Justin, post-class 10/30

A quote that we talked about from Adorno last class was valuable when I was listening to the host of a talk radio show the other day. They were sharing their opinions about a TV star that was all over the news because a tape of him using racial slurs was sold to tabloids by his son. The host adamantly defended the star, saying he should be able to say whatever he wants in his own home. I understand that it was a show, that the guy probably had different, more sensible opinions than he was saying on the radio, but it was very frustrating to listen to. The quote from Adorno was "No one has to answer officially for what he or she thinks." Now maybe the host will get into a little bit of trouble for what he way saying, but then again he probably won't. He didn't use the slur himself, he just argued in defense of someone that is clearly in the wrong, no matter which way you try to spin it. What made it even more frustrating was that they kept accepting calls from people that agreed with him, and they all sounded just as stupid. I was waiting to hear from an African-American caller that felt the same way as the host. Then, maybe I would give it a chance. But it didn't come. It was a fine example of entertainment coming through agreement. The show is directed towards a demographic of people that would surely at least have a few who would laugh in agreement. Others may disagree, but he wasn't exactly making his case to a group of non-believers. I just couldn't believe, on a major radio station, how much someone can get away with saying because of whom they are directing their conversation towards. The host himself was making a prejudiced argument, blanketing what ended up being a group of white men talking about when they can use the n-word with what is considered to be a news story. Should someone call in screaming at the host for being ignorant, it would be easy for him to cut them off and make fun of them for without giving them a chance to defend him or herself. It shows how little radio has changed democratically.