Wednesday, July 30, 2008

I am not amused, Y94

So I'm listening to local Top 40 radio on the way to work today and the early show, "Morning Playhouse with Troy and Megan" is doing their normal shtick -- only today they're talking about how DJ, Megan tried to back up a trailer and ended up screwing up and scratching her car.

Troy decided that this situation should spur the morning's call-in question.... wait for it...


Call in and tell us what girls can't do!

NOooooooooo!

Now I am well aware that morning shows on the radio aren't typically the place for deep conversation, but why go that route? You're just gonna piss off the intelligent people and make the douchebags out there go "heh heh... girls can't be President, just look at Hillary" - or insert other jerkwad sexist comment.

I was intrigued to see what feedback they'd get so when I got to work, I logged on to streaming radio. Some of the calls went like...

Girl's can't:
-- give directions (to which Megan replied, "Guys ASK for directions?")
-- throw a ball
-- please a gay man (to that Troy replied, "Oh yes they can they just buy 'em a Bette Midler CD and some shoes') -- *sigh*

I struggle with this stuff. I do have a sense of humor. When I'm with my close gay friend, I joke with him that he's hit the gay career jackpot because he buys shoes for a international well-known company. When guys friend want to go see some huge explosion-fest movie, I may throw out a joke like "no thanks, I prefer something intelligent vs. a testosterone carnival!" So am I a hypocrite? I don't think so and I'll tell you why. In the company of people who know me and my politics, I feel I can be self-depricating/tease a bit more. And a big part of that is me trusting that if I ever crossed the line with a friend, they'd tell me. EG: "Okay, no more shoe jokes. I like men but that doesn't mean I qualify for every gay stereotype."

Here's the big difference... if I ever had a radio show, I would not use my time to solicit tired, lame, sexist jokes. That's just me.

My fave was when a woman called in and said, "Wow you guys just pissed off half of Fargo."

Amen. Half or Fargo and probably then some... The sexy boyfriend (tm) doesn't like those conversations any more than I do because he knows inevitably it will turn into a stereotype extravaganza of what MEN can't do (for example: ask for directions).

I decided to give a call in to voice my opinion. Shocking! I got through! So I introduced myself and apologized if I sounded like the token 'angry feminist' but I simply wanted to know why they would choose to bother with that topic. It just leaves them open to sexist comments.

Troy informed me, in a slightly UNamused voice that I needed to (wait for it...) lighten up! Obviously he was just joking and kidding with Megan and girls can obviously back up a truck. OBVIOUSLY... OBVIOUSLY...

I told him, quite pleasantly, that I didn't need to lighten up, after all... this really wasn't going to ruin the rest of my day but I thought they could discuss something more interesting/funny/valid. He informed me that tomorrow they would probably discuss "What men can't do." Oh joy. Well that makes it better.

If you want to give either one a message about a topic they COULD discuss next time -- and please make no mistake, I don't want them receiving hate mail but obviously (OBVIOUSLY) they (more specifically TROY) need some help in coming up with topics...

Megan: megan@y94.com
Troy (via facebook): http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=545003145

4 comments:

Bianca Reagan said...

I decided to give a call in to voice my opinion. Shocking! I got through! So I introduced myself and apologized if I sounded like the token 'angry feminist' but I simply wanted to know why they would choose to bother with that topic. It just leaves them open to sexist comments.

Never apologize. Unless you do something wrong, like kill someone accidentally.

Anonymous said...

"lighten up"? argh... sounds like they need to grow up!!!

yay for you calling in!!

I came across your blog because I was upset at something I heard on y94. Not sure if they created it, but they played it.

It was like a fake PSA, where this man was talking about hating this girl at work because she had "let herself go" and she now had a "muffin top." It ended with "This message paid for by the 'I want something nice to look at when I come into work Commitee'"

I was so hurt and outraged. Who's this guy to say what's attractive? and to say that women are only at work to give him and other men "something nice to look at."

I emailed the studio... I'm not sure what else to do...

thanks for listening :)

Anonymous said...

clearly you dont even listen to y94. that's not even their morning show. it's the morning playhouse with zero rat and megan and is there any radio station in town doing better things???? NO. besides i didnt hear it but that doesnt even seem offensive to me. chill out. seriously.

Tobes said...

Morning show vs. morning playhouse-- clearly a huge error that negates taking the REAL point away from this --- that Y94 airs some fairly offensive stuff. I've heard much more since this event... but then that means I'm listening, so...my bad.

But I can tell you who's morning show IS pretty good 105.1. Informative, interesting and now people talking over each so much.