WIP 610 AM: Not a good sports station in my opinion

[LetsGetSirius]

Sorry, folks. Some of us (myself included) just don't "get it". I have never liked argumentative radio. A case could be made that we've become an angrier, intolerant, rage-filled society in part because radio like WIP propagates and encourages argument for argument's sake. Like Mr. May, I suppose, I switch off stations like WIP after play-by-play programming and post game analysis is complete. The instant that call-ins begin, I'm outta there.

Does argumemtative radio make for good business? Perhaps. But I still don't have to listen. I'd much rather listen to talk radio from Australia, Canada, or public radio's own "Talk of the Nation". Much more civil than WIP and its ilk.

In other eras, a case could be made that argumentative programming doesn't serve the public interest that, at one point in history, commercial radio stations were supposed to deliver as part of their privilege of having an FCC license. Unfortunately, one can't use "public service" arguments nowadays to suggest that a play-by-play format provides more of a public service than enduring Mr. Eskin's insults or those of his callers.

Richard in Allentown

And, that's why NPR exists, Richard. For folks like you who enjoy tooling along in your Volvo, sipping herbal tea, stroking your goatee and nodding your head rhythmically with "All Things Considered."

Seriously, though, I agree with you that not all confrontational radio is good radio; sometimes its just a shoutfest. I think my 9th grade debate teacher accurately described that as "talking through your opponent...not to him."

But, to make compelling conversation, you need radio hosts who understand the difference between provoking thought and simply provoking the listener. Not everyone can do that; it requires subtlety, a quick mind and a sharp wit. Usually, hosts have part of that wit: "half" or "nit".