worth--entertainment!--it's a blast.
By the way, have you discovered stuffwhitepeoplelike.com? I was thinking today that YOU would love it.
I listen to talk radio occasionally, I enjoy what they have to say because it is a change from the barrage of crap I hear coming off of CNN and NBC. And I may be one of the few on here that actually likes listening to what Sean Hannity has to say. And maybe he comes off as being negative to the liberals, but at least he takes a stand in the face of the liberal-run media.
I second Carolyn!
You can't lump all talk radio hosts together. I love talk radio. I listen to it all the time. And every show and host I listen to is different. I don't blindly follow any of them, and I don't 100% agree with any of them. I started being a fan of talk radio in San Francisco. I was thrilled to find a news outlet with such sharp contrast to what I always heard/learned/believed growing up and as a young adult (when I had only school teachers and network news to inform me. I especially hated watching network news in San Fran. Talk about BIAS!) I found talk radio to be much more in-line with my belief system, and much more entertaining than the nightly news.
And give us (the millions of listeners) a little credit: I think most people recognize the entertainment factor. (At least I hope so.) Which is why I think, say, CBS nightly news and even NPR is much MORE biased. Because they act as though they are simply reporting the news factually. When in fact, they're spinning every story with just as much bias as Rush or Sean, only they're supposedly respected "journalists".
(Don't worry. I still read NEWSWEEK for my left-perspective, so it all balances out.)
Also, I love Dr. Laura. (Which you already knew...) She preaches morality and encourages people to take responsibility for their actions. (NOT COMMON!!!) AND, as a bonus, she publicly defends Mormons and Mormonism. In fact, I'm considering a new line of bracelets with WWDLD on them.
BUT, my very fave radio host of late is Glenn Beck. He's a moderate conservative, extremely well read, intelligent, and incredibly funny. Love him. Want to go to his house for Sunday dinner.
(I'd rather go to YOUR house for Sunday dinner, but it may be awhile before I make it out there.)
Keep up the good HTT work. Glad it's you not me!
I don't listen to talk radio and but occasionally it is forced upon me on road trips. I will agree with what you have said - except I do like Clark Howard. If you ever have a money question he is your guy and there is nothing political about it.
I'm not a talk radio fan in general. I love NPR though. I suppose most of the conservative talk radio bothers me because they preach so much about morals, yet seem to have none when it comes to common courtesy and respect for others. They just get so mean and down right rude some times, I don't see how that helps anyone. I know NPR definitely leans left if at all, but so do I and at least they're generally nice to everyone, even if you're super conservative.
i'm a huge fan of glenn beck. he is hysterically tongue and cheek and intelligent. he makes sense.
i also enjoy michael smirconish (slaughtered his last name), hannity, and rush in moderation.
another good one on npr is car talk, but i'm not really sure it would be considered "talk radio", but if you have car problems they are very funny and good.
i think this classifies me as an official loser.
I'll be sure to hide all your "modge-podge faced Precious Moments figurines" so your fans wont know and peg you as a hypocrite. It'll be our little secret. They were really starting to creep me out anyway.
I like Glenn Beck. But even he's a little extreme. He's definitely the most entertaining. I wish he'd be a bigger adoption advocate with his show though. Why not use his influence to help other people in the same boat he was? Does he not realize how lucky he got on Rafe's adoption? It's time to give a little back glenn.
I used to like hannity but I got sick of his callers:
Caller: Hi Shawn. You're a great american.
Sean: No, YOu're a great american
Caller: No. You're a great american.
sean: No you're a great american.
..........
Seriously people. Just tell him what's on your mine. We don't want to here you tell him how great he is. (he's not. he's just a guy who happens to get paid to criticize the democrats.)
I also like Dr. Laura. I love the way she puts people in their place. Go Dr. Laura!!!!
I hate talk radio, but I love Glenn Beck. I don't agree with things he says just because he is Glenn Beck, but I find his opinions and outlooks right on the money. Go Glenn!!
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