There was retribution for the Mancow Bay Bridge stunt - a big fine. Ironically, Clear Channel had to pay it, even though they didn't own "Wild 107" when the stunt was aired. But maybe it's time for a dialog about the limits these jocks should impose on their own behavior.
About 10 years ago, my kids were Elvis and JV fans, so we often listened on the way to their school in the morning. One day, these jerks pulled a really vile phone stunt - Elvis pretended to be a school principal (real school -real Principal, though the actual names were bleeped out of the broadcast), and called a father at home about his daughter who was supposedly having "behavior problems" in class. As the Principal, Elvis insulted the girl, calling her stupid, and so forth. By the end of the call, the Father was so whipped up and angry that he threatened to come down to the school and beat up the Principal.
I know these calls are taped outside the hours of the show, and this stunt would never have made it on the air if the father actually had done violence to the REAL Principal. But think of how easily that situation could have gotten out of hand - if the father had disconnected the call before the "you've been punked" moment, and gone down to that school...not to mention the liability for the station's owners. I also really felt for the father who had to endure some really hurtful things being said about his daughter. I don't think anybody other than closet sadists found this stunt funny.
I'm not advocating censorship - just that these "shock jocks" develop a conscience and start policing themselves.
