Still Sensible (752 posts) Sun Feb-08-09 01:01 PM
Response to Original message
37. I really think it's a lot simpler
they don't get enough listeners so their ratings suck.
I also think it is easy to explain why. Just imagine the demographics of RW radio listeners compared to Air America's potential audience. RW radio listeners are remarkably shallow, they don't do nuance and want to have everything defined for them in simple terms that reinforce their prejudices. Us vs. them, good vs. bad, black and white. They want to be told who it is to blame for their problems and the problems of society at large.
Let's stop the left wing stereotypes for a minute, shall we? Because I don't even fit the "profile". I not angry, I'm not male, and I'm not shallow. I have an English degree which means I've done more "nuance" than most. Besides, if your side IS so nuanced, wouldn't that give you MORE to talk about? Wouldn't your "conversations" be endless and interesting as you explore all those shades of gray? And yet, left wing radio sucks. No matter how much it's been tried, no one (including liberals) listens. Granted, unless you're making fun of people who don't think like you, you don't have a sense of humor and most of the time you people are just damned angry (I mean you have the whole fricken government and you still whine and moan). Radio especially (because it doesn't have the pretty pictures) has to be entertaining as well as informative. When the radio personality is just saying the same angry shit already playing on the tape running through your brain why listen?
The one thing you must have when you listen to Rush is a sense of humor. He's quite nuanced, really. If you can't grasp complex ideas you'll end up completely misunderstanding and taking sound bites out of context...oh wait. He doesn't tell me what to think, he gives voice (in a fun way) TO WHAT I ALREADY THINK AND BELIEVE. You talk about needing to have our prejudices reinforced but your whole post is one whole simple rant that repeats the same opinions the left has had about those on the right (or anyone not like them) since the 60's. Were we to discuss affirmative action, for instance, you would not even hear me say I don't like it BECAUSE I think minorities are quite capable of succeeding on their own merits. They don't need to be judged by race (or gender, or sexual orientation, or any of the other labels you apply to people). But you would be utterly incapable of listening beyond my saying "I'm against it" because in your narrow leftist perspective you put me in a box that says conservative. Since you've been conditioned (like Pavlov's dogs) to automatically think "racist" it would be impossible to have an intelligent conversation.
Progressives generally are freer thinkers, understand a lot about the complexities of issues, and don't want to just sit on their ass and let someone tell them what to think. No matter how good the message is on Air America, most of us are too busy thinking for ourselves and living our lives to tune in...IMHO.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
Freer thinkers? You mean if I wanted to have a conversation about say class warfare, or universal health care, you being such a free thinker and all would have no trouble with the complexities, the give and take of different ideas? You folks on the left may not tell someone how to think (though I think that's arguable) you certainly have ways of ostracizing people who don't think like you? Justice Thomas, Secretary Rice, J. C. Watts, all African Americans (heck they even have slave blood) who are successful. They grew up in mostly segregated neighborhoods (let's face it, there aren't a lot of minorities in the 'burbs where most of you grew up), but even with an upbringing shared by most other minorities and an education at typical liberal universities they developed a different philosophy of life. Their path is different than what you "expect" of blacks...you want them to think and feel like victims so you can feel the benevolent "great white hope" (how sick and twisted is that)...you say and think the most vile things about them. Hey, at least other blacks know what their place is that way, huh? Or am I just missing the subtly (that's another word for nuance) of your point of view?
With my fellow conservatives I've had spirited debates about the pros and cons of the war in Iraq, Evolution and Creationism, homosexuality, political philosophy, literature, the nature of God, etc. We don't all agree. That's what makes it complex and stimulating. How can you learn anything if you only parrot the same trite phrases over and over and over with a completely closed mind (I'm guessing it's because you're afraid to challenge yourself with something beyond your narrow world view). Might as well put your fingers in your ears and say "La, la, la...I'm not listening!" Open your mind and embrace the nuance for a change! I mean the REAL definition not the liberal, "I can't make up my mind because I don't know if it's PC enough, whether it won't work and I'll get blamed, or I don't know whether I'll be criticized for having a different opinion." Oh, as for sitting around on my ass, I have a Rush 24/7 membership so I can listen when I have time if I'm too busy to listen live. Well, I've got to run and and go do dishes. Wouldn't want to blow your mind by having a conservative Christian woman having an intelligent thought when I should be performing my wifely duties.
Cindie
