When I worked in radio (DJ, newscaster, general broadcasting) back in the late Sixties, Seventies, and early Eighties, I would get the occasional call from a listener who was pissed off for some reason or other at what we were broadcasting. An old time radio veteran told me early on that when some of these people called, a good response was, "You will note that your radio has at least two buttons. One changes the station, the other turns your radio off. I suggest that if you don't like what you're hearing, you use either one or the other."

One was an "easy listening" station, and occasionally someone who call up and bitch about the "bland elevator music." Another was a classical music station and once in a while someone would call and whine about "all that 'longhair stuff'." Considering the number of poeple who listened regularly and enjoyed what we broadcast, all I can think of to tell the complainers (politely, of course) is "Tough Nabiscos, Charlie!!"

Millions of people listen to Prairie Home Companion and listen to Garrison Keillor's story telling and singing, thoroughly enjoy it, and have for many years. If you don't like Keillor or the program in general, nobody's point a gun at your head and making you listen.

("Whine, whine, whine....")

Don Firth