BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?

Subject: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Old Guy
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 10:39 PM

The Last thing I need right now is a new thread but here goes:

I have been watching CSPAN on the dish and listening to it on the radio when driving. It is fascinating. You get to hear a wide range of ordinary people's opinions on the government. They are not cherry picked by right or left wingers. I would say it is even less biased than PBS.

As an extreme example. During a discussion on Katrina, an elderly woman called and said:

"It might sound a little strange but I think hurricanes are man made. People leave their bodies and whirl around and make a hurricane. Then they can buy the land cheap."

Also you get to hear all kinds of people speak. Today some "learned" guy from Bekaa in Lebanon, which is claimed to be the home of at least a dozen terrorist training camps. He was describing the viciousness of the Israeli attacks and how unjustified they were.

Then a Palestinian man and woman explaining how nasty Israel was and claiming that the news on CNN and others is biased against the Palestinians.

Then people were calling in to ask Dick Armey questions.

There are no moderators there to challenge the callers or interviewees. The hosts just sort of keep people on topic and urge them along.

Fascinating and educational. It beats Rush, O'Reily, Hannity, Matthews etc by a mile because they just don't rag on people. They let them have their say so you can decide if they are right or wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: number 6
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 10:43 PM

Sounds like the Mudcat BS (in audio) OldGuy! Interesting.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 10:51 PM

I do my very utmost to studiously avoid call-in shows of any persuasion. In fact, I rarely watch television (e.g, not at all in the last week and half). And I listen to the radio only when I'm driving -- and sometimes THAT'S classical music.

That is to say, I very, very rarely listen or watch CSpan.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 11:10 PM

well, those C-Span call in shows 'are' fascinating in some ways....but so is a trip thru the locked wards of a mental hospital ...or any Jerry Springer show.

I watch C-Span for other reasons sometimes..(votes in Congress..special interviews)...but when the great unwashed public calls in to deliver its wisdom, I usually tune out. For the same reason, I am becoming VERY weary of call-in 'polls' conducted by CNN or MSNBC about the latest news items. They ask some inane, leading question.."Do you think the USA should require all left-handed Muslims to paint their ears green on Tuesdays?" ...and 2 hours later, announce that 63% said "Sure!"

Piffle!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 11:16 PM

No.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Old Guy
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 11:31 PM

CSPAN don't take any polls, keep track of who is for or against anything or ask any questions. They just pick a topic like "what are your views on Katrina?"

It is not a talk show. Nobody has opinions except the guests and callers.

A journalist is not there to pick through what was said or "interperet" things for you. I see no bias at all. Maybe tha's why it is boring to some people.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 01:07 AM

Hmmmm. I only recently 'discovered' C-Span at all. From time to time I check it and sometimes there is someone (usually selling a book) giving a talk on a certain subject in a setting like in a library or some such and there are maybe 40 people listening and asking questions.

Many of those shows I enjoy a lot, and sometimes I jot down the name of a book I want to order when it comes out.

But I guess I'm not checking it often enough to ever come upon a radio talk show. At least I haven't come across one yet. And I wouldn't linger if I did.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 01:24 AM

I like some of the "Book TV" shows on C-Span II on weekends. Occasionally they have some very interesting author interviews or panels of writers at book festivals.

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Greg F.
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 09:25 AM

I see. The nutcases who call in aren't themselves biased???

Be more entertaining and informative to listen to my cat fart.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 09:42 AM

I sometimes watch Book TV, and sometimes watch votes. And when some big house or senate thing comes along I sometimes tune to C-SPAN to watch it instead of the networks. No commentary, just the event.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 11:53 AM

well, Old Guy....I never suggested C-Span was biased, or that they HAD polls. I just expressed my view that a significant portion of those who want to hear their viewpoints on the air ARE a bit biased and often as muddled as the old woman you noted!

I learned about this phenomenon years ago in Kansas when I, personally, heard one woman object to that newfangled "daylight savings time", saying "It'll confuse the chickens!"...and another chiming in on a discussion of whether White barbers should be required to cut the hair of Blacks with...."They ain't trained to do that, and besides, those folks don't have real hair anyway..it's just wool!"

It can be, as I say, briefly amusing to hear some of those, but it is seldom educational, except to remind me how much ignorance is really out there!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you watch or listen to CSPAN?
From: Old Guy
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 01:38 PM

I like to hear the unvarnished views of others, not that I am going to adopt their viewpoint, but everything I hear is input which goes into my internal databse and forms my viewpoint on things.

I think it makes one a more rounded individual, more tolerant and understanding but not necessarily a wimp.

They say a pessimist is an optimist with experience. Listening to this stuff give you experience.

It beats the hell out of news channels where 90% of what's on there is commercials and the latest Scott Peterson, Kobe Bryant, John Karr crap over and over.