When I was growing up, no one ever talked about politics – ever! My parents never talked about it, and frankly, they never even told each other who they voted for. Now, in truth, my wife and I talk politics all the time, although I am probably much more vocal about it than she. Thank goodness we are evenly yoked, so we rarely, if ever, disagree – at least about politics. That said, I do not talk about politics or the election with my adult children either because I have three who are very different from one another. One is fairly far to the left, another is even further to the right, while the oldest is fairly centric. While they love each other and speak often, they are spread across the country, so we are rarely all together. I imagine Thanksgiving at my house would be very much like having Alec and Steven Baldwin over for dinner.
I am sure you have come to learn that social media is the fuel that can ignite some serious arguments, very often among those who think of one another as friends. Regrettably, this can result in unfriending those with differing points of view. The sad part, of course, is that this is at the root of the dissension and divisiveness running amuck in this wonderful land we call home. Are we truly willing to sacrifice our friendships over a difference of opinion? Are we willing to toss relationships aside because those we care about do not agree with us? The answer seems to be “yes”. I know of situations in which siblings don’t speak to one another and parents cutting off children for much the same reasons – because their opinions don’t align with their own. To many of us, this sounds ridiculous, but we only need to look around.
More and more, we see people relocating to areas that share and match their own affiliations. We read insidiously hateful posts on Facebook and X, often among those from whom we would never expect it. What truly amazes me when I witness it are these types of hateful and divisive posts from radio personalities. Many companies have set policies on these types of hateful and divisive posts on their pages. This works most of the time, but not all the time. It doesn’t stop some radio and media personalities from posting on their own personal sites. It is one thing to post a political opinion on a talk station’s social media pages. After all, the listeners expect it, but it certainly should never be hateful, sexist, or inciteful anywhere!
My dismay comes from those personalities who represent non-political, music, or sports stations who share their political opinions on station social media sites. Not only are they shared, but I have read some outlandish, meandering, hateful, misogynistic, and inciteful rants from people I know. I’m not sure whether these people do it for the shock value, or to generate likes, or if they just don’t understand the potential damage that may be doing to their own brand as well as the brand of those they represent.
In a world that seems so incredibly divided and where hate on both sides seems to be the norm of the day, why would you risk it? What do you gain? Now, I will add that opening dialogues among friends is perfectly acceptable. After all, isn’t that what is missing from our culture nowadays, where no one is willing to even listen to differing opinions? It’s when the conversation turns ugly, accusatory, and almost becomes threatening that I think we should all make an effort to be more loving and caring to one another.
By the way, if you aren’t on a talk station that focuses heavily on politics, my rule of thumb for music and sports stations is no political talk on the air at all. It isn’t what the listener came to you for.” I truly believe we should talk to everyone as if we are talking to our moms – and that goes for on the air and social media. No matter what our opinion, we all deserve a modicum of respect – even to those you think have “bats-in-the-belfry.”
Bob Lawrence serves as a Market Manager for Seven Mountains Media, overseeing the company’s Parkersburg, WV/Marietta, OH cluster. He has held virtually every position in the business over his 40+ year career, from being on-air in Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Francisco as well as programming legendary stations including KHTR St. Louis, KITS Hot Hits and KIOI (K101) San Francisco.
Bob also honed his research skills over ten years as Senior VP of Operations at Broadcast Architecture, eventually launching his own research company and serving as President/CEO of Pinnacle Media Worldwide for 15 years. Bob spent five years as VP of Programming for Saga Communications before joining New South Radio in Jackson, Mississippi as GM/Market Manager. Prior to joining Seven Mountains Media, Bob served as General Manager for the Radio Advertising Bureau, overseeing its “National Radio Talent System”.
