Today I got sick of talk radio

[loyalkydem]

I am a talk radio fan. I'm not going to lie. I am a huge Bill Press, Stephanie Miller and Ed Shultz fan. But today for some reason when I started listening to Stephanie all she wanted to talk about what Tiger and how many women he had been sleeping with.

Lately, I have been getting seriously turned off by the media and their limited attention span. I think it started a few months ago with balloon boy and his drama. Then it continued with the Fort Hood mess. I mean my god isn't there other news going on that's more worthy?

Is there something wrong with me? Am I the only one who is getting discouraged that things are not going the way many of us worked so hard for? Someone please give me some encouragement. I'm starting to wonder if I should step away from talk radio for a while like I did this place.

[mike_c]

1. I've NEVER been a fan of political talk radio....

It annoys the crap out of me, no matter what side of the political spectrum.

[Journeyman]

2. Welcome to my world, circa 1980. . .

That's about the time when I wrote off the corporate broadcast media as irrelevant to my life. Never did get involved with talk radio -- I live in South California, so don't have much use for excess hot air.

[EFerrari]

3. I don't know how any of you can listen to talk radio.

It's usually hostile, let alone uncivil. It's like listening to an angry relative for hours on purpose with an occasional joke thrown in.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Try the radio program I'm producing and see if you like it.

The Sam Greenfield Show
NYC Metropolitan Region
M-F, 7-9 a.m. EST

http://www.wvnj.com/staff-sam.html

Click "listen live" in the left margin to listen online. Tollfree number to call as well.

We cover topics not covered by MSM and interview guests. Progressive yet independent.

I've been listening to him for a decade and finally became his producer.

PM me and tell me what you think if you'd like to.

[KamaAina]

20. Excellent! I used to listen to Sam in the old WEVD days.

Pity they sold out. Of course, NYC did need a fourth sports station. :eyes: He's one of the good ones!

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Sam and WVNJ are on Facebook btw.

He also contributes to Huffington Post.

[Shandris]

5. Hiya neighbor!

Actually I think you probably should take a step away if you're feeling it get to you. You carry that throughout the day, and if its not accomplishing something positive, then its an influence you don't want around you. And since there's nothing positive in a lot of the things that grab media attention to gain, sometimes its best to just let it all go.

During the Michael Jackson funeral thing I got the same feeling, every channel was nothing but MJ. Now, I loved the man's music and couldn't stand the things he was accused of (and quite probably guilty of). But I was completely flat about the whole events surrounding his funeral. Even my beloved MSNBC primetime had entire programs where the majority of the topic was MJ, and eventually I just had to turn it all off for the same reason. I know, personal story and prolly not the reason you're disappointed, but the principle behind it is the same -- the focus on the not-quite-so-important.

As for what we all worked so hard for, maybe someone else is better off tackling that subject. I know I have bouts of disappointment, particularly with the way this whole healthcare bill has panned out. But in the long run, remember that even if our hope and change that we wanted is only going to get 10% completed, its a step in the right direction and politics is a long-term endeavor. Here's to hoping you weather out the storm well. :) :grouphug:

[The_Commonist]

6. What took you so long?

Your brain will love you so much better if you keep that crap turned off.
It's kinda like when you quit smoking and you can smell and taste again and your clothes and house don't stink. But for your brain.

Enjoy!

[Kahuna]

7. I've given it up recently too. I can't take the whining from the know-it-alls. nt

[Jane Austin]

19. Me, too.

I find myself listening to Marc Maron's WTF podcast, the PBS Newshour podcasts and the comedy channels on XM radio.

Ron Reagan has good guests on, but his callers are abysmally ignorant, so I fast forward through that part.

[cry baby]

8. I've listened for decades - but tire of it now.

Also, I've always been a news junkie, but find myself turning away from CNN and MSNBC to watch CSPAN.

I'm not sure why...

[Kahuna]

9. Same here. nt

[walldude]

15. Because CSPAN is actual news... what you get everywhere else

is opinion made to look like news. Left and right, it has become a pissing contest and the people of this country are losing.

[butterfly77]

30. What I am tiring of is hearing the hosts...

spend all of the time talking when,I want to hear what the everyday person thinks on a subject. The problem with ron reagan is as soon as he gets a good subject going with the people he switches to some boring guest.That is why I like cspan more specifically Washington Journal..

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. I listen occasionally, only to remind myself how much I hate the rightwingers.

Other than that, it pretty much sucks.

[corpseratemedia]

11. step away from it

the disconnect between media and reality continues to grow

[lpbk2713]

12. I hardly ever listen to Dem/Lib/Prog Radio.

I listen to OxyRush & Han-nutty probably more often just for
the comic value and to hear what their latest TP's are. I get
most of my news of any value and reliability from the internet.

[StarfarerBill]

22. Oof...you have a far stronger stomach than I, my friend.

:puke:

[rurallib]

13. May I suggest some Thom Hartmann?

[whathehell]

18. Thom Hartmann is the only Talk Radio host I listen to faithfully.

[Jane Austin]

24. Thom is the one who irritates me the most these days.

It seems like since he left Air America he's becoming reckless with the facts.

The other day, he proclaimed that that Bernanke wanted to "cut out" Social Security and "cut out" Medicare. He went on a rant about that.

Actually, what Bernanke said, as I understand it, was that we need to make cuts in Medicare and Social Security because that's where the money is.

That's bad enough, but it's just plain inaccurate to say that he said we should "cut out" either one.

He had a guest on from the Heritage Society speaking about Afghan policy and the interview was like listening to Tweety.

I don't think he let the guest finish a single sentence, much less make a point without yelling over him.

After interrupting him a jillion times, Thom told the guest not to "filibuster me"!

How do you filibuster someone when you can't get a whole sentence in?

I usually fast-forward through the RW guests, but this one was talking about some Afghan history and I actually wanted to hear what he had to say.

Besides the shading of facts as in the first example, he's become awfully repetitive. If you want a mid-day hair of the dog, you could make a drinking game out of some of Thom's favorite tropes.

Try downing a shot every time he mentions the $700 million bonus the President of United Health Care got. But don't plan to drive in the afternoon.

United Health Care is horrible, and their former chairman despicable. But it just gets old hearing him squeeze that number in every single day.

I have learned so much from Thom Hartmann over the years, but lately I hate the tone he's taking.

He is a smart man, but he doesn't understand much about process. He just wants everything done yesterday.

I don't expect anyone here to agree with me because Thom Hartmann is viewed as a saint here, but I am a stickler for accuracy and I don't like having propaganda thrown at me, even by liberals.

I expect more. Especially from progressives.

And I know Thom knows how to do better, because he used to always do better than he's doing now.


(Edited for spelling error.)

[wryter2000]

14. I enjoy it

But you have to realize it's about keeping the average person listening. It's not about disseminating information or putting forth thoughtful analyses.

It's largely preaching to the choir -- either RW or liberal/progressive.

I'd listen to Stephanie and her crew in any case because they're hilarious. Jim Ward's impressions are astonishing, they're so good.

[Buzz Clik]

16. I gave it up 10 years ago.

I'll dabble on occasion, but not often. All talk radio blows. Right, left, non-partisan.

:puke:

[whathehell]

17. You're not alone....I used to have a near-full day

of: Air America and then the entire MSNBC Evening lineup: Hardball, Ed Schultz Show, Keith and Rachel.

I still listen and watch all of the above, but not as dutifully...Lately I hear myself saying to myself "I'm SICK of hearing about politics -- all politics...Sick of people talking to me, AT me, ranting and raving, etc.

I'm "varying' my listening and watching schedule now to include music on the radio, PBS dramas on TV, etc...Enough is Enough!

[deutsey]

21. Tune into programs on KPFA.org

The Morning Shore, Democracy Now, Against the Grain, Living Room. These shows are pretty informative and entertaining but don't follow the "talk radio" format (which I can't stomach for very long, even if it's progressive). Sometimes the Morning Show will focus on topics that are only relevant to residents of the San Francisco Bay area, but they often interview people and discuss topics of general interest as well.

[get the red out]

23. Can't listen lately

I haven't been able to even listen to the liberal radio shows for some time, I prefer to make up my own mind what to fear and be miserable about.

I am very tired of all media reaching in to grab and control people's emotions, balloon boy, the poor dead little girl of the week EVERY WEEK, Tiger (why am I supposed to worry about HIS marriage??? It's my business how????). It's all just to grab our emotions and pull us from one thing to the next. I don't think too much of that is good for people.

[valerief]

25. Sometimes you gotta step away and listen to a book on disc in the car.

Or turn to TCM. Or read a book. Or write a book. Or play cribbage. Or shop.

It's like chocolate. Sure, it's great. It's even great every day. But eventually you have your fill, so you do without for a while until the craving comes back.

Although, even when Thom Hartmann is at his worst, he's still head and shoulders above everyone else.

[tonysam]

26. I have been sick of talk radio since the Fairness Doctrine was scrapped.

When I heard about that when it happened, I said there would be nothing but 24/7 propaganda and no real discussion of current events. Talk radio became more entertainment rather than an educational experience.

[butterfly77]

28. K&R..

[fishnfla]

29. stopped right after I started

just got access to satellite radio in the truck ( I drive 1000 miles /week)

Stephenie Miller: too frenetic, tries too hard to be funny. tmi, personal stuff. not informative
Ed Schultz: loud-mouth bully. boring. repetetive. stop shouting. shills for his TV show way too much
Thom Hartmann: puts me right to sleep and I dont want to snooze on I-4. ( He does have the best callers though)

the book channel is more entertaining than this bunch

[valerief]

31. There's a book channel? Gotta check my XM listings now!

Hey, just found it. XM 163.

I sometimes listen to Radio Classics. Didn't know there was more.

THANKS!!

[Fly by night]

Check out WMSV on the 'net. It's in central Mississippi, has the best playlist ...

... I've heard, a killer Delta blues show on Sunday evening (that draws listeners from everywhere on the planet) and ...

... my baby brother is the general manager.

[tekisui]

32. I am a talk radio junkie, but my current truck doesn't have a radio.

I haven't heard a thing left or right for months. I like listening to liberal and conservative talk radio. The RW talk is Pavlov's bell for the wingnuts. I like knowing what they are getting fed. The liberal talk isn't quite like that though. Depending on the talker, some are just M$M regurgitators but others are really great for cutting through the bullshit(Hartmann, Maddow).