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Any Truth to Dave Ramsey got Matt Collins Dismissed from WTN?

I have no knowledge of this case and my comments are those of an outside observer only.

If true, this is quite and indictment. If not, it's just sour grapes.
 
I don't know Dave Ramsey and I've never met him, but I do know several people that have at one time or another worked for Dave Ramsey in one capacity or another. Based on what I've been told by these individuals, I'm not surprised at all at these accusations.
 
There's no such thing as a "personal Twitter account." Anything you post on Twitter is public. You have opinions about co-workers or people your employer does business with, keep them to yourself. Freedom of speech carries consequences. Sometimes, those consequences include getting fired.
 
Big A is correct. If you work in “the media”, no matter how small or large the job, you can not practice “free” speech, unless you are paid to do so. While tweeting or other social networking sites are used to “build” a following, most of these sites will get you in trouble. While a few posters working at a station use their real names on this site most do not for this reason.

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=186989.0

Matt Collins should “use” this to get a gig on a talk station that competes against Dave Ramsey.
 
The only producer who should be fired is the one who picked "All Along The Watchtower" for the bumper music to end this segment. Seriously? A song associated with Vietnam to end the monologue?
 
I worked in radio way before the Internet grew into its full force. Many times I disagreed personally or professionally with management's philosophies. Occasionally an on-air personality did not want to attach him/herself to a controversial product or service (Fen-Phen diet pills or a notoriously horrible local note toter car lot, for examples). Unless a personal endorsement was required--much like Dave does in his spots--all conflict-of-conscience work went to employees who did not have a problem putting voice to product.

When I was on the clock and drawing their check I never criticized my co-workers, affiliates or station owners publicly. Off the clock I kept rumblings to myself. In the long run my opinions really didn't matter.

Employees knew there was a front door and other stations out there. We were free to seek calmer waters and greener pastures in a quiet, professional way.
 
I've seen many occasions in my radio past in which big advertisers with a station would become offended with an employee and demand his/her firing. Sometimes the administration actually backed the employee, but usually it was "hit the road, Jack." In any industry there's a rule, don't tweak off the big advertiser or the big benefactor or the big contributor or the big star or the big trustee or the big owner's wife (but that one's another story!). The producer broke the rule, he tweaked off the big local superstar.

He's also broken another rule, don't retaliate in public.
 
Odd that Ramsey would bother to follow up like this. While I hear he's a micromanager, he's also at a different level than paying a lot of attention to a tweet. Ramsey's a big boy. Sure his call screenes only let in people who adore, worship and give him easy questions, but he's had enough station cancellations (including the tv gig with Fox) to know any public job brings critics. And the second a host drifts from the main subject to politics, then it all changes.
Many of the top people have been there for decades and are paid well. The lower paid have no access to him. Those in that "club" are loyal to a T and I know a few who have big blind spots to anything negative. It's that cult like environment that has produced results, ego, and a Koolaid atmosphere we see in many company's. He's not curing cancer. He's not even an economist. From seminars in churches to now telling people how to run their business, his professional demeanor is a non threatening likeable "aw shucks" kind of act that plays well. We don't want to believe he has an ego of Donald Trump. But I read Matt's posts on this link, and surely this is stuff Ramsey's heard before.
Sadly, on a board where everybody posts an opinion under shadow names, Matt is being told HE blew it for making comments. Talk radio is nothing but agenda, comments, and spin. Maybe his mistake was using his real name.
 
This is really an odd situation.

Collins appears to be an overly passionate person to his causes and concerns. And someone who let's his passions get in the way of his common sense. There is evidence floating on the web he's done stupid in the past.

Interestingly, there is a portion of a memo posted on a web site supposedly from WTN to Collins that states that Ramsey and/or his team complained. http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/sonicspikesalbum/misc/DSCN2332.jpg It also states that he failed to follow instructions (I guess alluding to either direct or through company policy advisement not to dis staff publicly). The question is, is this really a WTN document or is it something that was created to cause a tempest in a teapot?

If it is real, why did/would Ramsey sic his people on WTN to complain? Because Collins had the audacity to speak up? Collins seems like a single dead fish in the oceans of the world in the grand scheme of things. Unpleasant perhaps if you happen upon him, but hardly worth any energy to destroy. And eventually he will on his own merit sink to the bottom (or maybe end up producing at a competing talker.)

Or did the station create a memo with information that wasn't true? Which would speak to their integrity.

I find it odd that Ramsey would waste his time on this guy, if it was started by him but even odder that he would stand for someone creating something using his name that wasn't true. He seems pretty adamant about not allowing anyone to lie using his name. Collins is already damaged goods. But I can't see how Dave would not be voicing more than deep displeasure if this is a WTN document using untrue information seeing how he so closely protects his name.
 
My guess is that this entire episode was an inside Crumy-job by a disgruntled fellow employee of Collins who saw/heard about the magic Tweet(s), knew exactly who it came from and contacted someone at Dave's office with the info. With all of the 1000's of e-mails, Facebook messages and Twitter posts coming into Dave Ramsey each day, it would be virtually impossible to just "happen" to figure this out. Again, my guess, but a certainly Matt probably laughed or bragged about his comments to the wrong person(s) who found a way to get him in trouble. If that kind of complaint came to any of our attentions, we'd all take action (maybe not as extreme, but it is a no win situation that Matt did cause). That document uses the word "station" a lot. I don't know for sure, but to me, it sounds totally out of place for a response from even Crumy. The spelling is correct. Proof that it's not real if it's from the Roundabot (hehe...just palying!)
 
BigA, Tibbs, and Del have written some of the most logical posts I've ever read. I agree with them and should have considered the bigger context.
I've often been amazed at the continued impact and success of Dave all these years. Not because he doesn't deserve it, but because he's a rather unlikely person to pull off a radio gig.
One basic topic. Not all that polished. But very real.
Maybe one of his staffers raised a concern. Since his company is based solely on him, name dropping has been known to get more attention and reaction. But as has been said, hardly the kind of thing he'd come out of a meeting for to make a personal phone call over...one guy at one station in one town isn't going to alter his career at this point.
Hard to know the whole story, except....I fell for it...should have been under the category of "what the ___ cares."
 
Have done some additional research.

Ramsey did reply to one of Collins' tweets.

RT @LibertyMatt: Ramsey is discussing foreign policy and he knows not of what he speaks. Stick to $// Change the channel if u dont like it.

Ramsey's reply is the content to the right of the hash marks. So Collins was on the Ramsey radar. My understanding is Ramsey personally replies to the tweets he received. Most of the other feeds, such as facebook, are fed by team members. You can find these by doing a twitter search of @daveramsey.

Apparently a few Matt's supporters tweeted Dave after the termination. Here's one.

RT @KurtFeigel: Dave Ramsey Gets Ron Paul Supporter Fired http://ow.ly/4QIow// Any fool can type on the web, only a bigger fool believes it

Ramsey's reply is after the hash marks. Not really a denial, but rather a deflection? Something designed to be interpreted as a denial without really saying I deny involvement?

There was a second similar tweet to Ramsey and he gave a similar reply.

Later someone did tweet and point blank ask Ramsey if it was Dave or his team. A real yes or no question. There was no response to that tweet.

@DaveRamsey Did you or anyone at your company contact/complain to Cumulus or WWTN about Matt Collins tweets?

Maybe I have listened to Glenn Beck for too long and see conspiracy where none exists.

Some blogs from political folks in the Nashville area say Matt is burn the bridges type of guy. One noted a candidates meeting where Zack Wamp was introduced to Collins. Collins refused to shake Wamp's hand. Collins even wrote of the incident. http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=21733Wamp was endorsed by Ramsey. So, there may be some until now bad blood between the two based on politics.

Oh well, sometimes radio and those powerful in radio is more juicy than the soaps.
 
A pretty amazing post, Del! I find it interesting that Matt refuses to shake hands of people who have an opinion different from him. I guess that is his right (and he doesn't need a permit.) Looks as though Matt thought he was the King of all knowledge! Again, my guess is he became intolerant and intolerable to work with and got turned in to a power bigger than he. Arrogance, attitude and ego are often the king of death of success.

Dave does seem to have gone back into a stage of being attacked on the air a bit more (and online) for not only his political take on 0sama/0bama, but for having John Rich on his show this week. And his responses are less than cordial, but to the point. Listen to his show from 5/12 for that proof.

Looks like the power of two egos, one invented, one deserved (if that's remotely even a good trait) got tangled up in a control freak contest and the bigger man with the bigger stick won.

Certainly, I must say I am surprised that Matt hasn't posted anything since he's been fired. Wonder if a final check is being held for a while?
 
Single strangest job interview I've ever been on. It involved doing a long personality profile. I was given his results to look at as he looked at mine. The entire interview was him talking about all of the various ways I could get fired. He seemed like a micro-manager in every sense. At least then, he was not offering 401K to his employees beacuse as he told me "they were just doing the baby steps." I actually admire his knowledge and follow some of his books, but I was not impressed with him as a employer. I lucked out not getting the job.....LOL. VERY BIG EGO!!!
 
JoJoSunbeam said:
Single strangest job interview I've ever been on. It involved doing a long personality profile. I was given his results to look at as he looked at mine. The entire interview was him talking about all of the various ways I could get fired. He seemed like a micro-manager in every sense. At least then, he was not offering 401K to his employees beacuse as he told me "they were just doing the baby steps." I actually admire his knowledge and follow some of his books, but I was not impressed with him as a employer. I lucked out not getting the job.....LOL. VERY BIG EGO!!!
Click to expand...

Interesting experience. How long ago was the interview?
 
I have to admit that I am surprised there has been no reporting of this incident in the media. While I know the Stupidssean can't spell "reporting" correctly, I'd think the Nashville Scene, Nashville Business Journal, etc., would have taken the chance to trash Dave...

Heck, this has even gotten quiet on this board. I guess no news is good news.
 
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