I think I am with you in terms of leaning towards blaming XM. I mean - and this came up with Imus too - apparently shock jocks have it in their contract that they absolutely have to be offensive. There is no stipulation on "how offensive is TOO offensive" or what topics are off-limits, they're just supposed to say things that will make you go "WHAAAAT".
This is btw why I loathe and detest the entire concept of shock jocks; even the mildest ones sicken me.
But in the end it does mean that they aren't quite as responsible for what they say as the stations that air them would have us believe. I mean - if they're supposed to be offensive, of COURSE they know how bad the things they're saying are. They're probably looking for things that would offend THEM if they weren't so jaded by this point. To scapegoat them and be like "*gasp!* We had no idea you were such insensitive delinquents!" when there's a public outcry over something they said is not exactly kosher.
None of which is to say that I *don't* hold them responsible for what they say or that I'm NOT offended by comments like O&A or Imus's... only that this whole "righteous indignation" act from the companies that employ them is a load of baloney. Maybe what they should do instead is sit down and put some provisions into the contract and let people know what is and isn't "okay" and "PC" enough to offend people with. :P (See, like I said - I just freakin' HATE shock jocks.)
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2007-05-16 08:53 pm (UTC)This is btw why I loathe and detest the entire concept of shock jocks; even the mildest ones sicken me.
But in the end it does mean that they aren't quite as responsible for what they say as the stations that air them would have us believe. I mean - if they're supposed to be offensive, of COURSE they know how bad the things they're saying are. They're probably looking for things that would offend THEM if they weren't so jaded by this point. To scapegoat them and be like "*gasp!* We had no idea you were such insensitive delinquents!" when there's a public outcry over something they said is not exactly kosher.
None of which is to say that I *don't* hold them responsible for what they say or that I'm NOT offended by comments like O&A or Imus's... only that this whole "righteous indignation" act from the companies that employ them is a load of baloney. Maybe what they should do instead is sit down and put some provisions into the contract and let people know what is and isn't "okay" and "PC" enough to offend people with. :P (See, like I said - I just freakin' HATE shock jocks.)