DO SOME RADIO TALK SHOWS FAN THE FLAMES OF HATE UPON THE UNBALANCED

[gregg75]

In light of what happened in Tucson, let's open this up for the Atlanta board.

I'll start by saying that I don't even listen to talk radio. I am capable of making
my own decisions and don't need anybody to tell me what is the proper way to
be thinking and how I should be thinking.......and why their viewpoint is the best.

Tucson points out that there are unbalanced and easily coerced individuals in
society. Where is the stopping point? Where does the madness end? Who is
capable of getting some of these over the top talkers to tone down their anti-rhetoric?

 

[landtuna]

Not only the 'unbalanced' but a large number of impressionable people - especially those who do not validate the BS they hear on radio. With the advent of the Internet it is possible for anyone to post virtually anything and use sources so obscure it takes a lot of time and energy to validate any points. Most people don't bother and further, they tend to listen to radio that validates their own opinions. This leads to an uninformed public and further divides people into hate groups.

 

[Talk_Dude]

To answer your question as simply as possible, the answer is no. People who have a vested interest one way or the other will come up with all sorts of "evidence" to back up their point of view. People who want to get rid of talk radio because they don't like it will seize on any shred of circumstantial evidence to further their agenda.

The simple truth is that talk radio doesn't make people crazy, but some people who are already crazy listen to talk radio. Take away the talk radio, and the crazy people remain crazy.

John Wilkes Booth, Charles J. Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, Sarah Jane Moore, Gavrilo Princip, and almost all of the other famous assassins and would-be assassins in history never listened to talk radio.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Talk radio only fuels flames of "hate" as much as hip hop fuels violence.
People tend to argue that you can't blame music for influencing, yet somehow, you can blame talk radio. Well..... I honestly think that's silly. Think about it.

I apologize in advance for pointing out a simple fact.

 

[landtuna]

Talk radio only fuels flames of "hate" as much as hip hop rap fuels violence.

Fixed.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Talk radio only fuels flames of "hate" as much as hip hop rap fuels violence.

Fixed.

Aww, Thanks.

 

[jabba17]

To answer your question as simply as possible, the answer is no. People who have a vested interest one way or the other will come up with all sorts of "evidence" to back up their point of view. People who want to get rid of talk radio because they don't like it will seize on any shred of circumstantial evidence to further their agenda.

The simple truth is that talk radio doesn't make people crazy, but some people who are already crazy listen to talk radio. Take away the talk radio, and the crazy people remain crazy.

John Wilkes Booth, Charles J. Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, Sarah Jane Moore, Gavrilo Princip, and almost all of the other famous assassins and would-be assassins in history never listened to talk radio.

I have it on good authority that John Hinckley listened to Boortz on Ring Radio back in the day

Seriously, let's not go there. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[gregg75]

I think the things some folks hear on talk radio does RILE them up and does make
them feel that expressing their frustration in some form is justified and warranted.

Comparing politicians to Nazis and Hitler and calling for mass revolt (just because
others have opinions other than yours) is not acceptable in my book. There are a
lot more civil and reputable ways to make change.

 

[upstate29651]

In light of what happened in Tucson, let's open this up for the Atlanta board.

Why?

The News/Talk board is over there ----->

The Atlanta folks know where it is.

G

 

[gregg75]

'Cause we want to.

Hey, the South Carolina board is over there.................................>

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

We will find out in a few hours when Glenn Beck comes on the air and blames the shootings not on a crazed gunman but on a "Liberal Lunatic."

The hate speech, though protected by the First Amendment (Who read that amendment on the floor of the House last week?), does spur some to violence. I would hope that most people who listen to Right Wing, Conservative Talk Radio would realize that much of what the hosts say is for entertainment and NOT to be taken seriously. A few do not know this and thus act on what their heroes say.

It is okay to be angry about the state of our country. It is commendable to be passionate about an issue, especially if you feel that you are being wrong or your rights are being infringed. If listening to a like-minded individual on the radio makes you feel better than more power to you. Occasionally, that person you listen to may say something that a rational person thinks irrational; it is. The irrational person will see it as perfectly sane; it is not. That is where the talk show host should step in and say something to let his/her listeners know that they are kidding. Beck, Limbaugh, Savage and Boortz are like heel wrestlers who are not nice to kids to keep up the act.

Rep. Gabriella Giffords read the First Amendment on the House floor last week.

 

[amlover]

I remember listening to Rush in the early days and he was actually fun and entertaining but now he and the rest of the right are doing more damage than most will admit and I'm not giving the left a pass either.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Rep. Gabriella Giffords read the First Amendment on the House floor last week.

Another bit of symbolism from the events of Saturday: I heard it reported last night that the nine year old girl who was looking forward to being involved in the political process was born on 9/11.

 

[jabba17]

Rep. Gabriella Giffords read the First Amendment on the House floor last week.

Another bit of symbolism from the events of Saturday: I heard it reported last night that the nine year old girl who was looking forward to being involved in the political process was born on 9/11.

So, now we're talking about Coast to Coast AM? ;D

 

[jabba17]

My objection to these kinds of arguments, is that you never know who or what will set people off, whether it's comic books or Tom & Jerry cartoon violence or talk radio or Catcher In The Rye or "Helter Skelter" or nekkid pictures or Jackass or scary movies.

I think that most people on the conservative/libertarian side object to these arguments less so because it's their ox being gored (although they could get in a back-and-forth war about other ideological influences for those of differing opinions), but more so because it constitutes an abdication of personal responsibility...

...although for the non-libertarians there is certainly a degree of inconsistency. But that's another argument for another day.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

My objection to these kinds of arguments, is that you never know who or what will set people off, whether it's comic books or Tom & Jerry cartoon violence or talk radio or Catcher In The Rye or "Helter Skelter" or nekkid pictures or Jackass or scary movies.

I think that most people on the conservative/libertarian side object to these arguments less so because it's their ox being gored (although they could get in a back-and-forth war about other ideological influences for those of differing opinions), but more so because it constitutes an abdication of personal responsibility...

...although for the non-libertarians there is certainly a degree of inconsistency. But that's another argument for another day.

Granted you never know what will set off an unbalanced person. I think the hate on talk radio has been really amped up lately. Why can't they just have an intelligent discussion of the issues? Actually I know why because few would sit and listen to all the details, not interesting enough and it's too much work for both sides. Easier and more entertaining to throw jabs.

Funny how these same people defending talk hosts are also the first to criticize the news media who are just trying to report the story and inform.

 

[gregg75]

There is a place for talk radio, but when hosts start acting like idiots.......that's when
the stations should stand up........and pull the plug!

 

[InSearchOfGear]

In light of what happened in Tucson, let's open this up for the Atlanta board.

I'll start by saying that I don't even listen to talk radio. I am capable of making
my own decisions and don't need anybody to tell me what is the proper way to
be thinking and how I should be thinking.......and why their viewpoint is the best.

Tucson points out that there are unbalanced and easily coerced individuals in
society. Where is the stopping point? Where does the madness end? Who is
capable of getting some of these over the top talkers to tone down their anti-rhetoric?

Yes.

 

[InSearchOfGear]

Not only the 'unbalanced' but a large number of impressionable people - especially those who do not validate the BS they hear on radio. With the advent of the Internet it is possible for anyone to post virtually anything and use sources so obscure it takes a lot of time and energy to validate any points. Most people don't bother and further, they tend to listen to radio that validates their own opinions. This leads to an uninformed public and further divides people into hate groups.

Nailed it!

 

[InSearchOfGear]

Talk radio only fuels flames of "hate" as much as hip hop fuels violence.
People tend to argue that you can't blame music for influencing, yet somehow, you can blame talk radio. Well..... I honestly think that's silly. Think about it.

I apologize in advance for pointing out a simple fact.

IMHO, the hard core genre of Hip-Hop does fuel violence, and makes no denials or apologies of that fact. If it'll help to balance that point of view, in the late 70s, so did Punk, but most of resulting mayhem occured overseas.