During this past Wednesday nights show there was a moment when I deleted a comment from the chat room and then continued to discuss the issue on air. Here is why that happened for any and all going forward.
When I started KB I wanted to focus entirely on music. I had no interest in news stories, except maybe the occasional weird news from around the world. What I absolutely wanted none of on the station or from posts to the station by listeners was politics and religion. These are the 2 most divisive topics on the planet, no matter what country you live in any more.
I had two reasons, first of all, you can hear this crap everywhere else. Open social media, watch the news, advertising, you can't get away from it. I wanted people to know when they put on the station they wouldn't have to listen to my political views or anyone else. There also was no risk of debates, or exchanges about who is the biggest idiot of the day.
The other main reason was that as we can see living in North America, the political scene is extremely volatile. In many ways and many cases politics have divided both Canada and the United States in recent years. Now it divides us as neighbours even. So if I was to say I come out on the side of grape, all the blueberry people would be upset with me. If I said I was blueberry all the grape people would be upset with me. Maybe not all but one of the biggest problems we have right now around the world is too many people say, "you have the right to your own opinion." However if it doesn't conform with theirs it is a problem.
Do I care about politics, absolutely and am very tuned in to world events. I spends hours every week researching things that are posted to find if they are true or bullshit. I have posted a Canadian flag and shown my support for Canada on my website. That's not taking a political stand, that is supporting my country. By the way, stop booing the American anthem at sporting events. Its just in poor tastes. For us Canadians do you remember a few years ago where a mistake was made and the Canadian flag was presented upside down. Canadians were so upset, this kind of mistake should never happen. Well, just like that flag was is going on around us doesn't have anything to do with hockey players, baseball, basketball players etc. Show a little class and honour our neighbours anthem and flag as we would ask of them.
Finally I know I upset somebody who is a regular in our chat room, because they made one political comment as a form of greeting coming in, and when I deleted it and made my comments on air, they never said another word. Let me put it this way, there is a time and place for everything. I have over the years learned that some times people who are friends of the station, stop being friends because they don't like my rules or something I say. That's okay. I can handle that. I had one artist get so mad they stopped talking and sending music, but created their own radio show and used my slogan. Life is too funny.
So to the individual who wrote it, there was nothing personal in me deleting it. If you took offence well I do apologize, but just so you know, if you did the exact same thing tomorrow, I would not only delete it I would block you. At that point it becomes disrespectful. That goes for anyone dealing with the station.
I can't control what anyone else posts on their social media etc, but I can control how it is associated with my station, and will continue to do so, just as I have for 10 years. For everyone who understands and works with me, I thank you. For anyone who disagrees, that's okay, I will sleep just fine tonight anyway.
Cheers
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