Offensive

[ActionJax]

Has anyone here ever been offended by anything a jock said on the air? Or said something "offensive" and had someone call the station and complain. I mean its radio its supposed to be funny right? I ask because that happened to me today. People have too much time on their hands if they make the effort to call and complain about what a lowly fill in jock said at 6 in the morning.

 

[MisterBilge]

In a politically uber-correct society such as ours, I suspect it happens more often than ever before. That's why the on-air host has to second guess his comments all the time. What's funny to one listener can send another running to management and that's one chain of events that can impact your retirement benefits (insert smile face here). Perhaps you can blame it on that show prep service you were looking for in an earlier post. Got any specifics you want to share?

 

[ActionJax]

I said, in a joking manner, something about that guy in california who dressed up in a santa outfit and killed his inlaws. Some sitcom like joke saying how im sure hes not the first guy to want to kill his in laws. Too soon maybe?

I woudnt be suprised if a similiar joke pops up on one of those show prep services in the near future.

I thought it was funny

 

[mistermicrophone]

He killed 8 people (one of which was an 8 year old), set the house and his rental car on fire, then killed himself. My question is not whether the listener was being overly sensitive, rather I question why you'd go there?? I am a big believer in relating to your audience and, from time-to-time, offensive things are uttered and can help endear you to your listener (if said audience likes to hear such content). But, I think smart jocks also know what NOT to say...and joking about this event probably falls under that umbrella.

Just hope that complaint doesn't get back to an advertiser. In this economy, losing money equals losing a job!

 

[Bob_Hudson]

In a politically uber-correct society such as ours, I suspect it happens more often than ever before. That's why the on-air host has to second guess his comments all the time.

It's called "using discretion" and "common sense" and it has nothing to do with being a "politically uber-correct society" so much as it does being a "civilized society" where - probably much to the surprise of many morning jocks - "JACKASS," "Punk'd," and even Howard Stern are still on the radical fringe of the entertainment industry and acceptable public behavior. Thankfully we do live in a society where trying to make joke about a recent mass murder is seen as distasteful. The only good thing about such "joke-tellers" is that they make it easier for management to decide who gets the boot when the next round of cuts hits.

 

[ActionJax]

By "joke teller" are you refering to me? I respect you opinion however I strongly disagree. Its views similiar to that that got bill hicks persecuted and changed the entire entertainment industry for the worse the second janet jackson whipped out her breast on tv. Had I known a kid got killed I wouldnt have made that joke. That being said I think we gotta lighten up a little bit eh? Its radio, not pre school. Sure I probably shouldnt have made the joke but was it that bad that this guy would want me to lose my job? Thats what these people that call and complain dont understand. One guy gets slightly offended, which lasts for 2seconds and decides it was hardship enough to potentially ruin a djs life.

 

[jimmydigits]

While I may or may not agree with Bob's cultural values, I abhor the notion that he's right to impose them on the rest of us. No one in this country has the right not to be offended. If one doesn't like what he's hearing, he has the option (and the right) to listen to something else. If you think someone should be moved closer to the door for a joke so harmless as the above-mentioned, you might like the political climate in China or Iran. Jax said what a lot of us might have been facetiously thinking. Should we "use discretion" in our thoughts too?

 

[Oxford_Street_Shuffle]

I'm a huge Stern fan... used to be a huge O&A fan... love bad jokes, dirty jokes, all kinds of comedy. You'd have to go pretty far to offend me.

That being said... joking about a Christmas Eve slaying in California is probably one of the dumber things I've heard. WAY too soon! And as a part time/fill-in jock... a joke that you shouldn't be making at all. You're not there to be on the cutting edge of comedy... it's Pixy... you're there to play the tunes and the spots. Instead of being a reliable part-timer... you just became a liability and a pain in the ass.

If you were one of my part timers, this morning would've been your last shift.

 

[ActionJax]

I see your point. I honestly do. But could you do me a solid and edit the parts in your post that may or may not plant a seed in the head of anyone at my place of employment? Ya never know.

 

[Oldbones]

By "joke teller" are you refering to me? I respect you opinion however I strongly disagree. Its views similiar to that that got bill hicks persecuted and changed the entire entertainment industry for the worse the second janet jackson whipped out her breast on tv. Had I known a kid got killed I wouldnt have made that joke. That being said I think we gotta lighten up a little bit eh? Its radio, not pre school. Sure I probably shouldnt have made the joke but was it that bad that this guy would want me to lose my job? Thats what these people that call and complain dont understand. One guy gets slightly offended, which lasts for 2seconds and decides it was hardship enough to potentially ruin a djs life.

You just don't get it do you?
What possessed you to think that there was anything funny about a murder? Sucks to see anyone lose their job, but it was a really, really stupid thing to joke about. Maybe next time you'll make sure your brain is engaged before putting your mouth in gear. Save the tasteless jokes for the privacy of your own home.

 

[bub]

ActionJax:

In my experience as a jock, my rule of thumb was simple...When in doubt, DONT!
Granted, my air shifts may have been "plain vanilla ice cream" but at least I never had to second guess what I had to say on the air.

Keep that in mind for your next air shift...IF there's a next air shift.

 

[ActionJax]

I concede. I just wanted to get some opinions from my collegues. I dont need the speculation weather I may or may not lose my job. It was a dumb joke and I accept that, but it was even dumber to bring it to this board. I assumed people that know how cutthroat this buisiness is would back me up a little but wow was I wrong, you guys are brutal! Haha I love it! Thanks guys it was a tense but fun debate. PM me if ya want to continue this conversation I would love to but I think it would be smarter for me to stop here

 

[MarcB]

My story is different. In my opinion the woman that called the radio station was couple grapes short of a fruit salad. That being said here's the story.

I did some brokered radio in suburban Hartford I admit it. My on-air name was Jay Clark. It was the on-air name I had always used when I was associated with said radio station from 2002 until 2004. Anyway during my second show while music was playing the request line rang and I answered it as I always did "Jay Clark Show, SuperMax 990."

The female voice on the other end of the line began screaming at me How dare I use the on-air name of her teenage son that had killed himself 2 years earlier? She then proceeded to tell me if I didn't stop using the name of her dead son she was gonna sue me, the radio station, and the owner of the radio station.

I can have a very nasty temper and my response to her screaming at me was to scream back at her. I remember saying something along the lines of "I don't give a *obsenity* about you or your dead son! You're crazy. This is my *obsenity* show and I can call myself whatever the *obsenity* I want. If I want to call myself The Supreme Overlord of Planet Earth I can and if you call the *obsenity* station again I'll have the cops trace the call and you'll go to jail." And with that before she could say anything else I slammed the phone down in her ear.


I did nothing wrong. I can use whatever on-air name I want as long as someone else in the market isn't already doing it. I also didn't fell guilty for what I said to the caller. Nor should I. Because how would she know that my birth name wasn't Jay Clark?

 

[ActionJax]

wow. Thats a bad coincidence! Did you get a talking to from the boss? I feel for her, I cant even fathom how it must feel to lose your child but she should realize that jay clark is a very popular name. I know 2 of em myself

 

[MarcB]

The GM didn't say anything to me about it. He only heard me screaming at someone on the phone (he didn't hear me cursing at her) and asked me what happened. I just told him that something a caller said to me made mad and I started yelling at her. Maybe I shouldn't have cussed the woman out, but it's my fault for having a bad temper.

 

[MarcB]

I never had any intentions of changing my name just because one nut job listener didn't like it. I mean that would've involved a lot of work. I had used my own printer ink and paper to print fliers for the show to hand out at work to co-workers to leave at the malls and on cars. I also had liners recorded for me by a guy who worked at WORC/WGFP (and later at WCRN). He did that for me on trade. He did the liners for me. I ran the commercials for his internet company on my show. That would've all had to be changed. The brokerage contract with the radio station said my show was "The Jay Clark Show." And while it was free, I took the time to set up a website for the show on Gecocities and had an email account on yahoo just for the show. That all would've had to been changed.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Too soon.

As a rule of thumb, the target of any ridicule should be deserving.

Whether you recognize it, or not...Your joke sort of justifies the killer's actions by attempting to create empathy for him. That implies that the innocents who were brutally gunned down, were somehow deserving of his actions. That makes the innocents the targets of ridicule. And therefore it doesn't work.

Consider it a miss.

When spoken to...if spoken to. Be contrite, and apologize profusely. It was an ill-timed, and poorly directed attempt to create levity out of a horrible situation. You are still young. You'll figure it out. The creative intent is a positive. You just need to think it through better.

This is what I was talking about before when we were discussing show prep sites. You need to find your angle. What was the real purpose of the bit? Did you find your out, and work backward? What was the intent? Do you think you should've tried to make a joke at the expense of innocents? I don't think you thought it would end up ridiculing the families. I think your intent was to point out that during the holidays, all family can be annoying. However...Your delivery targeted the wrong subject. And quite frankly...it really is too soon.

Good Luck. Be as apologetic as possible. I'm sure you'll employ better judgement the next time. We've all been there.

 

[MisterBilge]

Yikes Action - now I feel bad about asking you for more info. What Paul says is spot on, tho. With any luck, Suzanne won't be having a, "heart to heart," with you but if she does, follow Paul's lead and take credit for your lack of sensitivity. You want to be topical, you want to be entertaining but you want to think of the many directions one of your bits may take you - and your listener.

Lorena Bobbitt wacking off her husband's Johnzin many years ago in a jealous rage was fodder for some funny stuff within minutes after it happened but it's a stretch trying to find humor in a Christmas Eve murder/arson times 8.

Some of the best comedy bits walk the fine line of good taste but what you have to do is think your bit through, think about the worst case scenarios and when in doubt, don't do it. Be aware of your audience - they might not be as hip as you. And don't forget that a bit that might get yucks in Boston could get you kicked out the door on The Cape.

Good luck to you.

 

[SonicOverload]

I said, in a joking manner, something about that guy in california who dressed up in a santa outfit and killed his inlaws. Some sitcom like joke saying how im sure hes not the first guy to want to kill his in laws. Too soon maybe?

I woudnt be suprised if a similiar joke pops up on one of those show prep services in the near future.

I thought it was funny

you're kidding, right?

 

[BostonRandy]

If Al & Maureen Makkay still owned PIXY-103, you'd have had your ass dragged out the door within "2 & 2". Allison would have probably punched you in the face while Colleen kneed you in the "package". All the while, I'd have laughed at you for being a nonsensical knucklehead.