...for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so - Hamlet

Thursday, 12 April 2012

I am offended that the offensive term "Shock Jock" is used in an offensively wrong manner in media discourse

It's really beginning to get my goat up. The noble occupation of the shock jock is inappropriately misused to refer to so-called right wing radio commentators. It's like how hoi polloi now means the opposite of what it originally meant. The hoi polloi are also confused about what a shock jock actually is.

Let me be clear - they are not shock jocks. Shock jocks gratuitously use offensive humour to deliberately provoke an outraged reaction. They push the envelope of decency, they put good taste to the test, they create controversy - but usually over matters of little importance.

Kyle Sandiland is a shock jock, so was Howard Stern, but Alan Jones? Ray Hadley? Steve Price? Give me a break.

When have they ever called for a "Disco Demolition Derby", left answering machine messages for a grandfather claiming to have had sex with their granddaughter or killing a pig live on air (Wikipedia - Shock Jock - Notable Incidents)

It just makes mad - AM radio commenators don't put in the real work to really shock. The only people who are shocked by them are those who have an opposite political point of view. Give me a break - the only really shocking thing is usually their towering egos.

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