Offensive

[TravisWMLN]

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

i'd have to hear it...the story itself is ironic/twisted/sad/and yeah even a little bit odd....I made mention of it on air just because the story is going to be everywhere and i said something like "it was incredibly depressing to wake up this morning after unwrapping my toaster oven to see 'man dresses up as santa, kills 6'...there always seems to be one sad story every christmas"....too bad eartha kitt didn't die on xmas eve and this whole situation could have been avoided...jackson send me an email on facebook sometime

 

[jinglemaker]

JAX
As I read all the post before mine answering the very question you posed,one thing
is clear. Your not listening, and therefore not learning.
Re-read some of those post,and stop defending.
right now you are the jock in the PD aircheck session who defends
every break instead of listening to what is being told to you.
This is the very thing that makes some jocks go market to market
station to station vs. the guys that can command a following in one
market for decades.
Which do you want to be?

 

[ActionJax]

It might look that way because im naturally stubborn. I see everybodies point and I agree. The reason I threw myself under the bus by posting this is because I wanted opinions and thats what I got. SONIC AL: yes I was kidding! that was my attempt at breaking the tension that my little post has caused. What I said was innapropiate now lets braveheart this joint up and get old jacko outa this little pickle I got myself into!

 

[radiorama1]

Had I known a kid got killed I wouldnt have made that joke.

Then next time, do a bit more research about the topic... and think... before you hit that red "On" button...

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.

Listeners are our customers, like any other business. They are patrons of our sponsors, who pay the stations that pay us. The customer is always right.

Action, not trying to be a smart-*ss here, but that's just the way I see it. Were you out of line (a bit)? Probably, but I would need to listen to the actual aircheck to hear your tone and what you actually said. That could make all the difference.

At any rate, I hope you don't get into any serious trouble. Good luck.

 

[ActionJax]

Thanks bro. And seriously can we just end this thread now? I dont need to draw any more attention to the stupid thing I said. If you want to comment just PM me please. I honestly do appreciate all the feedback but Id really like to put it behind me now

 

[aaronread]

The best failed joke and recovery I've ever seen is Gilbert Gottfreid during the Comedy Central roast of Hugh Hefner that was soon after 9/11. Gilbert made some lame joke about his flight connection going through the Empire State Building, and the room totally turned on him. Boos and shouts of "too soon" ripped through the crowd. Gilbert, obviously flustered, eventually launches into a brilliant telling of The Aristocrats joke, and quite adroitly wins the audience right back. The whole story is told in The Aristocrats movie (well worth renting if you haven't seen it).

Here's the clip, I think...it's been quasi-edited for spanish subtitles (the audio's in english, though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnbHGmd8XNE&feature=related

 

[TravisWMLN]

I think if you really want to learn how to do radio, there's one guy you should listen to and take notes of....Mark Hamilton on WBCN. He's a part timer that should be full time, but the guy can be funny, good, concise, and memorable all at the same time. as someone I know put it "if you need to fill 2 minutes of radio, there's no one better than Hammy"

 

[BearFur]

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.

Careful, don't trip on any of those names you dropped.

 

[Deleted member 64531]

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.

That is exactly the way I feel. If you think for one second that maybe you shouldn't say it, don't say it. Just ask (The Other or Real) Bob Hudson (of Hudson & Landry fame). His "Shuttle Joke" back in '86 cost him his job at KRLA in LA.

 

[Deleted member 64531]

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.

  It's really easy to lose your cool when these things happen, but part of being a pro is knowing how to handle them. Number 1, Don't lower yourself to their level. Number 2, I have known GMs or PDs who would have their wives call about similar matters just to see see how the FNG would handle it, so be careful what you say to someone you don't know. Number 3, Don't lower yourself to their level either.

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

I myself have made an occasional tasteless comments here (writing about the late Will McDonough and then launching into the whole "son Sean crashes into Florian Hall with male escort" bit repeated from Howie) and on the air at WBRS back in the day ("Come visit the Brockton Fair and see all your favorite animals, i.e. gang members"), and I don't even see the humor in this. Granted, I love shows featuring retarded knuckleheads (paging Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin), and Kenny dying for the 100 billionth time (on "South Park") is just as funny as the first time, but that is so far over the line, even for this very politically incorrect poster! Read my byline at the end of my blogs, and you'll get an idea where some of my humor comes from. (One toonhead on another blog site suggested that Peter Potamus morphed into Peter Griffin.)

Happy New Year, everyone! ;D

 

[Watt]

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.

So not only do you show your complete lack of judgment in making the joke, you admit that you are lazy by not even researching the story?

As for a listener wanting you to lose yor job, I'm sure that was not foremost in his mind. He had a legitimate complaint and called to voice his feelings.

On the plus side, there probably were not many people listening to you. On the minus side, you just brought massive attention to yourself by posting here. Another genius move!

 

[Oxford_Street_Shuffle]

I agree with the above. Posting on radio-info using your actual name or making it very obvious where you work is a big no-no in my book. I've worked for PDs who have actually NOT hired people just based on the fact that they know they're radio-info people.

So, being all over this board before the shifs looking for show-prep sites... and after you make a huge blunder - not a good idea.

 

[NHRadio]

FWIW, I thought the line was funny.

It does seem that some people's raison d'etre is to get offended over little things and then complain to whomever will listen. I think it makes them feel alive. Sad. As always, a few spoil it for everyone.

 

[MisterBilge]

FWIW, I thought the line was funny.

It does seem that some people's raison d'etre is to get offended over little things and then complain to whomever will listen. I think it makes them feel alive. Sad. As always, a few spoil it for everyone.

Correct me if I'm wrong - you're not in commercial radio, are you? Or perhaps I've just misunderstood your reference - are you talking about the station caller?

 

[NHRadio]

I have 25 years in commercial radio in both music and talk and also teach it at a local college. The few who spoil it for everyone refers to a small number of listeners who don't think their lives are complete unless they're crabbing about something a jock said.
What about the post was difficult to understand?

Correct me if I'm wrong - you're not in commercial radio, are you? Or perhaps I've just misunderstood your reference - are you talking about the station caller?

 

[Banjomax]

I agree with the above. Posting on radio-info using your actual name or making it very obvious where you work is a big no-no in my book. I've worked for PDs who have actually NOT hired people just based on the fact that they know they're radio-info people.

So, being all over this board before the shifs looking for show-prep sites... and after you make a huge blunder - not a good idea.

I ran into a problem with management of my former employer (which holds numerous broadcast licenses across the country, including in four New England states) due to comments I made here many years ago. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was never to post anything that had anything even remotely close to being involved with said employer, its parent company, subsidiaries, employees, their families, any friends and or neighbors of any of the above...pretty much anything having to do with radio. If I didn't heed their warning, I would be shown the door, and possibly face legal action. On the old R-I it was much easier to change user names, so that's what I did. I stayed away from posting anything having anything to do with my employer which could conceivably be traced back to me. The subject was never brought up again. But...when budget time came around and cuts had to be made a few months later, guess who they let go first?

Even though I no longer work for that company, I still don't post about them, except in the most general terms (as I have done here). Same goes for my current employer... I know for a fact the GM lurks here.

Lesson: You never know who's looking or listening. A quote attributed to Mark Twain comes to mind:
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.

FWIW

 

[Remaster]

People thought you could never make light of 9/11. Yet, one of my favorite family guy bits is about "is it too soon to make a 9/11 joke?" It mocked the grieving process and what is supposedly acceptable. Sadly, you're appealing to the masses so you have to play it safe. The 1% that actually calls in/emails/writes are the ones you gotta worry about....they'll get ya every time. Personally, I wasn't offended but can see where others might be (as evidenced on this board)

 

[MisterBilge]

NHRadio - OK, I think I've got the direction you were taking... It sorta caught me off guard and seemed a bit callous given the insightful comments in most of your other posts. But that's just me... While I don't think the timing of this particular comment was all that appropriate, especially given event's tragic nature and the makeup of the station's market (a good number of well-to-do blue haireds trapped in a summertiime mecca in the wintertime with nothing to do but complain) - it could have been a lot worse. And there have been a lot worse. I don't think it's something a person should get blown out the door for, and in the case of this OP, I think it's been a great learning experience. I give him credit for seeking feedback and being as open about it as he has been. Actually, the thought that went through my mind after getting past the heartbreak of the event was, "Whoa, looks like the magic in that relationship is gone." Maybe something I'd mutter down at the pub over a beer with the guys, but certainly not on my airshift.

As for your comment on the chronic complainers, I wholeheartedly agree. They're out there. They have way too much time on their hands and, unfortunately, they're way too vocal. They complain to the PD, the GM, the owner and sometimes to the sponser. Then who gets the grief? That's right - the part timer just trying to get a full time gig in a job he loves. And ya know what? For that one complainer, there were probably 10 that agreed, 50 that didn't care one way or the other and 100 that weren't paying any attention in the first place. Life in broadcasting just isn't fair. So ya gotta think things through, cover all your bases and hold onto your job.

BTW, in an effort to take the undue pressure off of Action. perhaps this thread should die of natural causes and be reborn as one dealing with what's appropriate, on the edge or over the top for broadcast on commercial terrestial radio? Lots of good thoughts presented because of the original post.

Cheers -
MisterBilge

 

[BearFur]

As far as Family Guy, didn't Seth McFarlane have a ticket for Flight 11, but didn't get to the airport on time? That's pretty scary...I know it's not on the same level as the people and families that were killed, but this could be one of his ways of dealing with how close he came. Plus, he's funny.

As far as the killer santa joke...yes, it was a bad and completely wrong to use that joke on the air, no matter what time of year it is, but it just makes it worse that it was told right after it happened. 100% wrong, no wiggle room. However, it would be a joke I would probably laugh at while hanging around with friends and having one of them tell it.