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ONE OF THE BEST DAMN (STRAIGHT)-TALK RADIO PERSONALITIES OUT THERE

W

Wildstyle K

Bruce St James and talk radio is who & what I'm talking about.

I went to sleep after 6am this morning, so I didn't get to catch much morning talk, as you could probably imagine. However, I did happen to wake up and remain awake just long enough to hear Bruce St James speak the truth and tell it like it is - STRAIGHT FORWARD & UNCUT. I'm paraphrasing, but the following paraphrase is pretty accurate. I woke up to toss & turn, and this is what I heard:

".....I'm not afraid to say it, and I don't care about being called names for saying it.." THEN, he went right in to some statistics about different specific races (in regard to academics) - The same exact thing everyone else is afraid to discuss, say, or point out, just because many folks don't want to hear or know the truth - if it offends them...

Bruce came out and said it, with
NO LAUGHING, NOT SUGARCOATING, NO SELF DEPRECATING JOKES AS AN ATTEMPT TO COVER IT UP AND MAKE PEOPLE THINK "SEE? I SAID SOMETHING BAD ABOUT MYSELF, TOO..".

Now, do keep in mind that just because I'm using this one example, doesn't mean that this is the only thing in the world I like about his show. It's simply just one example. I've heard him speak the truth and tell it precisely like it is many times before and had come to the conclusion that he was one of my favorites a long time ago. If only more people could be like Bruce St James, because HE keeps it real (anyone who doesn't believe it, I'm willing to take time out of a day to sit down with you somewhere in a room and listen to his show and let you tell me which parts of his show, personality, or views on things are lies, fake, fabricated, or untrue (the same thing I agreed to do with my best friend)).

I'm so glad KTAR made the choice to hire him because he's perfect for the station and will speak up and say what he feels and doesn't care who feels offended or who's little feelings are hurt. The way I see it, if someone is pointing out or discussing facts, statistics, a stereotype, or racially profiling, speaking demographics, or anything of that sort (whether in verbal or written form) and you feel offended, guilty, or uneasy about it, then it makes 100% more sense to change whatever behavior you are knowingly producing that is causing you to feel offended by what people are saying/doing, rather than getting upset at the person who's observing, reacting, and pointing it out. Plain and simple. I (in addition to many other folks) have noticed that BOTH in and outside of politics, it's always the people who are quick to criticize others or the ones who love to cause or support the most disruption in society who have the biggest problem when someone preaches common sense or speaks the cold "harsh" truth, points things out, tells it like it is, or makes them feel uneasy about something (and then it's always, somehow, turned back around and becomes about how the other person is the evil one for noticing and pointing it out). This is usually followed with some name calling, reverse criticism, nasty language thrown back at the person who's speaking, or to a larger degree, protesting, violence, terrorism, and laws being made to silence people...etc. This is usually effective towards silencing the critics, or making certain groups of people afraid to speak up - while everyone else is free to roam freely causing mishap, judge the same people who aren't allowed to judge them, and say whatever they wish, however they want, anytime they like.

MANY of people fall for this. SOME people don't. Bruce St James is one of those people who don't, and THIS IS, YET AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON WHY I LOVE HIS SHOW. ;) I feel the same way about Jim Bohannon's show as well. STRAIGHT TALK - EVEN IF IT OFFENDS ME... THAT'S how I like it. The reporter says what they say, the listener/reader decides how they wish to feel about it. Plain & simple.

Have a beautiful day my friends.
 
I should once again make it very clear that this is not at all a knock down towards Barry Young's show. I talk about not laughing to sugercoat or downplay a serious topic, but this doesn't mean there isn't a way to do so in a "proper manner" Barry Young has his own unique distinct radio sound and style that is pretty much incomparable to any other (that I know of). It is very well done.

I should also make it very clear that it's a free country. No one necessarily have to change whatever behavior they are producing that causes them to feel offended or targeted by certain topics they hear on talk radio or see in written form. It's up to the individual to decide whether they wish to change things and "not fit into the topic of discussion", or remain as is and accept that people will talk about things - whether whatever's being talked about feels good them or not - ESPECIALLY IF... if the behavior is disruptive, feeding an unwanted stereotype, or interfering with others people's lives - in such a way that the other person cannot choose to ignore, block out, or control how it's affecting them. Just keep in mind that if any one or any group of people choose to be disruptive to others, someone will always bring it up or point it out, especially if it's a talk show host, and that talk show host is the best damn straight talk radio personality who isn't afraid to bring it up and speak the truth.

No talk show host or person in general should have to feel afraid to say anything - especially when those people who are quick to lose control and over react over what someone else has said are the main ones who feel they have the right to say whatever they wish without a care or regard. I agree with all talk show hosts who say things have become too politically correct.

Straight politics is one thing, but it would be nice if we had more talk show hosts with a KTAR variety talk style, discussing multiple issues and things about general everyday life and society.

Anyway, those are my final talk radio inspired thoughts of the year.
Until next year, have fun my friends.
 
".....I'm not afraid to say it, and I don't care about being called names for saying it.." THEN, he went right in to some statistics about different specific races (in regard to academics) - The same exact thing everyone else is afraid to discuss, say, or point out, just because many folks don't want to hear or know the truth - if it offends them...
Click to expand...
One of my biggest pet-peeves and certainly an example of pure phony, self-indulgent bravado is this kind of statement. The host says, "I'm just going to say this and I don't care who calls me a name or writes to the FCC, blah blah blah". It is self-aggrandizing on a monumental scale; as if anyone cares that much to have a riot in the streets over a random opinion--which may or may not actually be that hosts opinion anyway. Moreover, at least a hundred talk show hosts a day use that tired old, cliche tripe where they act like a rebel on the radio, "look at me I'm about to say something outrageous". Meanwhile it's not that outrageous... it's a guy reading some statistics that hundreds of other shows have read and I'm sure--at least a few--have probably discussed far more in-depth.

Your opinion of his show is fine, but your example here is--by far--one of the oldest parlor tricks in talk radio. "I'm a rebel, I'm about to tell you something that NO ONE ELSE DARES TO SAY!!!" Whatever happened to just going on the air and talking like a human being; no phony, puking voices, no feigned righteous indignation, just a show with some passion, real opinions and conversational style talk.

We had another Bruce that told it like it was in Phoenix; he graduated to national syndication though... the cream does usually rise to the top.
 
KMGX said:
We had another Bruce that told it like it was in Phoenix; he graduated to national syndication though... the cream does usually rise to the top.
Click to expand...

Bruce Liddy and Bruce Hill?? ;)
 
Even though I have pretty much stopped listening to talk radio (and am a much more rational and happy person because of it), I will agree that Bruce does a great show. As for Barry, recently he has really dumbed it down quite a bit, arrogant, boring and relying on the moron peanut gallery (Andrew and Michelle).

The only time Barry's show is intelligent is when Barry Markson sits in.
 
Well, to wrap this up, I just want to say the following:

Regardless, I still think Bruce St. James is one of the best, and I doubt he was making things up, faking, or acting as he was discussing his view on the upcoming tax cuts, his experiences with the hip hop community, his duties as a boss, and his feelings about meeting / running into people he doesn't know in a workplace or group environment....etc. I also doubt Mac & Gaydos were being phony or making things up today, as they discussed their relationships with people, a past girlfriend, and how they react within different situations, or when they were talking about their feelings towards Larry King's last performance... etcetera etcetera and so forth and so on. I'm not sure about all of them, and I'm not sure about the big names of talk radio, but I doubt that a lot of talk show hosts fabricate behaviors, make up false personal views and things as much as people wish to believe. I know a lot of them will say "it's all entertainment" when they are faced with people in real life, but I've also come to realize that I say the EXACT SAME THING to people without even thinking just because I may not feel like having to explain myself or clarify things at a certain time or place. Yes, many times I may joke around or throw in extra banter to make things more interesting or say off the wall stuff to keep people wondering and thinking, but once I get set onto a serious topic, 97.9% of the time I'm just telling it like it is, and you will see me remain very consistent on how I feel about the issue - with NO practice or preparation, no matter how many times I bring it up, or how long its been since the last time I brought it up. If I talk about...for example; How I feel about racial tension in 2010 and how we've gone so far towards trying to protect a certain group of people with affirmative action....etc. to the point where there is now reverse racism, I'm surely not just making it up just to spark conversation, be entertaining, or "mess around". I'm simply pointing out something that is happening and how I feel about it. People are either going to agree/like it, or dislike it and think... whatever they wish to think about it.. and call me/consider me whatever they wish to call or consider me - in order to justify whatever they wish to see or not see/believe. I'm not 100% sure about all talk hosts, but I think MANY talk show hosts operate the same way, especially those who conduct variety talk about many topics outside of politics. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that it's easier to speak the truth and say what you really feel on any particular issue rather than making things up and having to keep track of all those fake views and feelings you've fabricated to entertain your listeners. I'm not saying that I think everyone operates like me. Just that I simply think it's human nature for a person to want to be more "real" rather than fake - when given a chance to (directly, or indirectly) share your opinion - ESPECIALLY in a setting where you seem to have higher authority.. Even sitcoms and movies try to "sneak in an opinion/agenda" sometimes. If I see something absurd going on that I don't like, I know is not right, and it also affect me, then.. if I cannot distance myself from it, I'll surely talk about it, and the more serious it is, the more seriously I'll address it (unless it's so absurd that it's not even worth discussing). I'm sure many talk radio hosts feel the same way, and take advantage of the fact that they are on the air to express certain TRUE feelings indirectly, that  they'd otherwise keep inside or indirectly post online.

Let me also clarify; I don't know any of these talk show hosts in person, or how they are to work with, or how any of them may be to have as a manager, but all that is irrelevant because whether or not I may like them personally as a person doesn't change how I feel about their radio SHOWS, and really has nothing to do with how entertaining the topics they discuss are to me, naturally.

Ok, well... that's just my take on it. I don't think everyone on-air is being as fake as people think or wish to believe, regardless of how much the listener may disagree, dislike, or not want to hear what the person is saying. It reminds me of when my ex used to get pissed when I logically started talking about religion, because she didn't want to hear or know anything that would make her think or question her beliefs.. (which is LITERALLY what she told me, by the way!)  I'll take it that SOME talk show hosts are fake, or some people may be fake SOME-TIMES, but.. I'm not sure if I can believe it's ALL fake. They must believe in whatever side of the issue they're discussing - at least to SOME degree (unless they're just that desperate for a talk job that they'd dedicate practicing and perfecting going against everything they believe in just to entertain folks).
 
AND IN CONCLUSION, ;D

I just want to say; I must admit - I love this pattern that has developed and I've quickly come to notice over the past year, as a result of my variety talk about things and topics normal people wouldn't discuss in certain places, otherwise! Every specific type of topic I bring up here tends to always attract the same crowd, every single time! With exception to one person, who remains mysterious & unpredictable but seems to have me figured out, most of the responses and reactions here are somewhat to rather predictable. This is another reason why I love the Phoenix section because I've "gotten to know" people here.

Anyway, Have a Merry Christmas folks, or Happy Holidays! (Conveniently choose which ever phrase pleases you best!) ;)
 
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